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

“I read yesterday’s Fort Worth Star-Telegram editorial piece: “End-of-course exams in Texas schools raise a furor” with dismay. The piece discusses the impending “end-of-course” exams in Texas public high schools, which will count for 15% of the student’s final grade.”

“Much controversy surrounds this “latest” iteration of standardized testing in public schools. Once again, parents, teachers, school administrators (and many legislators) have voiced concern and yet, here we go again. Standardized testing is not in and of itself the problem, but is symptomatic of the real problem: the idea that state and federal authorities are better equipped to manage education than our local communities.”

“I wonder, whatever happened to local, independent school districts? Every year state and federal authorities encroach more into the operation of local schools. The end result is more often bureaucracy than better schools. The Texas Education Agency itself has a budget of over $279 million.”

“No one disagrees with testing and accountability, but we have gone from well- intended state and federal assistance to micro-managing the local classroom. Standards on top of standards, report after report, mandates upon mandates have done little more than dramatically add to our school districts’ cost of doing business. It has forced schools to shift money and focus out of the classroom and into administrative functions.”

“As conservatives we are supposed to believe in local control. We also believe that over-regulation of the private sector hurts business productivity, kills jobs, and lowers profits. Why, then, do we believe it is different for public schools? Last legislative session we fought to give local school districts more control of the classroom. We must continue the battle to give local school districts more autonomy next legislative session.”

“After all, who do we really trust with our children’s education? Centralized state and federal agencies, or parents, local teachers, and locally elected school boards? I’ll trust local control over big government every time. It is time we return to the time-tested model of independent school districts and local control.”

The Star-Telegram piece can be found at the following link: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/02/15/3738232/end-of-course-exams-in-texas-schools.html

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AUSTIN – State Representatives Jim Keffer (R-Eastland) and Phil King (R-Weatherford) today called for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide scientific evidence to show why it is necessary that the EPA add Hood and Wise counties to the DFW nonattainment area. Late last week the EPA notified Texas officials that they planned to add the two counties to the current 9-county nonattainment area of: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Tarrant counties based on the fact that Hood and Wise counties were part of the region being developed for natural gas in the Barnett Shale region. The EPA stated that due to increased ozone and air pollution in these areas, they believed the counties should be added.

Keffer and King stated that their concerns were based on the fact that new regulations will hurt the local economies of communities that they represent in the Texas House of Representatives, very possibly killing jobs in those areas when the regulations seem to be based on incomplete information and the desire of the federal government to further encroach on Texas’ sovereignty. They also added that it would be highly irresponsible for the EPA to implement any new regulations prior to fully considering any and all costs and economic impacts on the communities in question.

“The EPA refuses to work with local and state officials and has become a rogue federal agency that continues to attack Texas’ economy,” Keffer said, “That the EPA would blame oil and gas drilling as the reason for including Hood County in the nonattainment area when drilling in this county has declined significantly is just one example where EPA’s rhetoric doesn’t match reality.”

“I’m very concerned that these new regulations are based on bad science,” King stated, “For instance, the EPA must consider the unprecedented wildfires, heat, and drought that our area has gone through during 2010 and 2011. All of these can be contributing factors to increased ozone, and I believe the EPA has overlooked these issues. The way the EPA has been operating has most Texans concerned that their motivations are much more about political gamesmanship than they are about real science and protecting Texans.”

The representatives further explained that this attempt to add new air regulations seems to be the latest attempt of the federal government to encroach on Texas’ sovereignty. Over the past couple of years, the EPA has assumed control of regulating certain manufacturing and processing plants in Texas by invalidating Texas’ own successful Flexible Permits Program; devised a regulatory scheme for “cross-state emissions,” resulting in many Texas electric generation plants planning to shut down operations; injected themselves in local oil and gas production issues; and launched a study on Texas natural gas producers’ fracking procedures. All of these functions have been previously under the authority of the state of Texas.

