By Representative Diane Patrick
Early Saturday morning after 19 hours of discussions on the House Floor the House approved a $178 billion state budget for the next two years which is almost $4 billion less than the budget adopted by the Senate last week.
The adopted budget does not spend any Rainy Day Funds. Earlier in the week the House approved HB 4586 which approved emergency spending for hurricane recovery new public school textbooks and fire damage to the Governors Mansion.
House and Senate committees continue addressing important issues such as transportation voter identification windstorm insurance gaming school finance and the bud get.
My Higher Education Committee heard several hours of public testimony relating to tuition rate stabilization top 10 rule establishment of additional flagship universities and other pertinent issues. Several of my bills have been heard in committees and are in or on their way to the Calendars Committee awaiting referral to the House Floor.
My Pre-K bill HB 130 was voted out of the Public Education Committee on Thursday night. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Dallas Morning News recently published editorial pieces about this bill.
You can find information on bills being considered in hearings or on the House floor and more by visiting the House website at
www.house.state.tx.us
TxDOT Summer Employment Program
TxDOT is currently seeking high school and college students for its 2009 Summer Employment Program.
The program gives students the opportunity to gain valuable on-the-job experience in the transportation field while earning money help to cover educational expenses. Salaried positions are available from early May to August 15 in administrative information technology engineering and maintenance fields. To apply visit
http://www.txdot.gov/careers/summer.htm
Summer Internships
Summer Internships are available in our District and Capitol offices. These unpaid positions require a commitment of at least ten hours weekly and provide valuable experiences possible academic credit (when approved in advance by the instructor) and can lead to future paid employment. Interns must be high school graduates at a minimum. Contact either office if interested!
Post-Holiday Greetings!
I hope that everyone had a wonderful Easter or Passover holiday last weekend. We were blessed to enjoy some precious time with family which was very much appreciated during this busy time when we are in Session.
