AUSTIN – The Legislature's chances of committing to another Tier 1 university -- something UTEP and the El Paso delegation have made their highest priority -- took a blow today. State Comptroller Susan Combs projected that in 2009, Texas will lose 110,000 jobs this year and have $9 billion less to spend.

Tier 1 status for UTEP has been publicly stated as the El Paso legislative delegation’s most important shared goal in Austin. But the predicted tightening of the State's purse strings would jeopardize that goal.

“I don’t think anyone who's looking for more money this session should have very high hopes. This is a very strong dose of medicine that doesn’t taste very good,” said state Rep. Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, the next speaker of the Texas House, commenting on Combs’ report in regard to UTEP’s bid for Tier 1 status.

Straus’ comments come only a few days after state Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, raised doubts about extending Tier 1 status to other Texas universities.

"It's going to be a pretty thin budget. I don't think we're going to have a lot of new money to spread around," he told reporters last Thursday.

State Rep. Norma Chavez D-El Paso, thinks the economic news will force a "readjustment of priorities" for the El Paso delegation.

“Most of us believed we were coming in with a $12 billion dollar surplus, which has now pretty much disappeared because of the economy and the economy will dictate what we are able to do this session,” Chavez said. But she remains confident for UTEP’s chances in the long run.

“Tier 1 status is going to be a process, and we (the legislative delegation) have made our public claim that it is the goal for UTEP," she said. "If Tier 1 doesn’t happen this time we’ll make efforts to make sure El Paso is one of the universities being considered for that prestigious status." According to state Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso UTEP remains a priority for the El Paso delegation regardless of Tier 1 status.

“Our budget is going to be tight…Will we realize it (Tier 1) this session? Maybe not. But we’re dedicated to increased funding for UTEP,” said Moody.

Dee Margo, a local businessman and Republican party member believes that the tight budget and Straus' fiscal conservatism will not necessarily be detrimental to UTEP. The Texas House instead of appropriating new funds to UTEP, could allocate more research dollars to the college.

"There’s the same pot of money that can be divided up differently. I'm not suggesting they spend more money. I'm suggesting they allocate more to UTEP," said Margo.

Comptroller Susan Combs told reporters that that, "the national downturn has finally begun to touch Texas,” but the Lone Star state would be “regaining economic momentum” from 2010 onwards. As the state goes, so probably do UTEP’s prospects for a change of status.

“Longer term, I’m sure Texas will grow our way out of it….I’m optimistic…you never see Texas down for very long,” Straus said.