House Speaker Joe Straus has recently made the following appointments:
Speaker Straus has appointed Representative Larry Phillips (Sherman) and Representative Eddie Rodriguez (Austin) to serve as chair of the House Select Committee on Transportation Funding and vice chair respectively of the full committee. The House Select Committee on Transportation Funding will operate as a full committee and will also conduct business in two subcommittees. The House Select Committee on Transportation Funding will develop transportation proposals for the next legislative session. The committee’s analysis will include a study of ways to increase accountability in transportation planning and a review of the effectiveness and efficiency of current funding options.
Members of the full committee who will serve on the Subcommittee on Funding are Representative Drew Darby (San Angelo), chair of the subcommittee, Representatives Patricia Harless (Spring), Todd Hunter (orpus Christi), Ruth McClendon (San Antonio), Joe Pickett (El Paso), Eddie Rodriguez (Austin) and Vicki Truitt (Keller).
Members of the full committee who will serve on the Subcommittee on Planning & Accountability are Representative Ryan Guillen (Rio Grande City), chair of the subcommittee, Representatives Roberto Alonzo (Dallas), Bill Callegari (Katy), Edmund Kuempel (Seguin), Armando “Mando” Martinez (Weslaco), Wayne Smith (Baytown) and Senfronia Thompson (Houston).
House Speaker Joe Straus (San Antonio) appointed Representative Ralph Sheffield (Temple) to serve on the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) Task Force on Energy Supply.
The NCSL Task Force on Energy Supply will explore the issues and opportunities that policymakers face as they shape energy policies to increase the use of national energy resources in a stable, reliable and economically viable manner. State legislators from around the county will meet throughout the year to discuss possible solutions and opportunities to decrease our reliance on foreign resources for energy. NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the nation’s 50 states, its commonwealths and territories.
Representative Harvey Hilderbran (R-Kerrville) to chair the House Select Committee on Special Purpose Districts and Representative Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio) to serve as vice chair. The committee will review and make recommendations for improving public accountability and transparency in the governance and operation of special purpose districts with particular focus on water-related districts. In addition, the committee will study the effect multiple and overlapping special purpose districts have on taxpayers. Special purpose districts are independent governmental units that exist at the local level separately from cities and counties. Examples of special purpose districts include hospital districts, crime control districts, emergency services districts, health service districts and water and waste water districts.
The committee members include Representatives Carol Alvarado (Houston), Valinda Bolton (Austin), Harold Dutton (Houston), Charlie Geren (Fort Worth), Mike Hamilton (Mauriceville), Bryan Hughes (Mineola), Delwin Jones (Lubbock), Tracy King (Batesville), Jodie Laubenberg (Parker), Armando “Mando” Martinez (Weslaco), Allan Ritter (Nederland), Patrick Rose (Dripping Springs) and Larry Taylor (Friendswood).
Governor Rick Perry has recently made the following appointments:
George Bithos of Austin as Independent Ombudsman for State Supported Living Centers (SSLC) for a term to expire June 11, 2011. Bithos is an ordained deacon of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The ombudsman assists residents, families and advocates with concerns about SSLCs, and advocates to the Department of Aging and Disability Services on their behalf.