The Henderson News (Henderson, Tex.), Vol. 90, No. 28, Ed. 1 Sunday, June 23, 2019 Page: 4 of 18
eighteen pages : ill.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
OPINION
Texas House, the 2020 Elections
\
v
'' A
\
vi
TA
TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
The Henderson News
MEMBER
2019
or more House seats in the
2020 election, they will have
a majority.
Amanda McFadin — Circulation
Supervisor
circulation@thehendersonnews.com
Dan Moore — Editor & Publisher
publisher@thehendersonnews.com
Moody wanted to lead the
House,” Bonnen said.
Election year 2020 should
car seats.
Abbott in his veto said
DAVE
MCNEELY
His bill - House Bill 448
would have required par-
Amber Lollar — Marketing Executive
marketing@thehendersonnews.com
Nancy Harris — Office Manager and
Bookkeeper
officemanager@thehendersonnews.com
Debra Odom — Classified Manager
classifieds @thehendersonnews .com
forget the sense of entitlement, because
mommy and daddy give them everything
and they don’t know what it means to earn
anything. I’m not blaming them. They were
Tiffani Patterson — Marketing Executive
advertising@thehendersonnews.com
Ben Marmolejo-Najera — Graphic
Designer
graphics@thehendersonnews.com
Board of plumbing lives on
Gov. Abbott on June 13 signed an executive
order for the State Board of Plumbing Examin-
commissions for continuation or abolishment.
Abbott said it is necessary to continue the
17 TJ
Swanson, R-Spring; Steve
STERLING Toth, R-The Woodlands; and
Armando Walle, D-Houston.
June 16 was the final day for Gov. Abbott to
members present included:
Phelan, Alma Allen, D-Hous-
ton; Gina Calanni, D-Katy;
Garnet Coleman, D-Houston;
Sarah Davis, R-West University
Place; Harold Dutton, D-Hous-
ton; Sam Harless, R-Spring;
Dan Huberty, R-Houston;
Will Metcalf, R-Conroe; Rick
Miller, R-Sugar Land; Mayes
Middleton, R-Wallisville; Ron
Reynolds, D-Missouri City; Jon
Rosenthal, D-Houston; Valoree
Swanson, R-Spring;
Governor Greg Abbott
PO Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711
(800) 843-5789
U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert
2243 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
(866) 535-6302
State Rep. Travis Clardy
202 East Pilar RM 310
Nacogdoches, Texas 75961
(936)560-3982
Dr. Ray Perryman is President and
CEO of The Perryman Group, an economic
research and analysis firm based in Waco,
Texas.
U.S. Senator
John Cornyn
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510-5922
(202) 224-2934
(713) 572-3337 Houston
cornyn.senate.gov/public
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz
B40B Dirksen
Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-5922
State Senator
Bryan Hughes
100 Independence
Place, Suite 301
Tyler, Texas 75703
(903) 581-1776
A s summer begins, although I really think
it began last month, I am reminded of
Ixmany summers of the past.
As children, my siblings and I grew up in two
small towns; one, our residence, and the other a
town we visited often, where our grandparents
lived and where I was born. This small town was
very much a part of my childhood. I remember
the Piggly Wiggly. I remember when bologna
was 50 cents per pack at that same Piggly
Wiggly. Times were much simpler then.
Growing up in the 90s, we didn’t have fancy
cell phones, and sweet tea was a staple (still
Government
Access
President Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500
(202) 456-1414
comments@whitehouse.gov
Economic
vitality drives
population
expansion,
particularly
migration,
and Texas cit-
ies are grow-
ing rapidly.
The US Cen-
sus Bureau
recently
released new
population
data which included estimates
for city population changes from
July 2017 to July 2018. Much
of the time, economic series are
tracked for “Metropolitan Statisti-
cal Areas,” which are normally one
or more counties linked to a large
central city. While it makes sense
from an economic perspective in
that these clusters of counties are
functioning largely together as an
economic unit, slicing the data this
way often conceals part of what’s
going on. For example, the Dallas-
Plano-Irving Metropolitan Divi-
sion is seven counties centered on
Dallas and includes several other
cities which are growing rapidly.
