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New panel ready to review Texas' transportation-funding options in '06
All nine members of a panel tasked with reviewing the state's transportation financing mechanisms have been appointed. Gov. Rick Perry this week appointed Joe Krier (pictured), president and CEO of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, to serve on the Study Commission on Transportation Financing. Krier will serve alongside two other Perry appointees: Ted Houghton Jr. of El Paso, a member of the Texas Transportation Commission, and William B. Madden, president of Madden Securities Corp. in Dallas. 
Also this week, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced his appointments to the commission. Dewhurst appointed Sen. John Carona (pictured) of Dallas as joint chairman and Sen. Eddie Lucio of Brownsville and Michael Stevens of Houston as members of the commission. In October, House Speaker Tom Craddick named Rep. Mike Krusee of Round Rock joint presiding officer of the committee and Rep. Warren Chisum of Pampa and Harris County Judge Robert Eckels as members. The new Study Commission on Transportation Financing will conduct hearings throughout the state to study public policy implications relating to the financing of transportation projects. Commissioners will review the state motor fuels tax, current sources of funding for rail and other financing options for roads and highways and issue a report by December 1. HHSC's new eligibility system being rolled out
Texas Health and Human Services Commission Deputy Executive Commissioner Anne Heiligenstein (pictured) will tour the state next month to spread the word about a new plan to make it easier for Texans to apply for Medicaid, food stamps, CHIP and other services. HHSC officials are excited about the state's new eligibility system, which recently debuted in the Austin area. The new system will allow people calling HHSC to choose how they want to apply for services - by phone, fax, mail, over the Internet or in person. Currently, most residents must drive to the nearest HHSC office to apply for services. "Choice is something we take for granted in so many areas, and I'm pleased that we are finally able to bring that basic element of customer service to our state programs," said Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins. The new system, which will be anchored physically by 200-or-so HHSC offices across Texas, will be rolled out across the state in the next year. In late April it will roll out in more than 20 Hill Country counties, and it will launch in Bexar County in June. Heiligenstein will visit Harlingen, Laredo, El Paso and Lubbock next month to promote the new system and take questions from stakeholders. She is quick to point out that while the new system provides convenience to consumers, it provides savings to the state to the tune of $646 million over the next five years. Additional information about the new eligibility system is posted on HHSC's Web site. Task force on hurricane evacuations issues report
The governor, not city or county leaders, should have the authority to order mandatory evacuations in an emergency such as a hurricane, a state task force said this week. The recommendation, along with dozens of others outlined in a new report, comes five months after about 2.8 million Texans evacuated coastal areas in advance of Hurricane Rita, leading to snarled traffic, drained gas pumps and about 60 deaths. "The Task Force on Evacuation, Transportation and Logistics has now given us a roadmap to make coastal evacuations safer and more efficient based on detailed advanced planning, and changes to our command and control structure," Perry said. "This report will improve planning and coordination, which will result in a more effective hurricane response when lives hang in the balance and every second counts." Clint school board sets $90 million bond electionThe Clint Independent School District Board of Trustees has called a $90 million bond election for May 13 that district officials say is necessary to keep pace with rapid growth in and around Horizon City in West Texas. The bond money would pay for a new high school campus, another middle school, two elementary schools plus site improvements and additional classrooms at existing campuses throughout the district First batch of ETF money going to Texas TechGov. Rick Perry this week announced the first state investment from the new Texas Emerging Technology Fund (ETF) - an award of nearly $2 million that will go to Texas Tech University to help it become the international leader in agriculture genomics research and development and help make the west Texas region the fiber capital of the world. The grant will further Texas Tech's partnership with Bayer CropScience and help launch the International Center of Excellence in Agriculture Genomics and Biotechnology. In addition to the ETF award, Texas Tech is committing $1.8 million for personnel and lab equipment, and Bayer CropScience endowed a professorship at the university. Tax commission to hold hearings in Midland, San AntonioThe Texas Tax Reform Commission will meet Tuesday, Feb. 28, in Midland and Monday, March 6, in San Antonio to gather recommendations on how to reform the state tax structure. The hearings are part of a series of public hearings the commission is holding across the state to gather input from Texans on how to modernize the tax structure and reduce property taxes. The public is invited to participate. The 24-member, bi-partisan commission was created by Gov. Rick Perry in September 2005. It is chaired by former Texas comptroller John Sharp. Since the commission's creation, the Texas Supreme Court has ruled the state's current school property tax structure unconstitutional and has given lawmakers until June 1 to devise a different tax system and lower school property taxes. Click here for details about the Midland and San Antonio meetings Map of Trans-Texas Corridor to be released soon
Texans should know the proposed route of the Trans-Texas Corridor toll road from the Metroplex to San Antonio in three to six weeks, state officials said this week. An environmental study that began two years ago was supposed to be released to the public last month, but state and federal officials realized recently that some of the documentation was incomplete so it will take a bit longer. The 4,000-page study will show the path of the proposed high-speed road within a 10-mile study area, allowing cities and property owners along the route to know whether they will be affected. 
