Local representatives receive committee assignments

Local representatives receive committee assignments

Share |

By Patrick Brendel Friday, 06 March 2009

Round Rock and Pflugerville’s state representatives are poised to spearhead development of the state’s renewable energy and entertainment industries. The House Technology, Economic Development & Workforce committee — responsible for incentivizing new technologies and jobs — is chaired by state Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, and includes state Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown. Together with state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, the Central Texas representatives comprise three of nine committee members. Additionally, Strama’s seat on Energy Resources and Gattis’ membership on Business & Industry should aid that effort.

State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, held on to her place on the powerful Appropriations committee, responsible for the state budget. Dukes also has a position on Culture, Recreation & Tourism, a committee responsible for promoting the state’s music and film industry. State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, is the new vice-chair of that committee. State Rep. Diana Maldonado, D-Round Rock, is the only freshman legislator to be placed on the House State Affairs committee, which has jurisdiction over most state government matters, except the budget.

Map thumbnail Local governments push area’s agenda

Local governmental entities have laid out their goals for the state legislative session. Some rely on organizations and local representatives to push those agendas, while the City of Round Rock, like most large cities in Texas, has chosen to contract with professional lobbyists to get its message to the State Capitol.

Round Rock is paying Randy Cain and Susan Rocha a total of $129,500 in 2009 to lobby on the city’s behalf. Rocha also has a contract to lobby for the City of Austin, which will spend $830,000 on lobbying in 2009. By comparison, the City of Dallas is spending $195,000 and Houston is spending $550,000.

The Round Rock City Council listed the following objectives for the current session: oppose changes to the sales tax sourcing rule; gain funds for the Round Rock Higher Education Center; oppose changes to property appraisal caps; secure road funds; and oppose limits to annexation, zoning and eminent domain.

The City of Pflugerville does not have any active lobbyists; however, city officials have a close relationship with state Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, a spokesperson said. Pflugerville’s main goals are to gain more flexibility in open meetings so that council members can make comments or general announcements, and to ensure that new cable and satellite providers provide public access channels similar to Channel 10. The city also shares the agenda of the Texas Municipal League, a statewide nonprofit that employs two full-time lobbyists.

Round Rock ISD and Williamson County each has a contract with an attorney to provide expert testimony to legislators if a need arises, but not to lobby for or against specific issues.

Some of the county’s priorities include: the San Gabriel Crisis Center and local mental health authorities; municipal utility districts and street repair; county control of overweight trucking permits; dedication of the sporting goods sales tax to parks and recreation funding; vehicle-exchange programs to promote clean air; and dedication of federal road funds for road maintenance and state funds for road construction.

Comments

feed0 Comments

Write comment
 
  smaller | bigger
 

security image
Write the displayed characters

busy