This last week provided the opportunity for Senate committees to hear a few of my own important bills. House Bill 1129 would implement a pilot program to be conducted by the Secretary of State’s Office, to improve the process by which our overseas, active-duty, military personnel cast their votes. House Bill 2733 contains a number of substantive, clean-up provisions to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department enabling legislation. Both of these bills have now passed through the House and their respective Senate committees, and are one step closer to the Governor’s desk.

I am also sponsoring a few significant bills regarding Texas’s Criminal Justice System, authored by a few of my friends in the Senate. I had the chance to present these bills to the House Committees on Corrections and Criminal Jurisprudence this week. Senator West’s S.B. 1173, Senator Rodriguez’s S.B. 1769, and Senator Huffman’s S.B. 1772 all provide considerable, common sense measures for our state jail, and juvenile justice processes.

This week, Woodville’s Kree Harrison made it to the finale of American Idol. While she did not win the title of American Idol, she certainly won the hearts of many Americans. I am very proud of her hard work and persistence which helped her arrive where she is today. It is extremely gratifying to be able to represent the community that stood behind her as she went through this experience. I am confident that this is just the beginning of Kree’s singing career, and that we will see her on television and hear her on our radio for many years to come. I want to extend my sincerest congratulations to her, and I know her talent and perseverance will get her exactly where she wishes to be.

As you have heard, SpinDrift Media & Entertainment and The Dam Good Times are on a fundraising mission to save the Battleship Texas. March 14th was the Battleship Texas’ 99th anniversary. She is in need of repairs and renovations. The Newton and Jasper County Republican Clubs are sponsoring a presentation on June 21, at the Howard Civic Center in Newton: “USS Battleship Texas History.” Mark your calendars to hear Bruce Bramlett, President of the Battleship Texas Foundation, tell the story of this historic ship. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. For additional information contact Lois Lamberty at 381-8231 or Pam Wright at 397-9029.

My offices in Austin and Woodville are always ready to hear the concerns of the residents of District 19. Feedback from our constituents is vital to ensuring that your voice is heard as the Legislature conducts its business in Austin. Please contact my office in Woodville at (409) 283-3700, or my office in Austin at (512) 463-0490.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUSTIN, TEXAS– This week the Texas House of Representatives passed Senate Bills 1458 and 1459, sponsored by Rep. Bill Callegari (R – Katy), Chairman of the House Pensions Committee. These bills will provide substantial reform to the Teacher and Employee Retirement Systems of Texas. Passed by wide margins in both chambers of the Texas Legislature, they phase in increases for both employee and state contributions to individual retirements, and increases the age for workers not already vested to become eligible for full benefits from 60 to 62.

Also contained in Senate Bill 1459 was an amendment to uncouple the pension state legislators receive upon retirement from those of district judges. Current law links the retirement benefits vested state legislators receive to those of district judges in the State of Texas. Contained in the budget to be voted on during the final days of the session would be a pay raise for these judges, effectively granting an automatic pay raise to state legislators drawing a pension.

“I supported this amendment to Senate Bill 1459 for one important reason,” stated Representative White. “While we are asking the educators and state employees to modify their benefits, and the age at which they may retire, there is no acceptable reason for members of the Legislature to give themselves a boost to their own pension fund.”

The Amendment, authored by Rep. Jason Isaac (R – Dripping Springs), would have instead linked legislative pensions to a portion of the Governor’s salary, effectively freezing legislator benefits, and denying members a chance to vote to increase their own retirement pay.

“The Legislature has worked hard this session to locate and return funds we weren’t able to allocate to education two years ago,” stated Representative White. “Retired and current educators, administrators, and their advocates have also come together to agree on a deal that is acceptable for everyone, and makes their own pension funds financially sound. In both recognition of this effort, and holding true to the principles I campaigned on, I am supporting these pension reforms, and the effort by Representative Isaac to halt any self-imposed benefit increase for Legislators.”

Representative White is a Member of the Texas House of Representatives on behalf of District 19, composed of Polk, Tyler, Jasper, Newton, and Hardin counties.

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Despite investment performance above the assumed rate of eight percent, protracted underfunding has resulted in a $27 billion unfunded liability. Your retirement fund is financially sound, but it is not actuarially sound. The global financial meltdown in 2008 exposed some serious issues in our financial sector. As a result, the federal government will impose new reporting requirements.

