High Plains Report

I recognize that I am the most junior members of the House and for me to speak in this manner, I know, is highly unusual.  However, this may be the only opportunity I have to address this body on a matter that I feel is of utmost importance and lies deep within my heart.  In fact, what I am about to say to you, I believe, is so important that I am going to read it rather than speak freely as I am accustomed to doing.

HB1 is a good bill.  I am wholeheartedly behind reducing and restraining the growth on the egregious burden of property taxes in Texas.  I was glad to vote for it.  Carl stayed up way past his bedtime to watch the passage of HB1 and be a part of this historic legislation which you all have worked so hard on.

PROCLAMATION BY THE Governor of the State of Texas TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME: WHEREAS, education is the foundation for the economic and cultural future of the state of Texas and the constitutional responsibility for the development of an efficient system of public education rests with the legislature; and WHEREAS, the current state of public school finance requires immediate action by the legislature to ensure the continued efficient and effective operation of Texas schools due to the Texas Supreme Court's conclusion that the public education finance system violates article VIII, section 1-e of the Texas Constitution and the Texas Supreme Court has given the legislature until June 1, 2006 to change the public education finance system.; and WHEREAS, the people have placed the constitutional power to call and convene the legislature into special session in the hands of the Chief Executive Officer of the State; NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK PERRY, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, by the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 8, of the Texas Constitution, do hereby call an extraordinary session of the 79th Legislature, to be convened in the city of Austin, commencing at 2 p.m.

The state surplus has hit $8.2 billion, an amount so large that it could tempt lawmakers to forego a major tax overhaul as they begin a special session today focused on paying for school finance.

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