Legislative Update From State Rep. Betty Brown

[Constituant Newsletter from State Rep. Betty Brown (R-Terrell)]

This has been a busy week!  The Governor delivered the “State of the State” address, Appropriations sub-committees began meetings (I am serving on the General Government sub-committee), and we celebrated Cedar Creek Lake Area Legislative Day on Tuesday.

Residents from the Cedar Creek Lake area converged in Austin on Tuesday, February 6 as part of Cedar Creek Lake Area Legislative Day at the State Capitol.  A delegation of almost 50 citizens representing Gun Barrel City, Mabank, Tool, Seven Points, Kemp and Eustace met with state leaders and agencies to promote the Cedar Creek Lake area and to gain insight on state programs and services.  The trip was sponsored by The Greater Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

After arriving in the morning, the delegation was quickly ushered to the Senate chamber where they were recognized by Senator Robert Nichols, District 3 and Senator Bob Deuell, District 2, both of whom represent parts of Cedar Creek Lake.  After the honor, the delegation watched Governor Rick Perry deliver the “State of the State” address from a private room in the capitol.  The delegation then made their way to the House chamber gallery where Rep. Betty Brown had the privilege of sponsoring and passing House Resolution 231, recognizing February 6, 2007, as Cedar Creek Lake Area Day at the State Capitol.  Mayor Scott Confer of Tool was honored by Rep. Brown on the House floor dais.

An offsite luncheon provided the delegates a chance to hear from Senators Nichols and Deuell and Rep. Betty Brown on issues currently impacting the District and top priority items in the Legislature.  Patrica Vojack, Legislative Director, Comptroller of Public Accounts was the featured speaker.  Ms. Vojack highlighted the current financial status of accounts held by the State Comptroller’s Office and informed the group of interesting facts relative to State coffers.

Panelists from the Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism presented the group with programs and services available including the Texas Enterprise Fund, Emerging Technology Program and Texas Capital Fund Infrastructure Program.  Also addressing the group were staff members from the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).  TDA representatives discussed the Texas Yes! and Certified Retirement Community programs.

“Our delegation very much appreciated the attention given our regional organization by State Rep. Betty Brown and her staff, Senators Robert Deuell and Robert Nichols and their respective staffs.  As a unified chamber of commerce representing several cities around Cedar Creek Lake, we’re always looking for opportunities to enhance our visibility as one community.  The afternoon meetings with representatives from the Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism and the Texas Department of Agriculture provided valuable information and gave us some guidelines for programs for which we might qualify,” stated JoAnn Hanstrom, President of The Greater Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

Students Deanna Schlebach of Eustace, Kayla Stacks of Eustace, Candace Caillet of Mabank, and Jordan Mounts of Mabank meet with Rep. Brown during Cedar Creek Lake Area Legislative Day at the Capitol.

Athens Day is scheduled for February 21 and Kaufman Day will be March 5.  My staff is busy making preparations and working with Senators Deuell’s and Nichols’ staff  to help make those days in Austin memorable ones.

On Tuesday, Governor Rick Perry spoke before a joint session of the Legislature, identifying his priorities for the 80th Legislative Session. His bi-annual State of the State address highlighted health care, education and economic issues facing Texas, and proposed a number of initiatives that he said will help low-income and disadvantaged Texans achieve prosperity. Perry also asked lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to come together and put party differences behind them. “Before us is a unique opportunity to address great challenges,” he said. “We can either dissolve into partisan disputes that leave Texas no better off for the 140 days that we are here, or we can join together in a spirit of bipartisan unity for causes greater than self - greater than political party.”

Perry outlined three major initiatives: a $2.7 billion indigent health care fund, $3 billion for cancer research, and an $8 billion dollar education endowment that would put $800 million each year toward public education. The money for these programs would come from a sale of the state lottery to a private company, which would bring about $14 billion, he said.

Legislative leaders were skeptical about selling the lottery. Proceeds from the state lottery add a little more than a billion dollars to the education budget each year.  Later, in response to Gov. Perry’s proposal, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst wondered how the state would make up that money. “One of my initial concerns is, that if the numbers that were mentioned this morning, $8 billion in a trust fund for public education, depending upon the rate of return, you could be some where between a billion or a billion and a half short each biennium,” said Dewhurst. “That money would have to come from general revenue.” Dewhurst said the Legislature would have to look carefully at the pros and cons of a lottery sale before a final deal could be made.

Another one of the Governor’s initiatives caused controversy this week. Last Friday, Perry signed an executive order that would require all girls to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination as part of their public school immunization requirements. HPV has been implicated as a major cause of cervical cancer in women.

I know the Governor is trying to provide a means to mitigate the occurrence of HPV and its eventual path to cancer, however I am not convinced that this is the appropriate approach.  Parental rights are paramount when the well being of a child is concerned, and the role of a parent should not be surrendered to the state.

Currently, the vaccine is available through private providers at a cost.  To ensure that every citizen of the state has access to the vaccine, I believe a better approach would be to allow parents to voluntarily choose to have the vaccine administered versus only being able to opt-out by having a conscientious objection.  This would shift the $29 million price tag and allow some of that money to be better spent educating teenage children about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases.

Office Update

Besides legislative duties consisting of attendance at committee meetings and House sessions, and sheparding bills through the process, I try to attend all meetings of the Conservative Coalition, the Rural Caucus, and the Republican Caucus. I am a member of all three groups and find the discussions at these meetings very helpful when considering a vote on a particular bill and its implications for the citizens of District 4.

My staff and I always make every effort possible to meet with constituents.  If you are ever in the Austin area, be it for business or pleasure, I sincerely encourage you to stop by my office.  My staff is here to help me serve you, and it is always nice to see a friendly face from Kaufman or Henderson counties. Whether you desire a tour of the capitol, ideas for sights to see and things to do in Austin, or any other information, they are all very well acquainted with the Austin area and are eager to help out in any way possible.

Legislative Bill Status Hotline

The Legislative Reference Library is again providing a bill status information hotline this session. This session-only hotline is available through Thursday, May 28, 200. Lines are open 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, with extended hours when either chamber is convened. The hotline may be reached through a toll-free telephone number in Texas only:

877-824-7038 (toll-free in Texas only)

My staff and I are available to you throughout the week, and I can be reached by email at Betty.Brown@House.State.TX.US.  Thank you for the privilege of representing you in the Texas State Legislature.  I encourage you to voice your opinion on issues that are important to you.  Please contact me or my staff if we can be of assistance.  If you know someone on our list with a new email address, please suggest that they send us their new address in order to continue receiving “Updates,” and always feel free to “forward.”

Sincerely,

Betty Brown