The State Board of Education (SBOE) does not want to face the public, especially not the SBOE Chairwoman, Gail Lowe. Here's what happened:
The Mexican American Legislative Caucus, the Legislative Study Group, the House Black Caucus, and Senate Hispanic Caucus invited numerous SBOE and education officials to a hearing
SBOE Chairwoman Gail Lowe declined, saying she couldn't afford to make the trip
MALC made transportation arrangements, housing arrangements, and were going to pay for Lowe's gas to attend the short trip from Lampasas to Austin -- a commute that is hardly beyond the realm of possibility.
Lowe still refused to attend.
From the press release I received from MALC:
Initially citing the fact that her position as SBOE Chair was unpaid, Lowe declined to make the short trip from Lampasas to Austin. Even after receiving notification that MALC had made arrangements for a hotel, mileage reimbursement and per diem for meals; Lowe declined again— this time claiming a work commitment.
"To be turned down by Chairwoman Lowe is surprising and disappointing. I urge her to realize that over fifty members of the legislature are requesting her attendance at this very important hearing. We all have hectic lives and busy schedules, but she needs to make the time " said MALC Chairman Trey Martinez Fischer.
The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 28 from 9am-3pm at the Capitol Extension E2.012
Cynthia Dunbar, another Republican on the SBOE, is under fire from the Texas Freedom Network for additionally controversial remarks she made over the weekend. From a post on the TFN Insider blog titled, "Dunbar Takes New Trip on Extremism Train":
Speaking last week on a far-right talk show, The American View, (read more about the show here) Dunbar — a Richmond Republican representing a state board district that stretches from west of Houston to Austin — attacked public education and even the religious faith of people who don’t agree with her. She also repeated her infamous attack on President Obama as a terrorist sympathizer. And as the state board prepares to take a final vote next month on social studies curriculum standards for public schools, Dunbar suggested that supporters of separation of church and state don’t understand the Constitution and that the drafters of the First Amendment had no concerns “whatsoever” for the nonreligious.
State Rep. Mike Villarreal is one of numerous legislators and groups urging Texans to take action and speak up about the State Board of Education. Sign a petition he has here.
Today could mark the most important day for health care in America in a generation. The United States House of Representatives is preparing to vote on health care reform today -- legislation that would have a tremendously positive impact on Texas.
State Representative Garnet Coleman chairs the Legislative Study Group. (Note: He is my former boss). For the past year, Rep. Coleman has worked tirelessly on the health care reform legislation, spending days and weeks on end helping with the legislation and lobbying for its passage. Late last night, he sent out CBO estimates on the impact the legislation will have on Texas.
You can view a pdf of the letter here. I've copied the entire LSG report below, but here are the highlights:
A million Texans will be added through an expansion of Medicaid, with 100% of the costs of new enrollees covered until 2018, then reduced to 90% by 2020.
Over the ten-year timeline of the bill, Texas will spend $1.4 billion -- the bulk of those dollars after 2014. Over the same period of time, Texas is expected to receive $120 billion from the federal government.
Most of Texans 5.9 million uninsured citizens will gain health insurance, and those who are insured will earn the benefits of historic insurance reform.
Health insurance reform will provide immediate relief to Texas families by preventing insurance companies from inexplicably and excessively raising their rates. It will cap the amount of money an individual can spend on out-of-pocket expenses, eliminate lifetime and unreasonable annual limits on benefits and ensure that families aren't driven into debt by health care costs. Additionally, it will stop insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions and prohibit insurance companies from kicking people off their policies when they're sick and need it most.
Below is the full text of the LSG Policy Update about the CBO projections:
With the United States House of Representatives poised to take a vote on health care reform tomorrow (Sunday, 3/21/10), we wanted to provide you with some data on the expected financial impact on Texas state government.
Congressman Henry Cuellar provided us with a letter from Congressman Henry Waxman, Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The Chairman responds to an inquiry from Congressman Cuellar on the fiscal impact of the Medicaid provisions in health reform on the State of Texas.
