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This week State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) joined Governor Rick Perry in Dallas at a ceremonial bill signing for House Bill 469. King authored HB 469 this past legislative session to keep Texas as the leader in energy innovation by continuing Texas’ significant progress in energy diversification.

“If we are going to bring down the cost of electricity we must learn how to build a clean coal power plant,” King said. “This legislation will incent investors, in a competitive, free market manner, to take the economic risk of building the first ever clean coal/carbon sequestration plant, ultimately creating jobs and new technology. This bill is great for the environment, and truly a winner for Texas.”

HB 469 is based on a free market solution to expanding our energy portfolio in Texas. It will offer tax breaks to bring out the best in private industry to develop and build the first clean coal plants in the world using this innovative technology that captures 70 percent of the carbon dioxide resulting from the generation of electricity by the facility. The bill also gives a severance tax break to oil production companies that use carbon from these plants for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), a process by which carbon is injected into an oil field to recover oil that would otherwise be unreachable by using standard methods.

“Not only will these plants be a boost to the economy, but the carbon used from these plants will allow Texas to recover billions of barrels of oil that we wouldn’t have been able to reach otherwise,” King explained. “That’s why this legislation was such a unique energy solution for Texas. It promotes our energy diversification and keeps us at the cutting edge of energy technology, but also helps us further stimulate our economy by recovering hard to reach oil fields.”

The construction and operation of these clean coal projects in Texas will be a huge addition to the Texas economy. The positive economic impacts of this legislation are numerous, including placing Texas as the leader to develop and export this new technology to other states, creating over 2,000 jobs per plant and pouring billions of dollars in to the economy in capital investment.

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State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) today cited fiscal restraint and common sense economics for Texas’ booming economy and why Standard & Poor’s (S&P) raised Texas’ credit rating from ‘AA’ to ‘AA+’ this week.

A statement from S&P on Tuesday explained, “S&P raised its issuer credit rating (ICR) and general obligation (GO) rating on Texas to ‘AA+’ from ‘AA’ based on the state’s continued economic diversification, and expectation that state officials and policy makers will remain committed to the maintenance of an adequate level of reserves in the Economic Stabilization Fund (rainy day fund).” The statement went on to say, “The ratings continue to reflect our opinion of the state’s large and steadily diversifying economy, which despite the recession continues to perform better than the nation in terms of both economic activity and employment.”

King stated, “Conservatives fought off many attempts this past legislative session to unnecessarily raid the rainy day fund and now we are seeing the positive effects of taking that stand.” King went on to say, “Texas has it right – we have ensured our ‘savings account’ is intact, have kept taxes on families and businesses to a minimum, and have kept our government programs in check – that’s why our state is blowing the rest of the nation away in key economic indicators like employment and trade just to name a few.”

King concluded, “If congress and other states would use the ‘Texas Model’ as the standard for how to operate instead of creating more big government programs and raising taxes on business and families to pay for those programs, this country would be a lot better off.”

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In a letter to the Texas Congressional delegation, State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) joined thirty-five of his colleagues in the Texas Legislature in urging opposition to pending federal health care legislation that would vastly increase government spending, necessitating tax increases.

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the insurance coverage provisions of H.R. 3200 would cost more than $1 trillion over ten years (2010-19). The legislation would be funded in part by a “surtax” on households with annual incomes above $350,000. Clearly, given CBO estimates, taxes will have to be raised on other income-earning households in the future.

King stated in the letter, “Legislation being considered by Congress would place the federal government directly in the center of our health care system in competition with providers in the private marketplace, and at the expense of taxpayers and consumer choice.” King continued, “People are demanding health care reform; not a government takeover of health care. There is a major difference between the two.”

King went on to say, “I strongly oppose more government spending and even more government intrusion in the name of health care. Anyone who believes that the federal government should run our health care system need only to look at the failure of Fannie Mae to see all the warning signs.”

“The health and well-being of each Texan is too precious to be entrusted to a massive, government-run, federal health care scheme that will be expensive and untrustworthy. Leaving health care decisions to unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. is a disaster waiting to happen,” stated King.

He concluded, “America needs health care reform, but there is a better way. Reducing health insurance mandates, passing sensible tort reforms like those passed by the Texas Legislature in 2003, encouraging innovation, and improving price and quality transparency are four positive health care reforms that could help to lower costs and improve care without massive government intervention.”

