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Special session expected soonGov. Rick Perry has reportedly told legislative leaders that he plans to call lawmakers into a special session as early as next week. The session is intended to address school funding, though some say plans still could change. The school funding system relies heavily on local property taxes and has been declared unconstitutional by a state judge. Lawmakers were not able to find a fix in the regular session that ended May 30. $100 million medical institute sought in AustinBusiness, academic and government leaders in Austin are tossing around a new proposal to kick start a sizable medical research center. After failing for two years to get funding from the state for a medical school similar to the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, proponents of a Central Texas medical center have come up with a proposal that begins with $100 million in private donations and ends with the possibility of tapping into state funds later. 
Kenneth Shine, executive vice chancellor of health affairs at the UT System, is discussing the options with leaders in Austin. As it stands now, the center would begin as a research institute run jointly by UTMB and UT's main campus in Austin. It would focus largely on "developmental biology" - the kind of research used to study birth defects, cancer and stem cells. Such an institute would need approval from a variety of entities, such as the UT Board of Regents and the City of Austin. Austin is rebuilding the site of its old airport, and with at least fourteen acres already earmarked for an "academic health center" many believe it would be the logical location. Houston unveils $2 billion transit plan
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Metro) has unveiled a $2 billion transit plan. Contrary to previous plans, the new one relies more on buses and less on light rail. The plan calls for an eight-mile light rail line in the heart of Houston and 28 miles of commuter rail along the outskirts of the city. It also shows plans for 40 miles of "signature" buses, which would travel on streets but have reserved lanes at intersections. Key to the plan is getting Metro the federal funding needed to make it happen by 2012. About $1 billion each would be needed from Metro and the Federal Transit Administration, Metro President and CEO Frank Wilson (pictured) said. 
State's top economic official takes job in HoustonJeff Moseley, Texas' top economic development official, is leaving state government to become president and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership. Effective July 1, he will succeed Jim Kollaer, who recently retired after 15 years in the job. For the past two years, Moseley has been CEO of economic development and tourism in Gov. Rick Perry's office. Moseley has overseen administration of the $295 million Texas Enterprise Fund and worked closely with communities and economic development prospects across the state. He was executive director of the state's now-defunct economic development agency from 1999 to 2003. The Greater Houston Partnership is a nonprofit organization that's the primary advocate for Houston's business community. $200 million emerging tech fund enactedThe governor on Monday signed a measure authorizing the new $200 million emerging technology fund. The fund is designed to support technology research and attract technology companies. A 19-member board will determine which organizations get money. The fund has three components:
State to contribute $20M toward Temple roadwayThe state's new budget has earmarked $20 million for an upgrade of Loop 363 around Temple. In sections of the loop, the road narrows to two lanes, which is problematic to several distribution centers, including one for Wal-Mart. Plagued by drug war, Laredo mayor pleads for $1.2 million grantA drug war that has crippled Nuevo Laredo in Mexico has spilled across the Texas border into Laredo and prompted the mayor there to seek $1.2 million from the state to fund increased law enforcement efforts. 
With a war between two warring Mexican drug cartels frightening tourists away and wreaking havoc in Laredo, Mayor Betty Flores (pictured) sent a letter to Gov. Rick Perry earlier this week to ask for the special grant. "This violence is spreading to our whole city," Flores wrote in the letter. Flores said she wants state help to acquire communications equipment and helicopters so police there can better track down suspects. A spokesperson in the governor's office said the grant request is being expedited, and more state troopers are on the way to Laredo, which has about 215,000 residents. 
Keel to seek judgeshipState Rep. Terry Keel from Austin said he will run either for a position on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals or the Third Court of Appeals in Austin. Keel, who is in his sixth term, said that he will make a more detailed announcement this summer. State, feds allocate millions for South Texas projectsState funding for projects in Valley counties, cities and towns total more than $2.5 million this year and an additional $2.7 million next year. On top of that, federal lawmakers have allocated almost $6 million for South Texas water projects and agricultural programs next year. Rep. Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville, said South Texas cities like Los Fresnos and Port Isabel will use the state money for basic infrastructure improvements to, in part, stimulate economic activity. 
