Hinojosa billed the proposal as relief for Texans struggling to make ends meet. She said she would issue a proclamation declaring affordability an emergency on her first day in office and call on lawmakers to approve pulling $17 billion from the nearly $27 billion in the state\u2019s rainy day fund to spend on the checks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are struggling. People need help. It\u2019s an emergency situation,\u201d\u00a0Hinojosa said in an interview, pointing to statistics showing the state leads the nation in bankruptcies<\/a> and rates of uninsured<\/a>. \u201cMy agenda is to put money in your pocket. Texans know how to spend money better than the government. That\u2019s our money. It\u2019s there. It should go to Texans.\u201d<\/p>\n The announcement comes as Democrats have focused on affordability in the run-up to the midterms, which are expected to be bruising for Republicans as voters have soured on President Donald Trump\u2019s handling of the economy. Public polling has shown\u00a0Hinojosa within single digits of Abbott, even as many voters say they are still unfamiliar with her. Abbott’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not the first time a politician has made promises for the rainy day fund, which draws money from excess oil and gas taxes. Tapping into the reserve fund requires the support of two-thirds of lawmakers in the House and Senate, both of which are controlled by Republicans \u2014 and likely to remain in GOP hands. The Legislature has mostly dipped into the ballooning fund to pay for water projects, disaster relief and public education, according to the Comptroller.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hinojosa argues there is more than enough money in the fund to send some back to taxpayers. The state\u2019s reserves have grown from $6 billion in 2013, the year before Abbott took office, to an expected $27 billion by the end of this fiscal year. The Comptroller\u2019s office has projected the fund to grow by at least $2.5 billion per year, as well.<\/p>\n Plus, she said, sending money to voters would be a political win for members of both parties: \u201cI would be surprised if any legislator voted against sending a $1,500 check to their constituents.\u201d<\/p>\n