The House will take two main votes tomorrow: one on final passage of health insurance reform, and one on a sidecar reconciliation bill that improves upon the main legislation. Taken together, these measures will have an historic impact on our country and especially in Texas where almost 28 percent of the population is uninsured.
One important provision is the Medicaid expansion that will bring a million Texans living at or near the poverty level into coverage. Currently, Texas covers parents with incomes up to 26 percent of federal poverty level (FPL). The legislation will increase that to 133 percent of FPL while covering 100 percent of the costs of new enrollees until 2018, then stairstepping down the reimbursement level to 90 percent by 2020.
There have been various estimates of the proposed impact on the Texas state budget - Congressman Cuellar's letter sheds some light on the projected state impact as viewed by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). To begin with, the legislation under consideration would be in effect for ten years - through the end of 2019 - at which point Congress would have to reauthorize it. Going on the timeline of the bill (2010 - 2019), Texas should expect to spend around $1.4 billion over ten years, the bulk of which would not come until after the changes go into effect, after 2014.
This stands in contrast to estimates by HHSC you may have seen cited in the press that peg the cost at approximately $24 billion. That estimate is on a different timeline: going from 2014 - 2023, or four years past the legislation's life. It also includes approximately $6 billion in possible cuts to Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) funding that is generally used to compensate hospitals that perform uncompensated care. The HHSC estimate also does not include many of the provisions in the proposed reconciliation improvement bill - for instance, Medicaid DSH reductions are smaller in the Medicaid bill. The CBO projects a $1.2 billion reduction in DSH funds over the course of the legislation (2010-2019).
All told, Texans and Texas state government stand the chance to benefit greatly from federal healthcare reform legislation. Most of the 5.9 million uninsured Texans will gain health insurance, all insured Texans will gain protection from the worst practices of the insurance industry, and Texas will likely receive over $120 billion in federal dollars.
Economist Ray Perryman noted that spending on CHIP and Medicaid has a 3.25 multiplier effect - meaning every dollar spent generates 3.25 times that amount in economic activity. The legislation has the potential to create jobs and boost economic activity in our state while also ensuring the health and well being of all its citizens.
Thank you again to Congressman Cuellar for passing along Chairman Waxman's analysis. You can view a pdf of the letter here.
The state's largest provider of homeowner's insurance has announced another rate hike. Because of legislation passed in 2003, the state is powerless to act on behalf of homeowners. Lawmakers should pass "prior approval" legislation to regulate insurance companies and provide relief to Texas homeowners, who pay some of the highest premiums in the country.
The Legislative Study Group (LSG) has released a study showing how a 2003 law has created a system that directly harms Texas homeowners.
State Farm has announced that they will raise homeowner insurance rates by 4.5 percent in May. This comes on the heels of an 8.8 percent increase in October. Texas homeowners already pay the second highest insurance premiums in the country; such a steep rate increase hurts Texas homeowners financially as they navigate through the worst recession in a generation.
These rate hikes require no prior approval of any kind. It might be important to mention, the Texas Insurance Commissioner is also appointed, not elected. This means the only person who can reprimand the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Commissioner, Mike Geeslin, is Rick Perry. Geeslin, has served as the Commissioner since 2005.
Before Geeslin took the job, insurance companies had to petition for rate increases.
As a result of a dramatic increase in mold claims prior to 2003, homeowner insurance rates were pushed to record heights. In response, legislators in the 78th Legislature passed SB 14, which, among other things, moved Texas to a "file and use" system.
Previously, rates were established by the Commissioner of the Texas Department of Insurance, and companies had to petition the department for approval to raise their rates above the established level. However, a loophole allowed most companies to shift their policies outside of the regulations, meaning consumers still saw high premiums.
The "file and use" system passed in 2003 did little to alleviate the problem. Under the new system, insurance companies were simply required to inform the department of a rate change before they implemented it. The department had no mechanism to regulate insurance companies as they implemented premium rates.
