Transcript of "Ron Whitlock Reports" for June 21, 2009 from ronwhitlock.com Copyright © 2009 The Shepherd Group. * * * * >>Ron: WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM. THOSE WHO LIVE OR HAVE BUSINESS INTERESTS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE U.S.-MEXICAN BORDER ARE FINDING OUT MORE AND MORE EACH AND EVERY DAY THAT THEIR LIVES ARE AFFECTED AND CONTROLLED BY THE POLITICAL AND BUREAUCRATIC WHIMS OF AUSTIN AND WASHINGTON, D.C. OUR PROGRAM TODAY INVOLVES INDIVIDUALS AND BORDER ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO WILL TRY AND HELP YOU AND I UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION IN AUSTIN AND WASHINGTON, D.C., AND THEN HOPEFULLY COMPEL YOU TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. HERE IN THE STUDIO, RENE OLIVEIRA, STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE OF THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND DOCTOR TARA RIOS YBARRA, WHO IS A, STILL A FRESHMAN? >>Tara Rios Ybarra: I'VE COMPLETED MY FRESHMAN TERM.. >>Ron: AS YOU COMPLETED YOUR FIRST FRESHMAN TOUR.. >>Tara: YES. YES, I HAVE. >>Ron: ..YOU'RE NOW NO LONGER A FRESHMAN, AND.. >>Tara: CORRECT. >>Ron: ..HOW DID IT GO IN THE LAST SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH, OF COURSE, WAS YOUR FRESHMAN AND ROOKIE TERM? >>Tara: RIGHT. IT WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. I THINK THERE WAS ALOT OF CAMARADERIE. I THINK THE SESSION WAS GREAT FOR THE BORDER AND GREAT FOR TEXAS. IT WAS TOUGH TIMES, BUT I FEEL OVERALL THE LEGISLATURE DID WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. >>Ron: RENE, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SESSION? >>Rene Oliveira: CONSIDERING THE WAY WE STARTED, AND WE DID AN EARLY PROGRAM WITH YOU, WHERE WE WERE NINE, OVER NINE BILLION DOLLARS IN THE HOLE, AND WAITING TO SEE IF WE WERE GOING TO GET ANY STIMULUS MONEY TO DEAL WITH IT, AND CONSIDERING WHAT OTHER STATES ARE GOING THROUGH, I FEEL IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO REMIND OUR BORDER RESIDENTS THAT, IF YOU LOOK AT CALIFORNIA AND SOME OF THE OTHER STATES THAT HAVE 40 AND 50 BILLION DOLLAR DEFICITS, AND ARE LOOKING AT MASSIVE CUTS IN PROGRAMS, MASSIVE LAY-OFFS, WE HAD A GREAT SESSION. WE DID SOME GREAT THINGS AND WE'D BE GLAD TO TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT THAT. >>Ron: NOW, WINDSTORM WAS A BIG ISSUE ALONG THE TEXAS COAST, EVEN THOUGH, ALL THE WAY INLAND TO LAREDO, BECAUSE ITS IMPACTED ON. ALOT OF LAREDOANS HAVE PLACES, THEY HAVE CONDOS AT THE BEACH, THEY COME TO PADRE ISLAND FOR VACATION. AND, ALSO, WHEN THOSE PEOPLE LEAVE TO ABANDON THEIR AREAS FOR HURRICANE EVACUATION, THEY END UP GOING TO LAREDO, OF COURSE. SO, WE ENDED UP WITH A 10 PERCENT INCREASE OF WINDSTORM RATES, WITH THE INSURANCE COMMISSION HAVING THE CAPABILITY OF BUMPING IT UP BASED ON ANY KIND OF EXPERIENCE WITH BAD STORMS. IS THAT THE WAY IT ENDED UP, BASICALLY? >>Rene: WELL, THERE'D HAVE TO BE A MAJOR, MAJOR CRISIS TO JUSTIFY ANYTHING MORE THAN A 10 PERCENT INCREASE. >>Ron: NOW, ONE OF THE.. >>Rene: WHAT IS DISTURBING TO ME RIGHT NOW IS RATES ARE GOING UP RIGHT NOW, BY TWIA, AS IT'S KNOWN, TEXAS WINDSTORM INSURANCE ASSOCIATION, THAT ARE FAR EXCEEDING 10 PERCENT FOR SOME PEOPLE. BUT, WE DID THE BEST WE COULD. WE ALLOW THE STATE TO PASS UP TO 2.5 BILLION DOLLARS IN BONDS TO FUND A MAJOR STORM. NOW, LET'S BE BLUNT, THOUGH. THE MAJOR STORM WE