The Texas Office of Rural Community Affairs awarded $331,808 each to Cameron County, La Feria, Raymondville, Santa Rosa and Port Isabel; $331,500 to Los Fresnos; $269,630 to Rio Hondo; and $303,810 to Primera. If federal funding continues next year Lyford, Indian Lake, Willacy County, Laguna Vista, Primera and Los Indios each will receive $331,808, and San Perlita will get $210,043, Oliveira said. The $6 million or so coming from Washington includes $3.6 million for the Army Corps of Engineers to construct improvements along the San Antonio River. Lens on the Legislature: Procurement BillsLast week's column reviewed proposals to amend the Texas Constitution. Gubernatorial approval was not required on those joint resolutions. This week's column begins a review of bills and most of these bills are still subject to gubernatorial veto. The deadline for vetoes is Sunday. Of the 876 house bills and 513 senate bills that were enrolled and sent to the governor, the governor has signed 288 through close of business yesterday. Bills which are neither signed nor vetoed by Sunday become law without the governor's signature. This week's Lens focuses on procurement bills. The search method explained in the June 3rd column might lead one to examine 35 bills that possibly relate to procurement. A different search method will be given later in this article and a third search method will be presented next week. Here are some key procurement-related bills:
Here is another search method for readers interested in finding bills related to procurement. The three links below provide lists of introduced bills that related to procurement. Recalling from previous columns that bills passed by both legislative chambers and sent to the governor are said to be "enrolled," one can quickly scan the status shown for each bill and pick out those that were enrolled. Next week's Lens on the Legislature will continue to focus on bills. By then, the governor's actions will be known. Reader requests for subject areas are welcomed. Send them to editor@spartnerships.com. [Editor's Note: Past issues of Lens on the Legislature are available online] |
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
Mariann Morelock, director of SPI's Information Services Department, has an extensive understanding of state and local government, procurement practices, public information laws and legislative issues. To learn more about Mariann click here. Special alert: SPI researchers and budget analysts are prepared to deliver extremely valuable information regarding recently approved legislative initiatives. As has been SPI's model since 1994, the Information Service Division of SPI is dissecting the final Appropriations Bill. SPI is 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 also is being 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 HUD awards $57 million grant to San AntonioThe U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will award a $57 million grant to San Antonio to provide community development funds to the city over the next four years. The money can be used to fund economic development and neighborhood revitalization initiatives. List of cleanest, dirtiest cities releasedAustin and San Antonio came out smelling like a rose, but Houston and Dallas have sullied spots on an upcoming list of the country's cleanest and dirtiest cities. Based on five measures of cleanliness - air pollution, water pollution, toxic emissions, hazardous waste and the number of sanitation workers per capita - the 50 most populous metropolitan areas in the country were scored. Houston ranked 41, Dallas came in at 30, San Antonio grabbed the 14th spot and Austin ranked as the eighth cleanest city in the U.S. For the record, Portland, Ore., claimed the top spot as the country's cleanest city. Beige Book releasedThe Federal Reserve System's latest Beige Book survey has been released. The Dallas Beige Book, along with a link to the national summary and reports from other Federal Reserve Districts, is available here. This summary of current economic conditions is based on information collected on or before June 6, 2005. Event LinksTASB 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 NabersFederal officials release $1.3 billion to help fight bioterrorism - 6/10/2005 Opportunities flying for contracts at airports across Texas - 5/30/2005 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 ArchivesLast Issue - 6/10/05 Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3 Archives - 11/7/03 - 6/10/05 ResourcesDiagram of Legislative Process State Contract Management Guide Who Represents Me? Texas Districts By Address Diagram of Texas' Biennial Budget Cycle Things you should know about the Texas Government Insider™We would like to send the Texas Government Insider™ to your friends and coworkers. We hear from many readers who have attempted to forward the newsletter…..it does not work well. So, we will make it very easy for you. Simply click the "Sign up for our mailing list" icon near the top of this issue and type in an e mail address. You may do this for each person you want to add to the distribution list. The publication will begin going directly to each of them next week. 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 check your spam filter program. |
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The 79th Legislative Session: How It Affects Texas CitiesAs part of its 2005 Legislative Wrap-Up Series, the Texas Municipal League will host an educational event on June 24 in Dallas to explain how the recent session will impact Texas cities. Click here for more information. Alliance Texas Small Business Procurement FairBusiness and government officials will converge at the Arlington Convention Center on July 19 for the Alliance Texas Small Business Procurement Fair. The event offers opportunities to meet buyers and contracting officers from governments of all sizes, major military bases, the surrounding states and large companies to discuss business opportunities. Early registration runs through June 15 (cost: $95). The fee goes to $120 after that date. For more information click here. 2005 TAC Annual ConferenceOn August 10-12, the Texas Association of Counties will have its annual conference in Austin at the Hilton Hotel downtown (512) 482-8000. For more information contact the TAC education staff at (800) 456-5974. |
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