Lawmakers press feds to refund border costs

Amid budget shortfall, legislator seeks $2.8 billion reimbursement from feds

State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Arlington, has a final request of the Obama administration: Reimburse Texas taxpayers $2.8 billion for funding border security initiatives.

AUSTIN — On the second day of the 85th Texas Legislature, state Rep. Dennis Bonnen had a final request of the Obama administration: reimburse Texas taxpayers $2.8 billion for funding border security initiatives that are the federal government’s responsibility.

The Angleton Republican’s largest request is for $1.4 billion to cover state funds that have gone in recent years to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Last session, lawmakers approved an $800 million plan that, in part, was meant to pay for an additional 250 DPS officers on the border.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is owed $463 million, while the state Health and Human Services Department’s reimbursement totals $416 million, according to Bonnen, who said they were conservative estimates. Facing a gloomy economic outlook, the Legislature is expected to make billions of dollars in budget cuts before they leave Austin.

Wednesday’s press conference to request federal reimbursement echoed statements from Republican leaders in years past, including Gov. Greg Abbott, who complained in 2014 that a $3.7 billion Obama administration border security proposal shortchanged Texas taxpayers by not including money to pay back the state.

“With the new administration coming into office, we hope the tide will turn,” he said. “I would like nothing more than to put dollars currently devoted to border security and criminal alien incarceration toward our state’s