The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 105, No. 29, Ed. 1 Tuesday, April 12, 2011 Page: 4 of 14
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Boerne Star and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Patrick Heath Public Library.
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Page 4
The BOERNE Star
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
VIEWP
O I N T S
Budget proposals draw stakeholders to Austin
AUSTIN - A crowd, estimated at 5,000
people from across Texas, gathered at
the Capitol to participate in a “Save Our
State” rally on April 6.
Participants, many of whom are state
employees with jobs on the chopping
block, came to protest cuts proposed
in the 2012-13 state budget approved
by the House on April 3, and to ask
for greater consideration as the budget-
writing process continues.
The Senate must produce its own ver-
sion of the budget.
Two weeks ago, Lt. Gov. David Dew-
hurst, who presides over the Senate,
asked a subcommittee under the direc-
tion of Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock,
to go on a $5 billion revenue hunt.
This week Duncan and committee,
who have been searching the state’s
financial woods, plains and caves, are
expected to produce a report with find-
ings that might yield a solution less
painful than the House’s state budget,
which thins the ranks of state employ-
ees and lops off billions of dollars in
education and health services.
REPORT EYES HEALTH CARE
SPENDING
State Comptroller Susan Combs on
April 6 released a new report, “Health
Care Cost Drivers in Texas,” exam-
ining where health care dollars go,
why costs are soaring, and analyzing
cost saving proposals the Legislature is
considering.
Health care accounts for more than 34
percent of all Texas government spend-
ing from state, federal and other funds,
Combs said in an April 6 news release.
In fiscal 2009, the state spent about
$30 billion on health care, a 36 percent
increase from fiscal 2005, according to
Combs.
Among cost saving proposals exam-
ined in the report are these: expansion
of managed care in the Medicaid
program, a statewide smoking ban,
requiring state employees who use
tobacco to pay more for health insur-
ance than non-users, and requiring
state employees and retirees to pay a
greater share of the cost of their health
insurance benefits.
CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS
Ed Sterling
TEXAS PRESS
ASSOCIATION
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
SPOTLIGHT TURNS TO
CATHOLICS
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo and eight
other Roman Catholic archbishops and
bishops of Texas were honored in person
in the Senate Chamber on April 6 in an
honorary resolution by Sen. Eddie Lucio,
D-Brownsville.
Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, coau-
thor of the resolution, took a turn at
the microphone to speak in favor of the
measure. “The state budget is a moral
document that reflects the priorities and
values of our state,” Zaffirini said.
“And my hope, by the time we pass a
Senate appropriations bill, is that it will
reflect the highest priorities, the highest
needs, the highest values of our state,
and that the bishops who are here with
us today will be proud of that docu-
ment. That is my prayer, and I hope it is
yours.”
Zaffirini then asked Catholic members
of the Senate and a large contingency
of members of the Catholic Conference
in the Senate Gallery to stand and be
recognized.
The resolution passed unanimously.
Then, Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, a
Roman Catholic who chairs the budget-
writing Senate Finance Committee, spoke
up and asked for two things: that all
members’ names be added to the resolu-
tion, and that the bishops “keep praying
for us.”
TxDOT APPLIES FOR RAIL
FUNDS
The Texas Department of Transporta-
tion last week submitted applications for
about $43 million in federal high-speed
intercity passenger rail grant funds for
two Texas projects: one for preliminary
engineering and environmental studies
and one for safety improvements.
About $18 million of the requested
funding is for preliminary engineering
and environmental studies for the pro-
posed Dallas/Fort Worth to Houston High
Speed Rail Line, a corridor that would
connect two of the nation’s most popu-
lated metropolitan areas.
Proposed speeds would be up to 150
mph, TxDOT said.
Some $2.4 billion in federal grants for
such projects is available to the states.
DEADLINE ALERT: REGISTER
NOW
Deadline is Thursday, April 14, for Tex-
ans to register to vote in May 14 elections :
for city, school district and other local
governmental bodies.
Voter registration applications are avail-
able at county elections offices, some
post offices and libraries, and on the
state’s www.votexas.org website.
Texas residents are eligible to vote if
they are a United States citizen, at least
18 years old on Election Day, not a con-
victed felon (unless sentence, probation,
and/or parole have been completed), and
not declared mentally incapacitated by a
court of law.
THE BOERNE Star
Online Poll
Traffic question: Which is the worst intersection in Boerne?
• Herff at River Road 10%
■ Main Street at Bandera Road 41%
■ Main Street at Blanco Road 5%
I Main Street at N. School and Adler Road 21%
I Esaer / Blanco / FM 474 (BHS) . 23%
Results of 39 votes cast as of Monday noon.
Visit www.boernestar.com and cast your vote today
Worth Quoting ___
“The most savage controversies
are those about matters as to
which there is no good
evidence either way.”
- Bertrand Russell
Bible Verse
“When I am afraid, I will trust in
you. In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me?”
- Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV)
WRITE’EM!
