Economic prosperity is tied to education and talent

The bill deals with issues such as planning, funding, faculty resources and a number of specific areas such as medical education. It also suggests that, because of capacity concerns at The University of Texas and Texas A&M, it may be necessary to build additional flagship public universities.

Statewide enrollment in public and private colleges has grown from 1 million students in 2000 to 1.2 million in the fall of 2006. In spite of this increase, enrollment rates are not keeping pace with Texas' population growth, especially among Hispanics, the fastest-growing population segment in Texas.

The legislation recommends incentives for seamless student transitions between high schools, community and technical colleges, universities and health-related institutions, including concurrent enrollment and dual credit. By 2015, the state coordinating board estimates that 60 percent of all students will start their post-high school education at a state community or technical college.

Hundreds of billions of dollars in future income, consumer sales and tax reserves hang in the balance. Investing in higher education now will reap benefits for all Texas residents in the near future.

Perry threatening to call special session

Perry said that he is "serious about transportation policy" in Texas. "You can't do it on the fly…you shouldn't make transportation policy on the Senate floor or the House floor because it has great impact all over the state of Texas." He said he already has received communications urging him to veto the bill. Additionally, Perry said the U.S. Department of Transportation would soon deliver to him a letter "specifically answering the legal implications" of some parts of the bill and he called the letter "rather stunning in its impact on the state." If the bill passes, the governor said areas of the state will not be receiving the transportation dollars they thought would be headed their way.

A letter was made public Thursday and Federal Highway Administration Chief Counsel James Ray noted that an analysis of HB 1892 raised a number of concerns. Ray said that changes brought about by the legislation would diminish TxDOT's authority to implement the Federal-aid Highway Program in Texas. Ray said also that it appears that some of the provisions of the bill appear to conflict with federal requirements. He questioned the fact that the bill might move the authority for developing toll projects from TxDOT to local entities, noting that the state would still be responsible for ensuring compliance with federal aid laws and regulations. A number of other issues were raised by the transportation official. "At this time," wrote Ray, "we remain concerned about the potential legal issues stemming from HB 1892."

The bill has "huge problems" that need to be addressed, said Perry, and that can be done now during the regular session instead of calling legislators back for a special session in June or July.

BRAC to impact Texas by billions

McElroy said that researchers have also considered the vast amount of local purchases that will be needed for the base, including gasoline and office supplies. "There will be a lot of effected industry, and in turn, a lot of effected occupations," he said.

The healthcare industry will swell, he said, as soldiers and their dependents require medical care, driving the need for more facilities and more technicians, nurses and physician assistants. Soldiers will also contribute to a spike in entrainment and restaurant business, McElroy continued, but the more significant aspect is that those service industries will need insurance, accounting services and the like. "Everything's interconnected."

In addition to strengthening El Paso's economy, the base expansion will solidify the community as more soldiers and their families arrive and become part of the city. On Saturday, the El Paso Independent School District is proposing a $230 million bond package to voters. Approximately 40 percent of the bond funds is designated to build new schools for the expected growth at Fort Bliss; other portions are earmarked for classroom additions, campus renovation and district wide technology upgrades.

Other multibillion-dollar BRAC committee recommendations are expected to have a huge economic impact on San Antonio. Recommendations for the city include closing Brooks Air Force Base and creating a major military medical center at Fort Sam Houston. Under the plan, San Antonio would see a gain of approximately 3,500 jobs and as much as $1 billion in new construction.

The Naval Station Ingleside near Corpus Christi, the Red River Army Depot near Texarkana, Sheppard AFB near Wichita Falls and Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, are all scheduled for closure or realignment. Officials have said that they expect funding for BRAC plans to be allocated this summer.