Wednesday, January 03, 2007

When the 80th Texas Legislature convenes for a 140-day session Jan. 9,
lawmakers will tackle a bevy of bills that target thousands of state laws -
some newly introduced and at the forefront of national debate, and others
dealing with unresolved matters that were swept aside last session amid the
state's school-finance woes. Legislators will consider changing a range of
state policies, including: water use and reuse, conservation and
environmental flow; placing a cap on extreme price increases on electricity
or extending regulation; overhauling how governmental bodies can seize
private property; and disclosure of all real estate sales prices.
The fight over how to fund public schools and fix a flawed property tax
system topped the state's biggest battles in 2006. Legislators cut school
property taxes and replaced that revenue with a new state business tax and a
higher cigarette tax that became law Jan. 1. A pack of cigarettes rose
nearly $1 and about $12 per carton. The boost is expected to bring in $680
million over the next year. But the smoke over an educational overhaul won't
have entirely cleared by the time the bell rings for the next session. A
bill proposed by the Texas Gaming Association would merge resort-style
casinos, video slot machines at racetracks and gambling at state Indian
reservations - all proposals that face strong opposition from social
conservatives in the Legislature. The gaming association proposes opening 12
resort-style casinos in Texas, including one in Tarrant County and two in
Dallas County. Advocates of the proposal, which would require voter approval
for a constitutional amendment, estimate that the gambling expansion would
bring in $3.2 billion in tax revenue to the state's coffers and an
additional $800 million to city and county governments. The bill would
allocate half of the state's revenue, or $1.6 billion, into a financial aid
fund that would pay college tuition for every Texas high school graduate who
meets certain requirements. The remainder would go into the state's general
fund. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, meanwhile, said he'll ask lawmakers to
approve a plan to revamp standardized testing for high school students. His
proposal, which teachers oppose, would replace the Texas Assessment of
Knowledge and Skills with end-of-course exams in each of the core high
school subjects. The proposal also would require high school juniors and
seniors to take the ACT or SAT college entrance exams at taxpayers'
expenses.

Following a national trend, immigration will no doubt be front and center
with Texas policymakers, who may pass diverse legislation, including laws
that would: restrict birthright citizenship; deny undocumented residents
state assistance such as health care and education; make it illegal for them
to obtain business permits; impose an 8-percent tax on money transmitted
from Texas to Mexico or Central and South America.

The federal government has authority over most laws governing international
borders, but Gov. Rick Perry used border security as a cornerstone of his
re-election bid. He's expected to ask the Legislature for additional funding
to border counties for law enforcement.

On another front, House Bill 349, filed by state Rep. Charlie Geren of Fort
Worth, would require more disclosure from cities, counties and school
districts about what they spend on lobbyists. The bill would also require
more detailed financial disclosure from lobbyists and political consultants
who work for governmental entities. Critics of the lobbying system say that
more jurisdictions are hiring private lobbyists, with taxpayers footing the
bill for funding that goes to the public entities - ranging from water
districts to city councils - that they represent.

The issue of conflicts involving political consultants and lobbyists spurred
local controversy recently after no-bid contracts totaling almost $2 million
were given by the Tarrant Regional Water District and the Trinity River
Vision Authority to consultant Bryan Eppstein. Eppstein, one of the top
political consultants in the state, helped elect two members of the Water
District board.