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Weatherford Democrat

Staff Reports

State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) officially unveiled legislation designed to create a groundwater conservation district in Parker and Wise counties Wednesday.

House Bill 4052 was written in response to the concerns of area residents, local elected officials and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding increasing use of groundwater due to population growth and Barnett Shale drilling.

King met with local elected officials and gathered input over the past several months before helping to craft the bill’s language.

“Water is a scarce resource in Texas, particularly in Parker and Wise counties,” King said in a statement. “My legislation brings area stakeholders together to manage a critical community resource — water — because natural resources are a vital anchor to our economic future.”

Though commissioners expressed frustration at the absence of language in the bill granting a local groundwater conservation district additional authority to regulate oil and gas related users, the Parker County Commissioners Court granted a “general” stamp of approval to the bill earlier this month.

“This legislation reflects earnest work by residents and officials of Parker and Wise counties, resulting in a plan that helps our area to thrive for many years to come.”

King’s bill is expected to receive a favorable committee vote next week and then go before the full Texas legislature. County Judge Mark Riley, Parker County Commissioner Joe Brinkley and Wise County Commissioner Kevin Burns each delivered testimony in support King’s legislation.

Contact Information:
(817)596-8100

Austin – State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford), a longtime supporter of reducing property taxes, yesterday cast his vote for H.B. 216, a bill that will slow burdensome “appraisal creep” that impacts Texas homeowners.

Phil King said, “We are moving to protect families in Parker and Wise counties that have seen increases in appraisal values during recent years. This legislation is a key part of continuing efforts to solve the problem of appraisal creep.”

Current state law appraises property at levels greater than market value in order to meet unreasonable government formulas. This new legislation helps correct this problem by reducing the upward pressure on appraisals that have burdened property owners.

King went on to say, “Texas legislators are working now to protect Texans from future increases in property taxes. I am proud to support positive public policy that helps all Texans.”

H.B. 216 was passed by the full House yesterday and awaits action by the Texas Senate.

Wise County Messenger

By Tony Cummings, Associated Builders and Contractors of North Texas – Irving

Economic prosperity and government regulation don’t mix, and we need to keep an eye on an important debate going on in Austin. For years, Texas has been able to benefit from a business friendly environment, but we can’t take that for granted.

Some legislators are calling for retroactive approval of the pending sale of TXU. Regardless of how one may feel about the merits of the sale, the proposed SB 896 is not only a violation of our state Constitution (see Art. I, Sec. 16), it also sends a message that Texans favor regulation over sound business practices.

Thankfully, Rep. Phil King of Weatherford is taking a principled stand for promoting lower electricity rates and preserving our strong business climate. A private company with strong Fort Worth ties has stepped forward to cut electric rates and bring a new approach at TXU. Now, legislators are attempting to give bureaucrats the authority to reject the deal – after the purchase has been announced! That is a terrible precedent which sends a bad message about doing business in Texas. On behalf of Associated Builders and Contractors of North Texas, representing 240 small business owners across north Texas, I want to publicly thank Representative Phil King for fighting bad legislation for consumers and business.

Weatherford Democrat

Staff Reports

AUSTIN — The Texas House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 482 (SB 482) Friday.

According to a release from Weatherford Rep. Phil King, the bill will work to increase competition and lower electric rates in the retail electric market.

King, author of the measure, said passage of the bill is good news for the state’s power consumers.

“Electricity rates in Texas today are too high,” King said. “As a fellow consumer paying high electric bills, both at my home and my small business in Weatherford, I am anxious for rates to decline. Today, with the passage of SB 482, we have made a substantial step toward accomplishing this goal.”

The legislation accelerates price reductions of electricity by encouraging increased competition for retail customers. Companies will be encouraged to aggressively compete outside of their traditional service areas, and be penalized if they do not do so. Electric providers are therefore incentivized to lower rates and compete for customers outside of their normal territory.

Additionally, customers who currently pay a standard rate (called the “price-to-beat” rate — the highest rates in the state) must be switched to a lower-cost rate plan. If a new plan is not chosen within a certain time period, the provider will choose a lower-cost plan for the customer.

King’s release relates in addition to lowering rates, the bill also protects customers in two ways. First, providers will not be allowed to cut off power during the hot summer months, even if customers cannot pay their utility bills. Second, the bill puts in place incentives for wind generation, which works towards decreasing pollution and improving air quality.

According to King, new proposals addressing power concerns are in the works.