HAD WOULD, BETWEEN DOLLY AND IKE, FAR EXCEEDED 2.5 BILLION. SO, WE ALL NEED TO HOPE AND PRAY THAT WE DON'T SEE A CATEGORY FOUR OR FIVE WITH A SWATH OF IKE, THAT COVERED ALMOST THREE QUARTERS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. IT'S A BIG PROBLEM. THE FOLKS INLAND FEEL LIKE THEY'RE SUBSIDIZING THOSE OF US WHO LIVE ON THE COAST. AND, OF COURSE, WE REPLY, "WAIT A MINUTE, WHEN YOU HAVE A HURRICANE," I'M SORRY, "WHEN YOU HAVE A TORNADO, OR SOME OTHER NATURAL DISASTER, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PAYING FOR THAT, TOO." BUT, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND A SOLUTION. IN FACT, ONE MAY BE TURNING TO THE RAINY DAY FUND IN THE FUTURE. I THINK THERE'S A LITERAL AND FIGURATIVE BASIS FOR THAT. >>Ron: WHEN THE SWINE FLU BREAKOUT OCCURRED IN MEXICO, PREDOMINANTLY MEXICO CITY, IN PARTICULAR, THERE WAS A MOVE AFOOT BY DOCTOR RIOS TO GET A LAB AT THE BORDER TO TRY AND GET THOSE ANALYSES AND EVALUATIONS OF WHERE THIS PROBLEM WAS, DONE AT THE BORDER, SO YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THE TIME FRAME LOSS HAVING TO TAKE THOSE SAMPLES ALL THE WAY INLAND TO SAN ANTONIO TO FIND OUT IF YOU HAD SWINE FLU AT THE BORDER OR NOT. YOUR BILL FAILED BY VIRTUE OF ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED WITH VOTER I.D., ETCETERA. >>Tara Rios Ybarra: RIGHT. BUT, WHAT WE DID DO IS, WITHIN THE PROCESS THERE'S MANY MECHANISMS TO GET GOOD IDEAS FORWARD. AND, WITH THE HELP OF MANY PEOPLE, WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE IDEA ALIVE, AND THROUGH AMENDMENTS AND IN OTHER MEANS. AND, SO, WE WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. THERE IS GOING TO BE A PILOT PROJECT THROUGHOUT REGION 11, RUNNING FROM BROWNSVILLE ALL THE WAY TO LAREDO, REALLY LOOKING AT THE IDEA OF BIOSECURITY. AND, SO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THAT, WE'RE NOT SIMPLY TALKING ABOUT THE SWINE FLU, WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THINGS SUCH AS BIO-TERRORIST ATTACKS. AND, THE BORDER IS A VERY UNIQUE PLACE, NOT ONLY IN TEXAS, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND, WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT IT AS A STATEWIDE AND A FEDERAL ISSUE, AND I BELIEVE THIS PILOT WILL BEGIN THAT DIALOGUE. AND, WITH THE SWINE FLU, WE SAW HOW VITAL IT IS, NOT ONLY TO OUR HEALTH, BUT TO OUR ECONOMY. >>Ron: THE SOUTH TEXAS BORDER REGION HAS A MONOPOLY CHIP PROVIDER, ONE PROVIDER PROVIDING CHIP HEALTHCARE SERVICES. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ISSUE WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVE AARON PE„A. >>Aaron Pe–a: ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL TENETS OF OUR COUNTRY IS COMPETITION. AND, WE DON'T LIKE, AS A PEOPLE WE'RE ADVERSE TO MONOPOLIES. AND, SO, I THINK IT'S JUST COMMON SENSE THAT WE PROVIDE OTHERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IF THEY CAN DO A BETTER JOB, AND TO FORCE THE OTHER TO COMPETE. >>Ron: DO YOU AGREE THERE OUGHT TO BE A BETTER PLAYING FIELD, AND OTHER PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE FOR ENROLLMENT, FOR SERVICES? >>Tara Rios Ybarra: YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO OPEN IT UP TO THE MARKETPLACE. I DON'T THINK THAT MONOPOLIES SERVE ANYONE WELL. AND, A FREE MARKET IS ALWAYS GOOD, AND CAN BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF NOT ONLY THE BOTTOM DOLLAR, BUT FOR PATIENT CARE. >>Ron: THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES. DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>Ron: THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH US. WELCOME BACK. ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE DIDN'T COVER IN THE LAST SEGMENT OF THE PROGRAM ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION JUST PASSED, AS IT RELATES TO THE BORDER REGION? >>Rene Oliveira: ONE THING I'M VERY PROUD OF IS WE ARE PROBABLY THE ONLY STATE THAT, DESPITE ALL THE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS WE HAD, STILL GOT SOME TAX RELIEF FOR SMALL BUSINESS. I WAS VERY PROUD TO HAVE AUTHORED A BILL THAT IS GOING TO RAISE THE CURRENT EXEMPTION ON YOUR BUSINESS TAX, FORMERLY THE FRANCHISE TAX, NOW THE MARGINS TAX, RAISE IT FROM CURRENTLY 300,000 IN YOUR REVENUES, TO 1,000,000. JUST IN THE VALLEY ALONE, IT'S OVER 1,000 BUSINESSES. BETWEEN HERE AND EL PASO, OR BETWEEN THE WHOLE BORDER REGION, THERE'S GOING TO BE SEVERAL THOUSAND BUSINESSES THAT AREN'T GONNA HAVE TO PAY ANY TAXES IN THESE NEXT TWO YEARS, THAT ARE GONNA BE TOUGH YEARS. WE WILL PROBABLY START OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN 2010, I BELIEVE MAYBE EVEN IN THE FIRST QUARTER. BUT, IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY SLOW RECOVERY. THERE IS AN ATTITUDE OUT THERE THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, THAT PEOPLE THINK, "OK, WE'VE HIT BOTTOM. NOW, 'POOF,' 'MAGIC,' WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE BACK TO WHERE WE WERE BEFORE." IT'S GOING TO TAKE YEARS TO GET BACK TO HAVING THE ECONOMY WE'RE ALL USED TO. SO, THAT'S ONE THING. >>Ron: AND, ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT I SEEM TO NOTICE IN READING FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL AND NEW YORK TIMES IS THE FACT THAT, WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS IN CALIFORNIA, WITH THEIR ALMOST ECONOMIC MELTDOWN, THE 30 BILLION DOLLAR DEFICITS, THAT ALOT OF THOSE BUSINESSES SEE THAT THE TAXES THEY'RE PAYING NOW IN CALIFORNIA ARE ONLY GONNA JUST EXPLODE. AND, SO, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PLACES TO MOVE, SUCH AS TEXAS, WHICH IS SUCH A BUSINESS- FRIENDLY STATE. >>Tara Rios Ybarra: RIGHT. AND, I THINK WE GOT THAT THIS SESSION, NOT ONLY FROM LEADERSHIP, BUT ALL THE WAY DOWN. IT'S ABOUT PROVIDING A GOOD CLIMATE, BECAUSE BUSINESS IS THE FOUNDATION. AND, THAT REALLY GOES TO HEALTHCARE, AND WE SPOKE ABOUT IT EARLIER. TWO THINGS THAT WERE REALLY GREAT THIS SESSION WERE ADDRESSING THE SHORTAGE OF PHYSICIANS IN UNDER-SERVED AREAS. THERE WAS SOME ENHANCEMENT TO SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS FOR BOTH PHYSICIANS AND NURSES IN TEXAS IN UNDER-SERVED AREAS. SO, I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BENEFIT MANY PEOPLE IN TEXAS, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE BORDER AREA. >>Ron: AS WE SEGWAY INTO TALKING ABOUT THE UPCOMING SPECIAL SESSION, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENT FOR BUSINESS, AND THAT REALLY RAISES THE FLAG UP A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR THE INCUMBENT GOVERNOR, RICK PERRY, WHO'S RUNNING FOR REELECTION, RUNNING AGAINST KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON IN THE G.O.P. PRIMARY IN MARCH. AND, THE BETTER BUSINESS DOES, THE BETTER RICK PERRY'S GONNA CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO SAY, "LOOK, WE