KENDALL COUNTY
JUDGE GAYLAN SCHROEDER
201 E. San Antonio
Boerne, Texas 78006
830-249-9343
Commissioners
ANN REISSIG
GENE MIERTSCHIN
DARRELL LUX
KENNETH RUSCH
201 E. San Antonio 830-249-9343
CITY OF BOERNE
MAYOR DAN HECKLER
402 E. Blanco
830-249-9511
STATE BOARD
OF EDUCATION
District 5 - 205 W. Travis
Fredericksburg, 78624 830-997-9759
STATE SENATOR, DIST 25
JEFF WENTWORTH
1250 NE Loop 410 St. 925
San Antonio, Tx 78209
210-826-7800
STATE REP., DIST 73
DOUG MILLER
Room E1.216, Capitol Ext.
Austin, TX 78701
512-463-0325
REP. LAMAR SMITH
Congressman Lamar Smith 2409
Rayburn House Office Bldg.
|Washington, D.C. 20510
202-225-4236
San Antonio - Guaranty Bank Building
1100 NE Loop 410, Ste. 640
San Antonio, TX 78209
210-821-5024
lamarsmith.house.gov
MEETING TIMES
BOERNE CITY COUNCIL
7:30 p.m. second and fourth Tuesdays,
124 Old San Antonio Rd., Boerne.
BOERNE ISD
Superintendent
JOHN KELLY
123 W. Johns Rd.
Boerne, Texas 78006
830-357-2000
COMFORT ISD
Superintendent
JOHN CHAPMAN
232 High St., Comfort 830-995-3664
STATE LEVEL
GOVERNOR RICK PERRY
State Capital, Room 200
Austin, Texas 78701
512-463-2000
FEDERAL LEVEL
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20000
KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON
703 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-5922
145 Duncan Dr., ,Suite 120
San Antonio, TX 78226
210-340-2885
KENDALL COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
9 a.m. second and fourth
Monday, Kendall County Courthouse,
201 E. San Antonio, Boerne
BOERNE ISD TRUSTEES
6:30 p.m. third Monday, BISD board-
room
COMFORT ISD TRUSTEES
7 p.m. second Monday in the board
offices
U.S. SENATOR
JOHN CORNYN
Russell Bldg. Rm. 179
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2934
COW CREEK GROUNDWATER
CONSERVATION DISTRICT
second Monday at the District Office.
216 Market Ave., Ste. 105 Boerne
The BOERNE Star
www.boernestar.com
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
Brian Cartwright
EDITORIAL
BOOKKEEPING
Managing Editor
Sports Editor
Copy Editor
Staff Writers
Candace E. Velvin
Kerry Barboza
Kit Brenner
Dave Pasley
Elena Tucker
David Hinkle
Office Manager
Sandra Pfeiffer
CIRCULATION
Subscriptions Dana Smith
ADVERTISING
Graphic Design
PRODUCTION
Marketing Director
Sales
Sales
Frank Shubert
Kolleen Roe
Nichole Andrade
Stephanie Locke
DISTRIBUTION
Circulation Manager Stephen Bartell
Mitch Shubert
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Chris Woerner, Chris Tilton, Anya Maltsberger
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS
Mary Alice Yelverton, Dr. John Kelly, Natalie Morgan, Ed Davis, Anita Porterfield,
Sharon Benedict, Mary Alice Dell, Ken Nietenhoefer, Dr. James Dobson, Ellen
Damstra, Tom Harris, Tom Lanier, Kathy Senkbeil, Ron Warden, Krysta McDaniel,
Paul Barwick, Paula Horner, Bill Ward, Tamara Oesterling, DVM. and Oscar Garcia.
MEMBER OF Texas Press Association, National Newspaper Association,
South Texas Press Association, Texas Gulf Coast Press Association
941 N. School Street • Boerne, TX (UPS 059-740)
830-249-2441 FAX 830-249-4607
THE BOERNE STAR is published twice weekly for $49 per year in Kendall County, $57
elsewhere in Texas and $65 per year outside of Texas by The Boerne Star, 941 N. School St.,
Boerne, Kendall County, TX. 78006. Periodical postage paid at Boerne, TX. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to THE BOERNE STAR, 941 N. School St., Boerne, TX 78006-0820.
U.S.P.S.059-740
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Letters to the Editor
Texas doesn’t care about education
I wish Texas politicians, Republicans, would just come out and say
they don’t care about public education and all they care about is tak-
ing care of themselves and their buddies. Let’s face it the system is
crooked. The Republicans have been trying for years to get out of hav-
ing to fund public education and now it looks like they may have an
opening. I have more respect for the Democrats that are actually trying
to put money into education than the Republicans that could care less
about the future of our children.
Texas Republican leaders are trying to get out of their obligation to
fund the education of the children of the Texas and it sickens me. The
Republicans have finally showed their true colors as far as where their
values lie.
