Governor Asking State Agencies to Cut Spending

HOUSTON (AP) - Gov. Rick Perry says he has asked state agencies to figure out where they can cut spending as the economic downturn continues.

Perry, in a speech Wednesday to Houston business leaders, said that agencies have 10 days to let him know how they'll trim their budgets. Within those cuts, Perry says he told agenies to reduce their taxpayer-funded travel.

The Republican governor says the state's economy is generally strong, but that Texas is not immune from the financial meltdown roiling the national economy. Texas is estimated to go into the next budget period with an $11 billion surplus, but that drops to $2 billion when already-spoken for spending is deducted.

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