“Next week we hope to pass out additional legislation to further prevent companies from manipulating electric prices and a third bill to open the door for new nuclear plants which will provide clean, low cost electricity,” he said.

Weatherford Democrat

Phil Riddle

Parker County’s representatives in both houses of the Texas Legislature have each co-authored legislation to allow lawmakers more time to gather public input before pushing forward on the controversial Trans-Texas Corridor.

Senator Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) co-authored Senate Bill 1267 to put a two-year moratorium on privately funded toll roads, including the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor. “We need to put the brakes on these public-private contracts used to finance new toll-road projects,” said Estes. “There are too many unanswered questions and recent revelations of poor accountability require the legislature to step in.”

State Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford) is also seeking a two-year moratorium on the massive transportation plan through proposed legislation. “Providing for a two-year moratorium on the toll project will further the goal of transparency and public participation as well as increased legislative oversight.”

Both proposals, in addition to staying the TTC project, would also create a legislative study committee made up of members of both houses, as well as the Governor’s Office. “Implications surrounding the construction of toll roads in Texas are too great not to be completely and adequately reviewed,” King said. “Allowing the legislature to study the current proposals and consider alternatives to building toll roads are in the best interests of the citizens of this state.”

Estes’ plan would apply only to privately funded toll-road projects, and does not halt the construction of a publicly funded toll-road project. The Trans Texas Corridor is a planned toll road, which, if built, will dissect Texas with a 1200-foot right of way allowing for automobile traffic, special truck lanes, rail and utility easements. Opponents of the plan cite the massive amount of Texas land needed for the project, much of which will be claimed by the state under eminent domain laws.

“I am very concerned that these private contracts lack the accountability and transparency voters demand in the operations of their government,” Estes said, “and until we fully understand both the public policy and fiscal impact of these agreements, it is in the interest of the public to stop them before it is too late.”

Contact Information:
(817)596-8100

Austin – State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) voted for legislation to rescind Governor Rick Perry’s recent mandate that all sixth-grade girls in Texas be required to be vaccinated for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The legislation was passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Assuming the Senate approves the measure; parents may still voluntarily allow their children to be vaccinated for HPV but would not be required to have their children vaccinated.

“Governor Perry’s heart is in the right place, and we all share his desire to reduce cervical cancer in Texas,” King explained. “But mandating this vaccine would put government in between parents and their children and we should never interfere with that relationship.”

The HPV vaccine was approved by the FDA for only eight months before it was mandated, and many experts have questioned whether its testing was sufficient to determine whether it is safe and effective. Several groups in the medical community, such as the Texas Medical Association have opposed the mandate.

“I am not opposed to the HPV vaccine but I am strongly opposed to the state telling parents that we know better than they do,” King said. “Until we know how the vaccine could affect the future health of these young girls, it would be extremely irresponsible for us to mandate it. We’d be sending a false message to families saying that we know it is safe when, in reality, there are so many questions left unanswered about its effectiveness and long-term implications.”

Contact Information:
(817)596-8100

AUSTIN – State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) has coauthored legislation that, if approved, would mandate a two year moratorium on the Trans Texas Corridor project.

“Transparency and public participation have been critical issues throughout this toll road process,” stated King. “Providing for a two year moratorium on the toll project will further this goal by allowing for greater public involvement as well as increased legislative oversight.”

The bill, in addition to staying the Trans Texas Corridor project for two years, would also create a legislative study committee comprised of members from the House, Senate and Governor’s office. The committee would be charged with conducting public hearings and evaluating the public policy implications of allowing a private entity to operate and collect revenue from a toll project.

“The implications surrounding the construction of toll roads in Texas are too great to not be completely and adequately reviewed,” King said. “Allowing the legislature to study the current proposals and consider alternatives to building toll roads are in the best interests of the citizens of this state.”

Wise County Messenger

By Skip Nichols

State Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford) has three bills that he intends to file on a groundwater protection district that would include Wise County, he said Friday in a telephone interview.

King said one of the three bills would put a five-county district – including Wise, Parker, Montague, Hood and Somervell counties – up for a vote in November. Another bill would include only Wise and Parker counties and the final bill would be just for Wise County.

“We’re trying to reach a consensus among community leaders,” said King as he drove home from Austin through Waco just after noon. “I’m very strongly leaning toward the five-county district. But we want to have all ready if needed.”

King said he’s been talking extensively with Wise County Commissioner Kevin Burns about the groundwater district.

The county has made the district a legislative imperative since it learned a draft study by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality named Wise County as a priority groundwater management area. That designation triggers a two-year window to set up a groundwater district otherwise the state places the county in a much larger district.