Of the 15 fastest-growing large
(population greater than 50,000)
cities, seven are in Texas. New
Braunfels ranked second with
7.2 percent expansion, Frisco is
fourth, McKinney sixth, George-
town seventh, Rowlett eighth,
Midland thirteenth, and Round
Rock fifteenth. These impressive
population centers are outgrowths
of larger cities (San Antonio, Dal-
las, and Austin), with the excep-
tion of Midland (which is the epi-
center for the current oil surge).
Looking at the cities adding the
most new residents (as opposed to
the largest percentage gain), five
are in Texas. San Antonio ranked
second, adding 20,824 to top 1.53
million. Fort Worth was third (up
19,552 to reach 895,008), Aus-
tin sixth (with a 12,504 gain to
964,254), Frisco tenth (up 10,884
to 188,170), and McKinney thir-
teenth (up 9,888 to 191,645). It is
pretty remarkable that even some
of the smaller Texas cities like
Frisco and McKinney added more
people than the likes of New York,
Los Angeles, or Chicago.
As people migrate to areas with
abundant jobs, they bring with
them the needed skills to enable
continued expansion. It’s a vir-
tual cycle, with a large and capable
workforce encouraging businesses
to locate and expand which in turn
encourages additional people to
relocate. Growth begets growth.
At the same time, rapid expan-
sion presents significant chal-
lenges. Housing markets may
struggle to absorb new residents,
sometimes causing prices to rise
and affordability to suffer. Road-
ways, water systems, and other
types of infrastructure take time to
expand and congestion and other
problems may arise. Additional
schools, health care providers, and
city services may be required. The
list goes on.
Growth can indeed be expensive
for cities and other governmental
entities, but it’s a clearly desirable
condition and far preferable to the
alternative. In some parts of the
US, a lack of opportunities is forc-
ing young people to look elsewhere
for meaningful employment. High
taxes or exorbitant housing prices
are encouraging families to leave
other locales. The bottom line is
that these high-growth areas of
Texas are doing something (actu-
ally many things) right..
HENDERSON NEWS
Sunday, June 23, 2019 PAGE 4A
City population
growth
Tory Van Blarcum — Reporter
society@thehendersonnews.com
PO Box 30 — Henderson, Texas 75653 — 903-657-2501 — (Fax) 903-657-2452— www.thehendersonnews.com
The Henderson News is published on Wednesdays and Sundays in Henderson, Texas 75654. Each edition is entered as periodical mail with the Hen-
derson branch of the United States Postal Service (No. 239-960). By Postal Service regulations, all subscriptions must be paid for in advance of the first
delivery date. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Henderson News, P.O. Box 30, Henderson, Texas 75653.
Any erroneous reflection upon the character, standing or reputation of any person, firm or corporation which may appear in the columns of this
newspaper will be corrected when brought to the attention of the publisher.
The Henderson News welcomes letters from readers on any subject. However, letters should contain no more than 300 words and be signed by the
writer and include an address and phone number. Any material considered libelous or in poor taste, or letters of appreciation directed at commercial con-
cerns, at the discretion of the editor, will not be published. Letters can be sent to the The Henderson News, P.O. Box 30, Henderson, Texas 75653. Letters
can also be submitted via email to <managingeditor@thehendersonnews.com>.
So: where does the Texas
Legislature go from here,
after closing out a session
that was pretty widely con-
sidered a bipartisan success?
The Democratic legisla-
tors, while generally lauding
Republican House Speaker
Dennis Bonnen’s even-hand-
ed, respectful leadership in
his first session in the job,
nonetheless will be angling to
take over control.
They know that the fact to choose a speaker from
that they gained 12 seats in their party.
the 2018 election made a Bonnen was asked by
significant difference in the Austin American-Statesman
tenor of the session. That reporter Jonathon Tilove if it
put them as 67 votes, to the was possible that he might be
Republicans’ 83 - a more re-elected speaker even if the
powerful position than their Democrats became a major-
55-95 deficit in 2017.
Democrats, both in and
out of the Legislature, are
Southern fried discipline
raised this way. I’m pretty
sure they never got a
whoopin’ either. When in
all honesty, they need one
of those right now.
When I was a kid, we
didn’t talk back and we sure
as heck didn’t go ahead and
do something that we were
told not to do. “Well I will
feel so bad if I discipline
little Suzy, or little Bobby.
