March 2013 – Message from Senator Carlos Uresti

It’s hard to believe that the 83rd Texas Legislature is approaching the mid-point of its 140-day session. The constitutional prohibition on passing bills during the first 60 days will end March 8, and the legislative process will really pick up speed.

The most important bill that the Legislature passes — in fact, the only one required by the Texas constitution — is the biennial budget. House and Senate budget writers are in the process of crafting a spending plan for the 2014-15 biennium, but first we are tending to some businesses left over from the 2011 session.

The House has passed a supplemental budget for the current biennium that provides $4 billion for Medicaid, which the Legislature underfunded two years ago. The Senate will also pass a bill to plug this Medicaid budget hole, and I look forward to voting for it.

It also looks like budget writers are going to restore some of the $5 billion in budget cuts to public education that have forced schools to layoff teachers and increase classroom sizes. I will continue to work for the restoration of these funds and make sure that schools don’t get shortchanged again when we pass the next budget, which becomes effective on Sept. 1.

In the meantime, I look forward to pursuing my own legislative agenda and getting some important things accomplished for Senate District 19.

For Eagle Ford Shale counties, I want to create a road improvement fund comprised of oil and gas severance taxes. County roads have taken a terrible beating from the oil boom, and it’s time for the state to help out our counties.

I’ve also filed legislation to raise the legal smoking age in Texas from 18 to 21, ban the sale of sugary drinks at public schools, curb the abuse of certain prescription drugs, allow online voter registration, provide child care for teen mothers at high risk for dropping out of high school, and end the corporate exemption from paying local hotel-motel taxes.

I know these issues are important to the people of Senate District 19 because that’s what I’m hearing from them. So far this session, I have met with county judges, commissioners, mayors, school superintendents, business leaders, and students from Bexar, Crockett, Frio, Kinney, Maverick, Real, and Val Verde counties. They know their communities need help, and that’s what I’m here for!

Semper Fi!