And the Photo ID Bill is now on its way to the governors desk.
By State Senator Dan Patrick
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Last week the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Public Education held a press conference to announce our recommendation to the Senate to replace approximately $6 billion to the current proposal in Senate Bill 1. SB 1 as proposed cuts education funding by $9.3 billion. The people have spoken clearly that they want their elected officials to reduce spending and live within our means just as they have to do in their families.
Below are my remarks regarding this issue made at the press conference.
Other topics covered this time include my bills to exempt churches and schools from the imposition of drainage fees to save school districts millions in over burdensome mandates and to assert our 10th Amendment rights as Texans.
Finally I
posted an overview on the state budget that received a lot of positive feedback on my Facebook page. I am reproducing it below for you to read. It is lengthy but hopefully enlightening.
Senator Dan Patrick Remarks from March 23rd Press Conference with the Finance Subcommittee on Public Education Remarks
I want to thank Senator Shapiro and my fellow conservative colleagues who stand behind me today for coming together to take a stand both for conservative fiscal principles and for education.
As conservatives we believe government has to live within its means. We are currently in a budget environment that will require us to make billions of dollars in cutsand we will do so. We will cut government spending by billions
and balance the budget without raising taxes or broad based fees.
The people have spoken clearly that they want their elected officials to reduce spending and live within our meansjust as they have to do in their families.
At the same time if there is one common thread among all parents no matter their political views is they want the best education possible for their children. Virtually every Texas poll says the same thing: the vast majority of Texans want us to cut spending but not education.
The truth is that is not easy. Most Texans dont know we spend nearly half our budget on education already. If we are going to cut spending education must be part of our budget reduction. However if we prioritize the dollars we have to spend on education we can still fund education at a level that will address our needs and not negatively impact the classroom teachers or turn back the clock on the accountability standards we have set over the past several sessions.
At the same time districts on the local level must respond in the same way by cutting their spending and living within their means and making those cuts to non-classroom expenses. Teachers should be the last to be cut not the first. This is the time for all government entities to become more efficient including schools.
In summary the reason we have come together today as conservatives is to send a message that we stand firm on our principles of cutting government spending balancing the budget without raising taxes or broad based fees and prioritizing the dollars we do have to spend on education.
Education is our priority.
Drainage Fee Exemptions (SB 714)
In November 2010 voters approved hundreds of millions of dollars in new drainage fees for Houston. The ballot language was confusing even to the most informed voter. What was not clear to the voters was that the new fee would be placed on churches and school districts as well as businesses and homes.
We are a nation founded upon the freedom of religion. Churches have traditionally not been taxed. Once government finds a way to tax churches we risk losing our freedom of religion. In addition at a time when we are reducing the size of government we need our faith-based community to continue their work in programs for the poor those addicted to drugs abused women children seniors and outreach ministries to those in our jails and others in need. The new drainage fees will cost the churches in Houston millions of dollars a year.
In addition to churches the new tax puts the city in the position of taxing another government entity school districts. The tax will cost HISD over $3 million per year. To put it in perspective that is nearly 70 teaching positions.
I laid out Senate Bill 714 on Wednesday March 23rd to remove churches and schools from the new drainage fee. The amended language of the bill will also restrict the city from transferring the reduction in drainage fees from churches and schools onto the backs of homeowners and business owners. Representative Harold Dutton is carrying the companion House Bill 1022 in the House.
On Friday March 25th after taking a firm position for the past several months that she would not make any exemptions and only two days after I laid my bill out in the Senate Mayor Parker changed her mind and announced she would exempt churches and
schools from the tax. It is clear the Mayor finally got the message from the churches schools non-profits and city councilmen who supported my bill. I will continue to keep the pressure on in Austin to be sure the Mayor follows up on her change of position.
The Mayor says this new fee will cost the average homeowner $5.00 a month. We will also have to monitor what the actual fee is to homes once the work begins. The bill was passed by voters by less than a 1 margin. The law is currently being challenged in court by those who believe the election should be overturned because of misleading ballot language.
School District Flexibility (SB 443)
School districts are seeking flexibility in certain state mandates because of ongoing budgetary constraints. They believe that given more flexibility they can make better use of the available funds to achieve academic success for their students.
To illustrate a key provision in SB 443 is that a school district or charter can remove any educator convicted of a felony immediately from their position suspend their pay and provide notice that their contract is void. Hearing requirements are no longer applicable and the district or charter must terminate their employment as soon as possible.
This will save districts $25000 to $50000 a hearing with an independent hearing examiner.
10th Amendment Rights Asserted (SCR 14):
A press conference with the Governor Lt. Governor and many of my legislative colleagues was held recently to promote the importance of pressing for our Tenth Amendments rights in Texas. I have filed SCR 14 as the senate sponsor for House Concurrent Resolution 50 filed by Representative Creighton. These Tenth Amendment resolutions remind Washington D.C. that
powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved to the states or to the people.
In plain language the Tenth Amendment assures that the business of Texas is none of the business of Washington. If the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is to have any meaning at all the federal government must stop wielding excessive power and influence over the states.
All of my fellow Republican senators are signed on as co-authors. Eighty-two of Rep. Creightons colleagues have signed to support HCR 50 so far.
It is important that the State of Texas push to restore the rightful meaning of and respect for the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution if liberty is to prevail. To sum up as succinctly as possible the business of Texas is best left to Texans.
Photo Voter ID (SB 14)
A much watched bill made it through final passage in the House last Wednesday night Senate Bill 14. Photo Voter ID is now on its way to the governors desk. I was proud to work with both senate and house members to turn this bill into state law to better protect the integrity of the vote in Texas.
A Basic Primer on the State Budget
I have recently given a number of presentations on
our current budget situation in Texas. People ask:
- Where do we spend our money?
- How deep is the budget gap?
- How did it happen?
- What can we do about it?
- What does the future look like beyond this current budget?
- And what exactly is the purpose of the Rainy Day Fund.
Several people asked me to send them the information so they can share it with others. The more informed the public is about government the better government we will have.
A Breakdown of the Budget
Education and healthcare primarily Medicaid on the healthcare side account for nearly 80 of our budget. People say all of the
time including recent polls cut spending but dont cut spending for education and healthcare. With our current economy and budget gaps it is impossible to cut spending without some level of cutting spending in those two areas.
The key is to cut spending preserve the quality in the classroom and provide for those truly in need.
Our budget is broken down into an
All Funds Budget and
General Revenue Funds Budget.
Click to see the full article on the budget breakdown. Lengthy but hopefully enlightening.