Houston Chronicle

Barry Smitherman

The proposed climate change legislation, intended to reduce carbon dioxide emissions over the next 40 years, will substantially raise electricity bills. An analysis recently released by ERCOT, the electric grid operator for most of Texas, joins other reports from around the country that project significant job losses and dramatic increases in the cost of electricity if this legislation is enacted.

About 50 percent of all electric generation in America comes from burning coal and about 20 percent comes from natural gas. And, even though Texas has more wind generation than any other state (and all but a handful of other countries), we still burn fossil fuels to generate the vast majority of our electricity.

What is the justification put forward by the bill’s proponents, including President Barack Obama, for destroying jobs and dramatically increasing your electric bill? An attempt, based upon computer models with no guarantee of success, to prevent the Earth’s temperature from rising a couple degrees by the year 2100. (In fact, one study projects that at best this proposed legislation reduces the already projected rise in temperatures by only 9/100ths of one degree in 2050.)

Austin American-Statesman

Corrie MacLaggan

A group of Republican lawmakers today announced the formation of a Texas chapter of GOPAC, a national organization that recruits and trains Republican candidates.

GOPAC-TX will raise money and work to get additional Republicans elected to the Texas House and Senate, the group’s chairman, Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, said at a press conference at the Four Seasons Hotel Austin.

At least for now, the House — where Republicans have a 76-74 majority — will likely be the group’s primary target in the Lone Star State.

For Republicans to win on key issues at the Capitol, “we need more Republicans in the House,” said state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, a member of the group’s board. “The gap is too small.”

King said the group — which includes more than 30 state lawmakers so far — will take on incumbent Democrats. GOPAC-TX will mostly stay out of Republican primaries, he said.

He said the group is planning a series of fund-raisers around the state and hopes to raise at least $4 million.

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Austin – This week, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) issued notices of violation to Planned Parenthood clinics in San Antonio that were performing abortions illegally in unlicensed facilities in Texas, posing a danger to the lives and health of women in Texas.

The notices of violation, which were accompanied with administrative penalties ranging from $14,000 to $17,500, are the latest in a string of formal actions taken against unlicensed Planned Parenthood clinics that were illegally performing abortions. One San Antonio facility failed to comply with reporting requirements. DSHS issued cease and desist orders to four facilities on April 2, 2009. Subsequently, DSHS issued formal notices of violation to five facilities on June 15, 2009.

The months-long investigation of Planned Parenthood clinics was initiated based on a March 16 letter from members of the Texas Conservative Coalition (TCC), the conservative caucus of the Texas Legislature. The TCC letter informed DSHS that legislators were aware of unlicensed Planned Parenthood abortion facilities in San Antonio that were illegally performing abortions; these facts have since been confirmed.

“The questions we first asked in March have brought troubling facts to light about illegal abortions in Texas,” said State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford), who is a member of TCC. King continued, “By accepting state funds for its illegal facilities, Planned Parenthood has endangered the health of women in Texas, misused public dollars, and violated the public trust.”

“Planned Parenthood must act in accordance with state laws that are in place to protect the health and safety of women who seek an abortion,” King added. He concluded, “The notices of violations send a strong message that Texas expects all abortion providers to comply with the law, especially when they are receiving state funds.”

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In the now-concluded 81st Session of the Legislature, State Representative Phil King stood out as a “hero” for the state’s taxpayers. According to the biennial ranking of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, King received a very strong pro-taxpayer rating of 90.91%.

“Representative Phil King was one of the good guys this legislative session,” said Michael Quinn Sullivan, President of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. “King worked diligently this session on behalf of Texas’ taxpayers and sound fiscal policy. We need more champions like him.”

Not every Texan is fortunate enough to be represented by such a lawmaker, Sullivan noted. The 181 members of the House and Senate averaged only a 52.09% rating. The House average was a 56.49% and the Senate a 47.69%. On a party basis, House Republicans averaged an 81.72%, while House Democrats had a 30.92%. In the Senate, Republicans averaged a 59.09% and Democrats a 29.65%.

Only 4 members of the 31-member Senate and 49 members of the 150-member House scored a “B” (80%) or better on the Fiscal Responsibility Index rating.

“There is no doubt this would have been a better Session if more legislators voted like Phil King,” Sullivan stated.

Sullivan said King deserves credit for consistently standing up for taxpayers despite pressure from outside influences, and other lawmakers, to do otherwise.

“Unfortunately this was a Session about missed opportunities,” said Sullivan. “Not only did the Legislature fail to provide much-needed additional property tax relief, they didn’t provide substantial reforms to the property tax appraisal system and failed to permanently address the shortcomings of the business tax. This highlights the need to get more individuals like Phil King elected to the Texas Legislature.”

The Fiscal Responsibility Index considers votes cast during the Session, with additional weighting provided for those sponsoring targeted legislation. The ratings of all members, the methodology and votes used can be found online at www.EmpowerTexans.com/index.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

State Representative Phil King

No state representative worked harder this legislative session to solve North Texas’ traffic congestion than my good friend Vicki Truitt. I share Truitt’s concerns and sense of urgency on this issue; however, we disagree on the funding solution that she and others proposed to the Legislature and on the practicality of commuter rail service.

The new transportation taxes proposed this session failed to acknowledge current economic times, the recession, growing unemployment and the credit crisis. Texas families already pay an average 32.7 percent of their limited income to the government in local, state and federal taxes.

Texas families and businesses simply have no more money to give to government, and particularly not now. Senate Bill 855 and House Bill 9 sought to authorize new tax options that included additional fees for car registration and vehicle emissions. The final version called for local elections to impose a motor fuel tax up to 10 cents per gallon, up to a doubling of the driver license fee from $24 to $48, and up to a $60 vehicle registration fee.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Jack Z. Smith

Retail electric rates available to North Texans in the deregulated market are now predominantly below 12 cents per kilowatt hour, a review of 102 rate plans on a Texas Public Utility Commission Web site shows.

But rates still vary dramatically, from 9 cents to 16.9 cents per kwh, according to data on the http://www.powertochoose.com/ Web site Friday.

A Star-Telegram check showed that 72 percent of the plans — 73 out of 102 — are below 12 cents. Forty-seven plans, or nearly half, have rates below 11 cents. Eight plans, all with month-to-month variable rates, are below 10 cents.

The lowest rate, at 9 cents, is the Tex Flex Plan offered by Gateway Power Services.

Rates generally have fallen in recent months as a result of the decline in prices for natural gas, which is burned to generate much of the electricity produced in Texas.

Natural gas futures for June delivery fell 4.9 percent this past week, settling Friday at $4.098 per million British thermal units on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Gas futures had risen 22 percent in the prior week.

State Representative Phil King

In these difficult economic times, there must be more scrutiny than ever regarding how Texas spends your tax dollars. Every odd year, the Texas Legislature meets to set the state budget for the following two fiscal years. After 19 hours of debate on the House Floor, we successfully passed your state budget. My Republican colleagues and I focused on the priorities that you and your family expressed were most important.

These budget priorities included increasing the quality of our public schools, improving job-training programs, reducing the cost of government, lowering your tax burden and protecting those in our society who struggle to protect themselves – the very young and the elderly. As we debated the budget until 4:30 am, we remained committed to protecting essential programs while ensuring that government spending tightens its belt, just as your family has had to do.

When the state collects your taxes and fees most of the money goes into the General Revenue Fund. In developing the budget, we reduced spending from the General Revenue by approximately $2 billion. This is your tax money we are saving, and we are proud that by working together we were able to reduce the future size of government.

Some highlights of the budget include establishing and protecting job training programs for people displaced by these difficult economic t i mes; fully funding our veterans’ needs, as Texas must honor our commitment to those long-distinguished veterans and those just returning from duty; increasing our public education expenditures by 1.8 billion dollars as all our children deserve every opportunity to succeed in school; reviewing government spending; and ensuring that those who are truly ill and unable to pay receive necessary medical care. All of this was successfully achieved while reducing expenses from the General Revenue Fund by approximately $2 billion.

Unique to this year’s budget cycle is the federal stimulus money that has recently gained notable attention. The stimulus money is an influx of your federal tax money coming back to you. Since this is a one-time receipt of funds, it is our duty to assure that this money will be used only for one-time expenses such as school construction, rebuilding of the gulf coast and other single item expenses, rather than growing gov e rnment programs that expect taxpayers to continue new spending every two years.

Creating any budget is always a difficult task and doing so for a state as diverse as Texas is especially challenging. However, our priorities are clear and our commitment is strong to make certain that Texas addresses the most important needs while also remembering that this money is yours, not ours, and it is scarce and hard-earned.

It is an honor to serve you in the Texas Legislature.