Tx Capitol Report | A view from the Texas state capitol

Tapping the Rainy Day fund

State Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, has filed a bill that would allow lawmakers to use $4.3 billion from the $9.4 billion rainy day fund.

Pitts wants to use the money to pay for the state’s 2010-11 budget deficit with the idea that it will free up some funding to deal with the state’s multi-billion dollar shortfall for the next two years.

The bill is HB 275.

Some journalists blocked from following Gov. Rick Perry on Twitter

"You have been blocked from following this account at the request of the user."

That's the message that several members of the Texas media received when trying to follow Gov. Rick Perry on Twitter.

For those who don't use Twitter, picture it as a website that allows you to get short updates from politicians, friends and even the media. For the most part, Twitter accounts are public and you can follow someone without the person having to give their permission.

Dallas Morning News Reporter Tom Benning wrote about how he and other members of the Texas media were turned away when they attempted to follow Perry on Twitter.

Benning later posted a reply from the governor's press office that said the governor manages his personal account as he chooses.

Check out Benning's post here.

According to Twitter Gov. Perry would have had to follow the steps below to block someone:

1. Log in to your Twitter account
2. Go to the profile page of the person you wish to block.
3. Click gear icon. This brings up a drop-down Actions menu
4. Select Block from the options listed

In case you all are wondering TxCapitolReport is one of the governor's 37,551 followers.

 

El Pasoan named to state task force to look at unfunded mandates

El Paso Mayor John Cook was named by Gov. Rick Perry to a task force that will look at the unfunded mandates the state has placed on cities, counties and school districts.

Other than Cook, the task force will include Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Comal County Sheriff Bob Holder, former Mayor of San Marcos Susan Narvaiz,  Houston City Councilman Mike Sullivan,
Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos,  Collin County Judge Keith Self, Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon and Hudson Independent School District Superintendent Mary Ann Whiteker.

Recommendations from the task force will go to the governor in March.

Check out a preliminary list on unfunded mandates that Cook gave Perry during El Paso Days in Austin:

 
 

Unfunded Mandates List w Descriptions

See which school districts had dual credit for physical education

The El Paso Times today ran a story about state officials questioning the need for dual credit programs in physical education.

Below is a list of of the school districts with students who received dual credit for physical education in 2009:

 

LBB Dual Credit Detail

Demographer talks about "absurd figures" on undocumented immigrants

Most of Texas' growth is either natural or due to the migration of people from other states, not undocumented immigrants, said demographer Steve Murdock.

"Our growth is overwhelmingly made up of documented persons," Murdock told members of the House Mexican American Legislative Caucus Thursday.

About 10.8 million undocumented immigrants live in the United States, down about 1 million from three to four years ago because of the recession, Murdock said. Of those people about 1.6 million undocumented immigrants live in Texas, he said.

"There are some really absurd figures floating around," said Murdock, a sociology professor at Rice University, former U.S. Census director and past state demographer.

He added that he was with a group that included legislators a few months ago and some said there were between 20 million and 25 million undocumented immigrants in the country.

"I don't mind a little exaggeration but we sometimes get to points where they're just demographically not very well-informed," Murdock said.

Murdock said a good indicator of the country's population is death.

"We get their bodies when they die and if there are really 25 million undocumented immigrants in the United States they are the healthiest group of people whose ever lived in the United States," he said.

Texas Education Agency begins layoffs for employees

Pink slips are being handed out to employees at the Texas Education Agency which is bracing for deep cuts in light of a budget shortfall of up to $27 billion.

It is still not clear how many of the agency's more than 1,000 employees face layoffs.

Education Commissioner Robert Scott released this statement:

“Based on the impending budget reductions, we have taken steps to reduce the size of the agency. We will continue our mission to serve our school districts and students."

 

Mud flaps on school buses

State Rep. Fred Brown, R-Bryan, presented a bill today in front of the House Transportation committee that would require school buses traveling outside of city limits to have mud flaps.

"This was a constituent driven bill because a constituent had a windshield broken out because he was behind a bus that didn't have mud flaps," Brown said.

His bill drew concerns from members of the committee and representatives for school boards and school buses, all who said such legislation could result in an unfunded mandate.

A representative with the Texas Association for Pupil Transportation said mud flaps cost about $36 and retrofitting older buses could bump the cost to $50 with installation. About 90 percent of the state's school buses are made with a 12 to 15 foot overhang that is meant to act as a mud flap, according to the association.

Brown said not all buses would have to be retrofitted under the bill. He said the bill only applies to  buses that travel outside city limits, such as those taking students to competitions.

But rural lawmakers worried about school district bus routes that are outside of city limits.

State Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Tomball/Cy-Fair, said the bus system was generally designed to pick up children who live outside of city limits.

"I have the third largest school district in the state of Texas, Cy-Fair, only behind Houston and Dallas, and that's not a city period," Fletcher said.

Brown offered to amend the bill by only requiring mud flaps on new buses and possibly certain classes of buses.

 

Listen to audio from "Texas Can Do Better" rally

There was no shortage of speeches or chants Tuesday at the "Texas Can Do Better" rally.

Students, civil rights and religious groups, military veterans and lawmakers gathered to protest bills filed in Texas that target undocumented immigrants.

Below are a few audio clips from the march and rally:

 

Chants by "Dreamers"

 

"Education not Deportation" chants

 

"Si Se Puede"

Speech by State Sen Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso:

 

State Sen. Jose Rodriguez

 

 

 

Signs at the "Texas Can Do Better" rally

Thousands of Texans descended on the state Capitol Tuesday to protest legislation that targets undocumented immigrants.

Below is a sampling of some of the signs they took to the "Texas Can Do Better" rally:

 

• "Our teachers are not immigration officers"

•"Rick Perry do not forget this nation is made up of immigrants"

•"Watch out Republicans: Latinos R-out-2 vote u out"

•"No babies are illegal"

•"Texas can do better"

•"We skipped school to say no to Riddle"

•"Immigration demands a federal solution"

•"Rep. Berman HB 293 violates the U.S. & Texas Constitution"

•"I'm not an ICE agent... I'm a teacher and I want to teach."

•"Schools are sactuaries of learning"

•"Keep SB 1070 in Arizona"

•"Have you hugged an immigrant today"

•"Zapata Vive!"

•"No Arizona hate in Texas!"

•"Basta de tratarnos como criminales solo somos personas de trabajo"

•"Obama do what you promised!!"

 

Rally to show solidarity with Wisconsin protestors

The Texas chapter of the AFL-CIO had a "candlelight" or "flashlight" vigil tonight to show its support of Wisconsin workers who are protesting proposed budget cuts.

Scores of public workers in Wisconsin are protesting Republican Gov. Scott Walker's attempts to pass a budget that would cut benefits and curtail collective bargaining rights.

“But in Wisconsin, a newly elected governor is trying to deal out political punishment and take away workers’ fundamental rights in one over-reaching budget bill," Texas AFL-CIO President Becky Moeller said in a statement. "As in Texas, the leaders in Wisconsin are misinterpreting their election mandate. Voters said resoundingly that they want jobs, not layoffs. They want good schools, not closed schools. And they want lawmakers to be responsive to them, not their well-heeled funders."

“What’s being planned by the new leaders in Wisconsin is a crime of opportunity, and we intend to help take that opportunity away,” Moeller said.