What is ironic is that public education is being cut to bare bones, yet
93 million dollars was spent on this year’s TAKS test. This is a test
that means absolutely nothing as far as determining a child’s future or
if they have learned anything. It is a total waste of money, time, and
resources. And on top of that Texas leaders have pre-paid 468 million
dollars for future STARR testing five years in advance. Not only has
million of dollars been spent on worthless testing and not spent on
something meaningful, Texas leaders won’t even consider postponing
testing until the economy gets better. In a nutshell, they are going to
spend millions of dollars on stupid testing, but at the same time cut
teachers, get rid of programs, increase class size, and try to screw
teachers out of every nickel they can. Seems to me, their idiotic cutting
actions are going to undermine the testing they have spent millions of
dollars on. Geniuses at work!
Letters to the Editor Policy
The Boerne Star welcomes letters on any public issue.
Letters may be mailed, faxed, e-mailed or hand-delivered but
must contain the writer’s name, address and phone number.
Addresses and telephone numbers are for verification purposes
only and will not be published. Names and city of residence will
be published. Letters should be short and concise, long enough
only to make your point. We reserve the right to edit all letters for
style and content and refuse letters that would be objectionable to
readers. We also will not publish anonymous letters. Priority will
be given to letters 300 words or less that concern local topics and
written by people who’ve not published a letter in the last 30
days.
The Boerne Star does not accept letters to the editor urging
voters to vote for or against candidates in local elections.
Endorsements should be displayed in political advertising. In
light of this policy, we reserve the right to reject or edit letters
for references to candidates and whether or not they should be
elected.
Call 249-2441 with questions regarding the submission of letters
to the editor for publication.
Letter to the Editor
PO Box 820 Boerne, TX 78006
news @boernestar. com
- Tyler Smurr, Boerne
Understanding how your Texas senate works
It’s been awhile since I wrote
about the legislative process, so
this is a good time to review.
The Texas Legislature con-
sists of the Texas Senate and the
Texas House of Representatives.
Movement of bills through the
Legislature is governed by the
Texas Constitution and the rules
of the Senate and the House,
which are different.
When a bill is filed in the Sen-
ate, it receives a number, Senate
Bill xxx, or SB xxx, as they are
called. Bills filed in the House
receive an HB number. Then the
bill is referred to the appropriate
committee based on the subject
matter of the bill.
Once referred to a committee,
a bill may or may not receive
a hearing. Committee chairmen
have the power to kill a bill by
merely not scheduling it for a
hearing.
For instance, all gambling
bills are now stuck in the Senate
State Affairs Committee because
the chairman says the votes are
not there to pass them out of
committee.
The legislative process is inten-
tionally designed to kill bills,
rather than to make it easy to
pass them. Thousands of bills
are filed each session, but the
overwhelming majority will not
become law.
Once a bill is set for hearing in
committee, public notice is given
in advance, and supporters of
the bill are notified by the bill’s
sponsor that it’s time to come
to Austin to testify in favor of
the bill.
Remember, every Texan has a
right to testify for or against bills
in the committee hearing.
Bills passed out of committee
are then listed on the daily Sen-
ate calendar in the order that the
Secretary of the Senate receives
the committee report.
The Senate, by tradition, places
a “blocker” bill at the top of
the calendar, which is deliber-
N THE TEXAS SENATE
Jeff
Wentworth
TEXAS STATE
SENATOR
ately never considered. Any bill
listed on the calendar after the
“blocker” bill must be considered
“out of order.” To bring a bill to
the Senate floor “out of (calen-
dar) order” requires approval of
two-thirds of the Senate members
present.
So, before placing a bill on the
Intent Calendar - giving public
notice that a senator intends to
bring a bill to the Senate floor
for a vote- a senator first must get
20 other senators (two-thirds) to
agree to allow the bill to be heard
out of calendar order.
If a senator does not have the 21
votes to do that, the bill may be
dead at that point.
A bill will die if the presi-
dent of the Senate, our lieutenant
governor, refuses to recognize a
senator to bring up a particular ,
bill. That happens.
The Texas Constitution requires
that a bill be read on “three sev-
eral days.” A motion to suspend
that constitutional requirement
must be approved by at least a
four-fifths vote of the members
present.
Yet the Senate routinely votes
to suspend the Constitution, with
my vote usually being the only
“nay.”
In my judgment, no circum-
stance exists on most bills to
justify the extraordinary act of
suspending a requirement of the
Texas Constitution.
I will discuss this more in next
week’s column.
Until then, you may find
a detailed report, “How a Bill
Becomes Law” at www.hro.
house.state.tx.us/pdf/focus/
hwbill82.pdf.
1
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Cartwright, Brian & Velvin, Candace E. The Boerne Star (Boerne, Tex.), Vol. 105, No. 29, Ed. 1 Tuesday, April 12, 2011, newspaper, April 12, 2011; Boerne, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1667548/m1/4/?q=Lamar+University: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Patrick Heath Public Library.