Your retirement fund’s unfunded liability level could increase to $71 billion due to these new reporting standards. This amount may be an accounting sheet perception, but we cannot neglect it. Over the last two years, various interests have made a strong push to change your retirement plan to a defined contribution from a defined benefit. Fortunately, a study conducted by the Comptroller revealed that TRS was one of the most successful public retirement funds in the country, if not in the world, and that making such a change was unwise because it would not save any money for TRS. The results from this study strengthen my hand and that of many other legislators who chose to stand with their local public school teachers and protect their retirement.

However, because these new reporting requirements will force TRS to report a higher unfunded liability, forces that desire to change your retirement to a defined contribution will regain momentum. Therefore, in order to blunt these future attempts, ensure transparency, and secure the viability of this fund in the near term and the future, the Legislature must make prudent decisions.

Many of you have contacted me about bills in the 83rd Legislature affecting the Teacher Retirement Systems of Texas. Both the House and Senate are examining the rates at which educators contribute to TRS, benefit structures, and the age at which they can retire with full benefits.

Senate Bill 1458, by Senator Duncan, is a compromise bill agreed upon by the teacher and retired teacher advocacy groups, and passed in the Senate on May 8th by a unanimous 31-0 vote. TRS members vested prior to September 1, 2014, will maintain current retirement standards. Members not vested prior to September 1, 2014 will maintain the Rule of 80. The minimum age for unreduced retirement is adjusted from 60 to 62, to include instituting for a 5% per year annuity reduction for those choosing to retire prior to age 62.

In the bill, there will be a gradual, rather than instant rise in employee contribution rates. In 2016-17, your contribution rate will increase to 7.7 percent from the current 6.4 percent. In addition to this, state contributions to TRS will rise over the same period to 6.8 percent from 6.4 percent.

To supplement contributions from the state, the district will contribute at 1.5 percent beginning in 2014-15. This brings total state and district contributions by 2017 to 8.3 percent, while employee contributions will be 7.7 percent, an improvement in real-terms over the current 6.4% even split. Also, important to note: the legislation links employee and district contribution rates to the state rate, binding any reduction in state contributions to a corresponding reduction by both employees and districts.

Again, it is an immense honor to be your state representative. I do not feel I have the luxury to assess blame on previous legislatures or give you glowing reports about a system that needs attention. You sent me Austin to deal with serious issues that have serious consequences. After fulfilling your end of the bargain, you deserve a retirement system that is strong enough to fulfill its part of the deal. As a taxpayer, you deserve transparency and fiscal solvency. I will continue to keep a sharp eye on this bill as it heads to the House floor and the 83rd Session enters its final weeks.
Thank you for your service to our state as you prepare our next generation to sustain a prosperous and vibrant Texas.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my offices in Austin and Woodville. Feedback from our constituents is vital to ensuring that your voice is heard as the Legislature conducts its business in Austin. Please contact my office in Woodville at (409) 283-3700, or my office in Austin at (512) 463-0490.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUSTIN, TEXAS– Representative James White issued the following statement today after Hardin County District Court Judge Steven Thomas granted victory to the Kountze Cheerleaders in their seven-month-long court case involving their decision to display Bible verses on run-through banners at Kountze ISD football games. The case began last year after the Madison, Wisconsin based Freedom From Religion Foundation issued a complaint, seeking to impede the students’ constitutional rights and religious liberties.

“This is a win for our community. Our nation was founded upon Christian values, and we will not abandon those beliefs. It is within these cheerleaders’ First Amendment right to express themselves through biblical verse, and I hope this ruling confirms that out-of-state, atheist pressure groups will not interfere with Southeast Texas and the values we share,” stated Representative White.

Representative White continued, “I was proud to join Governor Perry, Attorney General Abbott, the Liberty Institute, and Mr. Starnes in supporting the Kountze Cheerleaders against this attack on their religious liberty, and I am happy their God-given rights have been upheld. Without question, our state’s leadership and millions of Texans supported these young men and women in Kountze, and lifted them up in prayer.”

Representative White is a Member of the Texas House of Representatives on behalf of District 19, composed of Polk, Tyler, Jasper, Newton, and Hardin counties. He serves on the Agriculture and Livestock Committee, and he is the Vice-Chairman of the Corrections Committee.

