Issues

As we move into the second half of the 80th Legislative Session, I am pleased to report two significant events. The House passed a fiscally sound state budget and had a victory for private property rights with the passage of the "Castle Doctrine" bill in the House. 

We have promised Texans we would reign in unnecessary spending while meeting the state's growing needs. We have fulfilled that promise with a fiscally conservative and responsible budget that protects Texas taxpayers. Last week, House Bill 1 (HB 1) passed by a vote of 132 to 16.  This bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Otherwise known as the Appropriations Bill, HB 1 is the state's budget. This budget amounts to $150 billion, an increase of approximately 5.5 percent for the 2008-2009 biennium. More than $4 billion in available revenue was left unspent by the House. In addition, the state's Rainy Day Fund - the fund to be used only in emergency situations - is expected to accumulate more than $4 billion by the end of the 2009 fiscal year. These funds combine to provide $8.5 billion to ensure that all recent property tax reductions are continued for Texas homeowners. Undoubtedly, this will put the Texas in the strongest financial position in recent memory.

Education is a top priority, keeping Texas competitive in today's rapidly-changing, global economy. Public school funding will increase by 8.9 percent, funding such initiatives as improving classroom technology resources, dropout reduction programs, and an advanced placement incentive program. Higher education will see its funding increased by 9.2 percent, providing more funding for student financial aid and covering enrollment growth. Special attention will be given to community and junior colleges, and graduate medical programs.

In health and human services, $2.5 billion will cover projected cost increases and enrollment growth in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Physicians, dentists, pharmacists and nursing homes will also see their provider rates improve. Part of this funding will go to hospitals to fund trauma care. We will also implement a new community-based mental health crisis stabilization program which aims to intervene or eliminate mental health crises and patient hospitalization.

Additional funds for the Attorney General's Office will help create a new sex offender apprehension unit and pursue civil Medicaid fraud litigation. For homeland security, $101.1 million will go toward increasing our border security efforts.

In other developments, the House scored a victory two weeks ago for the fundamental right of Texans to protect themselves and their families with the passage of Senate Bill 378, also known as the "Castle Doctrine." This bill shifts the full burden of the criminal and civil justice system from the victim onto the criminal -- where it belongs. 

One hundred and six members of the House co-sponsored this bill and the week before, the Senate passed it unanimously. With the enactment of this bill, law-abiding citizens can defend themselves against a criminal attack in their home, car or business without having to worry that they'll be prosecuted. They'll also be protected from lawsuits filed by injured criminal attackers or their families. Plenty of safeguards are in the law to ensure that it can only be used by law-abiding citizens who engage in actual self-defense. 

The 80th Regular Session has been making noteworthy progress by consistently passing legislation that represents the values Texans hold dear. We will continue to work hard for the rest of the session and we hope for many more successes.