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Baylor President ReassignedAt a news conference this morning, Baylor University officials announced that Dr. Robert Sloan will be removed as president and named to the vacant post of chancellor. The announcement comes a month after the faculty voted to oust Sloan, although regents have the sole authority to hire and fire the president. The December vote was the first faculty-wide vote on the president, and about 60 percent of eligible faculty members cast ballots. Eighty-five percent of votes went against retaining Sloan, who has been president of the world's largest Baptist university since 1995. Criticism of Sloan has been growing since he was named president after leaving his two-year position as founding dean of Baylor's George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Some faculty leaders have criticized Sloan for jeopardizing the university's academic reputation by stressing religious beliefs over qualifications when hiring new professors, and by requiring the inclusion of religious doctrine in teaching. Sloan also has been criticized for being unaware of major NCAA violations in the men's basketball program, which were uncovered after a player was killed in June 2003. 
New Secretary of State Takes OfficeRoger Williams, a Weatherford businessman and former pro baseball player, has been officially appointed as Texas' 105th Secretary of State. Gov. Rick Perry nominated Williams for the position last November. Williams replaces Geoffrey S. Connor. As secretary of state, Williams will serve as the state's chief elections officer. The Office of Secretary of State also serves as the official repository for official and business records, publishes government rules and regulations, and attests to the governor's signature on official documents. In addition, the secretary of state serves as liaison for the governor on border and Mexican affairs. Williams is chairman of the board of Roger Williams AutoMall in Weatherford and Vestry Financial Corp. of Fort Worth. From 1974 to 1995 he was president and chief executive officer of Jack Williams AutoMall. A former professional baseball player, Williams played for the Atlanta Braves farm team from 1971 to 1974 and owned and operated the San Antonio Brewers professional baseball club from 1972 to 1975. He also served as assistant head coach and later head coach for the baseball team at Texas Christian University, his alma mater. 
Wayne to Chair Ethics CommissionRalph Wayne has been elected chair of the Texas Ethics Commission. Wayne serves as president of the Texas Civil Justice League, the largest state tort reform association in the nation. He served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1964-1973 and is is a former Chief Deputy Comptroller for the State of Texas. Wayne serves on numerous committees, including as an executive committee member and director of the American Tort Reform Association, co-Founder, vice president & director of the Greater Austin Crime Commission and president of the Grand Jury Association of Travis County. UT System Names Two Vice ChancellorsUniversity of Texas System Chancellor Mark G. Yudof appointed two executives yesterday: Robert E. Barnhill as vice chancellor for research and technology transfer and Barry Burgdorf as vice chancellor and general counsel. Barnhill's appointment is effective April 1, while Burgdorf's is effective February 14. The two appointments complete the executive management team of the UT System. 
Barnhill is a former vice chancellor for research and public service and president and chief operating officer for the KU Center for Research Inc. at the University of Kansas. As vice chancellor for research and technology transfer, Barnhill will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to expand and enhance research funding at UT System institutions. He will facilitate collaboration among UT System institutions to develop joint proposals to increase grants and contracts from external sources. Barnhill will also assist UT institutions with research, technology development, technology transfer, and commercialization. He will also be responsible for fostering effective relationships among the university community, governmental entities, foundations and institutes, and the private sector. 
Burgdorf is currently a partner in the corporate and securities section of the Austin office of the law firm Vinson & Elkins LLP. As vice chancellor and general counsel, Burgdorf will lead an office of some two dozen attorneys who work on legal topics as diverse as intellectual property, real estate, environmental law, tax law, oil and gas law, and medical liability. He will also coordinate and assist in litigation by the state attorney general and outside counsel on behalf of UT institutions, and serve as the system's chief ethics adviser. The position Barnhill is taking is a newly created one. Burgdorf succeeds Cullen M. (Mike) Godfrey, who resigned last fall to return to private practice. Steven R. Collins has served as interim vice chancellor and general counsel since Godfrey's resignation and will resume his previous role as associate vice chancellor for governmental relations. 
