Now a week into this year’s legislative session the focus is, and will continue to be, the budget.

District 10 State Senator Jake Chapman says it’s going to be tight.

“As ranking member of appropriations, I’ve stood on the floor of the Senate telling people, our legislators, that the road ahead is not as bright as what they’re portraying.  It seems my words continue to fall on deaf ears and now it finally hit.  Over the last few years we have been over spending and that’s why I’ve voted against almost all of the budget bills, because they are overspending what we take in.”

And Senator Chapman says it’s not because the state isn’t bringing in enough money.

“We do not have a revenue problem in this state, despite the fact that commodity prices are down, the agriculture economy is not doing as well as it has done in years’ past, we are still generating revenue in this state. The budget is tight because of some budgeting practices that are not good.”

Chapman will share more of his thoughts on this year’s session and his priorities on Monday’s Let’s Talk Dallas County.