Talarico’s 2020 Tax-Hike Remarks Resurface in Texas Senate Race as $4.6 Billion Shortfall Returns to Focus
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 7
Talarico’s 2020 Tax-Hike Remarks Resurface in Texas Senate Race as $4.6 Billion Shortfall Returns to Focus
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 7
Summary
A 2020 clip shows Texas Democrat James Talarico saying, “I don’t care what taxes you have to raise,” while arguing healthcare cuts should be off-limits during the state’s COVID budget crunch.
The remarks came as Texas projected a $4.6 billion shortfall and ordered most agencies to find 5% savings, though health programs were partly shielded and about $2.6 billion in HHS spending still faced possible cuts.
The resurfaced comments add to scrutiny of Talarico’s past positions on immigration, gender issues and fiscal policy as he tries to win over voters in Republican-leaning Texas.
Republicans are using the clip to paint Talarico as a tax-and-spend progressive, while his campaign says he would raise taxes on billionaires and corporations, not middle-class Texans, to fund healthcare expansion.
Talarico, now his party’s Senate nominee, faces Republican Ken Paxton in the Nov. 3 general election in what is described as a close race.