Texas — Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbott released the following statement following the deal struck by legislators regarding the Fiscal Cliff.

The so-called "Fiscal Cliff" offered Congress a chance to make real changes and address our country’s looming debt crisis. Instead the politicians in Washington decided to continue to pass our problems along to future generations.

Washington leaders side-stepped the opportunity -- the obligation -- to reduce spending, keep taxes low, and create an environment where the economy can grow. They should have employed the Texas model of limited government, lower taxes and a fair and predictable regulatory climate. Unfortunately, the deal cut this week in Washington keeps America on the wrong path.

The fiscal cliff "deal" will actually increase the deficit by $4 trillion over the next decade. At some point, the spending spree in Washington must end and the longer we wait to address our nation’s debt crisis the more painful the consequences will be. The irresponsible spending in Washington will surely impact Texas--and it won't be pretty.

Washington’s refusal to use this opportunity to curb the expansion of government will undoubtedly add to my long list of litigation against the federal government. To date I have filed more than two dozen lawsuits designed to protect Texans from Washington overreach. While the federal government continues to grow, Texans can be sure that I will continue to fight them every step of the way.