They’re just kids. Let them
them of
electing a
Democrat-
ic speaker
is another
thing. But
Bonnen,
at least,
thinks if
Democrats
control the
House, it’s
their right
BEN
MARMOLEJO-
NAJERA
is) in our house. We played outside. We took be kids.” Then one day they are big kids that
care of the garden with my grandparents, and run all over everyone and show no respect,
after a long summer day we cooled off in the I’ve seen disrespectful kids in Walmart and
above-ground pool my grandparents bought, their parents are just as horrible. I’m not
We were kids. We were respectful. We had a push over. DISCIPLINE; something else
manners. Granny helped teach us that. I am my Granny taught me. That’s what it boils
lucky that I still have my granny. I was born down to. I’m sure we had our moments back
on her birthday, and have shared it with her in the day, but I don’t ever remember any of
for what will now be 31 years next month. us showing the lack of respect and, general,
I miss all of these things. Maybe that is why rudeness that runs so rampant today.
we now have a pool and I love farmer’s markets The moral of the story; discipline those
so much, because the produce reminds me of children and teach them respect. If they don’t
granny’s garden. And boy does a fried bologna learn it early, then someone else will be
sandwich make my mouth water. Like I said, disciplining them, when they are older, for
things were so much simpler in those times. those smart mouths. Those, like me, will
The trigger for this onslaught of memories be sipping our sweet tea, minding our own
was witnessing, firsthand, how rude and business and watching them get their bologna
inconsiderate the younger people are today, tore up in what used to be the Piggly Wiggly
(Let’s say ages ranging from 15 to 25). Don’t parking lot.
Ben Marmolejo-Najera is The Henderson News’
graphic designer. His email is graphics@thehenderson-
news.com.
© 2019, Henderson Newspapers Inc.
ity.
“That wouldn’t be right for
the House,” Bonnen said. “I
working hard to take advan- don’t think it’s possible and
tage of the feeling that Texas I wouldn’t even consider it.”
is becoming a swing state. Bonnen, who was former
It could go significantly House Speaker Joe Straus’s
more Democratic up and choice for speaker pro tern-
down the ballot in 2020 - pore for the past three legis-
perhaps even in the top slot lative sessions, had chosen
for president, where Repub- Democratic Rep. Joe Moody
lican Donald Trump beat of El Paso to be his speaker
Democrat Hillary Clinton by pro tempore.
9 points in 2016. He couldn’t be warmer in
If a Democrat were to his praise of Moody’s perfor-
carry Texas, it would be the mance during the session just
party’s first presidential elec- ended.
tion victory in Texas since “Joe Moody is an excep-
1976, when Jimmy Carter tional leader, and he has
beat Republican President had an extraordinary session
Gerald Ford. leading this session,” Bonnen
The legislative races have said. “I’m very lucky to have
additional importance in had him as speaker pro tern,
2020 because it is the year and he worked day and night
of the decennial census. The to make the House work.”
legislators chosen in 2020 “I think Texas would be
will re-draw legislative and very blessed if there was a
congressional districts lines Democrat majority and Joe
in 2021, for the next decade.
Ten years ago, in 2010,
Democrats nationally took a
shellacking, both in congress be very interesting,
and in state legislatures. Gov. Abbott and the
It was the first mid-term Veto... The governor vetoed
election after Democratic several bills over the past few
President Barack Obama’s days. But one particularly
2008 election, and the first irked Rep. Chris Turner of
election after the big battle Grand Prairie,
over Obama’s health care ini-
tiative, the Affordable Care
Act - nicknamed ObamaCare. ents to put children under
Republicans gained much two years old in rear-facing
more control of statehouses,
and exercised their power to
gerrymander districts to favor Texas already requires a car
Republicans, Those advan- seat for kids under eight years
tages have lasted for most of old.
the decade. “It is not necessary to
Bonnen has said he hopes micromanage the parenting
the Republicans keep their process to such a great extent,
House majority, and hopes to much less to criminalize dif-
continue as speaker. ferent parenting decisions by
But he also warned against Texans,” he said.
House incumbents of either Turner, chair of the House
party campaigning against Democratic Caucus, said
other House members — of the governor “has chosen to
either party. ignore the experts” and cloud
“The consequence is sim- an important message about
pie,” Bonnen said. “If you public safety.
choose to campaign against The Texas governor has
any of your sitting colleagues, something the president of
I will weigh in against you. the country doesn’t: the abil-
And if I am fortunate enough ity to exercise a line-item
to continue to be speaker, veto over parts of the budget
you will find yourself not well passed by the legislature.
positioned in the next ses- This year, the governor
sion.” didn’t veto a single item in
And if the Democrats the $250.7 billion two-year
can gain an additional nine budget.