Ladd to Preside Over State Securities BoardGov. Rick Perry has appointed Jack Ladd as the presiding officer of the State Securities Board. The board protects investors by enforcing Texas securities laws to ensure a free and competitive securities market. Ladd was an attorney with Stubbeman, McRae, Sealy, Laughlin and Browder, Inc., for 28 years and now serves as director of the John Ben Shepperd Leadership Institute at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. He is a past member of the Task Force on Public Education, appointed by former Gov. George W. Bush. Ladd was appointed by Gov. Perry to serve on the Joint Select Committee on Public School Finance. He serves on the advisory council of the College of Education Foundation at the University of Texas at Austin. He received a bachelor's degree and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Texas Forfeited $104 Million in Additional CHIP FundingTexas forfeited $104 million in Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding for FY02, raising the total lost by the state since 2000 to more than $700 million, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In 2005, for every dollar the state puts into CHIP, the federal government will provide $2.65 in matching funds. States have three years to take advantage of CHIP dollars before they are redistributed to other states. Proposed Bill Would Restrict Use of State Funds to Provide Jobs For Foreign WorkersHB 485 introduced this week by Rep. Norma Chavez would prohibit the award of contracts by any political entity in the State if any of the work aids foreign workers or is performed outside of the U.S. If a vendor or their subcontractor performs any work outside of the U.S., the contract would automatically terminate. Vendors would also have to make assurances to this effect in their bid proposals. AG Asks Supreme Court to Expedite State's Appeal for School FinanceAttorney General Greg Abbott has asked the Texas Supreme Court to help accelerate the resolution of the dispute over how the state pays for public schools. Last September, State District Judge John Dietz ruled that Texas' $30 billion share-the-wealth public school finance system is unconstitutional. The OAG's office has asked the Supreme Court to immediately accept jurisdiction of the state's appeal. By doing so, the Supreme Court would allow the state to skip the normal step of filing an appeal with the Third District Court of Appeals in Austin. The judge's order gave the state one year to fix the problems he found. The Attorney General has said that if the Supreme Court accepts jurisdiction, he'll file an appeal on the merits of the case with the court. OAG's Child Support Division Names Acting IT DirectorJim Muse has been named Acting Director for Information Technology in the Office of the Attorney General's Child Support Division. Muse most recently served as Division Director for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and, prior to that, was the Executive Director for the General Services Commission. Texas Performance Reports ReleasedThe Legislative Budget Board released three new reports this week that could have a significant impact on the legislative session:
UTEP Awarded $1 Million GrantThe Institute of Policy and Economic Development at the University of Texas at El Paso has been awarded a 10-year, $1 million grant by the Cimarron Foundation. The grant will allow the Institute to buy databases, computer models and keep staff on in order to increase the amount of economic development research done at the Institute. ACCD Bond Election UnderwayThe Alamo Community College District's (ADDC) $450 million bond election has begun. Early voting started Wednesday. Election day is Feb. 5. The bond proposal calls for the construction of a fifth community college in the northeast sector of the county and expansion at the four existing campuses, which currently have a combined enrollment of more than 50,000 students. The bonds also include funding for a nursing and allied health campus in the South Texas Medical Center area. It is the first bond issue the community college district has put on the ballot in 17 years. Over $900,000 Available for Citizen Corps ProgramsThe Texas Citizen Corps Program has announced the availability of grant funding for local governments in the amount of approximately $907,000 for planning, outreach, and management of Citizen Corps programs to include:
The application, along with instructions, guidelines, and additional information can be found at www.texascitizencorps.org. Applications are due to regional councils of governments (COGs) for review on or before February 17, 2005. Texas counties, incorporated municipalities, and federally recognized tribes that have completed the statewide assessment and have an Emergency Operations Plan at the basic level of preparedness or above are eligible for funding. For a list of eligible applicants, visit www.texascitizencorps.org and click on grant information, FY 05 Resources. Councils of Governments, port authorities, transit agencies, and school districts may also receive funding when it will support the overall State Homeland Security. For more information, click here or contact Regina Chapline, Citizen Corps Manager, Texas Association of Regional Councils at (512) 472-9070. Lens on the Legislature: R - E = ?Junior high students are taught that to solve the equation X = R - E you must know the value of two of the variables in order to solve for the third. Article III, Section 49a of the Texas Constitution provides that It shall be the duty of the Comptroller of Public Accounts in advance of each Regular Session of the Legislature to prepare and submit to the Governor and to the Legislature upon its convening a statement under oath showing. . . an itemized estimate of the anticipated revenue based on the laws then in effect that will be received by and for the State from all sources showing the fund accounts to be credited during the succeeding biennium. That would be the R in the above equation. The Comptroller fulfilled this responsibility last week by sending her Biennial Revenue Estimate 2006-2007. Chapter 316 of the Government Code prescribes the process by which the Legislature develops and passes appropriations bills, subject to the Governor's veto. Chapter 314 also mandates that fiscal notes be used to estimate the impact of individual bills that may be passed outside of the appropriations process. That would be the E in the above equation. As noted in last week's column, the legislature will spend the next 4 ½ months hammering out legislation. The governor then has 20 days to act on such bills. In the case of the appropriations bill, the governor can also veto individual line items and the current governor exercised that authority following the last session. Therefore, E will not be known until June. We know that if E is not yet known, than neither is X. However, that didn't stop elected officials and "news" reporters from opining about X after the Comptroller's report was issued and before even seeing the LBB's proposed baseline budget. Here are some headlines from major Texas papers: LEGISLATORS HAVE SLIGHT SURPLUS STATE WORKING WITH A SURPLUS, BUT MORE MONEY IS NEEDED UNEXPECTED WINDFALL WILL EASE LAWMAKERS' JOB WHO'S RIGHT ABOUT TEXAS' BUDGET SURPLUS? The first key step in developing E was Friday's release of budgetary estimates by the Legislative Budget Board as required by Section 322.008 of the Government Code and the concurrent introduction of SB1 and HB1 (also prepared by LBB) by Senator Steve Ogden and Representative Jim Pitts respectively. Ogden chairs the Senate Finance Committee while Pitts chairs the House Appropriations Committee. The Legislative Budget Board is co-chaired by the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker and includes Chairmen Ogden and Pitts plus six other key legislators, so the LBB-recommended baseline bill carries great weight. In fact, in stark contrast to the federal budget process or the processes of many states, Section 316.022 of the Government Code allows hearings on this bill without waiting for the submission of a bill prepared by the governor. The LBB-recommended base budget bill proposes a total state budget of $134.4 billion for the next biennium. It holds funding for many state services to 95% of their 2004-05 General Revenue spending levels, but makes exceptions for the following:
Future Lens on the Legislature columns will discuss subjects such as how agencies propose exceptional items that are in addition to the baseline budget, how budget hearings are conducted and decisions are made, and where the money to fund the budget comes from. |
Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI) is a research and procurement consulting firm offering business development and public affairs services. Founded in 1994, SPI has offices in Texas and California. To learn more about SPI services click here or contact Crystal Kuhs at 512-531-3900. News From Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
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SPI to Support the Outstanding Women in Texas Government AwardsStrategic Partnerships, Inc. is pleased to be one of the supporters of the Outstanding Women in Texas Government Awards luncheon ceremony on March 18 with the State Agency Council. The guest speaker is Texas Supreme Court Justice Harriet O'Neill. The Outstanding Women in Texas Government Awards recognize women who have helped shape Texas by contributing their talents and skills to state service. This year's award winners are:
Biographical information on the award winners will be included in a future edition of the Texas Government Insider™. The luncheon will be held from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the Doubletree Hotel located at 6505 Interstate 35 North. Complimentary parking is provided at the hotel. The cost to attend the luncheon is $25 per person. For more information, contact Lesley Guthrie at 512-475-2615 or lguthrie@governor.state.tx.us. SA City Council Shows Support For A&M Expansion PlanThe San Antonio City Council has unanimously approved a resolution directing city staffers to negotiate a contract with the Texas A&M University System to hand over 400 acres to the System by December 2006 for a South Side campus. A&M officials hope to open a San Antonio campus in 2009 and, over 20 years, build it up to accommodate 25,000 students. Sen. Frank Madla is seeking the Legislature's approval for $80 million in tuition-backed bonds for first-phase construction. Med School in El Paso Could Become A RealityGov. Rick Perry says he will help El Paso get legislative funding to keep a four-year medical school on schedule to enroll its first students in three years. El Paso wants $68 million to hire medical school faculty and to equip a $45 million medical school classroom building. Legislators authorized a medical