Senate Finance Committee
On Monday, the Senate Finance Committee was scheduled to discuss the Article III Workgroup recommendations. These recommendations include a provision related to the all-important proportionality issue.
Dr. Lassiter, along with other community college leaders from around the state, traveled to Austin Monday morning to attend the hearing. At the last minute, the Article III item was pulled from the agenda; this discussion should be rescheduled sometime next week. Although this item was not heard directly, informal discussions about proportionality are progressing.
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A Senate Divided
The Senate held a marathon 23-hour meeting of the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday (into Wednesday) on the contentious voter ID bill. The committee vote was made along party lines. This issue was brought up during previous legislative sessions, but because of a rule change this year, it now moves forward. Additional information can be found in a Dallas Morning News article.
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House Higher Education Committee
On Wednesday, the House Higher Education Committee considered legislation related to establishing additional Tier One research universities. Business and civic leaders from Dallas testified in support of the plan. The committee also heard testimony on legislation to amend the top 10 percent law.
The committee heard one bill of particular interest to DCCCD, HB 962; it deals with the purchase of library goods and services by public junior colleges. DCCCD has been watching this legislation very closely because it confuses an already-convoluted law. We have been working behind the scenes to improve the bill.
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Federal Stimulus Funding
Legislators continue to discuss the guidelines and mechanisms for using federal stimulus dollars. This Saturday, the House Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding will meet locally at UT-Arlington (see additional details about this hearing).
On Thursday, Gov. Perry announced that he will block the state from accepting $550 million for expanded unemployment benefits as part of the federal stimulus package. Whether he will decide to decline other aspects of the stimulus plan remains to be seen.
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