LBB's agenda may be trimmed even more
House Speaker Tom Craddick, a key member of the Legislative Budget Board, agreed Thursday to move forward on emergency budget action to fund textbooks and increase nursing-home reimbursements, but he said it would be "fiscally irresponsible" to grant Gov. Rick Perry's request to spend millions more on trauma care and several university projects.
In a letter to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, Craddick (pictured) said the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) should not consider the additional items "given the potential supplemental needs that may be necessary to cover costs associated with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Medicaid caseloads and the uncertainties related to the pending Supreme Court decision on public school finance."
In August, Perry outlined 13 initiatives and requested the LBB's approval to spend at least $655 million freed up from the budget as the result of his vetoes. The emergency spending items include school textbooks, nursing-home care, trauma-center funding and some higher education projects - including an expansion of Texas Tech's El Paso medical school.
The spending that Craddick supports amounts to about $374 million. The biggest item would be $295 million to pay publishers who shipped health and fine arts textbooks to schools after being promised by state leaders that they would be paid. Craddick said he also supported funding $75 million of the $200 million that Perry sought to increase rates paid to nursing homes.
The LBB, which is co-chaired by Dewhurst and Craddick, has the authority to move around money budgeted for emergency needs. Dewhurst had suggested acting on most of the larger projects, including the $76 million for trauma funding and $68.5 million for higher education. No word yet on when the LBB will actually meet. Dewhurst and Craddick said they are still trying to coordinate their schedules. Other members of the LBB are senators Steve Ogden, Robert Duncan, John Whitmire, Judith Zaffirini and representatives Jim Pitts, James Keffer, Fred Hill and Vilma Luna.
DADS commissioner leaving post in January
Jim Hine, commissioner of the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS), said he will retire at the end of January. Hine became DADS' commissioner in January 2004 after serving as the chief executive of the Texas Department of Human Services and the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
"I want to thank Commissioner Hine for his years of dedicated state service," said Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins. "His experience and expertise were instrumental in launching the Department of Aging and Disability Services, and he helped turn our vision of a consolidated and coordinated health and human services system into a reality. He is a valued leader and a trusted friend, and I wish him well."
Carriker named TACDC's executive director
The Texas Association of Community Development Corporations (TACDC) announced this week that Steven A. Carriker has joined the organization as the Executive Director. Carriker most recently served as the Executive Vice President and COO of The Corporation for the Development of Community Health Centers, a certified Community Development Financial Institution which lends money for health center capital projects.
As the Executive Director at TACDC, Carriker will lead the organization's operations, programs, and policy direction to promote the goals of TACDC's members and to seek ways to increase the capacity of the member organizations. He will work with banks, foundations, elected officials and state agencies to ensure that state policies encourage low-income families across the state to enter the economic mainstream.
State unveils new homeland security plan
As part of a revamped homeland security plan, Gov. Rick Perry and Homeland Security Director Steve McCraw laid out plans this week to link 2,685 police departments statewide so they can analyze patterns and identify threats from terrorism and violent crime.
The five-year Texas Homeland Security Strategic Plan calls for the Texas Fusion Center in Austin to coordinate 34 state agencies and 24 councils of government to prevent terrorism, protect strategic resources and recover from disasters. The Texas Fusion Center, earlier known as the Texas Security Alert and Analysis Center, grew out of increased security concerns after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
The plan calls for the creation of a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week intelligence gathering center in the coming year that will make it easier for law enforcement agencies to access each other's data on past and current investigations and analyze patterns of threats. It also calls for the state to incorporate thumbprints in drivers' licenses, and add facial-recognition technology to detect fraudulent-license applicants.
"If you look at the strategic plans, one of the gaps the governor wanted to address was the establishment of a statewide intelligence capability," said McCraw (pictured). "In doing so, we'll be in a much better position to prevent acts of terrorism and violence."
The plan closely resembles a blueprint of the governor's vision for enhanced state security through the year 2010. A complete copy of The Homeland Security Strategic Plan 2005-2010 can be found online.
State says early voting totals up, 16% turnout projected
Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams said that early voting turnout for the November 8 constitutional amendment election is outpacing the 2003 constitutional amendment election levels. He projects an overall turnout of 16 percent of registered Texas voters. About 12 percent of registered voters headed to the polls in 2003.
"I am pleased that early voting turnout has improved over 2003 levels, however, the levels are still too low," Williams said. "Constitutional amendment elections are a vital part of our democracy and play an important role in shaping our state's future. My office is working diligently with local officials to promote a turnout in this election that is higher than the 16 percent prediction."
Early voting concludes today (November 4). A list, and analysis, of the nine constitutional amendments on the November 8 ballot can be found online.
FDIC chief to oversee Gulf Coast rebuilding
The chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has been assigned by President Bush to oversee the federal government's disaster recovery efforts on the Gulf Coast.
Donald Powell, 64, will be in charge of coordinating long-term plans to rebuild the states hit by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in late summer. Powell will be the administration's point man for dealing with Congress, state and local governments, and private businesses on relief efforts. He has worked on economic development and housing issues - two central matters in hurricane rebuilding efforts - as a Texas bank executive, university administrator and chamber of commerce official, officials said. Powell has also been president and CEO of the First National Bank of Amarillo; chairman of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce; and chairman of the Texas A&M University System's Board of Regents.
Federal border plan to add agents, technology
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday unveiled an extensive border security plan that would double as the enforcement component for a temporary guest-worker program advocated by the Bush administration.
The Secure Border Initiative, which aims to increase border safety within five years, would combine border security, interior immigration enforcement and guest-worker measures under one umbrella. The plan promises more border patrol agents, beefed-up technology on the ground and in the air, and stronger enforcement of immigration laws inside the United States. Details of the individual programs, and how the majority of such an ambitious plan would be funded, were not released, nor was a specific price tag for the plan.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Tuesday that securing the border is a big challenge for the government. "We are not in control," he said at a recent conference in El Paso.
Employees Retirement System of Texas hires COO
Larry Zeplin was hired as the chief operating officer of the Employees Retirement System of on October 24. The position was created to replace the former deputy executive director position in an update of the agency.
Zeplin is a veteran of state government who has served as chief operating officer at the Texas Department of Information Resources and, most recently, was DIR's Deputy Director for Service Delivery. He has also worked in various positions at the Office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts and the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission. Larry has a business degree from Texas State University. As ERS' Chief Operating Officer, Larry will report to the executive director and be responsible for the daily operations of the agency.
Perry creates merit pay plan for teachers
Trying to gain momentum for an idea that failed in the Legislature earlier this year, Gov. Rick Perry has issued an executive order calling for the creation of a limited merit pay plan for teachers at low-income schools.
The initiative, which would reward teachers based on their performance, will use $10 million in discretionary federal funds to get the incentive program off the ground. Perry said he will ask the Legislative Budget Board to approve an additional $25 million in state funds. The executive order from Perry is his second in recent months directing changes in public schools. The first required that all school districts spend at least 65 percent of their funding on classroom instruction - another proposal that failed to pass the Legislature.
Local school officials would have discretion in passing out the bonuses, but at least 75 percent of the funds must go to teachers whose students show improved achievement. Under that criteria, about 17,500 teachers - or 6 percent of Texas teachers - could receive average bonuses of $1,500 a year if $35 million is eventually allocated to the plan.
UT Southwestern collects $50M gift
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas has received a $50 million gift that officials said will push the school to the top ranks nationally for cancer research and treatment. The gift came from Dallas investor Harold C. Simmons and his wife, Annette, who have already donated millions to UT Southwestern's cancer programs.
Houston billionaire donates $35M to Texas A&M
Houston billionaire and oilman George Mitchell has announced that he will donate $35 million to Texas A&M University to help build two physics facilities. Mitchell said he hopes his donation will help boost the College Station campus's reputation in the sciences.
"Mr. Mitchell's gift is unprecedented," said Texas A&M President Robert M. Gates. "This extraordinary gift really will be the cornerstone to a major advancement to science and engineering at Texas A&M. We're just extremely grateful for his generosity and his vision."
Texas Guaranteed names new leaders
The Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corp. board of directors has elected a new slate of officers to serve for the 2006 fiscal year. Albon O. Head Jr. (pictured), managing partner of the Fort Worth office for Jackson Walker LLP, has been named chair of the board. Ruben E. Esquivel, vice president for community and corporate relations for the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, will serve as vice chair; and Tommy Brooks, executive vice president and chief financial officer for Unity National Bank, will serve as board secretary.
As chair of the board, Head will provide leadership for one of the country's largest guarantors in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), helping to ensure access to higher education for more than 350,000 students and families each year. TG currently guarantees more than $3 billion annually for student and parent FFELP borrowers. The public, nonprofit corporation also assists students by providing information and guidance throughout the student's educational journey - from planning for college to successfully managing repayment of student loans. Head has served on the board since his appointment by Gov. George W. Bush in 1999.
"Albon's passion for ensuring access to higher education for the families and students of Texas is evident to all who work with him," said Sue McMillin, TG chief executive officer and president. "We appreciate the vision and direction he provides, and we will look forward to working with him throughout his term as board chair."
Texas Medical Board gets makeover
The Texas Medical Board, formerly the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, has unveiled its new name and a new look. The state agency regulates physicians, physician assistants, surgical assistants, and acupuncturists. It provides consumer protection through licensing, investigation, and disciplinary action and is strengthening and accelerating its disciplinary process.
"Our name more clearly reflects our mission, which is to protect the public's health, safety and welfare by regulating the practice of medicine and ensuring quality health care for the citizens of Texas," executive director Donald Patrick said.
A redesigned web site makes it easier for individuals to access the public profiles of, and file complaints against, licensed practitioners, Patrick added.
San Antonio airport's fed security chief promoted to area director
Transportation Security Administration officials promoted Leo Vasquez Jr., San Antonio International Airport's federal security director, to area director of TSA's central region.
In his new role as central area director, Vasquez will oversee security operations at 170 airports in 23 states. He will also coordinate all of the agency's field operations with TSA headquarters in Washington, D.C. Vasquez had been federal security director in San Antonio since May 2002. Prior to joining TSA, he served in the U.S. Army with assignments to Vietnam, Germany, Nicaragua and Panama.
Tommy Thompson to speak at WCIT
Tommy Thompson, former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, will speak at the World Congress on Information Technology 2006 in Austin. Thompson currently serves as an independent chairman of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. He led the HHS's efforts to begin a new Medicare program for seniors and has worked with states to find the resources they need to respond to public health emergencies.
Next year's World Congress on Information Technology is expected to draw 2,000 attendees from 80 countries and generate $44 million for the Texas economy when it comes to Austin in May. Other planned speakers include former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell; John S. Chen, chairman, president and CEO of Sybase Inc.; Michael Dell, chairman of Dell Inc.; and Hector Ruiz, president and CEO of AMD.
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