Textbooks to be shipped to schools despite lack of school finance reform at Capitol

Legislators are still deadlocked over a plan to finance public schools, but students can expect textbooks soon.

In a letter to Texas Education Agency Commissioner Shirley Neeley (pictured), Governor Perry said that he and other state leaders are committed to seeking a budget execution order to fund textbooks at a total amount not to exceed $295 million. State leaders said they will pay for the textbooks, which will be shipped as soon as districts put in their orders, in a timely fashion. About 6 million textbooks are sitting in warehouses in Dallas and Lubbock. Most school districts in Texas start classes next week.

Legislature opens cable market to phone companies

The Texas Legislature on Wednesday passed new legislation during the special session that will allow telephone companies to enter the television market without having to secure municipal franchise agreements.

The Texas House of Representatives voted 144-1 to give local telephone companies the ability to apply for statewide franchises in order to offer subscription television services. The Texas Senate approved the bill, SB 5, on Tuesday. The measure now goes to the desk of Gov. Rick Perry for his signature, but many pundits are wondering what action he will take - if any - because the contentious school-finance-reform issue, which prompted the current legislative session, is not yet resolved. If the governor does not veto the bill it will automatically become effective even if he declines to sign it.

Congresswoman wants to shut down Love Field

U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas said Wednesday that she would not support congressional efforts to repeal the Wright Amendment, and introduced the possibility of filing a bill to end Dallas Love Field's commercial flights.

Johnson, the only North Texas congressional member to sit on the House Aviation Committee, previously declined to take a position in the debate over Wright, a 1979 federal law that limits flights out of the city-owned airport to nearby states.

"After many meaningful discussions," Johnson said, "and a thorough analysis, I am convinced now more than ever that the risks of amending or repealing the Wright Amendment are simply too great."

Johnson cites increased congestion and noise pollution around Love Field, the success of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and a 1968 contractual bond ordinance that called for the phasing out of the local cities' airports to dedicate resources to D/FW Airport as reasons for her position. Johnson also said that if congressional efforts to repeal Wright continue she plans to introduce legislation that would end Love Field's commercial flights.

Johnson's position drew criticism from U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson of Plano, who earlier this year filed a bill that would repeal the Wright Amendment.

"It's one thing to support the Wright Amendment. It's another thing to support shutting down your home-district airport," Sam Johnson said.

TxDOT revamps key division

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has reorganized its Legislative Affairs Office. The division is now known as the Government and Business Enterprises (GBE) Division. The new division, which is run by Coby Chase (pictured), comprises four sections: State Legislative Affairs, Federal Legislative Affairs, Marketing and Research.

The Marketing and Research sections are new for TxDOT. The Marketing Section will focus on the packaging and delivery of TxDOT programs to key constituencies. It will have three main components: marketing, business development, and conference/meeting planning. The Research Section will focus on studies requested by the commission or administration as well as select studies required by the Texas Legislature, the United States Congress, or other organizations. The nature of this research is non-technical and intended to investigate broad policy questions. This group will also have responsibility for the agency's strategic plan.

TxDOT decided to create the GBE Division because of the demands placed upon the agency by new programs, a need to engage in the public dialogue on these new undertakings, and a desire by our external partners to learn more, Chase said.

"TxDOT is moving away from traditional methods of project delivery and it is important that we take the lead in promoting new programs and opportunities," Chase said. "Two broad elements are important to that: outreach and research."

Texas beaches to get $240M makeover

The energy bill signed into law earlier this week by President Bush includes $240 million that Texas can use to battle coastal erosion and repair shoreline damage. The money, which is expected to start flowing to Texas in 2007, is not yet earmarked for specific projects. The Texas General Land Office and Gov. Rick Perry will eventually decide how to use the money.

The funds, expected to come in $60 million chunks over a four-year period, can be used for projects in 18 coastal counties. The money is coming to Texas via the energy bill due to offshore oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico.

TBPC hires new deputy executive director

Patrick Sullivan has been named deputy executive director for facilities at the Texas Building and Procurement Commission (TBPC). The new post puts him in charge of 180 TBPC employees and programs such as building management, construction, leases for all state offices and space planning. Sullivan previously was director of planning and construction for Texas State University System. Prior to that, he served the University of Texas as a project manager and civil and structural engineer.

Redington named executive director of TARC

The Texas Association of Regional Councils (TARC) has a new executive director: Penny Redington. Redington is a longtime supporter of the association and a former member of the North Central Texas Council of Government's executive board. Immediately prior to joining TARC, she was the federal and state legislative liaison for the Texas Association of Counties. She brings a wealth of local government experience to her new office, including service as Ellis County Judge from 1988 to 1994.

UT Regents authorize Austin conference center

The University of Texas System Board of Regents on Thursday agreed to move forward on a plan to build a hotel and conference center in Austin.

The center will comprise 250 to 300 hotel rooms, a 1,000-spot parking garage and 70,000 square feet of convention space. It will be used primarily for university business, and school officials expect the McCombs School of Business to be the center's anchor client. The site selected is near the corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and University Avenue.

