By David Diaz - Legislative Media
Even before he took his oath-of-office on Tuesday January 8 Rep. Terry Canales D-Edinburg had already prepared and filed four pieces of key legislation designed to generate more economic development money for local cities and counties without requiring any higher taxes hold state lawmakers legislative staff and powerful state bureaucrats to higher ethical standards and improve the states justice system.
Even though I had not been sworn into office I wanted to demonstrate to my constituents that I will work hard to improve the lives of the citizens of Hidalgo County and all Texans" said Canales whose House District 40 includes Edinburg Elsa northern Pharr and the University of Texas-Pan American
Canales was joined at the Capitol for his swearing-in by family and friends. Joining him on the House floor as he took his oath of office was his wife Erica and their two children Juliana and Terry Andres.
Other key family members who witnessed the swearing-in ceremony included Rep. Canales father Terry A. Canales and his sister Gabriela Canales both former state representatives. Also in attendance were Rep. Canales mother Rachel Borchard and her husband Richard Borchard. Mr. Borchard is a former Nueces County Judge.
Going back to 2011 when he began his successful campaign for the Texas Legislature Canales said he has been meeting with local business and community leaders to address issues important to House District 40 especially those measures that would help bring more jobs to Hidalgo County and increase state funding for public education.
Canales an Edinburg attorney said he would be filing co-authoring and co-sponsoring other measures in the coming weeks designed to help people from all walks of life including plans to create a new university system and medical school for the Valley which would create thousands of new jobs and to improve higher education and health care in deep South Texas.
Already introduced into the legislation process are the following measures:
- House Bill 348 which would require all state lawmakers legislative staff and state agency leaders to take ethics training. This measure would be fundamental to ensuring that Texans have faith in our system of government and can feel confident that their state government is operated in a correct and honest way" said Canales.
- House Bill 349 which would allow for electronic filing for criminal cases in Hidalgo County. This will save Hidalgo County money and move it into the 21st century becoming a model criminal court system for other counties to follow.
- House Bill 350 which would make evidence more accessible to attorneys in order to improve the justice system.
- House Bill 351 which would allow state and local governments to generate more money for economic development programs from the hotel occupancy tax without raising the tax rate.
