January 2013 – Message from Senator Carlos Uresti

Perhaps we should call it a rebuilding year. Sports analogies aside, that really is the best way to describe the task ahead for the 83rd Texas Legislature.

Lawmakers will face numerous challenges when we gather Jan. 8 in Austin, but there are four fundamental issues that will define this session — all of which have been neglected.

First and foremost, we must restore the funds that were slashed two years ago from public education. The more than $5 billion in budget cuts forced teacher layoffs, larger class sizes, and other staff and program reductions in our schools, making it tougher for kids to learn.

Texans know that good schools are the key to their children’s success and vital to the future of our economy. That’s why the value of public education must be reflected in the state budget.

The next Legislature must also invest in the State Water Plan. A growing bipartisan chorus is calling for an infusion of resources for water infrastructure projects, such as new reservoirs and catchments. This financial commitment should be accompanied by the implementation of wise water use policies that focus on conservation, water quality, and the preservation of local standards.

A third fundamental need is infrastructure. Our mobile economy demands durable, long-lasting bridges, state highways, and county roads that are safe and reliable. The roads in and adjacent to energy-producing counties in particular are taking a heavy beating, and the state is obliged to help them with maintenance and repairs.

Finally, the state must renew its commitment to public health, particularly programs that care for the elderly and protect children. We must not pass another budget that shortchanges the most vulnerable among us.

To me, the mission is clear. The success of the next session will be judged by the advancements we make on these issues. If we can accomplish these four tasks, Texas and its people will be champions — even in a rebuilding year.