ARE DOING BETTER THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE NATION. WE'RE STILL BUSINESS-FRIENDLY." AND, HE CAN TAKE ALL THE CREDIT FOR THAT, AND THAT'S GONNA MAKE IT A LITTLE TOUGHER FOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON TO BEAT HIM IN THE PRIMARY IN MARCH. >>Rene Oliveira: PERRY DID HAVE SOME SUCCESSES DURING THE SESSION. BUT, HE HAD SOME PROBLEMS, TOO. NOT ALL THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS 100% HAPPY WITH HIM. PART OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THOUGHT THAT HE WAS WRONG TO REJECT THE HALF BILLION DOLLARS THAT WE NEEDED INTO THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUND. AND, I'M SURE THAT THERE'LL BE SOME PEOPLE HOLDING HIM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT, INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, SENATOR HUTCHISON. IT'S A TOUGH ARGUMENT BOTH WAYS ON THAT BILL, BUT WE, IT'S SOMETHING I KNOW WE BELIEVED IN. WE'VE GOT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TEXANS NOW UNEMPLOYED THAT COULD HAVE USED THOSE BENEFITS. AND, IT'LL BE AN ISSUE, I THINK, IN THEIR PRIMARY, AND IT'LL BE AN ISSUE COME NOVEMBER AS WELL. >>Ron: ON A RECENT TRIP TO THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY ALONG THE BORDER, WHERE I-69 IS A BIG ISSUE, THAT PARTICULAR INTERSTATE IS VITALLY NECESSARY FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF BORDER SECURITY, FOR BORDER ECONOMY, TO GETTING DOWN TO BROWNSVILLE AND COMING INTO PHARR, AND THEN GOING INTO LAREDO, THAT TURKEY LEG SOUTHERN END OF THAT PARTICULAR THOROUGHFARE, GOVERNOR PERRY HAS TOLD THE I-69 ALLIANCE IN HOUSTON SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT HE WAS PROMISING TO COMPLETE I-69 TO THE BORDER, AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE. >>Rene: WELL, THE PEOPLE IN SOUTH TEXAS HAVE WAITED A LONG TIME FOR I-69. I CAN REMEMBER, PROBABLY WELL OVER 10-12 YEARS AGO, PHIL GRAMM STANDING OUT THERE ON HIGHWAY 77, AND PUTTING UP THE SIGN, "FUTURE HOME OF I-69." WELL, I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS IN MY LIFETIME, BECAUSE, FRANKLY, THE SUPPORT FROM THE REPUBLICANS UNDER THEN-GOVERNOR BUSH, OR PRESIDENT BUSH, HAS NOT MATERIALIZED INTO US SEEING I-69. IT IS CRUCIAL. IT IS A MAJOR ARTERY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND IF WE DON'T GO FORWARD WITH THIS, WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT. AND.. >>Tara Rios Ybarra: YEAH, WELL, AND I THINK IT'S A DISGRACE. YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE QUITE GET WHAT'S GOING ON ALONG THE BORDER REGION, AND THE VALLEY IN PARTICULAR. AND, TO NOT HAVE AN INTERSTATE LIKE I-69 COMPLETED, IT'S A DISGRACE. I DON'T THINK IT BODES WELL FOR ANYONE IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW. >>Ron: WELL, TARA, 77 GOES THROUGH YOUR DISTRICT, 281 GOES THROUGH YOUR DISTRICT, AND THE 59 OUT OF HOUSTON INTO LAREDO, DOES THAT ALSO GO THROUGH YOUR DISTRICT? CLOSE. >>Tara: CLOSE. >>Ron: CLOSE. CLOSE TO HEBRONVILLE. >>Tara: CORRECT. >>Ron: CLOSE TO YOUR DISTRICT. SO, THIS HAS GOT TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE REALLY PUSHING FOR TO TRY AND GET COMPLETED, WITH OBAMA STIMULUS DOLLARS, OR WHATEVER KIND OF DOLLARS THAT CAN BE FOUND THROUGH TxDOT AND THE FUNDING MECHANISMS. >>Tara: EXACTLY. I MEAN, AND THIS IS ABOUT JOBS. IN A BASIC LEVEL, THIS IS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOBS. >>Ron: WHAT IS AVAILABLE, MISTER CHAIRMAN OF HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS, TO TRY AND GET SOME LOCAL FUNDING MECHANISMS, LIKE DALLAS-FORT WORTH TRIED TO GET, WITH SOME ACTUAL GAS TAX, LOCAL UTILIZATION GAS TAX DOLLARS, LIKE DALLAS- FORT WORTH'S TRYING TO GET, AND GET THOSE FOR THE BORDER REGION TO COMPLETE I-69 AND SOME OF THE OTHER LOOPS THAT ARE SO VITALLY NECESSARY? >>Rene Oliveira: IT'S CONTROVERSIAL. BASICALLY, WHAT NORTH TEXAS WAS ASKING FOR, AND OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, WERE, LET'S RAISE OUR LOCAL GAS TAX, OR RAISE LOCAL TAXES, TO HELP FUND THESE OBLIGATIONS. PART OF ME FINDS THAT REPREHENSIBLE. >>Tara Rios Ybarra: MM HM. >>Rene Oliveira: IT SHOULD BE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND IT SHOULD BE TEXAS TAKING CARE OF I-69. TO RAISE TAXES ON PEOPLE ALONG THE BORDER REGION TO PAY FOR STATE AND FEDERAL HIGHWAYS IS A LITTLE DISTURBING TO ME. WE DEBATED IT DURING THE SESSION. I FELT LIKE PERHAPS WE SHOULD GIVE THIS AUTHORITY TO COUNTIES AND CITIES TO BE INVOLVED. BUT, WHEN IT CAME UP, IT FAILED. >>Tara Rios Ybarra: MM HM. >>Rene Oliveira: I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO START LOOKING AT, AND I'M GOING TO PROBABLY GENERATE SOME CONTROVERSY, BUT WE'VE ALWAYS FUNDED ROADS, AND HIGHWAYS IN TEXAS, AND BRIDGES, WITH THE GAS TAX. AND, NOW, WHILE THE GAS TAX IS LOW, OR, RATHER, GAS IS NOT AS EXPENSIVE AS WE SAW A YEAR AGO AT FOUR DOLLARS PLUS A GALLON, IT MIGHT BE TIME TO BE LOOKING AT AN INCREASE IN THE GAS TAX. THAT'S WHAT BUILDS THESE HIGHWAYS. AND, THEN THE WHOLE STATE PAYS FOR IT, NOT JUST LOCAL ENTITIES. I KNOW PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT FUEL PRICES RIGHT NOW. IT'S A BIG ISSUE. BUT, AT LEAST IN TEXAS, THAT'S HOW WE FUNDED IT. IF WE'RE GOING TO PASS BONDS OR SOMETHING ELSE, THOSE ARE THE ONLY SOURCES THAT WOULD GENERATE THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT'S NEEDED. >>Ron: HOW ABOUT GETTING SOME MECHANISMS FOR A DRAW-DOWN FROM FEDERAL DOLLARS, MAINLY TO HANDLE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN? THAT MAKES IT SHOVEL- READY, SO WHEN ANY OTHER STIMULUS DOLLARS COME DOWN THE PIKE, THEN YOU'VE GOT THOSE DOLLARS, YOU'VE GOT THE ENGINEERING WORK AND THE DESIGN WORK DONE? >>Tara Rios Ybarra: YEAH. >>Ron: MAKE SENSE? >>Tara: IT DOES. IT DOES. IT MAKES ALOT OF SENSE TO BE READY. AND, I THINK THERE WAS ALOT OF CONCERN, I KNOW, FROM MY CONSTITUENTS, THAT THEY HAD PROJECTS THAT WEREN'T QUITE SHOVEL-READY. THE IDEA WAS THERE. THE IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY WAS GONNA BE LARGE. BUT, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE THE CUT. >>Ron: STAY TUNED. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>Ron: WELCOME BACK. TALKED EARLIER WITH AARON PE„A, THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE UPPER PART OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY, AND HE SAID THE VALLEY, LAREDO AND EL PASO DID WELL DURING THE REGULAR SESSION. >>Aaron Pe–a: THE BORDER DID WELL. LAREDO DID WELL. EL PASO DID WELL. THE VALLEY DID WELL. NOW, THIS WAS PRETTY MUCH A STATUS QUO SESSION. AND, I EXPECT THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO GROW IN SENIORITY. WE'VE CONTINUED TO PASS BILLS THAT MATTER TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND, I THINK WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE DOING WELL. AS