Tuesday, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced that he was naming Republican State Sen. Joan Huffman (Houston) as the new Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, replacing outgoing Republican State Sen. Jane Nelson (Flower Mound) who has chaired the committee since 2013.

Huffman has served in the Texas State Senate since 2008 and currently represents Texas Senate District 17. Huffman most recently served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence and Special Committee on Redistricting.

In his announcement, Patrick said,

“When Finance Chair Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, decided not to run for re-election, I immediately began thinking about who I would name as the next Finance Chair. The position of Finance Chair is one of the most powerful positions in the Senate. That person, along with the Senate Committee on Finance, oversees the budget of the 9th largest economy in the world.”

Huffman’s track record on fiscal issues is less than ideal for Texans who might be concerned about government spending. She has a career rating of a ‘C+’ on the Fiscal Responsibility Index, and during the most recent legislative session was rated a 69 out of a possible 100 score.

Patrick continued,

“Sen. Huffman has served on the Senate Committee on Finance since 2013. She has served as chair of various finance work groups, and I have selected her to the important 5-member conference committee that negotiates the final budget with the House 4 times. She has taken on many key issues in finance and championed the issue of pension reform.”