The EPA said in its announcement that Texas has until Feb. 29 to submit additional information it wants considered regarding the nonattainment designations.

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AUSTIN – State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) yesterday filed his papers with the Republican Party of Texas to run for re-election as State Representative for Texas House District 61.

“It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of District 61 in the Texas House of Representatives,” King stated, “I would be humbled to be chosen to go to Austin again to fight for their interests. I have spent my tenure in office fighting for lower taxes, smaller government, and family values and will continue to fight for these principles that are so important to District 61 and Texas as a whole.”

King will appear as a candidate on the 2012 Republican Primary ballot. The Texas primary election date is currently set for March 6, 2012.

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(817) 381-8282

AUSTIN – Last week State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) was listed among the top ten rated pro-life legislators in the Texas House of Representative by Texas Right to Life. King was ranked the sixth highest pro-life legislator out of 150 in the Texas House, receiving a score of 140%.

“This past legislative session was the most pro-life session in Texas’ history, and Texas Right to Life is pleased that Representative King stood with us at each chance to protect life,” stated Director of Texas Right to Life Elizabeth Graham, “He did more than press the green button on the floor, and his willingness to go the extra mile helped pass the strongest protections for the most innocent among us.”

The top 11 pro-life House members earned scores greater than 100% based on their willingness to do more than just cast a pro-life vote. According to the organization, the top 11 made a concerted effort to ensure the strongest possible legislation passed.

Contact Information:
(817)381-8282

AUSTIN – This week, State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) was named as a recipient of the “Courageous Conservative” Award by the Texas Conservative Coalition (TCC). King received the third highest score out of all 150 members in the Texas House of Representatives.

“The 82nd Legislative Session was marked by many conservative achievements, and Representative King deserves special recognition for his role in helping win the debate on these issues,” TCC Executive Director John Colyandro stated, “The policy initiatives advanced by King and the other recipients will help keep Texas on a path toward growth and prosperity.”

To receive the “Courageous Conservative” award a member must have met or exceeded the mean score of the top two-thirds of all Representatives on the TCC scorecard, and must have signed the TCC “Pledge with Texans”. Based on 174 votes, the TCC scorecard for the 82nd Legislature is perhaps the most comprehensive snapshot of members’ voting records.

The Texas Conservative Coalition, the conservative caucus of the Texas Legislature, operates under four guiding principles: Limited Government, Individual Liberty, Free Enterprise, and Traditional Values.

To view the full “Courageous Conservative” scorecard, visit the following link: http://www.txcc.org/files/CourageousConsvAwardScoreCard.pdf

Wallbuilders LIVE!

Listen here to Phil’s interview with WallBuilders Live about the Texas legislative session, why Texas’ balanced budget amendment is the model for what Washington, DC needs to do, pro-life legislation, and much more.

Click here to listen to the interview.

Contact Information:
(817) 381-8282

AUSTIN – State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) was presented the “Taxpayer Champion” Award from Empower Texans at a gathering in Decatur last night. Empower Texans is an arm of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, a taxpayer watchdog group.

“Representative King truly is a Taxpayer Champion,” President of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, Michael Quinn Sullivan stated, “As a veteran legislator, he has been a consistent conservative ally for Texas’ taxpayers. Phil King understands that only by limiting the bite of government can individuals be free to pursue their dreams and opportunities.”

Empower Texans bases their awards on the 2011 Fiscal Responsibility Index, which rates Texas legislators on how they voted on more than 40 key votes during the legislative session. The index focuses on the size and cost of government, providing voters with a measure of which lawmakers are working to protect Texas’ taxpayers. King received an A+ rating on this year’s Fiscal Responsibility Index.

Contact Information:
(817)381-8282

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

“Today, Luminant, the largest power generating company in Texas, announced they will be cutting approximately 500 Texas jobs due to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) that was recently implemented by the federal agency. The rule sets unrealistic goals for emissions reductions in just a matter of months thus forcing Luminant and many other power generating companies to shut down some of their power generating plants, resulting in a loss of jobs. This rule is yet another example of how out of control the federal government under President Obama’s administration has become. Economists estimate that this rule will result in the loss of tens of thousands of jobs and cause a dramatic increase in electric prices.

