Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas I am honored to be part of the budget writing process and ready to roll up my sleeves and work towards passage of
a fiscally sound and balanced budget that funds essential state services limits state spending leaves money in the taxpayers savings account (the Rainy Day Fund) and balances the budget without increasing the tax burden upon our citizens. So said State Sen. Glenn Hegar after being named to the prestigious Senate Finance Committee
as the 83rd Texas Legislature convenes.
On January 18th Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst appointed Senate Committees. State Senator Glenn Hegar was given the appointment to lead the Senate Committee on Nominations and was named Chairman of the senates only subcommittee a subset of the Senate Committee on Finance that will review state and local revenue matters.
The senator will also continue his service as a member of both the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agricultural Rural Affairs & Homeland Security.
Opening week was a busy one as the 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives and the 31-member Texas Senate formally commenced the legislative session by welcoming friends and family to the
Capitol for the swearing-in ceremonies attended to early legislative duties and responded to media requests as public interest built in response to the start of a historic session.
Once every decade the Senate members draw for terms of office after redistricting (when all 31 Senators appear on the ballot) so that in the decades remaining elections only half of the senate will be up for election every two years.
January 23rd brought about the much anticipated drawing; senators were called forward in random order and asked to draw an unmarked envelope each of which contained a slip of paper numbered somewhere between 1 and 31.
The senators who drew odd numbers got four-year terms. The ones who drew even numbers got two-year terms.
Luck was on the Senators side this session as he pulled an envelope containing lucky number eleven meaning he will serve a four-year term.
- 8 Republicans and 7 Democrats drew the coveted odd numbers and will enjoy 4-year terms.
- 9 Republicans and 6 Democrats drew 2-year terms.
As the 83rd Legislature begins Senator Hegar looks forward to working to solve problems unique to Senate District 18 and to tackling Texas most pressing statewide issues.
I am excited to be a member of such important committees and to have the opportunity to work on issues like transportation water reducing high stakes testing in public schools immigration and many other
vital issues that are important to the hard-working taxpayers of Senate District 18. The legislatures chief responsibility each session is to craft the two-year budget for state operations a significant challenge given the enormous geography and economy of Texas.
This will be Hegars fourth session as State Senator for Senate District 18.
Senator Hegar served two terms in the Texas House of Representatives and now represents Senate District 18 in the Texas Senate. Senate District 18 contains over one-third of the Texas coastline. He is a sixth generation Texan and earns a living farming on land that has been in his family since the mid 1800s. He currently resides in Katy Texas with his wife Dara and their three children Claire Julia and Jonah.