Craddick fills vacancies left by BaxterHouse Speaker Tom Craddick this week announced committee appointments to fill the vacancies left by former Rep. Todd Baxter, who resigned from the House in November. Rep. Tracy O. King of Batesville has been appointed to the Edwards Aquifer Legislative Oversight Committee. Rep. Joe Straus of San Antonio has been appointed to the House Committee on Regulated Industries and Rep. Rafael Anchia (pictured) of Dallas has been appointed to the Local & Consent Calendars Committee. Perry taps Rep. Swinford to lead border security effort
During a stop in Amarillo this week, Gov. Rick Perry said again that the state won't wait for the federal government to secure the "porous" Texas-Mexico border - and that the state needs new tools and resources, like greater wiretapping authority, to curb border crime and illegal immigration. Perry said he has charged Rep. David Swinford (pictured) of Dumas, chairman of the House State Affairs committee, with guiding elements of his new Secure Border Act through the Texas Legislature. Initiatives in the Secure Border Act, which Perry said will be worked out in the months ahead, may include granting state and local law enforcement officials the same wiretapping authority as federal officials. Revisions to Texas statutes under the Secure Border Act also call for plans to streamline the bureaucratic process and to find cost savings to put more officers and resources where they are needed, Perry said. Perry said he expects Swinford to conduct hearings across the state to find out the specific needs of regions and what they need when he crafts the bill. Houston's central library to get $14.9M makeoverThe City of Houston plans to spend $14.9 million to renovate the Central Library located in downtown Houston next to Houston City Hall. The project, which is the largest in the history of the library system, will include updates to the library's IT infrastructure, significant renovations to the plaza, expansion of the children's and teen's services, and the addition of public space. To make way for the changes, the library will close to the public on April 3 and won't reopen until the end of 2007. Texarkana ISD prepares for $20M bond initiativeTexarkana Independent School District Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to authorize the administration to plan for a $20 million November bond election. To accommodate growth, the proposal will include about $14 million in repairs, renovations and additions, including interior renovations at Texas High School, renovations to a stadium and several schools, relocation of the THS Career and Technology Vocational Center to the current athletic barn, and additions to Texas Middle School that would add more portable classrooms. Projects would also include districtwide parking lot repairs, new physical education dressing rooms at THS, a new theater at the high school and some districtwide repairs related to mechanical and electrical work. 
