Area lawmakers introduce policy proposals
By Patrick Brendel
Friday, 01 May 2009
As the Texas Legislature enters the final month of its regular session, partisan clashing continues over voter photo identification and discord between legislators and Gov. Rick Perry over the use of federal stimulus money. However, area lawmakers are making progress on issues they identified before the session as essential to the functioning of the state.
Budget
- Sen. Steve Ogden • R-Bryan
- The chair of Senate Finance, Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, filed Senate Bill 1, the general appropriations bill for the 2010-2011 biennium. Faced with extra spending requirements required by hurricane damage, coupled with lower than expected tax revenues due to the recession, Ogden used $10 billion in federal stimulus funds to draft a $182.2 billion budget.
- The Senate’s version of the budget does not drastically cut spending by state agencies, nor does it draw money from the state’s $9 billion in emergency reserves, called the Rainy Day Fund.
Health Care
- Rep. Dawnna Dukes • D-Austin, has proposed two pieces of legislation aimed at decreasing the number of uninsured children in Texas, which trails the nation in the percentage of kids with insurance.
- Rep. Dan Gattis • R-Georgetown,
wants to create the Texas Mutual Health Benefit Company through HB 2470. The business would offer health insurance coverage for retired state employees and teachers.
Education
- Rep. Diana Maldonado • D-Round Rock, former Round Rock ISD trustee, has a legislative package for public education reform. HB 1330, HB 1331 and HB 1332, respectively, establish a Legislators Back-To-School Program, revised school bus evacuation drill procedures and hold students and guardians responsible for school books and electronics. HB 3523 establishes a similar Back-To-School program for State Board of Education members.
- HB 1332 passed the House by unanimous vote and has been sent to the Senate for consideration.
Transportation
- Sen. Kirk Watson • D-Austin, vice-chair of the Senate Transportation & Homeland Security committee, supports SB 855 that would allow local authorities to explore different funding options for area transportation projects. Potential sources of new revenue include localized increases in the motor fuel tax, bonds and tolls.
- Watson’s SB 1923 creates a Rail Relocation Advisory Group to provide guidance on implementing a program to remove freight trains from congested cities and to enable commuter rail. Watson supports the construction of an Austin to San Antonio commuter rail.
Clean Jobs
- Rep. Mark Strama • D-Austin, secured the chairmanship of the new House Technology, Economic Development & Workforce committee, which has been informally nicknamed the “green jobs” committee. Strama’s overall goal is to incentivize the development of the state’s clean energy resources, like solar and wind power, in Texas and the Austin area.
- His marquee bill, HB 4325, creates a $1 billion “Sunny Day Fund” using federal stimulus money. For two years, money from the fund would be used to match competitive federal grants awarded from the stimulus package to Texas researchers.
