Callegari Appointed Chairman of Government Reform Committee

[Press Release from State Rep. Bill Callegari (R-Katy)]

On Friday, House Speaker Tom Craddick appointed State Representative Bill Callegari (Katy) Chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform.  This is a significant appointment, as it places Representative Callegari as a key member of the Speaker’s leadership team.

“I am thankful for this opportunity to serve the citizens of Texas,” said Representative Callegari.  “State government consists of hundreds of agencies that enforce thousands of laws while spending billions in taxpayers’ dollars.  Given the magnitude of our government, I believe that there is more than enough room for meaningful reform.”

Newly established by Speaker Craddick in 2003 to find potential savings for the state’s budget, the Government Reform Committee focuses principally on the elimination of inefficiencies in the provision of state services.  The Committee also oversees all matters relating to the organization, powers, operation, and regulation of state departments, agencies, institutions, and advisory committees.  In addition, the Committee overlooks the Texas Incentive and Productivity Commission and the Sunset Advisory Commission.

“The Government Reform Committee saves taxpayer dollars and improves government performance, and I’m confident that Representative Callegari’s leadership will help us continue to identify efficiencies and streamline state agencies,” Speaker Craddick said.

As chairman, Representative Callegari will direct the Government Reform committee’s operations and review of legislation.  The chairman’s responsibilities include setting the committee’s legislative agenda, presiding over the committee’s hearings, and directing the committee’s research activities during the interim between legislative sessions.

Representative Callegari continued, “My principal focus will be to make government regulation, operations, and ultimately its size, smaller and more efficient.  I believe that such reforms are necessary to save taxpayers’ money while making government more effective at what it does.”

Earlier this session Representative Callegari filed several measures to eliminate unnecessary, even antiquated, portions of state law.  Several bills abolish state agencies that are no longer needed, including the Texas National Research Laboratory Commission, the Texas Deepwater Port Authority, and the Ogallala Water Import Authority.  Another measure, H.B. 385, abolishes the power of an agency to condemn property for the Texas’ centennial celebration held in 1936.

“Why some agency is allowed to condemn property for a celebration held over 70 years ago just baffles me,” said Representative Callegari.  “That provision and many others belong in the state archives, and not in our existing law.”

In addition to his chairmanship of the Government Reform Committee, Representative Callegari was also appointed to the Land and Resource Management Committee, which has jurisdiction over eminent domain, annexation, the management of public lands, and government regulation of land use.

This session is Representative Callegari’s fourth term representing the constituents of District 132, which includes the west Harris County and Katy area.  Before serving in the Texas House of Representatives, Representative Callegari was president of the Am-Tex corporation, which focused on the privatization and operation of water and wastewater utilities.  He and his wife, Ann, have four children and ten grandchildren.