From the Senator's Desk . . .
January 7, 2009
Our number one priority for the session is guaranteeing UTEP's participation in Tier One formula funding. Every great southwest city has a great university at the heart of her education and economic development initiatives. Moving UTEP to Tier One will define our region for the next generation as a value added knowledge center. Over the past ten years, UTEP has grown from one to 17 PhD programs and from $3 million to more than $40 million in sponsored research. By matching what an institution produces, our state can put several more universities on the path to Tier One.
Written by Senator Eliot Shapleigh, www.shapleigh.org
“Moving El Paso's agenda in Austin”
El Paso is on the move - and all of us are excited to go to Austin to work on El Paso's agenda. On Tuesday, the 81st Session of the Texas Legislature takes off and for the seventh session our delegation has set a clear agenda for a community on the move.
Our number one priority for the session is guaranteeing UTEP's participation in Tier One formula funding. Every great southwest city has a great university at the heart of her education and economic development initiatives. Moving UTEP to Tier One will define our region for the next generation as a value added knowledge center. Over the past ten years, UTEP has grown from one to 17 PhD programs and from $3 million to more than $40 million in sponsored research. By matching what an institution produces, our state can put several more universities on the path to Tier One. To compete in a 21st century knowledge world, Texas has to compete with more and better research universities.
With an expected population of 50 million by 2040, the future of our state will be defined by the education of our people. However, higher education is beyond the reach of too many Texas families. Since 2003, at UTEP alone, tuition, books, fees and parking have risen by 73 percent. Based on recent estimates, more than 90,000 students who qualify for Texas grants will not get one. While we fight to put UTEP on the Tier One track, we must also guarantee access to higher education by fully funding a strong Texas grants program so that deserving students are guaranteed a Texas college education if they maintain a B average.
In addition to supporting UTEP's growth, we as a delegation will ensure that El Paso's Texas Tech Medical School will receive their $48 million base budget to open on time in August 2009, as well as funding for the school's third research building and $17 million for new clinical faculty.
Today, Texas is the least insured state in America and El Paso has fewer citizens covered with health insurance than any big city in America. Each year, Texans pay more money for less healthcare. And across the Texas border, citizens have less access to doctors, nurses and dentists than anywhere in America. While the emerging Medical Center of the Americas will move us in the right direction, we must do more.
To address the health care crisis in Texas, my office proposes creating a universal employer-based healthcare system for Texas to parallel efforts in Washington, D.C.; allowing provisional licensing of physicians in Texas; prohibiting unfair cancelling, rescinding or limiting coverage of health benefit plans; developing a "top draft choice" pipeline to accelerate the education of doctors and nurses; developing student loan forgiveness programs for key health professions in return for service to underserved areas; encouraging employer-based health insurance; and expanding CHIP coverage to Texas children.
As we have for the past four sessions, our delegation is committed to restoring gaming rights to the Tigua tribe at Speaking Rock Casino. Before closing in 2001, the tribe had an $800 million gaming industry in El Paso's valley. Local tourism, restaurants, businesses and our tax base all benefitted from that money. It’s time we had those revenue dollars returned to El Paso.
As a delegation, we will work to fight the many racists bills already being filed around the state. We will also work to secure BRAC funding and pass legislation that improves the quality of life and education opportunities of Texas' military families. Our office will work hard to secure all of El Paso's $1 billion transportation plan and to increase highway and transit funding so El Pasoans can move faster and spend less to get there. We will work to secure funding for a Franklin Mountain State Park visitor’s center; we will work to fix equity issues related to public school financing; and work to reform the central appraisal district governance structure, appraisal process, appeal process, accountability and transparency to the public.
We face challenges ahead—but we are excited and ready to go work for all of El Paso.
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