Senator Eliot Shapleigh - El Paso, Texas

On the Senator’s desk...
On Tuesday, the Senate debated the latest version of a school finance bill. S.B. 8 (Shapiro, R-Plano) was touted as the best approach to fairly funding Texas schools by its proponents; Senator Shapleigh was among 9 of 29 Senators who voted against the bill because they felt that the current Robin Hood system was better than S.B. 8. Senator Shapleigh adamantly opposed the inherent inequity that the bill's funding mechanism would create and offered a series of amendments to address the increasing funding gap between rich and property poor school districts. Another amendment by Senator Ellis and Eltife that would grant a teacher pay raise and pay for textbooks and scrap the rest of the bill's measures was offered and similarly voted down.

The Senate is in recess until Monday when it is expected to take up the eminent domain bill.

Chamber echoes...
The House Select Committee on Public Education Reform met today to review S.B. 8. They were still meeting at the time of this posting. Word is Craddick has said there would be a committee substitute for SB 8, which will restore elements both House and Senate conferees agreed on. This was after he stated that school reform bill passed by the Senate lacked meaningful reform with no real assistance for homeowners. Astute onlookers know that the reform so far has amounted to privatization of public schools and tax hikes for nine in ten Texans.

Among those who visited Austin this week ...
Zaby Martinez came to the state's capitol and spent time talking with staffers as well as taking a tour of Senator Shapleigh's office. Zaby visited Austin with the non-profit educational program, "Education in Action", which promotes young children to become active leaders within their communities.

In Committee this week...
On Tuesday night, after debating the school finance bill, the Senate recessed shortly so that the Senate State Affairs Committee could take up and consider H.B. 11, the judicial pay raise bill. This controversial bill legislates a pay increase for state and county judges. The controversial aspect of the bill is that legislators' pensions are tied directly to the incomes for judges. This bill has resurfaced several times in the 79th Legislative sessions. H.B. 11 passed out of the State Affairs committee and, after suspension of rules, was immediately considered by the full Senate, passing 24 to 5, with Senator Shapleigh voting Nay. After the vote Senator Shapleigh stated, "Lawmakers pensions should be debated in the light of day not hidden in this bill."

Bills filed...
The Monday after this year's sales tax free holiday, Senator Shapleigh filed S.B. 39, which would create a second sales tax free holiday in December and add backpacks and school supplies to the list of items not subject to the sales tax during these dates. Since the implementation of the Sales Tax Holiday in 1999, hard-working Texas families have saved an estimated $152.70 million in state sales tax and $40.8 million in local sales tax. This legislation would make it more affordable for Texas families to provide their children with all essential school related supplies throughout the school year.

Upcoming News...
A march and rally against the "Minutemen Project" will be held in Austin on Saturday, Sept. 17th. Immigrant groups hope to attract hundreds of anti-Minutemen protestors to the rally at the Capitol by staging it on the same weekend as the 16 de Septiembre celebrations. The International Convention of Mexicans living in the Exterior (CIME), is coordinating the event. The march is expected to start on Riverside Drive and end at the Capitol.