King appointed to TSU's boardWilliam E. King, a former mayor of the Houston suburb Kemah, was recently sworn in as Texas Southern University's newest regent. King, who replaces former TSU Regent Regina Giovannini, is a managing partner at a Houston law firm. His term will last six years, during which time he said his goal is to engage the business community with the university. Garza named VP of international corridor coalition
Webb County Commissioner Jerry Garza has been chosen to represent the United States as vice president of North America's SuperCorridor Coalition. Garza is one of three vice presidents chosen to represent Canada, the United States and Mexico in the nonprofit organization, which comprises interstate highways 35, 29 and 94. The coalition contains members from both private and governmental entities who together lobby for improvements along the tri-national trade corridor. The goal of the organization is not just to look at transport through the three countries, but also to improve the economy by making things more efficient. Corpus Christi, school district team up to build libraryThe city of Corpus Christi is planning to begin working next week with the Corpus Christi Independent School District to build a $3.5 million public library next door to Kaffie Middle School, potentially expanding the school's 16,000-book selection to something along the lines of 60,000. Voters approved $3.5 million in bond money for a library in 2004. With that much money, the city could build a 1,200-square-foot library - but with help from the school district, that money should stretch a little further, officials said. Nueces County kicks in $3M for A&M pharmacy schoolNueces County will give Texas A&M University-Kingsville $1 million a year for three years in exchange for consulting services, leaving the university $3 million to use however it likes - including as startup money for the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy. The consulting agreement is necessary to help the pharmacy school open for fall 2006 because the county can't legally give the school the money as a gift. The money will come from a county budget surplus expected in coming years An A&M study showed that a pharmacy school in neighboring Kleberg County would bring $5.2 million or more into Nueces County every year. The money being funneled to A&M is much needed because members of the Legislative Budget Board have yet to act on a funding request from the school. DOD budget allocates $3.1M to UTSAThe University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) has been allocated $3.1 million in the 2006 defense budget to help American communities defend themselves against cybersecurity attacks. Formed in 2001, CIAS is a partnership between academia, the information technology security industry and the Air Intelligence Agency at Lackland Air Force Base. CIAS works to address the technical and policy issues of information assurance and security and provides educational training.  Lanier named Houston port commissionerElyse Lanier, a former University of Houston regent and Houston's former first lady, was appointed Tuesday as a commissioner on the Port of Houston Authority. She replaces Cheryl Thompson-Draper, who resigned last month. Lanier is married to former Mayor Bob Lanier, who served from 1992-1997. Amarillo steps up redevelopment of downtownThe Amarillo City Commission is considering candidates for a downtown development task force. The commission considered potential members of the downtown task force during its work session this week. The task force will have the mission of writing a strategic plan for redeveloping downtown. City Commissioners are wading through a list of 60 candidates. DMN poll: Most Texans would pay more for educationA majority of Texans are willing to put more of their hard-earned dollars toward public education, according to a new statewide survey. A poll conducted for the Dallas Morning News shows that 52 percent of Texans say they would pay more in state taxes if the money went to schools, while 39 percent oppose an increase. The finding comes as lawmakers head into a primary campaign dominated by school finance and just weeks before the governor is expected to call a special legislative session to address a Texas Supreme Court ruling on property taxes. Complete survey results can be found online. Lawmaker from Texas pushing electronic health records
In an effort to increase efficiency and save medical costs, U.S. Rep. Joe Barton from Ennis is helping lead legislation in Washington through the Energy and Commerce Committee that would enable health care records to be stored and transferred electronically. The Wired for Health Care Quality Act, or S 1418, was unanimously passed in the Senate in November and awaits approval from the House. The bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) in January and is being looked at by the Subcommittee on Health. Austin ISD may spend $10M to 'repurpose' schools
A plan to turn three Austin campuses with low enrollment into pre-kindergarten centers and special academies could cost the school district $10 million over three years. Superintendent Pat Forgione (pictured) presented the Austin school board with cost estimates last week for the plan, which would "repurpose" Becker and Oak Springs elementary schools as pre-kindergarten centers and send current students to nearby campuses. The plan would house a girls' leadership academy and a professional development academy for teachers at Porter Middle School. FEMA to send $2M to El Paso, DADSU.