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In this Texas Tribune Event, reporter Patrick Svitek interviewed four of the new members of the Texas House. They talked about their campaigns and journey to the Legislature, and what they hope to accomplish this session. An archive of the conversation can be found here.

 

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.

 

Moderator: Patrick Svitek

Panelists New State Representatives: Ben Bumgarner (R-Flower Mound), Maria Luisa “Lulu” Flores (D-Austin), Mihaela Plesa (D-Plano), and Carl Tepper (R-Lubbock)

 

Q: Svitek – In the general election what did you learn about the mood of the electorate?

  • Plesa – Learned what issues people care about i.e., schools, healthcare, safety of students and teachers in classrooms; electorate was adamite about putting money back into these systems
  • Tepper – Voters don’t know who to believe; Lubbock voters want little to no government influence
  • Bumgarner – Big issue was tax reform, border security, and what is going on in schools
  • Flores – Voters want to see schools funded properly, kids educated, and teachers paid more

 

Q: How did the Speakers vote, and Rules vote go for you being a new member?

  • Tepper – No tough votes on the floor for him
  • Plesa – Concerns on amendments put forth on rules vote; specifically, regarding break of quorum, expulsion, and fines
  • Flores – No issues with Speaker vote, was concerned about house rules vote and the tone that was being set with some of the rules
  • Bumgarner – No issues with any of the votes

 

Q: How do you think the $30 Billion surplus should be spent?

  • Plesa – Public education and public health; wants to see current teachers get a pay increase and retired teachers get a COLA; she has one of the largest recapture districts, would also like to see that money go back to schools
  • Flores – Public education and base funding on enrollment not attendance; would like to see money in Medicaid and mental health; CPS is a system that’s broken that needs to be addressed
  • Bumgarner – Money to jail communication system; tax reform for public schools
  • Tepper – Property tax reform for property owners; money for infrastructure in Texas, dams, roads, etc.

 

 

 

Q: What are some ideas for property tax relief?

  • Flores – Raising the basic allotment for schools, and make sure business pay their fair share
  • Tepper – Introduced HB 1041 lower cap on what homes will be calculated on to 10%; filed a bill that homestead exemption would be limited to 2.5% per year to be calculated on and will introduce a cap on rental and commercial property to 8%
  • Bumgarner – M&O for schools should be paid by the State not homeowners
  • Plesa – Raising basic allotments adding mental health allotment into school funding formulas; filed HB 1251 so border and customs agents get property tax exemption

 

Q: What are some of your priorities on education?

  • Bumgarner – Wants to get politics out of schools and not have teachers teach to a test
  • Tepper – Big issue is mental health and wants counselors to become counselor; use funding to make older schools safer
  • Plesa – Recapture and mental health; wants to make sure school districts have control on how money is being spent
  • Flores – Funding for more counselors in schools, and better training for teachers

 

Q: Traction on school choice in the house?

  • Tepper – Is in favor of school choice and sees a lot of traction in the house; doesn’t see a mass exodus of people fleeing public schools
  • Flores – Need to keep public dollars in public schools and not take dollars away from them
  • Plesa – Would like to see some parody between public schools and vouchers
  • Bumgarner – Is in favor of it

 

Q: What is your review of the border?

  • Tepper – Appreciates the work Abbott has done, the federal government is negating the state government; this is a national issue
  • Plesa – For border security but not a wall; signed on to Rep Patterson’s bill HB 90
  • Flores – It’s a federal issue that Congress also needs to address; doesn’t agree with having deployment of people on the border
  • Bumgarner – Appreciates the work Abbott did to bring this issue to the nation

 

Q: Is there support for post-partum Medicaid coverage for new mothers to 12months?

  • Tepper – doesn’t think there will be pushback but will have to look at numbers
  • Plesa – There’s strong bipartisan support, concerned that Texas leads mortality rate for mothers
  • Flores – In favor of it and by expanding Medicaid would also cover women’s prenatal care
  • Bumgarner – In favor of post-partum coverage for mothers

 

Audience Q&A:

Q: Should the State reimburse schools who issued bonds for school safety?

  • Flores – If it could work, would be open to it
  • Tepper – Doesn’t know what the money will be like; bill will go through the appropriations but thinks the schools should be reimbursed
  • Plesa – Important that schools have control over how money is spent; not mandated by the state

 

Q: What does it mean your constituents want to be “left alone”?

  • Tepper – Doesn’t want the government interfering with their life and business
  • Bumgarner – The smaller the government the better

 

Q: What’s the climate in the legislature for a COLA for retired teachers?

  • Tepper – Not sure what the climate is on it; hearing that teachers that retired earlier are getting the short end of the stick
  • Plesa – State must do something; issue was important enough to call a special session on

 

Q: Would you support “absolute” property tax exemption for low-income people?

  • Flores – Is in favor for anyway equity can be achieved
  • Tepper – If someone pays more into the system they should get more back