Happy New Year from your State Capitol! The Christmas tree has been removed from the Texas House floor and folks are now bustling about with great anticipation for the Opening Day ceremonies. So, on the eve of the 85th Legislative Session, here’s the first update of 2017 from your Capitol office. . .
Session Begins
I want to take a moment to remind everyone that the 85th Texas Legislature convenes Tuesday, Jan. 10. Over the next 140 days, the Texas House and Senate will meet to debate and discuss the ways that we, as elected officials, can best serve our constituents back at home. While there will be a number of issues facing the 85th Legislature – public education, teacher retirement, water rights, personal privacy rights and many others – the Legislature’s single obligation, as defined by the Texas Constitution, is to approve a balanced state budget. Throughout the Legislative Session, rest assured that I will continue fighting for District 57 and rural Texas, while working with my colleagues in both chambers to produce a responsible and balanced budget.
Visiting Austin
With that in mind, I hope that you’ll use this biennial opportunity to visit our beautiful State Capitol. Spring break is one time that provides an excellent educational opportunity for you to bring your children to the Capitol to witness the legislative process first-hand. Many people also make a trip to Austin to actively engage in the legislative process by voicing their concerns about a certain issue. My staff and I would love to meet with you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have, or to point you in the right direction if you need assistance.
If you’re planning a trip to Austin, please coordinate with my office to set up a Capitol tour. While you’re here, I hope you’ll also visit some of the other attractions in Austin, such as the Bob Bullock State History Museum, the Texas State Cemetery, or the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library. If my office can be of any assistance to you, please don’t hesitate to contact us or drop by the Capitol office. Our door is always open!
Reminders
The mobile office is back on the road in January and looks forward to seeing you around our district! Here’s this month’s schedule: January 18 from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. in Crockett at the Houston County Courthouse Annex or from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. in Groveton at the Trinity County Courthouse. You can also visit us on January 25th from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the San Augustine County Courthouse in San Augustine. As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762, or you can call my Capitol office at (512) 463-0508.
