Another week of the Texas Legislature is complete, and as the weather turns warmer, the amount of action on the floor of the Texas House also promises to soon heat up. The Legislature has limited action largely to major state items, but it is many members’ hope that the House leadership will allow bills to come to the floor critical to legislators’ districts or regions of the state soon.
Two weeks ago, the Texas House passed HB 5. This legislation will provide students more options to pursue areas of study they find the most interesting. It will also allow local school districts to provide programs to guide our students toward the professional or educational pursuits of their choosing. The Texas Senate is considering this legislation now. This bill will additionally reduce the burden on Texas educators by cutting the number of standardized tests that the State of Texas requires students to pass for graduation from fifteen to five. It also establishes a rigorous academic system that can adapt to local interests and values.
Following the passage of the state’s budget for 2014 and 2015, there are still talks of tapping into the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund, or Rainy Day Fund (RDF). The State of Texas has constitutional spending limits for a reason, and our Texas Constitution and laws limit the RDF for one-time use withdrawals in the case of an emergency, to pay for spending from a prior budget cycle, or to pay for seriously needed infrastructure. The Legislature is not to use the RDF to pay for normal recurring expenditures. The Texas Legislature must prioritize current revenues and cut wasteful spending in order to provide for education, public safety, and caring for our seniors. During the period of 1990-2012, state spending in Texas increased by over 300 percent while the sum of population growth plus inflation grew by only about 130 percent. To keep Texas competitive, and in order to avoid the pitfalls of deficit spending currently plaguing other states, our Legislature must stand firm on keeping our budget balanced.
On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to lay out House Joint Resolution 48. If enacted by the people of Texas, this legislation will prevent the state government from imposing the tenets of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) or ObamaCare on the people of Texas. The language of H.J.R. 48 will prevent the PPACA from deputizing state agencies and officials for purposes of imposing a fine or sanction. Texas needs to reform the current broken system called Medicaid and prioritize spending for education, water, transportation, and border security. Texans should have the right to choose to purchase health insurance coverage without fear or threat of punishment. Instead, the government should place incentives for individuals, families, and small businesses to purchase the health insurance that they can afford. One does not need to look far for examples of PPACA coming into direct conflict with many Texans’ personal and religious convictions. Other Texas legislators have laid out similar resolutions before the Federalism and Fiscal Responsibility Committee. Several conservative colleagues and I are working together to ensure that we can present to the voters of Texas a unified resolution condemning this egregious federal overreach.
Also, last week I was able to reach an agreement with the interested parties in order to get H.B. 1129 another step closer to the House floor. Working with the Secretary of State’s office, county clerk’s offices, and a few of my fellow Representatives, we have developed a pilot program. The Secretary of State’s office will implement this pilot program that will allow our active-duty overseas military personnel facing hostile fire, to cast their ballot securely by electronic means. It is paramount we find a way to make sure our men and women in harm’s way are able not only to cast a vote, but also to have those votes counted. Too many votes cast by those in uniform have gone uncounted in elections past, and H.B. 1129 is an important step to put an end to this travesty.
Woodville’s Kree Harrison is now one of the top five contestants on American Idol and will soon be participating in the show’s “Hometown Visit.” In early May Miss Harrison will be back in her hometown of Woodville, and a homecoming rally is already in the works to greet her. I continue to be proud of Miss Harrison’s talent and perseverance, as well as the community that stands behind her each week. I am sure she will continue to impress the nation and soon be named the next American Idol.
In order to save the Battleship Texas, SpinDrift Media & Entertainment and The Dam Good Times are on a fundraising mission. March 14th was the Battleship Texas’ 99th anniversary. She is in need of repairs and renovations. The Dam Good Times intends to raise awareness with an exhibit booth that can be moved through various locations across the country. To help with this mission, contact the publisher of The Dam Good Times, Crystal Laramore, at (936) 777-4548.
My offices in Austin and Woodville are always ready to hear the concerns of the residents of District 19. Feedback from our constituents is vital to ensuring that your voice is heard as the Legislature conducts its business in Austin. Please contact my office in Woodville at (409) 283-3700, or my office in Austin at (512) 463-0490.
May God bless you and the great State of Texas,
Representative James White
Source:
http://whiteforeasttexas.com/?p=892