school for El Paso two years ago and approved a bond issue to build a $45 million classroom building. El Paso's medical school would be operated by Texas Tech University Health Science Center. Tech administrators estimate that it would cost about $350 million during the next 10 years to build a first-rate medical school in El Paso. The university plans to enroll 40 students in its first El Paso medical school class in 2008 and 80 in the second year. The first class is expected to graduate in 2012. TCEQ Plans to Strengthen Enforcement PoliciesTexas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Commissioners have finalized a list of more than 60 recommendations for strengthening the agency's enforcement policies. The recommendations are a result of the largest, most comprehensive review of the agency's enforcement policies and practices ever undertaken. Many of the recommendations will be instituted immediately, while others may take more than a year to implement after completing rulemaking processes that will include a series of hearings to obtain public comment and stakeholder input. Event LinksTexas Municipal Utilities Association Annual Conference - 02/03/05 - 02/04/04 Texas Computer Education Association 25th Annual Convention & Exposition - 02/07/05 - 02/11/05 40th Annual Association of Mayors, Councilmembers and Commissioners Institute - 02/12/05 - 02/13/05 Texas Municipal League Legislative Briefing - 02/14/05 25th Annual Association of Texas Professional Educators State Conference - 3/31/05 - 4/2/05 Texas Library Association Annual Conference - 4/5/05 - 4/8/05
Texas Public Health Association's 80th Annual Education Conference - 04/24/05 - 04/26/05 WIN BUSINESS WITH TEXAS GOVERNMENTFor a FREE TRIAL of SPI's Future Opportunity Analysis and Bid Monitoring services click here. SPI has a dedicated Information Services (IS) Division that monitors governmental entities and analyzes data for future and current business opportunities. Our team studies and reviews strategic plans, funding requests, and budgets to identify potential contracting opportunities. IS provides these key services and products:
Please contact Crystal Kuhs at ckuhs@spartnerships.com for more details. Past ABJ articles by Mary Scott NabersGovernment agencies often look outside for training help - 1/14/2005 Texas' open records laws can offer wealth of information for contractors - 12/17/2004 Smaller agencies are hidden sources of contract dollars - 12/3/2004 Texas Government Insider ArchivesLast Issue - 1/14/05 Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3 Archives - 11/7/03 - 1/7/05 ResourcesTxDOT's 2006 Project Selection Process Diagram of Legislative Process State Contract Management Guide Who Represents Me? Texas Districts By Address Diagram of Texas' Biennial Budget Cycle Public Hearings/MeetingsCentral Texas Regional Mobility Authority Board Meeting--9:00am, January 26, Travis County Commissioners Courtroom, First Floor, Travis County Administration Building, 314 W. 11th St., Austin Texas Transportation Commission Meeting--9:00am, January 27, Intercontinental Hotel, 2222 West Loop South, Houston Signing Up for the Texas Government Insider™We welcome you to add your friends and co-workers to the Texas Government Insider™ distribution. Simply click the Sign up for our mailing list icon near the top of this issue. Occasionally, we learn about people who signed up, but didn’t get the Texas Government Insider™. In nearly all cases, the problem turned out to be spam filtering on the receiving end. We strongly support the elimination of undesired email and applaud the use of technology to filter it. Occasionally, however, such filters prevent email that the recipient wanted to receive. If you have been unable to receive the Texas Government Insider™ or suddenly stop receiving it, we urge you to contact your information technology department to see if this was the cause. |
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Women's Legislative DaysOn February 7 and 8, Women's Legislative Days, a seminar designed to educate and encourage women to become informed and actively involved in the legislative process, will take place at the UT Thompson Conference Center located at Dean Keeton (26th Street) and Red River. For more information, click here. 40th Annual Association of Mayors, Councilmembers and Commissioners InstituteThe 40th Annual Association of Mayors, Councilmembers and Commissioners Institute (AMCC) will take place February 12 and 13 at the Renaissance Hotel in Austin. The conference will include sessions such as: The Keys to a Successful Bond Election, Making Cents of the Budget and Budget Process and Building the Public's Trust: Responding to Ethical Challenges. For more information or to register, visit www.tml.org. NEA's 23rd Annual Higher Education ConferenceThe National Education Association's 23rd Annual Higher Education Conference will be held March 4 - 6 in San Antonio. Participants will be able to explore the topic of diversity in academia from a variety of perspectives: diversity of the current student body and projections for the "echo-boomers," diversity in the workforce, diversity in what the work is, who provides it and how; and the impact of recent federal and state policy changes on the ability of higher education institutions to educate a diverse student body and employ a diverse workforce. For more information, click here. |
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