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas this week announced that FEMA has approved two grants totaling more than $2 million to reimburse the city of El Paso and the state's Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) in the aftermath of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. A $1 million Public Assistance grant has been approved for Texas to reimburse the city of El Paso for providing shelter to 450 evacuees relocated to El Paso. The funds will be used for the reimbursement of overtime expenses. The second $1M grant for DADS, the single state agency responsible for administering programs for the elderly and disabled, was prompted by the support DADS provided in the form of shelters throughout many of the 254 counties in Texas. Dallas votes to increase Love Field landing feesThe Dallas City Council this week approved raising landing fees on scheduled, commercial airline flights at city-owned Dallas Love Field from 35 cents to 55 cents per 1,000 pounds of landed weight. Revenue shortfalls at Love Field the past couple of years prompted city staff to recommend raising the fee to 55 cents. The new fee starts April 1 and will have the greatest impact on Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co., which operates 97 percent of the scheduled flights at Love. |
Projects in the pipeline
By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. SPI's Research Division is constantly scouring the state for business opportunities in the public sector and uncovers dozens every day. Here are some of this week's hot opportunities:
White House releases lessons learned from Hurricane KatrinaThe White House this week issued a 228-page document, The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned, outlining the problems associated with the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina. The document includes 125 recommendations and can be found online. SFA regents approve $2 million gift to accountingBig changes are in store for the Stephen F. Austin State University Department of Accounting as a result of a generous gift. Regents approved a $2 million gift that will, in honor of the donor, create the Gerald W. Schlief Department of Accounting Endowment Fund. Proceeds from the fund will support distinguished faculty stipends, technology and other capital purchases, support of the program and the pursuit of accreditation for the department. Ebeling to leave UTRandy Ebeling, associate vice president and chief operating officer of Information Technology Services at the University of Texas at Austin, announced this week that he is leaving his post to take a job in the private sector. Ebeling has been at UT for nearly three decades. Cornyn promotes new ID card, new hiring practicesA proposed employee identification card likely to be part of immigration reform may change the way people, including gardeners and housekeepers, get hired, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said Thursday. Cornyn, who represents Texas, is co-sponsoring legislation that would require U.S. employers to try to fill job openings with U.S. citizens before expanding the search. UT researcher gets $400,000 grantA biomedical engineer at the University of Texas has received $400,000 to develop technology that could create immune cells to fight diseases such as cancer. Krishnendu Roy won the grant from the National Science Foundation. The foundation gives the Early Career Development awards to young teachers and scholars. Motorists can now bypass lines for Port A ferryMotorists in Port Aransas are on the verge of being able to bypass long lines at the ferry. The Texas Transportation Commission unanimously approved the creation of a priority boarding system for the Port Aransas and Bolivar-Galveston ferries at its meeting Thursday in Austin. The $250 annual passes will separate riders into priority lanes. Priority riders will account for half of each ferry load, and the rest of the ferry will be filled with drivers without passes, who won't be required to pay any fare.
Procurement articles onlineClick here to view recent articles on government procurement authored by Mary Scott Nabers, president and CEO of Strategic Partnerships Inc., and published in the Austin Business Journal and Houston Business Journal. [Editor's note: Mary Scott Nabers' procurement columns run regularly in the Austin Business Journal, Houston Business Journal, San Antonio Business Journal and the Dallas Business Journal]
SPI Seeks Consulting Coordinator
Event LinksLaw Enforcement Regional Workshops - 2/17/06-3/8/06 DIR's Internet Security Forumn - 3/28/06 TASSCC Technology Education Conference - 3/29/06 CAPCOG's Austin-San Antonio Conference on Entrepreneurship and Regional Competitiveness - 4/7/06 Fiesta Informacion 2006 - 4/24/06-4/27/06 TCEQ's Environmental Trade Fair and Conference - 5/9/06-5/11/06 TAGITM Annual Conference - 5/16/06-5/19/06 Texas Hurricane Conference - 5/23/06-5/25/06
Texas Government Insider ArchivesVolume 1, 2, 3 and 4 Archives - 11/7/03 - 2/17/06 ResourcesSAO report on full-time state employees for fiscal 2005 Texas Human Resources Management Statutes Inventory State Contract Management Guide Who Represents Me? Texas Districts By Address Diagram of Texas' Biennial Budget Cycle Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI) is a research and consulting firm offering business development and public affairs services. |
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Celebrate Texas Independence DayAn array of events honoring Texas Independence Day are scheduled to take place at the Capitol from March 2-5. These events include a parade, barbeque cook-off and a 5K fun-run. Click here for more information. TxMAS Training in AustinThe next two TXMAS training sessions, which are aimed at helping state vendors and prospective vendors, are scheduled for Tuesday, February 28 and March 28, 2006. Both training sessions will be held in Room 402 of the Central Services Building, located at 1711 San Jacinto in Austin, from 10 AM to 12:30 PM. Those wishing to attend either of these sessions should send an email to txmas@tbpc.state.tx.us with your company information, number of people attending, and email addresses of all attending. Click here for details. |
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