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Two weeks ago, the Texas House passed HB 5. This legislation will provide students more options to pursue areas of study they find the most interesting. It will also allow local school districts to provide programs to guide our students toward the professional or educational pursuits of their choosing. The Texas Senate is considering this legislation now. This bill will additionally reduce the burden on Texas educators by cutting the number of standardized tests that the State of Texas requires students to pass for graduation from fifteen to five. It also establishes a rigorous academic system that can adapt to local interests and values.

Following the passage of the state’s budget for 2014 and 2015, there are still talks of tapping into the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund, or Rainy Day Fund (RDF). The State of Texas has constitutional spending limits for a reason, and our Texas Constitution and laws limit the RDF for one-time use withdrawals in the case of an emergency, to pay for spending from a prior budget cycle, or to pay for seriously needed infrastructure. The Legislature is not to use the RDF to pay for normal recurring expenditures. The Texas Legislature must prioritize current revenues and cut wasteful spending in order to provide for education, public safety, and caring for our seniors. During the period of 1990-2012, state spending in Texas increased by over 300 percent while the sum of population growth plus inflation grew by only about 130 percent. To keep Texas competitive, and in order to avoid the pitfalls of deficit spending currently plaguing other states, our Legislature must stand firm on keeping our budget balanced.

On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to lay out House Joint Resolution 48. If enacted by the people of Texas, this legislation will prevent the state government from imposing the tenets of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) or ObamaCare on the people of Texas. The language of H.J.R. 48 will prevent the PPACA from deputizing state agencies and officials for purposes of imposing a fine or sanction. Texas needs to reform the current broken system called Medicaid and prioritize spending for education, water, transportation, and border security. Texans should have the right to choose to purchase health insurance coverage without fear or threat of punishment. Instead, the government should place incentives for individuals, families, and small businesses to purchase the health insurance that they can afford. One does not need to look far for examples of PPACA coming into direct conflict with many Texans’ personal and religious convictions. Other Texas legislators have laid out similar resolutions before the Federalism and Fiscal Responsibility Committee. Several conservative colleagues and I are working together to ensure that we can present to the voters of Texas a unified resolution condemning this egregious federal overreach.

Also, last week I was able to reach an agreement with the interested parties in order to get H.B. 1129 another step closer to the House floor. Working with the Secretary of State’s office, county clerk’s offices, and a few of my fellow Representatives, we have developed a pilot program. The Secretary of State’s office will implement this pilot program that will allow our active-duty overseas military personnel facing hostile fire, to cast their ballot securely by electronic means. It is paramount we find a way to make sure our men and women in harm’s way are able not only to cast a vote, but also to have those votes counted. Too many votes cast by those in uniform have gone uncounted in elections past, and H.B. 1129 is an important step to put an end to this travesty.

Woodville’s Kree Harrison is now one of the top five contestants on American Idol and will soon be participating in the show’s “Hometown Visit.” In early May Miss Harrison will be back in her hometown of Woodville, and a homecoming rally is already in the works to greet her. I continue to be proud of Miss Harrison’s talent and perseverance, as well as the community that stands behind her each week. I am sure she will continue to impress the nation and soon be named the next American Idol.

In order to save the Battleship Texas, SpinDrift Media & Entertainment and The Dam Good Times are on a fundraising mission. March 14th was the Battleship Texas’ 99th anniversary. She is in need of repairs and renovations. The Dam Good Times intends to raise awareness with an exhibit booth that can be moved through various locations across the country. To help with this mission, contact the publisher of The Dam Good Times, Crystal Laramore, at (936) 777-4548.

My offices in Austin and Woodville are always ready to hear the concerns of the residents of District 19. Feedback from our constituents is vital to ensuring that your voice is heard as the Legislature conducts its business in Austin. Please contact my office in Woodville at (409) 283-3700, or my office in Austin at (512) 463-0490.

May God bless you and the great State of Texas,
Representative James White

Surely, the American West was won on this date. However, it is the context that matters. On April 21, 1836, the victorious Texans not only won independence for their countrymen, but set a course of history in which liberty, free markets, and the rule of law would dominate the entirety of North America.

After a series of brave, but disastrous battles early in the struggle for Texas Independence, Providence handed Texan forces under the leadership of General Sam Houston an opportunity for victory 177 years ago, today. This day reminds us that liberty, that inalienable spirit, burns so intently inside the hearts of men and women it sustains them through adversity and trial. This same spirit will muster the strength to extinguish tyranny in one fell swoop.

