Dear Friends,

I have heard from many of my constituents who are concerned about education and I wanted to provide you with an update about the latest education funding discussions that are taking place in Austin on a daily basis.

As the mother of a public school student, I am a firm supporter of Texas public schools and I share your concerns about the proposed cuts to the education budget. I remain hopeful, however, that the cuts in the initial versions of the budget are just that: a starting point rather than the final compromise.

Often I am asked how education is funded. Currently, the state spends approximately 57 percent of the entire budget on public education and higher education. Of that, over 70 percent is dedicated strictly to  the public education system, which totaled approximately $53.7 billion last year. However, the student population has continued  to grow at approximately 80,000 students per year rendering our funding system vulnerable.

There is also a perception that lottery revenue should cover a significant portion of education costs in Texas. However, out of the over $50 billion spent last year on education, lottery proceeds only accounted for approximately $1 billion in the education coffers.

The state supports public school allocations by using the property, franchise, and fuel taxes which have had lower collections than anticipated. The state and school districts have also exhausted the one time federal stimulus money which supplemented their budgets last biennium. Given the lack of expected growth in property tax values, the  Legislature will work diligently to maintain last year’s funding level.

The Senate Subcommittee on Public Education Funding has been charged with exploring potential policy solutions that reduce the education budget shortfall. Although I am not a member of the Subcommittee,  I am closely monitoring their discussions with the perspective of both a parent and a legislator.

As a strong advocate of local control, I believe we must work with our school boards to evaluate the necessity of all district expenditures with the current economic climate in mind. I am committed to finding efficiencies and discussing innovative, common sense ideas with parents, educators and my legislative colleagues.

It is imperative that I continue to receive your input and ensure we work together to develop the best solution possible for our children. I would also encourage you to have an open dialogue with your local school district leaders to identify your expectations as a parent and a taxpayer. 

Please do not hesitate to contact me. As an informed citizen, you are one of my greatest assets.

Sincerely, 

The Senate is hard at work and the 82nd Legislature is in full swing! I appreciate hearing from so many of you on your thoughts and concerns as we get to work handling the business of Texas.

Governor Perry declared voter ID a legislative emergency and last week, Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst responded by putting the Senate immediately to work on the issue. With three full days of intense debate, Senate Bill 14 was passed late Wednesday evening by a vote of 19-12, with all Republicans in the Senate voting for the bill.

I fully support this bill, as do most Texans, because it provides a mechanism to protect the integrity of Texas’ voting system. Under the legislation, registered voters must present official ID with a PHOTO in order to cast a vote. There are limited exceptions for citizens over age 70 which will phase out over time. There are also limited exceptions for disabled citizens. However, this is a true photo ID bill, which I believe is a straight forward approach to detect and deter voter fraud while still providing necessary constitutional protections. As one of four Republican Senators who spoke during the debate, my comments and questions aimed to clarify the constitutionality of the bill’s language. The bill will now go to the House.

The Senate has also suspended a constitutional order of business so that it may begin committee meetings immediately. On Friday, January 28, 2011, Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst made committee assignments for the 82nd legislative session. I will continue to serve as Vice Chairman of the Criminal Justice Committee and as a member of the Redistricting, State Affairs, Health and Human Services, Jurisprudence and Higher Education committees. I also serve on the Sunset Advisory Commission and was just named Vice Chairman of the Legislative Sportsman’s Caucus by my peers. I look forward to working on these committees which have a great impact on many critical issues affecting our state.

Budget writers have also been hard at work.  I know many of you were alarmed at the current news dealing with the budget shortfall. Drafting a budget for a state as large and diverse as Texas is always a difficult task. The Senate Finance committee began meeting this week and they are in the process of hearing public and invited testimony to best determine the needs of the citizens of Texas. This process will continue for several weeks. I will continue to listen carefully and work with my colleagues to meet the critical needs of our state, while remaining a steward of taxpayers’ dollars.

Your input is vital to the legislative process. Please continue to keep in touch and use my office as a resource to share your comments and concerns or answer any questions you may have.

Joan

State Senator Joan Huffman (R-Southside Place) joined with all Republican members of the Senate in adopting the permanent rules of the Texas Senate for the 82nd Legislative Session, including the special order relating to improving our election security by requiring a photo-id to be presented. The special order allows specific legislation to be considered by a simple majority of senators.

“I voted in favor of the current rules because the Senate must adopt rules at the beginning of each session in order for the legislative process to begin. I respect the institution of the Senate and appreciate it as a deliberative body, however, I disagree with the rule commonly referred to as the ‘blocker bill’. I believe the ‘blocker bill’ limits the representation of the citizens of Senate District 17 and the majority of Texans. As the size and scope of each senate district continues to grow, I believe a vote of sixty-percent of the members present is a fair and equitable alternative,” commented Huffman.

“I look to continue to work with my colleagues to improve our process and the representation for our constituents,” said Huffman.

For additional information and to read Sen. Huffman’s comments in the Senate Journal visit: www.senate.state.tx.us.

It’s hard to believe, but in less than a week, Tuesday, January 11, 2011, the 82nd Legislature will convene in Austin at noon.  I will be sworn in to begin serving my second term as senator of Senate District 17.  If you are at the Capitol on January 11th, please stop by my office to say “hi,” meet my staff and enjoy some light refreshments.

I am certain it will be a challenging but rewarding legislative session. Some of the most difficult and pressing issues we will face this session are balancing the budget, redistricting and issues affecting health and human services. The demands from our growing population, required participation in federal programs, and the impacts from the current economic situation are increasing the strains on our state’s resources.

As your state senator, I remain committed to exercising stringent fiscal responsibility while improving state services. Public safety remains one of my top priorities this session, and my goal is to serve as an advocate for law enforcement and homeland security initiatives. I pre-filed bills that would crack down on automobile burglary, prevent a criminal illegal alien from receiving probation, and reduce frivolous complaints against doctors while increasing patient confidentiality. Additionally, my work on the Senate Redistricting Committee will be a priority to ensure all voters have an equal voice.

In the coming months, please don’t hesitate to contact my staff if you have a question or concern that you would like to share with me. I want to hear your thoughts and concerns on the issues that affect you and your families and hope that I’ll see some of you in Austin this session!

Thank you for entrusting me to serve you in the Texas Senate.

Joan