King and other state officials have said that Wise County would likely become a part of a 13-county district, where the political and geologic differences are vast. Such a district would be funded from taxes.

A potential problem to the five-county district surfaced when it was learned that Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) was writing legislation for a six- or seven-county district to include Tarrant County.

“There’s merit both ways,” said King, talking about Geren’s proposed legislation or his bill for a five-county district. “He asked if I minded if he met with the local leaders to discuss his bill. I said that was fine. In fact, the decision needs to be made by the local communities.”

Wise County Judge Bill McElhaney said that he will meet with Geren and other county judges, including Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, next Friday (Feb. 9) in Parker County to discuss the groundwater district.

McElhaney said that Geren told him by phone Thursday that Tarrant County needs to be a part of the district because “rural counties will do a better job of conserving the groundwater.”

One concern among local leaders is whether the district’s governing board would be weighted by population or if each county would be represented equally. If population is used, none of Wise County’s leaders are interested because Tarrant County would dominate the board, they said.

Other legislation

King also said he’s filed several other bills that should interest Wise County residents.

One involves notification of property owners by oil and gas companies of their intention to drill.

“It would require written notification to all property owners,” King said. “Most good companies do that anyway. But, there are some who just come on the property and start bulldozing a road and building pads.”

King said the bill was prompted by the numerous complaints he’s received from property owners.

King admitted that the oil and gas lobby is not happy with the bill. Still, he said, he believes common sense will prevail and that a certified letter is simply “common courtesy.”

Another piece of legislation King has filed could bring added taxes to Wise County.

It requires drilling rigs to be taxed in the county where they are being used. Currently, King said, most rigs are based out of Midland or Houston and those counties get the property tax revenue.

King said it’s not unusual for a rig to be in Wise County for all 12 months – and “that’s where it should be taxed,” he noted. Rig owners would rather pay Wise County taxes anyway, he said, because it would save them money.

Wise County Messenger

By Skip Nichols

Wise County commissioners made a major commitment Tuesday for a groundwater protection district.

Commissioners and Judge Bill McElhaney unanimously approved a memorandum supporting legislation in the current session to form a district with Parker, Hood and Montague counties.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Kevin Burns said time is of the essence, since the Legislature kicked off its session last week.

“The timeline is tough,” said Burns who with Precinct 1 Commissioner Robert Rankin and public works director Tom Goode went to Austin last week to visit with Brian Sledge, an attorney who specializes in groundwater districts. Sledge was part of a workshop on groundwater districts in Decatur, which was coordinated by Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford).

Burns said the group had gone to Austin with the intention of seeking advice for forming a single-county district in light of a declaration by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. That declaration said Wise – along with several other North Texas counties – were priority groundwater management areas.

That designation triggers a two-year window for the county to set up a groundwater district or simply let the state place the county in a district.

King and other state officials said that Wise County would likely become a part of a 13-county district, where the political and geologic differences are vast. Such a district would be funded from taxes.

If Wise County is able to convince Parker, Hood and Montague counties to join it, there would be more local control, said Burns and Rankin. Perhaps most important, voters would get to have a say in the district – including whether it would be funded by fees or taxes.

Burns said he has gotten favorable responses from a couple of Parker County commissioners and Hood County Judge Andy Rash. Goode said Montague County officials, including city of Bowie officials, expressed interest in the district.

“A multi-county district would provide some economy of scale, especially for the taxpayer,” Burns said.

“We have to get people on board (by Jan. 30),” Rankin said. “If we can’t, then we need to proceed with a single-county district.”

King and state Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) have vowed to carry the Wise County legislation this session.

Wise County’s designation as a priority groundwater management area by TCEQ came after an extensive study of aquifers in the North Texas area, including the Trinity Aquifer.

The study noted that “millions of gallons of water are used in the drilling of wells and the stimulation of fractures in the Barnett Shale. … This water demand is not anticipated to decrease over the 30-year planning horizon. … Shortages are projected for Wise.

“More groundwater is being withdrawn than recharged to aquifers. At present, water user groups in Wise are collectively using the Trinity aquifer at quantities over … estimates for safe supply. The past and continued over development of aquifers from the continued urbanization of the area threatens water supplies for rural domestic, municipal and small water providers who depend on groundwater sources.”

In making Wise County a priority groundwater management area, the study concluded that protecting existing groundwater supplies is a critical issue … because the delivery of alternative surface water supplies is not projected to be economically feasible.”