The Texas Tribune held an interview on January 22 with new members of the Texas Senate to discuss impact of COVID-19 and Senate operations. A video of the discussion can be found here.
The HillCo report below is a summary of remarks intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics discussed. This report is not a verbatim transcript; it 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.
Texas Tribune Questions
Why did you decide to make the transition from the Texas House to the Texas Senate?
- Sen. Roland Gutierrez – It has always been his goal to make it to the Senate, but it was not really a big focus nor expected back then. Has been working towards it for the last 3 and a half years
- Sen. Cesar Blanco – They need a fighter to lead for them, as they have seen as a dangerous place and a target for a mass murder and terrorist. They needed an advocate and someone who is known to deliver in vital circumstances, can be that person and help a lot of people and communities.
- Sen. Drew Springer – An easy transition, has represented 22 counties in the house, more than anyone. He has worked with many county judges, commissioners, mayors and was raised, educated, and worked in the community his whole life. Because of that, believes he has a better understanding of the community than any other candidate would and consequently will be the best representative and advocate for them.
What can you get done in the Senate, as the minority party, as the threshold to being bills to the floor was lowered from three-fifths to five-ninths?
- Sen. Blanco – A lot can get done. Believes through committee assignments, trust, and a goal Democrats can produce for communities, anything can be delivered well with trust and communication.
- Sen. Gutierrez – The senate deliberates differently from the house, so caucuses and rulemaking will operate on a different scale. This session will be different because of COVID issues, hopes we can come up with solutions that make sense from both sides.
For Sen. Springer, what bills do you think will pass at 18 votes, that will have a harder time passing at 19? is there a difference in some contentious bills that will pass through the senate?
- Sen. Springer – Believes it will be like last session, score of bills were passed on party lines, other thousand had bipartisan support. Roads and education don’t care from those standpoints, Republican party priorities will probably be the ones that will be along party lines, based on all statewides, this is what voters want to see
How does COVID and a budget shortfall affect your plans and agendas in the Senate now?
- Sen. Blanco – COVID-19 recovery and relief should be a big focus and the sense of focus should be narrow in general, along with redistricting and public education
- Sen. Springer – We need to help small businesses, need to re-look at executive powers from 1975, make sure all of our communities are well heard
- Sen. Gutierrez – Should focus on health and safety, voted to legalize cannabis so revenue can be raised, potential 3 billion in tax revenue with the legalization of cannabis, believes it will significantly help us with COVID, need to figure out new revenue streams.
Are you comfortable with the COVID precautions in the Senate? Are people who want to testify adequately protected?
- Sen. Gutierrez – Testing should be a part of that precaution/security piece, need to have continuity of government while staying safe, the Senate has done a great job with precautions and meeting everyone’s requests
- Sen. Springer – Need to get the people’s work done in 140 days, and agrees with Gutierrez’s priority of continuity of government claim, believes the precautions are adequate, has previously had COVID and now has antibodies
- Sen. Blanco – They passed their rules to require senators to have a negative COVID test before entering the senate chamber or a committee room, over 100,000 people waiting for the vaccine in El Paso, believes the precautions are running smoothly in Senate
Audience Questions
How can the Senate help industries like travel and tourism recover and contribute tax revenues?
- Sen. Springer – Individuals should make these decisions for themselves, businesses should be allowed to be open, need to be able to help industries stay afloat so they can continue to grow
- Sen. Gutierrez – We have to help businesses who employ people in their community, reiterates new revenue streams to raise revenue without raising property taxes at home
- Sen. Blanco – I am an advocate for Medicaid expansion in Texas and improving access to health care by cutting regulations on primary caregivers and expanding telemedicine options for rural and border communities
How will the public education gains made in House Bill 3 last session be protected?
- Sen. Springer – His commitment stands with HB 3 and assured advancement for this bill will continue
- Sen. Blanco – We need to protect the investment in our education and says there are ways to navigate the bill without cutting needs for people, protect and build off what we did last session
- Sen. Gutierrez – We really need to prioritize sustainability after the current biennium and again look for other revenue streams along with what he has already offered (legalizing cannabis and including casinos), believes that will be the only way HB 3 is sustained in the coming years
How will you measure a good/bad session for you and your constituents when everything is said and done?
- Sen. Blanco – A successful session will be measured by what we were able to deliver for Texans relating to healthcare, financial support for businesses, COVID relief, etc.
- Sen. Gutierrez – We need to be able to increase the technology and close the digital divide, be prepared for anything like this presenting itself in the future. Priorities and overall measure of a good/bad session is the: state of economy, state of education, state of healthcare, three very big non-partisan points
- Sen. Springer – The session is successful when we all have represented our districts in the best way possible, improving small businesses to the point where they are able to comfortably employ, can’t afford to not fund roads, priority should be structuring a budget that works for all Texans
- Sen. Springer – Need to be able to best represent our districts, including my Fast Growth areas with their school districts and their roads; need to ensure both of these things, especially roads, are funded properly