So today, Texans can stand proud knowing that freedom rings, not only from the Sabine to the Trans-Pecos, but from sea to shining sea, because of their forefathers sacrifice almost two centuries ago.

God bless you and through you, may God continue to bless the great State of Texas.

My fellow colleagues, State Representative Doc Anderson and State Representative Kyle Kacal are extremely thankful for the outpouring of gratitude from all Texans. They are highly gracious for the contributions of water, food, diapers and other essentials. Doc and Kyle have asked us to tell our fellow Texans that the best allocation of relief to the citizens in West is through donations to the Red Cross.

At this time, we are all citizens of West, and we will continue to stand with them in this hour need and pray for their comfort and restoration.

On behalf of my constituents and all of East Texas, I am writing to urge you to oppose any reduction in force or closure of the Fort Polk Army Installation near Leesville, Louisiana.

The Department of the Army established Fort Polk in 1941, and to this day serves as an integral part of the economy and community of both East Texas and Western Louisiana. Throughout the decades, Fort Polk has also been an integral part of maintaining our military readiness. During the Second World War, Fort Polk was the site of the crucial “Louisiana Maneuvers”, the series of training actions that developed American tactics for the new reality of mobility and rapid deployment. However, the importance of Fort Polk did not stop with the conclusion of the war. In fact, Fort Polk trained more fighting men for the Vietnam War than any other American training base, utilizing its heavily forested, hot climate to prepare men for the jungles of Southeast Asia.

Today Fort Polk serves as the Joint Readiness Training Center for the United States Army. As one of only three Combat Training Centers resourced to train infantry brigade task forces and their subordinate elements, the focus of training at Fort Polk is on realistic scenarios and coordination with host-nations and civilian populations. This role is obviously more critical now than ever as we train and deploy forces tasked to fight alongside national forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Fort Polk, simply put, is the reason many tens of thousands of men and women in Texas and Louisiana are able to find employment, a place to live, and have the opportunity to raise a family. Many counties and parishes in the region already face double-digit unemployment, and a force reduction or outright closure of Fort Polk unquestionably would devastate an already fragile regional economy, which is recovering from the sharp economic decline of the last decade.

In the eateries in Jasper and the small shops in Newton, the people of Southeast Texas express puzzlement. They do not understand why their federal government spends billions of dollars propping up radical Islamic regimes in the Middle East that are hostile to our values and national interests while cutting funding for training at Fort Polk for those very forces that are fighting alongside our allies in Iraq and the Middle East. Our people in Burkeville and Buna are asking me, a state legislator, to explain why are we slashing our military readiness budget at Fort Polk when North Korea is threatening our longtime ally, South Korea, and our troops on the Korean Peninsula. I just look at them and state the same level of bewilderment.

I ask your careful consideration for the history and current circumstances surrounding Fort Polk that I have described in this letter. I also want to make absolutely clear my complete opposition to a reduction in force or closure at Fort Polk. As a former Infantry officer in the U.S. Army, and an instructor at the U.S. Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia, I am intimately familiar with the day-to-day life of members of the United States Military, and the hardship they endure with overseas deployment. I ask you to join me, and the people of Southeast Texas, in opposing any reductions or closure of Fort Polk.

Tuesday finally gave me the chance to lay out HB 777 and HB 2356 before the House Committee on Transportation. H.B. 777 is a simple bill that allows for a redistribution of weight over the tandem axle of logging trucks. Working with the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas, the Texas Forestry Association, the Texas Logging Council, and the Texas Farm Bureau over the last few months, I believe we have produced a bill in the best interests of East Texas small business and infrastructure. H.B. 2356 will designate the portion of Recreational Road 225 that runs along the Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Jasper County, as Sam Rayburn Parkway as an effort to honor an esteemed Texan and former Speaker of the House.

On Wednesday, I was able to lay out House Bill 2355 in front of the House Committee on Economic and Small Business Development. H.B. 2355 instructs the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism to conduct a study comparing the business environment of Texas to that of Louisiana. This bill will serve as an important guide to the government here in Austin, to highlight areas where Texas can catch up to our neighbor to the East.

