News

Weekly Lege Update – January 23, 2015

Last week we began the first week of session, which will take place over the next 5 months in Austin for 140 days.

The Legislature passed HR 4, which sets up all of the procedural rules that will govern the proceedings and operations of the lower chamber for the 84^th Legislative session. This is a critical step and the Texas House is now prepared to undertake the people’s business.

Our first new Governor since 2000, Greg Abbott was officially sworn in on Tuesday. Thousands descended upon the State House to watch the historical swearing in ceremony, which was followed by a parade and inaugural ball.

Our new Comptroller, Glenn Hegar announced lawmakers would have roughly $113 billion for preparing the state budget for the 2016-17 Biennium. The Legislative Budget Board released their budget recommendations for the Texas House. These recommendations are the starting point for the base budget bill.

This week the Speaker of the House began the process of selecting committee assignments for the 84^th Legislative Session. Each member of the legislature receives a preference card where he/she selects his or her top committee assignment preferences. The Speaker takes these preferences into consideration when giving out committee assignments. One selection is based on seniority and the other by Speakers preference. Committee assignments are two year terms.

I officially began serving my term as National Chair for the American Legislative Exchange Council. ALEC is the largest public-private membership association of state legislators and we work to advance limited government, free markets and federalism at the state level through this partnership. To learn more about ALEC and what we are doing visit: http://www.alec.org/.

Parker and Wise County Early Voting Locations and Hours:Early Voting Dates: Monday, October 20 – Friday, October 31, 2014Election Day: November 4th, 2014

For Parker County:

Monday, Oct. 20 – Friday, Oct. 24 8:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27 – Friday, Oct. 31 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

During Early Voting, you can vote at any of these locations:

Parker County Courthouse Annex 1112 Santa Fe Dr., Weatherford, TX Annex Kitchen Springtown City Hall 102 East 2nd St., Springtown, TX City Council Meeting Room Peaster Fire Department 220 Judd St., Peaster, TX Meeting Room Willow Park Municipal Building 516 Ranch House Rd., Willow Park, TX City Council Meeting Room Aledo Community Center 104 Robinson Ct., Aledo, TX Meeting Room Old Brock ISD Admin. Building 100 Grindstone Rd., Brock, TX Meeting Room

For Wise County:

Monday, Oct. 20 – Friday, Oct. 24 8:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. *Saturday, Oct. 25 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. *Sunday, Oct. 26 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27 – Friday, Oct. 31 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

*Saturday and Sunday early voting ONLY at Decatur City Hall

During Early Voting, you can vote at any of these locations:

Decatur City Hall 201 E Walnut St., Decatur, TX

Rhome City Hall 105 1st St., Rhome, TX

Bridgeport Law Enforcement Center 1000 Thompson St., Bridgeport, TX

For More Information Contact: (817) 381-8282

For Immediate Release –
October 17, 2014

Austin, TX – Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) calls for an immediate ban on all commercial flights traveling from foreign destinations where Ebola is a crisis issue.

“The simple truth is, had we had a flight ban in place, we would not have people infected from Dallas today,” said Phil King, State Representative for HD 61.

Today, a letter was sent to President Barack Obama signed by Representative King and 45 other Texas legislators urging the President and Congress to work to institute a travel ban to ensure that no further cases of Ebola are brought to the United States.

To view the full text of the letter, click HERE.

October 16, 2014

The Honorable Barack Obama

President of the United States of America

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President,

Texas is home to a limited but very serious outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus. Our state is the site of the only two known human-to-human transmissions of the disease in the history of the United States. As such, we request that you use your authority to institute a ban on direct commercial travel to the United States from foreign destinations where Ebola is a crisis issue (chiefly many Western African nations). We further request that you use your authority to prohibit travel to the United States if the traveler’s journey began or involved a stop in a country where Ebola is a crisis issue.

Two health care professionals in Dallas are currently suffering from Ebola, and many more individuals who came into contact with those confirmed to be infected with the virus are being monitored. The situation simply cannot be made worse by additional instances of the Ebola virus being brought to the United States from Western African nations.

