May 2007
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Richardson Telecom Corridor® Legislative Day
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| Senator Florence Shapiro has the attention of Richardson's Mayor Gary Slagel, SVP of REDP John Jacobs, and President of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce Bill Sproull. |
Tuesday, Feb. 20th – Interstate 35 South was busier than normal as 52 delegates from the Richardson Chamber of Commerce traveled to Austin for the Richardson Telecom Corridor® Legislative Day. Officials from the City of Richardson, RISD, UTD and some of the largest companies in Richardson attended. Leadership Richardson Class XXII attended Legislative Day for the first time. After checking into their hotel rooms, the delegates were treated to a reception and dinner. After a long, arduous day of legislative sessions and committee hearings, Representative Fred Hill and Senator John Carona welcomed Richardson community leaders to the 80th Legislative Session.
On Wednesday, Feb. 21st, delegates attended a breakfast hosted by Representative Hill at the Capitol. He and Representative Jerry Madden discussed current legislation on which they are working. Representative Jerry Madden is working on prison reform. Representative Hill explained some of the transportation issues facing the state legislature.
After breakfast, the group headed to the Capitol rotunda for the traditional group photo. Next stop was the gallery for the House of Representatives, as the Richardson delegation was recognized with House Resolution 445 welcoming Richardson community leaders to the 80th Session of the Texas Legislature. Richardson was represented on the floor by Mayor Gary Slagel; City Manager Bill Keffler; Board Chairman, Richard Ramey; RISD Superintendent, Dr. David Simmons; and RCC President/CEO, Bill Sproull. Recognition of the delegation was also made by the Senate.
After visiting both the House of Representatives and the Senate, delegates split up to visit individual legislator’s offices. Chamber officials delivered the key legislative agenda items adopted by the Board of Directors. Delegates re-enforced those issues as they visited the legislator’s offices and visited with staff.
Key issues adopted by the board were:
1). Continued critical funding for economic development including the recapitalization of the Texas Enterprise Fund; enhanced funding of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund and enhanced funding of the Skills Development Fund. Local tax abatement authority.
2). Tax and Appraisal Caps to allow government to run at the local level where elected officials are able to respond to individual needs of the community. Proposals to place appraisal or revenue caps could result in several negative consequences.
3). Higher Education – funding to seed research, GME and nursing, Texas Grants, the B-On-Time Loan programs and the Texas Equalization Grant; funding for DFW area university existing and new special items, including UTD priority times such as the Academic Bridge Program and the Science, Engineering and Mathematics Learning Project and; authorizing the creation of 3 new student-voted fees at UT Dallas – a student services building fee, transportation fee and athletic operations fee; and maintain tuition de-regulation.
4). Public Education – continuation of the Texas education accountability and assessment system; adequate funding for school districts to meet the state’s education standards; revision of school finance formulas to ensure area school districts received their fair share of state funding.
5). Water – support of the Texas’ 2007 State Water Plan. The Chamber encourages the Texas Legislature to designate for protection of all remaining viable reservoir sites of unique value for the construction of future reservoirs as identified in the 2007 State Water Plan; supports statutory provisions that eliminate unreasonable restrictions on the voluntary transfer from one basin to another and prohibit the involuntary transfer of water from North Texas to other parts of the state.
6). Air Quality – The Chamber supports appropriations and extension for two crucial mobile source programs.
7). Transportation – increase funding for highway transportation by redirecting the $200 - $250 million of transportation revenue from the General Revenue Fund to the Texas Mobility Fund and indexing the motor fuels tax; and enhance the capabilities of regional toll authorities and reinvest excess toll revenues in the region where the tolls originate.
8). Parks and Recreation Funding – Pass new legislation that uses the revenue generated by the sporting good sales tax to its greatest potential, increased funding for both State and Local parks and recreation.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Divisional Vice President, Charles Stuart, had a special session for the Leadership Richardson class and other delegates on “The Importance of Advocacy”. He discussed the role of lobbyists and how they represent their interest groups. He emphasized the value of having the people’s voices heard.
One of the most highly anticipated activities every Legislative Day is “Representative Fred Hill’s House History Lesson”. Mr. Hill gives a fascinating view of some of the state’s most illustrious leaders. He also has many interesting and amusing stories of things that have happened in the House of Representatives over the past 18 years that Rep. Hill has served.
All of the delegates came away from the 2007 Richardson Telecom Corridor® Legislative Day with a deeper understanding of Texas government and appreciation of how hard all of our legislators work for us.
Wednesday afternoon, I-35 N was once again filled with Richardson community leaders migrating north, feeling tired but satisfied with another successful Legislative Day and having had their voices heard regarding concerns of the Richardson community. Legislative Day is one of the most important things the Richardson Chamber of Commerce does for its members and the community every two years. Advocacy for business and community is an important aspect of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce. In 2009, the Chamber will once again visit Austin and the state legislators. You are encouraged to attend and learn more about the government of the great state of Texas and have YOUR voice heard.
Action News is a monthly publication of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce Communications Department.
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Richardson, Texas 75080-5297
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