"The university expects this center will be the premier facility of its type in the country, offering a superior learning experience with an environment of quality and comfort," says Pat Club, UT-Austin's vice president of employee and campus services.

TCEQ names new IR director

Robert Cadenhead is officially the new director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's (TCEQ) Information Resources Division. Cadenhead has been the acting director since the departure of Joe Pechaco from the agency earlier this year. As the information resources director, Cadenhead is responsible for infrastructure management, project and process management, records and information management and software development and maintenance.

LBJ Foundation names new director

Joe Youngblood will take over as executive director of the Lyndon B. Johnson Foundation on Sept. 1. He replaces Harry Middleton, who has lead the Austin-based foundation since 1973. The foundation supports operations at the LBJ Library and Museum and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas.

Youngblood has been assistant dean for development and external affairs at the LBJ School since 1999. He has been director of the LBJ Foundation's Institute for the 21st Century, an effort designed to enhance public dialogue with scholarly analysis, since 2003.

Bill could create border militia

U.S. Rep. John Culberson (pictured) of Houston has introduced legislation aimed at curbing the flow of illegal immigrants.

The bill proposes the creation of a civilian volunteer militia to patrol the nation's borders, armed with arrest power, guns and the approval to use "any force necessary."

The U.S. Constitution, under Section 8 of Article 1, authorizes Congress to call up a militia "to execute the laws of the Union" and authorize money to arm and train its members.

Members of a border militia would be sanctioned and financed by the federal government. Culberson said the program would tap $6.8 billion in unspent Department of Homeland Security first-responder grants. The militia in Texas would be commanded by Governor Rick Perry.

Upcoming opportunities related to transportation

By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.

After almost two years of waiting, Congress has finally opened the funding floodgate to flush out 220 much needed transportation projects. The recent passage of the long delayed federal transportation bill allocates $669 million to hundreds of road projects in Texas.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

[Editors note: Mary Scott Nabers' government contracting columns run regularly in the Austin Business Journal, San Antonio Business Journal and soon the Houston Business Journal]

Austin mayor calls for major downtown project

Austin Mayor Will Wynn wants to shut down the Green Water Treatment Plant downtown by June and build another facility downstream on Town Lake. Wynn said the plant is taking up crucial space downtown - space that should be redeveloped to complement the new Second Street Retail District.

Texas reaches majority-minority status

Texas is no longer mostly white. The Lone Star State joined three other states in 2004 with "majority-minority" populations-- in which non-Hispanic whites make up less than half the state's citizenry. Hawaii, New Mexico and California have similarly diverse populations, and Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi and New York are closest to becoming majority-minority.

Strategic Partnerships, Inc. is looking for affiliates who are interested in providing engagement-specific services to the firm in the following areas:

Grant writing, proposal writing, Web/graphics design and production, media relations and planning, photography, event planning and coordination, local government assistance statewide, and sector expertise for customized sector-specific research reports. Send qualifications and contact information to Mariann Morelock at mmorelock@spartnerships.com.

Recent Austin Business Journal articles by Mary Scott Nabers

Efforts under way to gain a portion of state's $200M emerging tech fund - 7/22/2005

Government bond packages present a 'grab bag' of contract opportunities - 7/8/2005

Communication needs mean big spending for government - 6/27/2005

Event Links

Annual Meeting of Retired State Employees Association - 8/19/05

4th Annual San Antonio Transportation Leadership Forum - 9/7/05 - 9/8/05

Texas Municipal League Technology Summit - 9/15/05-9/16/05

International City/County Management Association's 91st Annual Conference - 9/25/05-9/28/05

Texas Government Insider Archives

Last Issue - 8/5/05

Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3 Archives - 11/7/03 - 8/5/05

Resources

Helpful Legislative Links

State Budget Resources

Diagram of Legislative Process

HUB Forms Library

State Contract Management Guide

State Procurement Manual

Who Represents Me? Texas Districts By Address

Diagram of Texas' Biennial Budget Cycle

Texas Fact Book 2004

Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI) is a research and consulting firm offering business development and public affairs services. Founded in Texas in 1994 by former government executives and public sector experts, SPI has developed a national reputation as the premier marketing partner dedicated to helping companies secure contracts in the $1.5 trillion state and local government marketplace. To learn more about SPI services click here or contact our sales department at 512-531-3900.

SPI: 6034 W. Courtyard Dr. #100 Austin, Texas 78730

Homeland security conference

The Greater Austin Crime Commission will host its second Homeland Security Conference on October 6. The daylong program, which focuses on Mexico/Texas border issues, will be held in the Texas Medical Association Building's Thompson Auditorium (401 West 15th Street). There is no cost for the event, but reservations are required due to limited seating capacity. To reserve a space, send an e-mail to cary@austincrime.org or call (512) 445-4186.

Conference on intellectual property in the global marketplace

Starting September 12, the US Patent and Trademark Office will host a 2-day conference in Austin that addresses the intellectual property needs of small and medium sized businesses, entrepreneurs, and independent inventors interested in manufacturing or selling their products abroad. Click here for more information.