As you know, the two confirmed cases both resulted from an Ebola-infected Liberian citizen, Thomas Eric Duncan, traveling to the United States via Belgium to visit family in Dallas on September 20. It has been widely reported that Mr. Duncan showed no signs of having contracted Ebola when he made his journey to the United States. It is for this reason that a travel ban is appropriate: without such a ban it is probable that other individuals who have contracted the virus but who show no symptoms will travel to, and enter the United States. The ban must apply to direct travel from nations where Ebola is a crisis issue, and to journeys that began or involved a stop in such countries.

As elected officials, our first duty is to protect the safety of those we represent. Preventing a public health crisis by ensuring that individuals who may have contracted Ebola are not able to travel to the United States is an essential part of this duty. Therefore, we respectfully request that you work urgently with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure that no further cases of Ebola are brought to the United States via commercial air travel from countries where the virus is a crisis issue.

Sincerely,

For More Information Contact: (817) 381-8282

For Immediate Release –
August 7, 2014King Named National Chair for American Legislative Exchange Council

AUSTIN — State Representative Phil King has been named next year’s national chair of the American Legislative Exchange Council, an assignment that will put the Weatherford Republican atop one of most influential national groups focused on state policy.

To view the announcement, CLICK HERE.

State Representative Phil King House District 61

Contact: (817) 381-8282

For Immediate Release –

July 13, 2014

The following statement can be attributed to State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford):

“Earlier this afternoon I received a call from Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler regarding the sexual assault of a nine year old girl. It is inconceivable that a man who has been deported four times is back in our country to assault a child after breaking into her home. What is it that Washington, DC does not understand about the need to secure our border against criminals? As a former police officer, I can assure you this crime would have never occurred if our border had been properly secured, preventing his reentry after deportation.”

Click HERE to view the Press Release from the office of Sheriff Larry Fowler.

Consumer Warning:

Scammers Mimic Electric Companies, Threaten to Cut Electricity During Summer Heat to Get Your Personal Financial Information
Consumers in doubt should call electric companies directly to verify account status; avoid giving financial or personal information to unsolicited callers or emailers

AUSTIN — In response to a scam affecting consumers cross Texas, members of the Association of Electric Companies of Texas (AECT) are warning consumers of unsolicited calls and emails that threaten to cut off electricity to consumers who don’t share personal information like bank accounts or Social Security numbers.

The scammers do not have the ability to cut electric service, but consumers may be more vulnerable to the possibility of service interruptions during the summer, when the prospect of losing electric service becomes more serious due to the heat.

“Service reliability is vital in the electric industry, and electric companies take their obligations to their customers seriously,” said John Fainter, president and CEO of the Association of Electric Companies of Texas. “We regard any efforts to undermine our reputations as significant threats. Law enforcement officials, electric companies and consumer organizations are diligently investigating these scams, and want to alert customers to stay vigilant this summer and beyond.”

Reminders for consumers:

• Electricity customers should never provide Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or bank account information to anyone who requests them during unsolicited phone calls, from emails, etc.
• If you are ever in doubt about a call concerning your electricity account status, especially one that threatens to disconnect your service, hang up and call the number on your electric bill to check your account status yourself.
• Other red flags include a threat that your service may be terminated suddenly when you haven’t received any other warnings, or being contacted by a company that doesn’t normally send you electric bills.

Contact Information:
(817) 381-8282

Today is Election Day for the Primary Runoff and the last day for your voice to be heard. Encourage your spouse, family, and friends to cast their vote. With numerous important statewide races and an election with low voter turnout, your vote carries more weight than ever!

Statewide Races on the Republican Ballot include:

Lt. Governor
Dan Patrick
David Dewhurst

Attorney General
Ken Paxton
Dan Branch

Commissioner of Agriculture
Sid Miller
Tommy Merritt

Railroad Commissioner
Wayne Christian
Ryan Sitton

To view local races on your ballot in Parker County, please click HERE.