Dave McNeely is a retired polit-
ical writer for the Austin American-
Statesman. He can be reached at
Whether that would assure davemcneelym ©gmail.com.
o
DR. RAY
PERRYMAN
The Economist
Governor signs disaster-related legislation
AUSTIN — Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, House
Speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, and 23
House and Senate members joined Gov. Greg
Abbott in Houston on June 13 as he signed four
disaster preparedness and relief bills into law.
The group met at Gallery Furniture, owned
by Jim “Mattress Mack” Mclngvale, to look on
as Abbott put his signature on the bills. When
Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in August 2017,
Mclngvale opened two of his stores to shelter
storm-displaced Houstonians and his company
deployed its largest moving truck to rescue
people in flooded neighborhoods.
“Thanks to the work of the Legislature,
we are rebuilding Texas stronger and more
resilient than ever,” said Abbott. “In the wake
of Hurricane Harvey, we saw the unshakable
spirit of the Lone Star State through the gener- approve, veto or allow to become law without
osity of Texans helping their neighbors. These his signature legislation passed in the 140-day
important pieces of legislation are a symbol 86th regular session of the Texas Legislature
of that spirit, as well as a sign of Texas’ com- that ended May 27.
mitment to improving the way we respond to Revenue is distributed
natural disasters.” Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar on June
The bills Abbott signed at the gathering 12 announced he would send cities, counties,
include: transit systems and special purpose taxing
— HB 5 by Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, districts $782.1 million in local sales tax allo-
and Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, requir- cations for the month of June.
ing the Texas Division of Emergency Manage- The amount is 10.1 percent more than the
ment (TDEM) to develop a catastrophic debris comptroller’s office distributed in June 2018.
management plan and training and establish a Local sales tax allocations are based on
work group to make recommendations on how sales made in April by businesses that report
local governments and property owners’ asso- tax monthly.
ciations can assist with recovery efforts. HB
5 also requires the TDEM to develop a model
contract for debris removal.
— HB 7 by Rep. Geanie Morrison, R-Vic- ers to continue its functions until May 31, 2021.
toria, and Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, Without Abbott’s action, the board would
requiring the governor’s office to develop a have been abolished on Sept. 1, 2019, because
list of waivers that could be implemented fol- the Legislature did not act to renew its func-
lowing a disaster and requiring the TDEM to tions under the Texas Sunset Act, a law that
develop a plan to assist local communities with requires periodic review of state boards and
disaster preparation contracts for services.
— SB 6 by Kolkhorst and Morrison, requir-
ing the TDEM to develop a disaster response board “to perform its indispensable role in
model guide and a wet-debris study group protecting Texans” in fulfilling the demands
for local communities and creating a disaster for rebuilding after Hurricane Harvey and for
recovery loan program within the TDEM for “keeping Texas prepared and able to recover
communities that suffered significant infra- from future disasters.”
structure damage. Lawmaker is elected mayor
— SB 7 by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Con- State Rep. Eric Johnson, D-Dallas, emerged
roe, and Rep. Phelan, establishing the frame- the winner of a June 8 runoff election with
work for providing a total of $1.6 billion challenger Scott Griggs and was elected mayor
through the Texas Infrastructure Resilience of Dallas. The oath of office is to be adminis-
Fund as matching funds available to commu- tered on June 17.
nities hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey, and Johnson, who succeeds Mike Rawlings as
through the Flood Infrastructure Fund for mayor of Dallas, joined the Legislature in April
statewide infrastructure projects to mitigate 2010 after winning a special election to succeed
future flooding events. state Rep. Terri Hodge.
Senate members present as Abbott signed Johnson will be succeeded as state represen-
the bills included: Kolkhorst, Creighton, Huff- tative for House District too by the winner of a
man, Carol Alvarado, D-Houston; Larry Taylor, special election.
R-Friendswood; Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston Ed Sterling isDirector of Member Services with Aus-
and Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels. House tin-based Texas Press Association.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Moore, Dan. The Henderson News (Henderson, Tex.), Vol. 90, No. 28, Ed. 1 Sunday, June 23, 2019, newspaper, June 23, 2019; Henderson, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1237362/m1/4/: accessed July 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rusk County Library.