State Representative Garnet F. Coleman (D-Houston) announced extreme disappointment that the Texas House leadership supported a bill that sets aside $3 billion in the state's current bank account for future property tax cuts two weeks after the Texas House Leadership refused to set aside $3 billion in the state's current bank account for an important cancer research bill.

"How is it that we can cut taxes but we can't cure cancer?" Rep. Coleman asked. "There are more priorities in the State of Texas than property tax cuts -- including providing affordable health care for all Texans, improving our public schools and raising teacher pay to the national average, lowering college tuition, and decreasing the skyrocketing costs of our utility bills."

Exactly two weeks ago, the House leadership voted on a cancer research bill -- House Bill 14 -- that refused to set aside $3 billion for cancer research. At the time, arguments were made that we do not have enough money to pay for the cancer research.

"People pay taxes to improve their schools, their hospitals, their parks, and other essential priorities," Rep. Coleman said. "So long as we continue to fail to do those things, we are failing the people of Texas."