Christmas came early for U.S. Rep.-elect Bill Flores and possibly Central Texans who voted for him and even those who backed his opponent. The retired Bryan oil business executive last week was appointed to three important House committees overseeing the budget, veterans affairs and natural resources.

The committee assignments should ensure that Flores is well-poised to make good on campaign promises about downsizing government and reducing runaway spending; play on his years of experience in the energy business; and ensure he can continue the work of his hardworking, intelligent and influential predecessor in working on behalf of veterans.

Central Texans who swept Bill Flores into office last month did so in anger about unrestrained spending in the Bush and Obama administrations. They should certainly appreciate his appointment to the budget committee, especially as Rep. Paul Ryan prepares to assume chairmanship. Ryan is the best hope that Republicans have if they’re to cut spending and seriously address nearly $14 trillion in debt.

Ryan tangled with the Obama administration as the committee’s ranking GOP member, especially on entitlements. During the primary election, we heard Flores raise the need for entitlement reform and were impressed. We believe he’s a good fit for this committee and assume he won’t hesitate once he’s actually in office. However, this much we also know: Cutting earmarks — less than 1 percent of the budget — and making a lot of noise about freezing federal employees’ pay — constituting even less — are not going to get the job done. We expect budget committee members to make tough calls in helping overhaul our behemoth tax code and reform bloated, runaway entitlement and defense programs.

Flores also impressed us by vowing that he would never forsake veterans, including those who make their homes in our area. His appointment to the veterans affairs committee allows him to continue the good, steadfast work done by his predecessor, U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards.

During an interview with the Tribune-Herald editorial board, Flores said he sought to serve in Congress because he had not served in the military, that he saw this as one way to give back to his country. If so, we suspect he’ll prove a champion for veterans as well as nearby Ford Hood, which Edwards also vigorously championed.

Finally, we’re glad to see Flores on the natural resources committee. His rich expertise in this area will, we hope, serve us well. We urge Flores to again think of his children and grandchildren, not just in terms of budget deficits but long-term energy needs. In the next several decades, oil and gas must serve as a viable bridge to renewable forms of energy, freeing us from the threats of foreign powers and oil-rich despots.

The natural resoures committee also oversees national parks. We are very encouraged by Flores’ recent vow to push for full-fledged inclusion of the Waco Mammoth Site in the National Park System.

We’re impressed with the committee assignments that Republican House leadership has given to our incoming representative. But conservative constituents back in Central Texas are impatient for action, and Flores and his colleagues must prove their worth through hard work, focus and integrity — not through the political games and stupefying gridlock we’ve seen from Republicans and Democrats alike in the past decade. We no longer have time for such shenanigans. The needs of our nation are great. Time is running out.