In a time of economic turmoil it is inconceivable that the Obama Administration would pursue such job-killing policies. Texans should stand up and be heard that this EPA rule and other policies that threaten and encroach on our sovereignty will not be tolerated.”

Click here to read Representative King’s recent op-ed on EPA’s new rules.

KVUE News

Jade Mingus

As the East Coast suffers through the damage of hurricane Irene, Texas soldiers prepare for a similar disaster that could hit the Gulf Coast region this hurricane season.

Saturday, members of the Texas State Guard met at Camp Mabry and planned what they would do to help the state if a hurricane hit the gulf coast.

“Hurricane season ramps up particularly between August, September and October. That’s our main focus,” said Lt. Col. Phil King, a guardsman and a State Representative from Weatherford. “What we are doing today, is reviewing protocols and making sure we are prepared to go out if we are called.”

In times of crisis including hurricanes Ike, Katrina and Rita, Guard members are called to serve.

Click here for the rest of the story and video

State Representative Phil King

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented two new rules, which should greatly concern every Texan. If not stopped, these new regulations will prove extremely detrimental to Texas’ economy.

One rule is called the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). The second is the Utility Maximum Achievable Control Technology Rule (MACT), which is intended to reduce air pollutant emissions from coal-fired power plants. These new federal regulations will almost certainly force many Texas power plants to shut down resulting in much higher electricity rates for Texans and potentially causing blackouts across our state.

The EPA has admitted that, combined, these regulations will cost the nation’s electric power sector tens of billions of dollars in capital investments. Based on EPA’s projections, these regulations are among the most expensive ever proposed on the electric generation industry. And who pays for these cost increases? As with any business, the costs will be passed down to consumers.

So, is there an upside? Is there a health benefit to Texans that justifies these new, costly regulations? Well, it doesn’t appear so. According to EPA’s own statements, the majority of the emissions targeted by the new regulations are emissions regulated by rules that are already in place! For example, with its new MACT rule, the additional emissions regulated will only constitute 0.004 percent of the “total monetized health benefits.” Now, I’m not an environmental engineer but that doesn’t sound like much return for tens of billions of dollars of expense. To add federal insult to injury, Texas’ own clean air program has shown huge reductions in emissions since 2000, cutting emissions more in that time period than any other state.

National Economic Research Associates (NERA) analyzed the impact of these new EPA rules and the results are disturbing to say the least. NERA projects that new regulations will result in a nationwide cost of $184 billion; a nationwide average electricity price increase of 11.5% (12.1% increase in Texas); a nationwide net employment loss totaling 1.44 million job-years by 2020; and 15% of the nation’s coal generating plants will have to be retired prematurely. These statistics are staggering!

During this brutal summer, Texas’ electric grid has barely escaped blackouts. These new EPA regulations could force electric generators to shut down 18 coal plants in Texas by as early as next January. Barry Smitherman, the former chair of the Texas Public Utility Commission, recently stated that as much as 11,000 megawatts of coal-fired generation in Texas may be shut down, accounting for thousands of lost jobs.

So, where does this leave us? In yet another battle with a federal agency that is simply out of control. In an effort to get additional answers, I spoke to the new chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas and was assured that the Commission, numerous state officials, and many in the electric power industry are appealing to the EPA for a change, or at least a delay in the implementation of these new regulations. However, in the meantime, please call your elected representatives in Washington, DC and request that these rules be reconsidered. Since the EPA is an executive agency it answers to the President, however, Congress may change the statutes under which EPA operates – and that is where your voice can help. This is a critical issue for Texas and requires our foremost attention.

State Representative Phil King serves Parker and Wise counties in the Texas House of Representatives.