State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) recently filed H.B. 291, a bill that would freeze hiring by state agencies for the 2014-15 biennium. King’s bill would implement a freeze on non-essential state hiring for that biennium, and would also prevent diversions of dollars from those unfilled positions being used by that agency for other purposes.
The Texas Legislature recently convened and there are many issues that need to be addressed. However, our first order of business, as required by the Texas Constitution, is to pass a balanced budget for the 2014-15 biennium.
State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) recently filed H.J.R. 52, a constitutional amendment that would limit the growth of state spending for welfare and entitlement programs to not exceed the corresponding rate of growth of total state spending. Under the increased mandates from Obamacare, Texas general revenue spending for Medicaid alone is likely to increase from $16.3 billion in 2012-13 to $38.3 billion by 2020-21.
This week, State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) filed H.B. 290, a bill that would give Texas independent school districts local options and flexibility in testing their students. School districts would have the ability, with approval from the Texas Education Agency, to select an assessment test that best fits their community, taking the place of the current, one-size-fits-all, state-administered STAAR test.
Last week, State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) filed H.B. 237, a bill that would limit spending by the Texas Legislature to not exceed the population growth in Texas when indexed for inflation.
When the 83rd Texas Legislature convenes Jan. 8 in Austin, things will look better than they did two years ago. That, you may recall, is when the legislature, faced with a $15-billion revenue shortfall, opted to cut spending across the board without raising taxes.
Election Day Polling Places and Watch Parties
Local high school students will have access to information and counseling about careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) thanks to a new partnership between Verizon and Weatherford College. The partnership, supported by a $10,000 Verizon grant to the WC Foundation, aims to leverage the benefits of Verizon’s commitment to STEM education with a Weatherford College program to help secondary students learn about college and career readiness.
During this time of year, especially during Presidential election years, it’s very easy to become disenchanted with all of the noise coming from both sides. I would like to urge you to do your best to break through the rhetoric, TV ads, emails and all the rest of it and put yourself in the mindset of an employer looking to hire a new employee.
The following statement may be attributed to Governor Mike Huckabee: “Huck PAC and I are proud to endorse Phil King for re-election as Texas State Representative in District 61.”