Don’t forget you will need to vote in your neighborhood precinct polling location. Polls are open from 7 am – 7 pm.

Voting locations are:

Parker County

7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To view your precincts Election Day polling location, click HERE.

Wise County

7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Commissioner 1 pcts 1-2-3-4-5-6-22 – Decatur City Hall

Commissioner 2 pcts 7-8-9-10-11-12-18-19 – Assumption Catholic Church

Commissioner 3 pcts 20-23-24-25-27- Boyd Community Center

Commissioner 4 pct 13-14-15-16-17 – Bridgeport High School

Contact Information:
(817) 381-8282

Early Voting starts today and runs through Friday, May 23rd. Early voting locations are now open in Parker and Wise counties. With numerous important statewide and local races yet to be determined, every vote counts!

Early voting locations are:

Parker County

7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, May 19-23.

Parker County Annex, 112 Santa Fe Dr.;
Springtown City Hall, 102 East 2nd St.;
Peaster Fire Department, 221 Judd Street;
Willow Park Municipal Building, 516 Ranch House Road;
Aledo Community Center, 104 Robinson Ct.;
Old Brock ISD Admin. Building, 100 Grindstone; and
Azle Masonic Lodge, 257 W. Main St.

Wise County

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, May 19 – May 23.

Decatur City Hall, 201 E. Walnut St.;
Rhome City Hall, 105 1st St.; and
Bridgeport Law Enforcement Center, 1000 Thompson St.

Statewide Races on the Republican Ballot include:

Lt. Governor
Dan Patrick
David Dewhurst

Attorney General
Ken Paxton
Dan Branch

Commissioner of Agriculture
Sid Miller
Tommy Merritt

Railroad Commissioner
Wayne Christian
Ryan Sitton

To view local races on your ballot in Parker County, please click HERE.

Contact Information:
(817) 381-8282

AUSTIN, TX – State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) was named to the Joint Interim Committee to Study Water Desalination. The committee is charged with examining the status of seawater and groundwater desalination in Texas, as well as ways that expanded use of desalinated water could help meet Texas’ needs.

“Water continues to remain a top priority for Texas and for our community,” King stated. “Looking at alternative solutions to address our future water needs is critical for ensuring a strong Texas economy.”

During the 83rd Legislative Session, HB 4 was passed and signed into law by Governor Perry. This legislation established the SWIFT account to pay for needed water supply and conservation projects across Texas. Last November, Texans voted by a three-to-one margin to dedicate funding for those projects in the Texas Constitution.

The appointees will work to ensure that efforts to improve the state’s water supply are properly and effectively implemented. They will also help the full House prepare to address water matters in the next legislative session, which begins in January 2015.

Contact Information:
(817) 381-8282

Wise County and Parker County Early Voting Locations and Hours

Early Voting Dates: February 18 – February 28, 2014
Primary Election Day: March 4, 2014

For Wise County:

8:00 am – 5:00 pm – WEEKDAYS

Decatur City Hall, 201 E Walnut, Decatur, TX
Rhome City Hall, 105 1st Street, Rhome, TX
Bridgeport Law Enforcement, 1000 Thompson Street, Bridgeport, TX

Walmart, 800 S US HWY 81-287, Decatur, TX (ONLY – Saturday, February 22 – 9:00am – 6:00pm)

For Parker County:

Locations:
Parker County Courthouse Annex, 112 Santa Fe Dr., Weatherford, TX
Springtown City Hall, 102 E 2nd St., Springtown, TX
Willow Park Municipal, 516 Ranch House Rd., Willow Park, TX
Peaster Fire Department, 221 Judd St., Peaster, TX
Azle Masonic Lodge, 257 W Main St., Azle, TX
Aledo Community Center, 114 Robinson Ct., Aledo, TX
Old Brock ISD Admin. Building, 100 Grindstone Road, Brock, TX

Hours:
Tuesday, February 18 – Friday, February 21: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday, February 22: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday, February 23: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Monday, February 24 – Friday, February 28: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm