NEWS My Five Cents by Senator Nichols
Page 6A • The Vindicator • Thursday, March 28, 2013
A few important things that happened this week at your Texas Capitol “Whooah, we’re half way there, Livin’ on a prayer.” Monday was the half-way mark of the Legislative session- day 70 of 140. Getting to this point reminds me we have done a lot of work, but still more lies ahead. Thankfully, we had a very productive week filled with lots of action in both the House and Senate. Five things that happened this week at your Texas Capitol are:
Budget This week the Senate approved a $195.5 billion budget for the coming two years on a 29-2 vote. Passing a balanced budget is the only thing the legislature is constitutionally required to do each session, and I am pleased that this budget addresses many of the areas we set out to address. Thankfully, we were able to restore funding this session to many areas
which have suffered over the past two years. Among those areas, the budget restores some fund- Sen. Robert ing to public Nichols, Dist. 3 schools, colleges, mental health services, and the women’s health program. It does all this without touching any money in the state’s rainy day fund, which I consider to be a wise and fiscally conservative measure.
Retired Teachers This week the Texas Retired Teachers Association had their day at the Capitol, and wow, was it a success! Wearing their red t-shirts, they seemed to be virtually everywhere around the building, visiting with legislators and advocating for their legisla-
tive agenda. I was excited to get to meet with many of them from various parts of Senate District 3 and to discuss the issues they felt important. I am sure each of us can think of teachers over the course of our academic careers who made a significant impact on our lives and who we will never forget. As I sat on the Senate floor and looked up at the sea of red t-shirts in the gallery, it occurred to me that each of these individuals represent hundreds, if not thousands, of Texas schoolchildren who they have influenced. They have done our state an invaluable service and have my respect and gratitude.
Term Limits On Wednesday, the Senate passed a rather interesting joint resolution with a 27-4 vote. SJR 13 by Senator Kevin Eltife would implement term limits for
statewide office holders, limiting them to only two consecutive terms in office. Because the measure is a joint resolution rather than a bill, it would need to pass both the Senate and the House with a two-thirds majority and would then appear on a statewide ballot for Texas voters to decide on the measure. Thirty-six states already limit gubernatorial terms according to the Council of State Governments, and this measure is one I have heard about from many constituents. I am pleased that, should it pass, citizens will be able to decide for themselves whether our statewide leaders should be term limited or not.
End of Course Testing Over the one-and-a-halfyear interim period between the last two legislative sessions, I was able to meet
with the superintendents of all 102 school districts in the 19 counties I serve. In those meetings, the number one concern I heard was regarding state standardized testing. These superintendents, as well as parents and teachers all over the state, worry that we are over-testing our kids, causing undue stress and hardship for everyone involved. I am happy to report that this week an important bill on the subject passed out of the Senate Education Committee. Senator Dan Patrick’s SB 1724 would change the number of state standardized tests required to graduate from Texas high schools from 15 to five. These five would be in the subjects of English I and II, Algebra I, Biology and U.S. History. The bill will soon be heard on the Senate floor, and will then hopefully
move from there to the House. I am proud that the legislature is addressing such a serious concern.
Merle Haggard On Monday, the House of Representatives presented singing legend Merle Haggard with a resolution honoring his many contributions to country music. House Resolution 634 references Haggard’s humble beginnings before his rise to superstardom with such hits as “Okie from Muskogee” and “Mama Tried.” This poet of the common man has championed the cause of those given hard lots in life, and has spent several decades influencing the work of a generation of country musicians. I am, personally, a big fan of the Hag’s, and wish him only the best in the years to come.
Runnin’ Rebels basketball team returns from national tournament BAYTOWN, TX – Lee College faculty, staff and students gathered en masse to congratulate the Runnin’ Rebels basketball team when they returned home from their first trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Division I National Championship Tournament Wednesday, March 20. This was the Rebels first trip to the National Championship Tournament. The Rebels entered the
NJCAA National Championship Tournament as the No. 21 seed, and defeated No. 12 seed and Region 3 Champion Hagerstown Community College 104-97 in the first round of the tournament, before falling to No. 5 seed Vincennes University, 84-80, in the second round of tournament play. The trip to National Championship caps off a great season for the Rebels (26-11), who won the Region XIV
Summer Employment Opportunity for Students on Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge is seeking summer employment applications from young men and women ages 15 to 18. Two positions will be available through the Youth Conservation Corps program. No prior experience is necessary but participants must be citizens of the United States. Crew members will work 40 hours per week for $ 7.25 an hour starting June 10th through August 2nd. Hours of work will be Monday thru Friday from 7:30 AM till 4:00 PM. Work will be conducted outside and will be physically demanding. Individuals selected must have transportation to and from the refuge office, located at 601 FM 1011, Liberty, Texas. Typical duties will include trail maintenance, boundary line posting, fence construction, building construction, and various restoration and mainte-
Men’s Basketball Tournament in a four-game streak that included a 101-96 victory against Jacksonville in the second round, a 78-63 victory over No. 1 seed Kilgore in the semifinals and a 92-77 victory over last year’s tournament winner,second-seededNavarro on Saturday, March 9. Region XIV is regarded as one of the toughest junior college conferences in the country. Although the Rebels had advanced to the regional semifinals on four previous occasions, this is the first year they
have won the title. A special event celebrating the Rebels success will be held in the near future. Lee College in Baytown, Texas, serves a geographic area of more than 280,000 residents that includes the Goose Creek, Anahuac, Barbers Hill, Crosby, Dayton, Devers, East Chambers, Hardin, Hardin-Jefferson, Huffman, Hull-Daisetta, and Liberty Independent School Districts. To learn more about Lee College, visit www.lee. edu.
Kudos to the Lee College Runnin’ Rebels on such a great season!
nance projects. Educational field trips and training sessions will also be included. Selection will be on a random basis from the list of qualified applicants. Young adults interested in wildlife careers, summer employment, or job experience are encouraged to apply. For applications or more information please contact the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 10015, Liberty, TX, 77575 or call 936-336-9786. APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY April 10th and can be mailed, faxed, or brought to the office. The fax number is 936336-9847. Selection will be made on April 15th. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish and wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
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