High Plains Report

Bob Campbell
Staff Writer
Midland Reporter-Telegram

02/14/2007

Trying to build f momentum toward the September award of the $1 billion FutureGen project, state Sen. Kel Seliger on Monday filed a bill to give the two Texas bids an advantage over their Illinois competition.  

House Speaker Tom Craddick said in an interview today he expects the legislative session that started last month to lack the pressures of his first four years steering the House, a period encompassing laws restricting lawsuits, lowering school property taxes and redrawing congressional districts to reflect Republican gains.

Austin American Statesman

In this radio address, Senator Duncan discusses the positive impact the west Texas Regional Public Defender Offices for capital murder cases would have on the area, including how this program will help save counties money and will provide a higher quality of criminal defense to the indigent in these cases. 

South Plains lawmakers submitting proposals for new legislation

BY ENRIQUE RANGEL
AUSTIN BUREAU

AUSTIN - State representatives Joe Heflin and Delwin Jones have filed one bill each while State Sen. Kel Seliger has filed three.

On the other hand, representatives Warren Chisum and Carl Isett have already filed 16 and 12 bills and resolutions, respectively.

But "who is counting?" asks Jones, a Lubbock Republican, as he gently pats the back of a reporter with a grin on his face.

According to a news release from State Representative Carl Isett (R-Lubbock), the Lubbock legislator will file his Taxpayer Protection Act for the fourth session in a row.  The Taxpayer Protection Act is the basis for one of the recommendations in the report by the Governor’s Task Force on Appraisal Reform.The report recommends lowering the allowable increase in tax revenues received by local governments from 8% to 5% of last year's revenues.

Lt. Governor David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick (right)announced committee appointments for the 80th legislative session.

Sen. Robert Duncan (R) Lubbock:
State Affairs, Chair; Finance; Jurisprudence; Natural Resources

Sen. Kel Seliger (R) Amarillo:
Criminal Justice, Vice-chair; Administration; International Relations & Trade, Natural Resources

Rep. Warren Chisum (R) Pampa:
Appropriations, Chair; Energy Resources

Rep. Joe Heflin (R) Crosbyton:
Agriculture & Livestock; County Affairs

Rep. Carl Isett (R) Lubbock:
Appropriations, Licensing & Administrative Procedures, Budget and Oversight

BY ENRIQUE RANGEL
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL AUSTIN BUREAU

AUSTIN - Unlike virtually all of his colleagues in the Texas Legislature, Rep. Warren Chisum never went to college.

Yet, in his 18-year legislative career, the Pampa Republican not only became a key player, but now he is chairman of the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee, the most influential committee in the 181-member, two-chamber Legislature.

The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

In this radio address, Senator Robert Duncan discusses the importance of establishing Groundwater Conservation Districts, their impact on water marketing, and the possible threats to West Texas and Panhandle water supply from metropolitan areas.

www.senatorduncan.com

Notable priorities:

- Initiatives taken by school districts to increase efficiency and quality of education through innovative measures such as shared services.      

Not only does the Texas Constitution require lawmakers to craft an equitable public school system, it's the right thing to do. We have one public school system in Texas to educate the next generation of leaders.

History shows us that greatness can grow from humble beginnings, and its our job to make sure everyone has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their zip code.

It was with that in mind that rural and urban lawmakers, representing the needs of both rich and poor, crafted a school finance solution that will better serve all Texans.

This latest special session was enormously successful. Poor school districts will have access to more money than ever before, and wealthy districts will be able to keep much more of the money they generate locally.