Currently, TDI has no real authority to stop rate hikes because of the 2003 law. It has not gone through the process of review, commonly referred to as sunset review, since 1993. According to the LSG report, this means all TDI can do is write a strongly worded, disapproving letter. The only solutions are to put TDI under sunset review, make the Texas Department of Insurance Commissioner an elected position or force the Governor to intervene and protect homeowners. None are likely or possible until 2011.
To read the full report, read it online at TexasLSG.org. LSG is chaired by Rep. Garnet Coleman and it's Vice Chairs are Rep. Lon Burnam and Rep. Valinda Bolton.
Ed. Note: To see a quick overview of the bills the Texas House considered today -- along with a policy overview of each bill -- read the Texas Legislative Study Group's floor report.
Here is a look at today's calendar in the Texas House -- the first of the session. The hyperlink over the bill number will take you directly to the Texas Legislature Online page for that bill, wherein you can look at the actual text of the bill, the bill analysis, etc.
We hope to do this, as much as possible, every day there is a calendar on the floor of the Texas House. The Texas Legislative Study Group puts out an analysis for each day's Calendar. I'll be linking to them atop the page every day because, well (See Update below.) They do outstanding work and it would be foolish not to highlight their efforts. Their reports are made by a large group of staffers that track the bills through the Committee process, speak to lobbyists about the bill, and work with the individual Member to make sure they understand the bill. Their work is just incredible.
And yes, I used to be Chief of Staff for Rep. Garnet Coleman, who chairs the Legislative Study Group. There's a reason I write so much about policy on BOR -- he taught me about how to talk about policy, and he helped develop my belief that if you focus on the policy, the politics will take care of itself. Anyone should be so lucky to have the opportunity to work for him; I did, and I want to share some of the excellent work he and the LSG produce because I think it will better inform all Texans about the actual laws that our Representatives are working on at the Capitol.
Finally -- I'd link to the conservatives' version of their floor report, but it just says "yes/no" and gives no actual policy analysis. You know -- lock step and all.
Here's today's calendar -- and I promise, future posts won't have the long and winding introduction:
HB 873 by Rep. Dawnna Dukes (D) - Film incentives bill. Want to have more movies made in the state of Texas? This bill will make that easier to happen by allowing grants to be awarded to digital media producers, and it will increase incentives for those who spend more money in the state.
This bill is a lot bigger deal than some of Rep. Dukes critics give her credit for; it's an easy way to bring money to communities while simultaneously encouraging the arts as an important subject. Art/movie/film communities are non-existant in public schools, and this bill at least brings the real deal to town -- so those who want can learn from experience and have the opportunity to see and work in a field of industry they can't gain knowledge about in school.
HB 394 by Rep. Patrick Rose (D) - Allows small businesses to qualify for the Texas Economic Development Fund. First two bills -- Democrats working to improve the the economic issues of the day. I am proud to be a Democrat.
HB 1822 by Rep. Burt Solomons (R) - Gives rulemaking authority to the PUC to unify language on electric bills, thereby creating transparency in the process. freshman Rep. Diana Maldonado (D - Round Rock) is a co-author of the bill.
HB 313 was enacted in 2007 to rectify the abuse of NAFTA in which individuals buy a truck or trailer in another state and use it outside border commercial zones. The unintended consequences of this legislation required Mexican truck operators to obtain Texas registration plates every time they crossed into border commercial zones, even if they were not owners of the vehicle.
HB 782 allows truck drivers passage to and from border commercial zones without having to obtain new registration plates for Texas. The vehicle must have registered plates indicating a reciprocity agreement and must also be registered in the country that the owner of the ehicle is a citizen in or resides in. Canadian provinces that exempt currently registered vehicles owned by nonresidents are also effective in a border commercial zone.
HB 38 by Rep. Franke Corte (R) - Allows for veterans and their families to pay in-state tuition rates regardless of their residency status.
