Budget affects legislative decisions; ag bills passed

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

July 3, 2003 -- Just as Texas citizens thought they'd heard the last of the 78th Legislature of Texas, Gov. Rick Perry quickly called a special session that began on June 30.

Called to address redistricting, the special session can last up to 30 days and is quoted as costing the state $1.7 million.

Verbiage such as "bipartisan Texas spirit," and "redistricting" hardly go hand-in-hand, so Texans can expect to see a bit of political fur-flying until it is settled.

By June 22, the final day for Perry to "adjust" Texas' budget to fit State Comptroller of Public Accounts Carol Keeton Strayhorn's requirements ... that she could "certify" that the state would not spend more in the next two years than it would take in ... it happened.

Perry signed 1,320 bills, vetoed 48 and allowed 14 to become law without his signature. By most reports, the Republicans in office were much happier with the results than the Democrats, but it's not over.

According to Rep. Jim Dunnam (D-Waco), the budget was not "really" balanced without raising taxes for Texas citizens. Granted, the addition of about $1 billion in income will be made up in increased "fees," from sources such as new car sales, hunting license, tuition increases, etc.

As far as agriculture and producers go, smaller farms and ranches could feel the pinch of higher, local taxes, along with raised prices on agricultural equipment, feed, etc., due to increased license fees and expenses dealers will need to make up.

Perry did use the $10,000 he had "pledged" from his Texas Enterprise Fund (which is provided to the governor by the legislature) on a project to study the "bovine genome sequencing" of cows, as reported in an article earlier this summer. This study is supposed to produce the "perfect cow," and some believe this will be good for Texas.

Fourteen other bills, among others, relate to agricultural producers, and were passed in regular session.

These bills include: House Bill (H.B.) 151 which relates to "offenses involving dogs or coyotes that are a danger to livestock and other animals;" H.B. 240 relating to "the punishment for criminal mischief committed by intentionally introducing infectious diseases into livestock;" H.B. 641 which relates to state policy and regulations regarding bison, and penalties involved; and H.B. 581 which relates "to the medication or drug testing of racing animals under the Texas Racing Act."

Other bills include: H.B. 1836 which relates to the definition of livestock and providing a criminal penalty; H.B. 1820 which relates to the "exception of certain agricultural labor from unemployment compensation;" H.B. 1534, relating to certain powers of groundwater conservation districts; and H.B. 1328 which relates to ''cooperative federal and state wildlife-restoration projects."

With the number of vineyards and Texas wines on the increase, H.B. 1264 identified what is permitted concerning the sale or free consumption of these wines; H. B. 1046 addressed an application for registration of a commercial fertilizer; H.B. 3383 related to agricultural development districts; and H.B. 2133 relates to agriculture and the powers and duties of the Department of Agriculture.

Other bills introduced in the House of Representatives and signed into law include: H.B. 2012 "relating to the creation of an organic standards registration and certification program;" and, finally, H.B. 2320 addresses

the administration by the Texas Department of Agriculture of quarantined articles necessary to "safeguard" the state's agricultural resources from "potential economic, health, or ecological disaster that may result from the quarantined pest or disease."

With the redistricting battle that Perry is quoted as saying in 2001 would be "a waste of taxpayer's money," happening, and with a probable special session on school finance, Texans aren't sure of the financial future, yet.

Along with a sagging economy, high unemployment rates and lack of good, better-paying jobs, Texas producers are included in the group who will try to "keep on keeping on," and all eyes will be turned toward Austin until all of the state business is taken care of, to the best of the legislature's abilities.

To review all passed and/or vetoed bills, go to: www.governor.state.tx.us.