Don Huffines

We're very independent.

We've got a great heritage.

And I'm glad you appreciate that.

You know, our liberties were our foundation of our liberty is from the blood of Texas patriots.

But let me tell you how important the comptroller's position is a statewide elected position.

And the cowboys that set our state constitution up in the 1870s, they wanted the comptroller to report to the people.

I'm elected statewide.

I don't report to the governor's office or to the state legislature, statewide position.

I'm the chief financial officer for the entire state.

And I remind everybody how big and the scale of Texas.

If we were our own country, we'd have the eighth largest GDP in the world.

We're spending over $500 million every day, seven days a week.

I'm in charge of collecting all the revenue for the state.

I'm in charge of setting the budget for the legislature.

And I'm in charge of managing the money.

But the thing I like the most about this position is I'm also in charge of the spending.

that I have eyes and ears on all of that money that Texas is spending.

And I've got a constitutional responsibility to make sure that money is being spent properly, effectively.

And my goal is to root out fraud, waste, and abuse in over 200 state agencies.

And I'm taking the position of any government