Category: Government

Sen. Robert Nichols: My five cents

Press release from State Sen. Robert Nichols

This week the pace at the Legislature picked up as almost all Senate committees are now meeting and House committees were announced. Bills now begin the long process of being referred and then heard in committee. The legislative process kills more bills than it passes, which I consider a good thing. Only the best legislation that has survived the hearing process and has had significant public input should become law.

Five things that happened this week at your Texas Capitol are:

1. Safe passage bill for highway and construction workers

On Wednesday, I filed Senate Bill 510 to require motorists near stopped highway or construction vehicles- with lights activated- to either vacate the lane closest to the highway maintenance/construction vehicle or slow down. This bill is intended to create safer highways for both motorists and workers.

As a former Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Commissioner, I believe that safety should be a top priority. These men and women are at risk every time they put on their orange vests and work on our roads.

There is already a ‘move-over/slow-down’ law to protect emergency vehicles such as police, EMS and fire trucks. Tow trucks are even protected. This bill will simply offer the same protection to our state highway workers.

Since 1938, 101 TxDOT employees have been killed while working within the work zone or on the shoulder of a roadway. Seven of these fatalities were within the last 10 years, with two occurring in August and September of 2008.

Even one preventable death is too many. In my opinion, this legislation is past due and I look forward to seeing it passed into law.

2. State water outlook

In 2011, Texas suffered one of the worst droughts in state history, which we are still recovering from today. As horrible as it was, this drought helped bring attention to the even larger problem of Texas’ projected long-term water shortage as the state’s population continues to increase.

This week Senator Troy Fraser presented a bill dealing with state water resources to the Natural Resources Committee. Senate Bill 4 would create the State Water Implementation Fund of Texas (SWIFT) to provide a fund to finance projects in the State Water Plan. There will be an emphasis on conservation, reuse and rural projects.

This will go a long way towards funding our 50 year water plan and I predict SB 4 will be a “bill to watch” this session.

3. Senate Transportation Committee’s first meeting

This week was also the first Transportation Committee meeting of Session. As chair, I emphasized my goals for the coming months. I believe it is important to move people and goods safely, effectively and efficiently. I am hopeful that as we consider legislation this session, we will keep this mission in mind. Additionally, I plan to work with state leadership to fundamentally fix our long-term funding for transportation.

4. Texas Electric Cooperatives at the Capitol

On Wednesday, representatives of electric cooperatives from across the state came to the Capitol to discuss legislative issues important to them. Electric cooperatives are unique from other power providers because they are tax-paying, not-for-profit businesses owned by the consumers they supply.

Senate District 3 is served by eight different cooperatives, each with their own board of directors, general manager and employees. They are integral parts of the communities in which they operate.

5. Governor’s appointments

Having served six years on the Senate Nominations Committee, I am very aware of the impact state boards have on Texas and I am encouraging more Senate District 3 constituents to apply for these positions. The governor is responsible for filling around 400 appointments for everything from the Animal Health Commission to the Soil and Water Conservation Board, and these decisions are then confirmed by the Senate. Our communities are blessed with so many individuals whose expertise and backgrounds could really benefit our state as a whole and I encourage you to get involved. For an application and more information, please visit www.governor.state.tx.us/appointments.

McKee files for Eustace school board

Ashley Adams McKee
Ashley Adams McKee

PRESS RELEASE FROM ASHLEY ADAMS MCKEE

Local attorney and child advocate, Ashley Adams McKee, has announced her candidacy for the Eustace ISD School Board. Ashley filed paperwork with Eustace ISD as a candidate for place 6 which is currently held by board president Diane Russ. Russ, who has been on the board for over a decade, has indicated she is not seeking another term.

McKee is a 1994 graduate of Malakoff High school. Other than her time away to attend college and law school, she is a lifelong resident of the Cedar Creek Lake area. She is a graduate of Navarro Junior College, the University of Texas at Arlington and Texas Wesleyan School of Law.

Ashley is married to District Attorney Scott McKee. Ashley and Scott live on Cedar Creek Lake with their three boys Stuart- 18, Ryan-7 and Ranger-5. Stuart, a senior, will attend Texas A&M University School of Engineering in the fall. Ryan and Ranger are students at the Eustace Primary School.

Ashley practices law in Henderson and surrounding counties with a focus on family law and the representation of abused and neglected children. She is also the Eustace All Sports Association Boy’s Kindergarten basketball coach, team mom for the K-2 Football team, current board member and president elect of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and a past president of the Henderson County Bar Association. “I have spent my entire career focused on the best interest of children” said McKee, “I have a passion for public service and advocating for kids.” McKee wants parents and educators to know that as someone who grew up in our community, she understands the challenges and opportunities available to our kids. “A quality education is a life changer. I want to encourage an expectation of excellence in our children. Ensuring the safety of our kids and teachers, while focusing on a 1st class education, will be my top priorities.”

Eustace ISD along with other local city and school board elections will occur on May 11th.

Sen. Robert Nichols: My Five Cents

NicholsThe following is a press release from the office of State Sen. Robert Nichols.

The third week of session has been a busy one with Senate Committee assignments released, as well as several much-talked-about pieces of legislation filed. The halls of the Capitol are teaming with people, and the pace only promises to pick up in the coming weeks.

Five important things that happened this week at your Texas Capitol are:

Committee Assignments Announced

Late last week Lt. Governor David Dewhurst announced the Senate Committee assignments for the current session. I am honored Dewhurst reappointed me to most of the same committees so I can continue the work I already started. This means I will continue to serve on the Natural Resources, Sunset, and Health and Human Services Committees, and as chair of Transportation. I will also remain as vice chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee, which affects local and county government.

However, I as a workers comp attorney have also been added to the State Affairs Committee, a committee dealing with everything from health insurance to workers’ compensation. I am pleased to be working on such important, yet diverse, issues. House committees have not been assigned yet, but will likely come next week.

Gun Bills Abound

Following the recent encroachment of Washington D.C. on our 2nd Amendment rights, many members of the Legislature have filed bills to fight back, especially those that are avid gun owners and might often peruse a site like Guns.com and others similar. Two of the more high profile bills include Representative John Otto’s “Second Amendment Preservation Act,” House Bill 533, which invalidates federal acts in violation of the Second Amendment and prohibits the enforcement of attempts to ban firearms or the amount of ammunition that may be purchased. Representative Steve Toth also announced plans to file the “Firearms Protection Act,” that would make any federal law banning semi-automatic firearms or limiting the size of gun magazines unenforceable within the state’s boundaries. Anyone trying to enforce a federal gun ban could face felony charges under the proposal.

“Invoicing the Federal Government Act”

Senator Estes filed Senate Concurrent Resolution 6, “Invoicing the Federal Government Act.” This would bill the federal government for the amount Texas has spent on border security in the past two years. As Senator Estes’ bill explains, border security is a federal duty and the cost should not be borne by the citizens of Texas. During the 2012-2013 budget cycle, the state has spent $221.6 million on such operations.

The federal government has delayed any meaningful action or reform on border security for quite some time, forcing Texans to foot the bill or face unimaginable consequences. An unprotected border allows for the risk of drug smuggling, human trafficking and cartel violence to infiltrate our state and beyond. Perhaps even more alarming is the ease with which members of terrorist organizations could enter the country and wreak unspeakable havoc.

Important Dates for the Legislative Session

The session may begin at a brisk pace, but as it continues, it picks up to whirlwind status. Here are a few important dates to keep in mind:

  • March 8th – This is the last date bills can be filed.
  • March 11th – Unless the Governor declares emergency legislative items, this is the first day the Legislature may vote on filed legislation.
  • May 27th – This is the final day of the 83rd regular session, which happens to fall on Memorial Day.
  • June 16th – This is the last day the governor can sign or veto bills passed during the regular legislative session.

Follow the Legislature Online

The Texas Legislature is now more accessible than ever via the internet at www.capitol.state.tx.us. The site allows you to watch hearings, look up bills by subject and keyword, review bill analyses and witness lists, and learn about fiscal implications. You may also sign up to receive e-mail notifications when bills of interest to you are assigned to committee and then advance through the process.

I am an ardent advocate for transparency in government and feel this is a huge step forward in that pursuit. By keeping abreast of happenings in your state capitol, you ensure accountability and integrity for all Texans.

Lance Gooden: Austin Update

The following is a press release from State Rep. Lance Gooden.

Dear Friends,

The legislative session has begun and we are anticipating an increase in workload in the coming weeks as committee assignments are announced. As I promised in my recent campaign, the budget for the upcoming two years will once again be balanced without raising taxes. It is my expectation that some of the funding cuts to essential state services, such as public education, will be restored. I will also continue to fight to ensure increased transparency in the budgeting process so Texas taxpayers can better understand how their tax dollars are spent. Over the coming months you will likely read a great deal about the budget and the expected revenue surplus that special interests are now trying to get their hands on. I will continue to work to cut more fat in the budget while restoring funding to areas that our communities need most.

Many residents of House District 4 have contacted me with their concerns over the recent gun control measures that may be forced upon us by Washington. It is too early to determine what legislation will have “legs” and be the key 2nd Amendment legislation this session in Austin, but I’m confident we will pass a strong bill that reaffirms Texans’ continued support of the right to bear arms and our growing discontent with the federal government’s desire to interfere in our lives.

The Legislature is notoriously slow in the first month of the session before things really pick up after committees come out and bills are finally heard for debate. The link below explains a lot of that, if you’re interested. http://www.kutnews.org/post/2013-texas-legislature-musical

If you plan to be in Austin in the coming months, please let our office know if we can help in any way with planning your trip. My updates will be more frequent when we begin to hear bills and there’s more action in Austin. I appreciate your continued prayers and support and look forward to keeping in touch with you regularly throughout the legislative session.