Representative Jim Pitts (R-Waxahachie) was appointed today to his second term as chair of the House Committee on Appropriations.  Representative Pitts, a nine-term incumbent, previously served as chair of the
appropriations committee in 2005.

"I am proud to have the opportunity to serve as chair of the appropriations committee once again," Pitts said.

Prior to my election to the Texas House in 1992, I served fourteen years on the Waxahachie School Board.  When I served as Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, one of my top priorities was to make sure that our public colleges and universities remained affordable for Texans.  Education has always been a passion for me.

For over a century, Texas’ public colleges and universities have given families a chance to put their children on the road to economic success.  During my first five sessions, countless numbers of my constituents have sent their children off to study in the various cities round the state that are home to our public institutions.   But in nearly every case, affordability has been a driving factor.  A degree from a public college or university in Texas was within reach of virtually any family in this state.Like many members, I had serious concerns about passing a tuition deregulation bill in 2003, but I reluctantly supported it because we faced with an enormous budget shortfall.  I believed that providing our schools with some flexibility would ease this burden, but that tuition increases should be moderated and offset by increased financial aid.  Unfortunately, we were led to believe that complete deregulation-- not moderation --was the only answer.   During the last legislative session, efforts to reign in the effects of tuition deregulation were quickly ended by House leadership. We cannot afford another session of inaction.