Thursday, after about 12 hours of spirited debate, C.S.S.B. 1, the state budget for the 2014-2015 biennium, passed the House by a vote 135-12. This legislation, authored by House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Pitts, allocates $193.8 billion over two years, funded within available revenue and under the Constitutional spending limit. The measure prioritizes public and higher education, allotting an 8.6 percent, ($2.97 billion) increase in public education funding and a significant increase in the State’s contribution rate for retired teachers’ pensions. This budget also prioritizes health and human services, providing a $265 million increase for mental health programs and a $170 million increase for Child Protective Services to reduce delinquent investigations and lower caseloads. It is my hope that the budget we passed maintains a responsible level of spending while providing for the needs of our most vulnerable Texans.

Last week, Southeast Texas elected officials and business leaders brought to my attention that the U.S. Army is considering significant cuts at Fort Polk across the state border in Leesville, Louisiana. In response, both the Jasper City Council and the Jasper County Commissioners Court have passed resolutions against a closure or reduction in force. U.S. Army officials have announced that they will be holding a “community listening meeting” at the United Pentecostal Church in Leesville at 5 pm on Monday, April 15th. I encourage all that have any interest in this matter to attend and share your input before the federal government makes a decision. I have drafted a letter to our Members of Congress, as well, in Washington to make my opposition to this potential reduction or closure known. This issue again highlights the necessity for Southeast Texas to strengthen and support our regional industry, such as, timber and forestry and not rely on Washington, D.C.

Once again, Woodville’s Kree Harrison has made it another week closer to being the next American Idol. Performing “Piece of My Heart” by Janis Joplin, a fellow Southeast Texan, Kree is now one of the top six contenders. I continue to be proud of Miss Harrison’s talent and perseverance, as well as the community that stands behind her each week. I am sure she will keep her place as the frontrunner in the competition through the finale.

In order to save the Battleship Texas, SpinDrift Media & Entertainment and The Dam Good Times are on a fundraising mission. March 14th was the Battleship Texas’ 99th anniversary. She is in need of repairs and renovations. The Dam Good Times intends to raise awareness with an exhibit booth that can be moved through various locations across the country. To help with this mission, contact the publisher of The Dam Good Times, Crystal Laramore, at (936) 777-4548.

My offices in Austin and Woodville are always ready to hear the concerns of the residents of District 19. Feedback from our constituents is vital to ensuring that your voice is heard as the Legislature conducts its business in Austin. Please contact my office in Woodville at (409) 283-3700, or my office in Austin at (512) 463-0490.

May God bless you and the great State of Texas,

Representative James White

The State of Texas has constitutional spending limits for a reason. Within fiscal years 1990-2012, state spending in Texas increased by over 300 percent while the sum of population growth plus inflation grew by only about 130 percent. To keep Texas competitive, and in order to avoid the pitfalls of deficit spending currently plaguing other states and our national government, our Legislature must stand firm on keeping our budget balanced.

We have a state Economic Stabilization Fund, commonly known as the Rainy Day Fund (RDF), to keep in reserve in case of an economic crisis. It is important to remember that the purpose of the RDF is for one-time-use withdrawals, not recurring costs. It is easy be tempted to use the fund to finance projects not vital to the function of the state. However, in the face of possible Federal “sequestration” and the uncertain consequences that would bring for Texas, it is more crucial than ever we protect the integrity of the RDF. If the day comes that the fiscal dysfunction in Washington leads to reduction in or elimination of federal funding on the state budget, we will need to be prepared.

It is my sincere hope the next few days on the House floor engender honest discussion about the financial state of Texas. It is true, on the whole, our state remains in a more prosperous condition than most of the rest of the country. However, in Southeast Texas unemployment remains stubbornly high in many areas. Double-digit unemployment is not acceptable, and I intend to support measures in this Session’s budget to promote economic growth in our region of the state.

My staff and I will be here at the Capitol as long as the debate is taking place on these matters. I encourage you to follow along with our activity over the next two days, and ask for your input on matters as they arise. You can watch the Legislature live by visiting the House broadcasts page at: http://www.house.state.tx.us/video-audio/ and clicking on the House “Chamber Stream”.

As always, I appreciate the support and input of all Texans in District 19. My offices in Austin and Woodville are ready to hear the concerns you have over the budget and any other business before the Legislature. Please contact my office in Woodville at (409) 283-3700, or my office in Austin at (512) 463-0490.