HB 693 by Rep. Vicki Truitt (R) - "Exempts falconers from having to hold a pest control license." For the record, that was two economic development bills, a utility rate bill, a transportation bill, a veterans & higher education bill...then that other big issue, Falcon licensing. Republican State Rep. Vicki Truitt, everyone -- FTL.
HB 968 by Rep. Mark Homer (D) - "Removes the restrictions on hunting with crossbows during bow hunting season." And right behind Rep. Truitt we have Democrat Rep. Mark Homer! Who says good things don't come in pairs!
(I joke around, but I worked for a rural State Rep. for nearly two years, from 2005 through summer of 2006, and these are absolutely the bills that constiuents will write in and demand action on the loudest. So while I joke about their relative importance to state business, both Rep. Truitt and Rep. Homer are still serving their constiuents. If you can survive the crossfire of the bow-hunter shooting down the falcons, you can see a certain amount of democratic beauty in that.)
HB 1695 by Rep. Sylvester Turner (D) - Allows the PUC to require for utilities that experience severe outages due to weather to consider a disaster preparation/management kind of plan. Though it doesn't outright require them, it lays the groundwork for the creation of those plans -- and when it comes to the PUC and utilities, sometimes you need the small moves to set up the big ones.
HB 1637 would improve benefits under the shared work unemployment compensation program for underserved workers and industries by adding greater work schedule flexibility in determining benefits. Currently, benefits are granted based on a consistent 40-hour workweek, which many businesses and employees do not follow, especially in the manufacturing industry.
In manufacturing, for example, facilities operate on a 24-hour, 7 day-a-week basis, so it makes sense to employ workers on a schedule alternating 3 and 4 day weeks. However, under current statute, workers on an alternating biweekly schedule that averages 40 hours per week would be eligible for less benefits than workers who work consistent 40-hour work weeks.
This bill gives affected businesses greater flexibility in retaining their workers, thus preventing layoffs. In this economic climate, this bill is needed to make the shared work unemployment compensation program more effective and equitable when it’s needed most. This bill is favored by a broad array of business and labor groups.
I'm very proud to see two of our freshman members, Rep. Diana Maldonado and Rep. Chris Turner, with legislation on the first day's calendar. Rep. Maldonado and Rep. Chris Turner were the first two candidates that TexBlog PAC endorsed. For everyone who donated to TexBlog PAC and helped us support these candidates -- this is your investment paying off for you.
Update: I forgot that the LSG Floor Reports are subscription-only, and it is the other reports -- their higher ed reports, state school reports, etc. -- that are open to everyone. I should have remembered this since I worked with them so much, but I think I just got excited at reading the first Calendar of the session and their first Floor Report of the Session. And yes, I'm a policy dork that gets excited about stuff like that -- why do you think I'm spending my Spring Break posting on BOR? Deal with it.
Since they sell subscriptions -- a la Quorum Report & Texas Weekly -- I won't be able to link directly to it every day. Though, like I do with QR, I will crib from my subscription if/when it is necessary and appropriate, and I will still use their excellent research to form and shape these calendar posts.
Bottom line: you'll still be able to come to BOR for coverage of what is happening at the Capitol. So keep reading!
Today the board members of the Legislative Study Group (LSG) unanimously reelected Representative Garnet Coleman as Chair. In addition, LSG also unanimously elected Representative Valinda Bolton to the position of Vice Chair.
Rounding out the returning officers are Representative Elliott Naishtat as Treasurer, Representative Lon Burnam as the second Vice Chair, Representative Dora Olivo as Legal Counsel and Representative Rafael Anchía as Secretary. In addition Representative Marisa Marquez was appointed as the freshman Ex-Oficio representative to the board.
The LSG board also consists of Representatives Roberto Alonzo, David Farabee, Pete Gallego, Terri Hodge, Scott Hochberg, Eddie Rodriguez, Mike Villarreal, and Abel Herrero.
Congrats to the board and to both the officers of LSG.
