Full Breakdown
Texas Senate Candidate James Talarico’s Tax-Raise Remarks Resurface Amid Pandemic-Era Budget Strain
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Resurfaced Remarks on Taxes and Healthcare
The clip, released this week, adds to earlier statements on gender, immigration and fiscal policy that opponents say could jeopardize his appeal to a traditionally Republican-leaning electorate.
COVID-Era Budget Pressures in Texas
During the pandemic, Texas faced a projected $4.6 billion shortfall, according to Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, as revenue from oil, hotels, bars and restaurants fell sharply. State officials ordered a 5 % spending cut across agencies for the 2020-2021 budget. Governor Greg Abbott’s office largely shielded the Health and Human Services (HHS) portfolio, but $2.6 billion of HHS funding remained subject to reductions, with a target cut of $132.7 million for the commission.
Campaign Position and Official Responses
No campaign comment addressed whether the proposals would affect the state deficit.
Republican Criticism
John Barrasso (R-Wyoming)** citing a Congressional Budget Office projection.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I don't care where you get the revenue. I don't care what taxes you have to raise,” — James Talarico
- “The economic contraction associated with COVID-19 has resulted in revenue collection this fiscal year that is much lower than our earlier projections,” — Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar
- “You're not going to make our students and our teachers — you're not going to make the sick and the elderly pay for this pandemic we are not going to balance our budget off of the most vulnerable people in this state,” — James Talarico
- “High-tax Talarico never saw a tax hike he didn't love in the Texas Legislature, and he is promising to continue that if elected to the Senate. James Talarico will raise taxes on every Texan to fund his radical agenda of taxpayer-funded sex changes for kids and free healthcare for illegal immigrants,” — Zach Kraft, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee
- “The [Congressional Budget Office] projects in its report on a single-payer plan that government spending on health care would increase substantially. They go on to say to cover the massive cost of government-run care, income taxes would have to at least double. Income taxes, American families — at least double,” — Sen. John Barrasso