High Plains Report

"This is Robert Duncan, your state Senator for West Texas.  On Monday, April 16, the Senate passed legislation that will be very significant for Texas and West Texas.  Senator Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio - a Texas Tech law school graduate by the way - passed legislation that would require congressional redistricting to be determined by a bipartisan panel appointed by the House, Senate and the Governor's office.  That bill, if passed, will take the contentious redistricting issue out of the highly charged partisan environment of the Texas Legislature, and move it to a commission that can make decisions based more on the science of redistricting than the purely political trade-offs.  While it is not perfect, it is certainly a step in the right direction. 

 Sen. Robert Duncan

Generations of Texans have made a living from the land. The beauty of Texas’ natural landscape and abundant wildlife is a significant part of our larger-than-life identity. From tall mountains and big skies to rich soils and tropical beaches, Texas is composed of wondrous natural vistas. And, as our world becomes more urban and people are more stacked up instead of spread out, it’s critical that in Texas, we can still appreciate wide open spaces.

I grew up in a rural community. Protecting and preserving our wild and rugged landscapes is of paramount concern.

We cannot permit our state parks to fall into ruin. The Texas Parks & Wildlife legislative appropriations request asks us to funnel another $171 million into our parks system. I certainly support the concept of appropriately funding this system. It’s a decision we’ll consider closely in the Senate Finance Committee.

In this radio address, Sen. Robert Duncan discusses the pros and cons of the Governor's proposal to sell the Texas lottery.  Some estimate the Lottery could be sold for $14 billion.  The lottery currently generates about a billion dollars a year.

www.senatorduncan.com

By Enrique Rangel

AUSTIN - For a while, it looked like illegal immigration was going to be the most divisive issue of the 80^th Legislature and Rep. David Swinford, R-Dumas, would be right in the middle a bloody fight. After all, some of the more than two dozen bills filed so far include controversial measures, such as denying health care and public education to U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants.

But now, though it may still be a hot potato, it doesn't look like illegal immigration will be the divisive issue many lawmakers had feared, thanks to some preemptive action that Swinford and others have taken.

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. 

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

A tough row to hoe

BY D. LANCE LUNSFORD
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

Lubbock and the surrounding region largely depend on agriculture, but the industry faces new challenges.

A power breakfast kicking off the Southwest Farm and Ranch Classic on Tuesday showed the many challenges staring down agriculture and creating a dark cloud that could affect Lubbock.

The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Harnessing the Wind

BY D. LANCE LUNSFORD
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

It's windy, man.

No, not that Windy Man, the disgraced concrete structure that state officials once planned to put around Lubbock highways.

Rather, it's the non-stop howling variety that is, more and more, bringing money to the region. Investors see potential in what people here have known for a long time about the South Plains and Panhandle - it's windy, man.

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal