TxDOT envisions funding increase

Officials at the Texas Department of Transportation hope to have a bit more money to spend on road construction and maintenance in the future now that the U.S. Senate has passed the much-anticipated SAFETEA legislation.

TxDOT said that for Texas, it could mean a gradual increase of highway funding formulas by 1.5 percent over six years. That could amount to an additional $17.4 billion over the six-year term of the bill. The Senate version and the House version (HR 3) are moving to a conference committee where differences are reconciled and the final bill is written.

"When all is said and done Texas gets only an 85 percent return on its contributions to the federal highway program, not the 90.5 percent as often quoted in Washington," said Ric Williamson, chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission. "Final passage of this legislation is vital to the economic growth of Texas."

Texas to receive $87.6 million in bioterrorism funding

Texas is set to receive more than $87 million to combat bioterrorism, according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. After doling out $1.3 billion last year to states' and cities' bioterrorism defense efforts, HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said May 13 that they are making another $1.3 billion available.

"These funds will help us build on the progress we have made the past three years with our state and local partners, and will result in a stronger system to care for Americans in emergencies, whether it be a bioterror attack or an infectious disease outbreak like SARS or West Nile virus," Leavitt said

According to HHS' funding distribution chart the CDC is allocating $53.6 million to the state and another $34 million is coming from HRSA. HHS said the funds will be used to, among other things, upgrade infectious disease surveillance and prepare health care providers for mass casualties and injuries.

Water Conservation Group names first female president

Peggy Glass has been chosen to be the Texas Water Conservation Association's president. Glass, an executive vice president and principal with Alan Plummer Associates Inc. in Austin, is the first woman to serve in that capacity in the TWCA's 60-year history. She currently serves on several of the association's committee, including the policy committee.

Pay raises approved for state workers

State employees will receive a 4 percent pay raise this September and a 3 percent raise in 2006 under a plan approved Tuesday by the Legislature's budget writers. It would be the first across-the-board salary increase in four years. The pay raise was agreed to by a 10-member legislative committee that is working out differences between House and Senate versions of a proposed $139 billion budget for 2006-07. They expect a finished budget to be approved by both chambers before the legislative session ends May 30.

Education update

A conference committee has been appointed to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of HB 2, the school finance bill.

Education Chairpersons Sen. Florence Shapiro (pictured left) and Rep. Kent Grusendorf (pictured right) met to agree on provisions which were similar and not likely to require debate. When the conference committee did meet the first major sticking point was on the way the different bills provided money to the schools. Both bills allocate approximately $3 billion in new money to the schools. The house version dictates how the money must be spent; leaving very little discretion to the local districts. The Senate version leaves a great deal more latitude to the local districts and has the support of the education community.

The conference committee has appointed sub-committees to work on some of the issues. Most observers feel that a resolution must be reached by midnight next Monday or the bill is dead. One thing does have agreement in both houses: The school start date. Both sides have passed legislation that says classes cannot begin until the Tuesday after Labor Day, and must end by June 7th. What is still at issue is whether that legislation will take effect before the coming school year starts.

UT eyes private partners for Los Alamos bid

The University of California (UC) and the University of Texas (UT), along with three major private-sector players, have announced serious interest and are expected to compete for the management contract of Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. The winner will oversee a program valued as high as $44 billion over the next 20 years.

UC, which has managed Los Alamos since 1943, said it will team up with Bechtel. UT has indicated a leaning toward Lockheed Martin. Northrop Grumman's team, which will include other federal government contractors and possibly a university, is expected to be a serious competitor. UC's history of automatic contract renewals ends in September. The Department of Energy said it will start receiving new proposals in the coming days.

Federal bill seeks to postpone BRAC decision

A group of Republican U.S. Senators led by Sen. John Thune of South Dakota (pictured) and Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins from Maine have filed a bill that would postpone the Base Realignment and Closure process (BRAC). Last week the Pentagon, through the BRAC process, recommended closing about 180 military installations in the country - 15 of which are in Texas. While some bases would close, others would gain personnel. In the end, Texas stands to gain almost 10,000 military jobs and lose about 4,000 civilian jobs.

The BRAC Commission will hold two hearings in Texas: June 22nd in Dallas and July 11th in San Antonio. More information about how BRAC may affect Texas can be found in last week's Insider.

Lens on the Legislature: Entering the Home Stretch

Today is Legislative Day 130. Ten days remain in this legislative session.

Through end of day yesterday, the House has seen 3592 bills (excluding resolutions) filed, of which 180 have been approved by both legislative chambers and 34 have been signed by the Governor. Senators have filed 1892 bills of which 118 have passed both chambers and 63 have been signed by the governor.

Conference committees have now been appointed in major areas (e.g., education, school finance, and workers ' compensation), so the coming week should bring the resolution of major bills and enrollment of about 80% of what will become this session's new laws.

47 of the bills passed so far are effective immediately. They span the gamut from setting the hours of sale and consumption at wineries (SB 571) to modifying the required notice regarding car rental damage waivers (SB359). For the next thirty days (the period through which the governor can sign or veto bills), many readers will want to frequently check the effective immediately link.

Today is the last day for the House to consider local house bills. Sunday is the deadline for the House to print and distribute its last daily calendar with Senate bills and joint resolutions. Other deadlines kick in each day next week.

With so much riding on this last ten days, questions about special sessions arise. Article 3, Section 5(a) of the Texas Constitution allows the Governor to convene special sessions and Section 40 states that "there shall be no legislation upon subjects other than those designated in the proclamation of the Governor calling such session, or presented to them by the Governor; and no such session shall be of longer duration than thirty days."

Of the 78 regular sessions of the Texas Legislature that have previously occurred, 54 have been followed by special sessions and 24 have not. The record was 6 special sessions in 1989-90. The longest stretch without a special session was the decade of the 73rd through the 77th sessions.

The next Insider will be published on Day 137. Since the rules only allow for corrections to be approved on the following Monday (Day 140), that weekend will probably be a very busy time in the capitol.

UT, Rice hire new deans

William H. Glick (pictured left) will be the dean of Rice University's Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management in July. Since 1995, Glick has led the department of management at the WP Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

Roderick Hart (pictured right) is the new dean of the University of Texas at Austin College of Communication. Hart, who joined the college faculty in 1979, has served as acting dean since June 2004. He replaces Ellen Wartella.

Repeal of Wright Amendment sought

The influential North Dallas Chamber of Commerce said it will fight to repeal the controversial Wright Amendment.

The 1979 amendment limits flights from city-owned Dallas Love Field to short trips to a few surrounding states. Southwest Airlines, which dominates Love Field, is leading a nationwide move to get Congress to repeal the amendment. The low-cost carrier wants to fly long-haul flights from Love Field - the type of flights reserved now for nearby Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

The chamber, whose 900 members include many of the city's largest companies, studied the repeal effort for several months and voted on Wednesday to support repeal. Chamber members believe repeal would bring added competition, allow Love Field to grow, and push down the region's notoriously high fares, consequently increasing traffic through both airports.

Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI) is a research and 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 our sales department at 512-531-3900.

Focus on SPI Consulting Staff

Reagan Weil recently joined the SPI team with a diverse background in public affairs. He has had experience at both the state and national levels of government and is known for his entrepreneurial thinking and innovative approaches to problem solving. To read Reagan's full bio, click here.

Special alert: SPI researchers and budget analysts are prepared to deliver extremely valuable information as soon as the legislative session ends.

As has been SPI's model since 1994, the Information Service Division of SPI will dissect the final Appropriations Bill the moment it is passed. SPI will be able to provide a total breakout of all funded opportunities for the next two years.

SPI's experienced researchers and consultants also analyze new statutes that will produce upcoming opportunities and other important information gained from planning documents, legislative requests, and federal mandates. Information gained from watching budget hearings, agency board meetings and changing sector trends will also be analyzed. Government vendors and contractors interested in learning more about how to obtain such information and insight should contact SPI's sales division at 512-531-3900

State Auditor Report

Administration of Nursing Facility Contracts at the Department of Aging and Disability Services and the Health and Human Services Commission, SAO Report No. 05-033

California Government Insider

The California Government Insider™ is SPI's bi-monthly publication detailing the important happenings in the state and summarizing current political issues relevant to those doing business with the California government. To read the latest issue or sign-up for the newsletter, click here.

Event Links

Computer Security for the Small Organization - 5/26/05

Texas Citizen Corps Conference - 5/31/2005 - 6/2/2005

Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Summer Workshop - 6/8/05 - 6/10/05

Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Summer Conference - 6/8/2005 - 6/10/2005

Western Governors' Annual Meeting - 6/12/2005 - 6/14/2005

Texas State Agency Business Administrators' Association 36th Annual Summer Conference - 6/12/05 - 6/15/05

DIR / TASSCC Government Portals seminar - 6/17/05

TASB Summer Leadership Institute - 06/23/05 - 06/24/05

Government Finance Officers Association 99th Annual Conference - 6/26/05 - 6/29/05

Western States Land Commissioners Association Summer Conference- 7/24/2005-7/28/2005

8th Annual Texas Transportation Summit - 8/9/05 - 8/12/05

Texas Association of Counties 2005 Post Legislative Session Conference - 8/10/05 - 8/12/05

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

Recent ABJ articles by Mary Scott Nabers

State's renewed emphasis on education offers possibilities - 5/16/2005

Millions to be spent on connecting Texas' first responders - 4/22/2005

Texas Government Insider Archives

Last Issue - 5/13/05

Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3 Archives - 11/7/03 - 5/13/05

Resources

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State Contract Management Guide

State Procurement Manual

Who Represents Me? Texas Districts By Address

Diagram of Texas' Biennial Budget Cycle

Texas Fact Book 2004

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Senate Subcommittee on Base Realignment

The Subcommittee will meet with the Senate Veteran's AFfairs Committee and the House Defense Affairs Committee on Monday, May 23, to discuss the 79th Legislature's effort to support Texas communities that face the potential impact of the Depeartment of Defense's 2005 base realignment and closure decisions. The Committee will hear from the Texas Military Preparedness Commission and defense-dependent communities from around the state. The meeting will take place in the Extension Auditorium.

Texas State Agency Business Administrator's Association Conference

The Texas State Agency Business Administrators’ Association is holding their 36th annual summer conference on June 12 to 15 at the Omni Bayfront Hotel in Corpus Christi. The agenda and registration information are on their website http://www.tsabaa.com/

The deadline for vendor sponsorships and booth reservations is May 20th. Vendor questions may be addressed to: Lori.Trank@hhsc.state.tx.us.