LONG AS WE WORK TOGETHER, AND AS LONG AS WE HAVE A FAIRLY COMMON AGENDA, I BELIEVE WE WILL BE IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE STATE. THERE IS NO DOUBT, AND YOU'LL PROBABLY HEAR EVERY REPRESENTATIVE SAY IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, HISTORICALLY, UNDER DEMOCRATIC RULE AND UNDER REPUBLICAN RULE, WE HAVE BEEN THOUGHT OF AS BEING THE POOR STEPCHILD OF THE FAMILY. AND, THE VALLEY AND THE BORDER REGION, EL PASO INCLUDED, HAS BEEN LEFT OUT WHEN IT COMES TO DISPERSING THE STATE FUNDS. SO, YOU GO TO WEST TEXAS WHERE MOST OF THE POWER WAS HELD, OR EAST TEXAS, WHERE MOST OF THE POWER WAS HELD FOR MANY, MANY GENERATIONS, AND YOU'LL SEE A DISPARITY. OH, WELL, IT'S OUR TIME. IT'S OUR TIME, NOT JUST BECAUSE WE'RE POLITICALLY IMPORTANT, BUT BECAUSE WE'RE TEXANS. >>Ron: OBVIOUSLY, ALOT OF THINGS NOT ACCOMPLISHED DURING THE REGULAR SESSION BECAUSE THE NEW SPEAKER GOT STARTED LATE WITH THE COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS, ETCETERA. THEN YOU HAD THE VOTER I.D. BILL AT THE END TAKING UP TIME JUST BY VIRTUE OF TRYING TO BE CHUBBED AWAY. SO, ALOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE BROUGHT UP. >>Aaron: THE WHOLE REGION, WE DID A WHOLE LOT. SURE MORE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE. WE ENDED OUR REGULAR SESSION WITHOUT ALLOWING NECESSARY STATE AGENCIES TO CONTINUE. THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION; THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE; THE TEXAS RACING COMMISSION; THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. ALL THOSE WILL GO AWAY. THEY'LL JUST SIMPLY DISAPPEAR. >>Ron: SO, THE SESSION HAS TO BE HELD. >>Aaron: SO, A SESSION HAS TO BE HELD. >>Ron: ONLY ITEMS TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE THAT SPECIAL SESSION MUST GO THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, MUST BE APPROVED BY TEXAS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY. DO YOU THINK THE VOTER I.D. BILL WILL COME UP DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION? >>Aaron: I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S GONNA COME UP DURING THE FIRST SPECIAL SESSION. AND, I'M NOT MEANING TO IMPLY THAT THERE'S GONNA BE A SECOND. BUT, IF IT'S GONNA COME UP IN THE FIRST, WELL, YOU'LL SEE A SESSION THAT MOST OF US THOUGHT WOULD TAKE THREE TO FOUR DAYS EXPAND INTO A 30 DAY SESSION, AND THERE'RE MANY OTHER BARRIERS OR IMPEDIMENTS TO THAT NOT HAPPENING. ONE BEING THAT THE LEGISLATORS ALREADY HAVE PLANNED TRIPS TO AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE THAT OCCURS ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS, AND THE OTHER IS THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, HIMSELF, IS GETTING MARRIED, AND THE GOVERNOR HAS TO ACCOMMODATE THAT FACT. AND, I THINK IT'S A MISTAKE TO BRING IT UP IN THE FIRST SPECIAL. THESE SPECIAL SESSIONS COST ALOT OF MONEY. AND, SO, I WOULD HOPE THAT HE DOESN'T CALL ANOTHER ONE. BUT, IF WE'RE GONNA SEE IT, IT WON'T BE IN THIS ONE, I SUSPECT, IT'LL BE IN A LATER ONE. >>Ron: AS YOU SAW, REPRESENTATIVE PE„A ALSO SAID THAT THE BORDER REGION DID WELL IN SENIORITY, AND IMPROVING SENIORITY. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT YOU ELEVATED YOURSELF IN HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS, THAT KIND OF SENIORITY? >>Rene Oliveira: WELL, FRANKLY, I HAD MISSED BEING IN A PROMINENT LEADERSHIP POSITION, TO BE HONEST. >>Ron: CRADDICK YEARS DIDN'T BODE WELL FOR YOU? >>Rene: OH, I STILL DID MY JOB, AND I STILL HAD MANY SUCCESSES, BUT THE REALITY IS.. >>Ron: YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO USE YOUR EXPERIENCE TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU HAD IN EDUCATION AND OTHER AREAS WHERE THE BODY OF.. >>Rene: EXACTLY. I MEAN, IF YOU HAVE 25 YEARS OF INSTITUTIONAL WISDOM, YOU WANT TO GET OFF THE BENCH.. >>Ron: YES. SURE. >>Rene: ..AND BE IN THE GAME, AND DO WHAT YOU CAN, NOT JUST FOR YOUR DISTRICT, BUT FOR THE STATE. AND, THE BORDER REGION NEEDED THAT, AND WE WERE LUCKY TO HOLD THAT. >>Ron: TEXAS WAS VERY LUCKY. GOT ABOUT 11 BILLION DOLLARS OUT OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S STIMULUS PACKAGE, AND THAT KIND OF TOOK THE EDGE OFF. THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY WHAT THE SHORTFALL WAS GOING TO BE BASED ON WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM SUSAN COMBS AT THE.. >>Tara Rios Ybarra: MM HM. >>Ron: ..STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, AND IT KEPT EVERYONE FROM HAVING TO LOOK INTO THAT RAINY DAY FUND AND LEAVE IT WHOLE. >>Rene Oliveira: I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, 'CAUSE, FRANKLY, WE MAY NEED THE RAINY DAY FUND TWO YEARS FROM NOW BASED ON ALL THE ECONOMIC FORECASTS I HAVE ACCESS TO. BUT, I THINK WE DID GOOD THINGS. WE DID SOME GOOD THINGS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. WE DID SOME GOOD THINGS IN HEALTHCARE. ANOTHER 1.9 BILLION DOLLARS WAS IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE ALREADY SPEND ON WAS PUT INTO PUBLIC EDUCATION. SEVERAL HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS. WE DID, IN EFFECT, A TUITION FREEZE. AND, WE DID ALOT OF THINGS THAT I DID NOT FORESEE US BEING ABLE TO DO. PART OF IT WAS THE STIMULUS MONEY. PART OF IT WAS ALOT OF BIPARTISAN DECISION MAKING. AND, IT WAS NICE TO, PARTICULARLY IN THE HOUSE, THAT TARA AND I WERE ABLE TO ENJOY WORKING UNDER A SPEAKER WHO WOULD LET US DO OUR JOBS, WOULD LET US PROMOTE WHAT NEEDED TO BE PROMOTED. AND, WE HAD AN EXCELLENT SESSION. AND, EXCEPT FOR, POSSIBLY, THE VOTER I.D. ISSUE, IT WAS A VERY HARMONIOUS SESSION, AND VERY PRODUCTIVE FOR THE WHOLE BORDER REGION. >>Ron: WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT. STAY TUNED. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>Ron: WELCOME BACK TO THE CONVERSATION. AS WE TOLD YOU AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW, THE BORDER REGION SEEMS TO ALWAYS GET THE DREGS, SO TO SPEAK. IT'S ALWAYS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. AND, STATE SENATOR ELLIOT SHAPLEIGH ALWAYS GOOD TO POINT THOSE THINGS OUT. HE SAYS, IN PARTICULAR, THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A NEW SOUTH TEXAS BORDER INITIATIVE, SUCH AS THE ONE THAT HAPPENED BACK IN THE '90's, 'GIVING ABOUT A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS TO THE AREA OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING. HE POINTS OUT, IN PARTICULAR, THAT THERE HAS BEEN INSTITUTIONALIZED AND SYSTEMATIC DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE BORDER UNIVERSITIES. HOW DOES HE PROVE THAT? WELL, HE SAYS, IN PARTICULAR, TEXAS TECH HAS 60 DOCTORAL AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS, SIX-ZERO, COMPARED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-BROWNSVILLE; THREE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-PAN AMERICAN; 19 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-EL PASO; FIVE AT TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI; AND ONE, ONE ONLY, AT THE TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY IN LAREDO. IS SHAPLEIGH RIGHT? