Video: Conservative Coalition Expands Ad Campaign (UPDATE)

The conservative think tank Texas Public Policy Foundation released three videos Monday meant to influence Texans to support the House's version of the state budget for the next biennium. The Senate is expected to vote on its version of the budget later this week, and it seeks to spend about $12 billion more than the lower chamber's draft, HB 1. 

TPPF announced it will broadcast three advertisements throughout the next few days, beginning with a one-minute spot on Monday featuring TPPF President Brooke Rollins and board member Craig James. 

The coalition producing the ads is called Texans for a Conservative Budget. Aside from TPPF, member organizations include Americans for Prosperity-Texas, Americans for Tax Reform, Empower Texans, Heartland Institute, Liberty Institute and the National Federation of Independent Business-Texas. In a press release, the group urges lawmakers to pass a budget that "cuts non-essential programs, does not raise taxes or fees, and does not tap the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund."

UPDATE 5/6/2011: TPPF released a few more ads on Thursday following the Senate's passage of a $176.5 billion budget. While that amount is about $12 billion more than the House budget draft and includes about $11 billion in spending cuts, it excludes a provision to use $3 billion from the Rainy Day Fund if revenue can't be found elsewhere. Some of the new ads feature former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm and his wife, Dr. Wendy Gramm. The budget is likely to be rejected by the House and sent to conference committee, where a select group of lawmakers will try to develop a compromise bill. See all seven commercials now running on statewide television below: