Tagged: 83rd Legislature

A group of Texas lawmakers announced a snapshot of where the state is headed on issues like healthcare, environmental quality and education.

It’s called Texas on the Brink, which is a collection of statistics on the State of Texas. Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, is the chairman of the group.

Since the start of the legislative session, Rep. Eddie Lucio, D-Harlingen, has made it clear that Mexico needs to release the over 400,000 acre feet of water owed to Texas.

His fellow lawmakers have now joined that fight as his resolution addressing the issue passed on the House floor with unanimous vote.

At the Capitol, House Judiciary Committee members will debate a bill that would increase the number of people who have a say over how a child is raised in Texas.

The bill sparking debate is HB 393, filed by State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston.  Thompson’s bill would expand the number of people who can sue for visitation rights if they believe a child is being raised in a way that puts his or her well-being at risk. 

During the Texas Lyceum Conference on Transportation Friday, Gov. Rick Perry announced his plan to fix funding issues with transportation costs. 

"On every car or truck sold in the state of Texas, we take in sales tax. The amount we take in on those sales is increasing steadily. I propose we dedicate the future growth in sales tax collected on motor vehicles to transportation infrastructure," Perry said.

The governor said Texas should take advantage of the state’s relatively low debt to fix roads, like those in the Eagle Ford Shale and Burnet Shale areas of the state.

Texas Senate Committee on Finance gave their approval for tapping into the state’s so-called Rainy Day Fund to pay for future water and transportation needs.

Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, authored the bill that doesn’t include any of the money going to education.