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE IN THE.. >>Rene Oliveira: MM HM. >>Ron: ..SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE? >>Rene: UNFORTUNATELY, A SPECIAL SESSION IS SO LIMITED BY THE CALL OF THE GOVERNOR THAT I DOUBT WE WOULD SEE ANY EFFORT IN THIS AREA. AT THE SAME TIME I WANT MORE DOCTORAL PROGRAMS, I WANT MORE BACHELORS AND MASTERS PROGRAMS. I WANT TO SEE THE MEDICAL SCHOOL. I WANT TO SEE A NURSING SCHOOL. I WANT TO SEE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO CREATE JOBS. SOME DOCTORAL PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE, BY THE WAY, MAY NOT DO THE KINDS OF THINGS WE REALLY WANT AND NEED. BUT, THERE'S SO MUCH WE HAVE TO DO FIRST BEFORE WE CAN CREATE ALOT OF DOCTORAL PROGRAMS. >>Ron: IN FIGHTING FOR THE BORDER, DOCTOR TARA RIOS YBARRA, IN YOUR FRESHMAN SESSION, DO YOU FIND THAT THOSE NORTH OF I-10 DON'T REALLY COMPREHEND THE FACT THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE, THE WORKFORCE OF THE COMING FUTURE OF TEXAS, ARE COMING FROM THE BORDER REGION, FROM I-10 SOUTH TO THE RIO GRANDE, NOT FROM I-10 NORTH TO THE RED RIVER? >>Tara Rios Ybarra: THEY DON'T. THEY DON'T SEE IT. THERE IS A HUGE DISCONNECT IN AUSTIN, THAT IS FOR SURE. >>Ron: THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEIR E.M.T.'s ARE COMING FROM.. >>Tara: THEY DON'T. >>Ron: THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEIR DOCTORS ARE GONNA BE COMING FROM, THE NURSES ARE COMING FROM, FROM THE TEACHERS AND THEIR.. >>Tara: RIGHT. >>Ron: ..UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS! >>Tara: THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T LOOK THE WAY THE VALLEY LOOKS. AND, I DON'T THINK IT LOOKS MUCH THE WAY TEXAS LOOKS, IN ITS DEMOGRAPHIC. SO, I THINK THAT, TO BE TOTALLY HONEST, THEY DON'T GET IT. THE VAST MAJORITY OF LEGISLATORS DON'T SEE WHAT WE SEE. >>Rene Oliveira: YOU KNOW WHO'S GONNA BE TAKING CARE OF YOU IN YOUR NURSING HOME? IT'S GONNA BE SOMEBODY WITH ALOT OF VOWELS IN THEIR LAST NAME, LIKE MINE, OR TARA'S, AND THEY'RE GONNA BE PEOPLE THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE EDUCATED. >>Tara Rios Ybarra: RIGHT. >>Rene Oliveira: THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE ONES TAKING CARE OF YOU, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE ONES MAKING THE ECONOMIC ENGINE OF TEXAS RUN. >>Tara Rios Ybarra: MM HM. >>Rene Oliveira: SO, YOU HAVE TO INVEST IN THEM NOW, YOU HAVE TO EDUCATE THEM, AND YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE FAILURE TO DO THAT DOESN'T JUST PUNISH US, IT PUNISHES YOU, TOO. >>Tara Rios Ybarra: YOU'RE RIGHT. >>Rene Oliveira: AND, I'VE TRIED TO USE THAT ARGUMENT, "DON'T DO IT FOR US, DO IT FOR YOURSELF." BE SELFISH AND RECOGNIZE THAT EDUCATING PEOPLE IN THE BORDER AREA, FROM EL PASO, TO LAREDO, TO BROWNSVILLE, AND MINORITIES IN HOUSTON, AND DALLAS, AND SAN ANTONIO, AND ELSEWHERE, IS AN INVESTMENT IN TEXAS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE. IT'S NOT THAT WE SHOULD MAKE, WE HAVE TO. >>Tara Rios Ybarra: RIGHT. >>Ron: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THE PROGRAM. TILL NEXT TIME. ADIOS.