Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 165, No. 3, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 12, 2014 Page: 2 of 16
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2A
■ Wednesday, March 12, 2014
djerokeeaij Herald ■ thecherokeean.com
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mail to P.O. Box 475, Rusk, Texas, 75785.
m m
TEXAS LEGISLATURE
By Robert Nichols
State Senator, Dist. 3
There is never a dull moment
at the Texas Capital, even dur-
ing the interim.
Between committee hear-
ings, the TV show Revolution
being filmed
on location
and the op-
portunity to
visit with mul-
tiple groups
visiting from
East Texas,
my staff and
I stay very
busy.
Here are five
things hap-
pening around your state:
Dark money
During the 83rd Legislative
Session, I co-authored Senate
Bill 346 to improve the trans-
parency and public informa-
tion available in regards to
campaign finance. It required
entities that spend at least
$25,000 in a calendar year for
political purposes to report
those expenditures to the Texas
Ethics Commission (TEC).
Individual contributions
would only be made public if
they totaled $ 1,000 every three
months. Current law requires
this of individual political can-
didates and their campaigns.
The bill was vetoed by the
Governor, but an important
question still remains; how
should Texas ensure the pub-
lic has a right to know who is
spending money to influence
elections, while still maintain-
ing privacy for groups that en-
gage in other types of advocacy?
Current state law requires
political action committees
(PAC) who support/oppose
candidates to register with
the TEC. Because non-profit
organizations are not required
to disclose this information,
some larger PACs create
non-profits to channel money
anonymously to candidates,
thus creating the ‘dark money’
groups.
The TEC is taking public
comments on a proposed rule
that would achieve a similar
goal to SB 346. If you are inter-
ested in sharing your thoughts
you can call the TEC at (512)
463-5800.
Patent litigation
The Senate State Affairs
Committee has been asked to
examine the negative impact
patent litigation by ‘patent
assertion entities’ has on the
Texas business economy. These
entities, which have also been
referred to as ‘patent trolls’,
often buy patents and then
turn around and sue smaller
companies who are producing
similar products or services.
The original intent of pat-
ents, which is stated in the
U.S. Constitution to ‘promote
the useful arts and sciences’,
has been waylaid by the patent
system. Instead of companies
focusing on innovation and
creating new products, they
are distracted by impending
patent litigation.
I earned 32 U.S. patents and
128 foreign patents. With first-
hand knowledge, I understand
the time, hard work and costs
that go into ensuring your
State Sen.
Robert Nichols
Update on CR 1201 petition
ELLY HUDSPETH_
Rusk
This letter is to inform the
Cherokee County residents
and taxpayer petitioners the
petition was returned to me
unclaimed March 5.
The letter was addressed
to Cherokee County
Commissioner, Precinct
2, Alto, TX. The delivery
attempts were Feb. 8, 19, 24
and 26.
It was sent certified and
signed “return receipt
requested.”
To the petitioners, taxpayers
and residents of County Road
1201 including those who
were unable to be contacted or
did not respond, I ask you this
question. Is this representing
county commissioner what
we want voted back into office
this coming November?
CLARIFICATION
The sixth paragraph of Elly Hud-
speth’s letterfrom Feb. 5 (‘Displeasure
with County Commissionerover road’)
should have read “I was told it would
cost $1.2 million out of the commis-
sioner’s budget of $1.4 million for 6.4
miles of road and my odometer read
5.3 miles.”
This credit could cut your business taxes
) If you employ fewer than 25 employees and
^^/pay average wages of less than $50,000, your busi-
ness may be entitled to a tax credit for some of the health care
benefits you provide to your workers. The requirements can be
complicated, but if you qualify you could cut your business tax
bill, often substantially. Give our office a call for details or filing
assistance.
Anita l. woodlee cpapc
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
Anita L. Woodlee
Anita L. Woodlee, CPA, PC
111 Henderson • Rusk, TX. 75785
Phone:903-683-1002
www.anitawoodleecpa.com
,
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k
m\
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Mother Nature puts on a spectacular
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property is protected.
As a state, we need to en-
sure we address the problems
which can be created by these
frivolous legal actions without
losing incentives for inventors.
Health and Human Services
The Senate Health and
Human Services Committee,
which I serve on, held their first
interim hearing at the end of
February.
The discussion included
reviewing the Department of
Family and Protective Services’
(DFPS) efforts to reduce child
fatalities. In addition, they dis-
cussed how DFPS is updating
their process of choosing foster
families as well as monitoring
cases within the system.
The Texas Health and Hu-
man Services Commission also
presented on the progress of the
new Texas Women’s Health
Program and the newly ex-
panded primary care program
for women’s health services.
Off into the sunset
While the saying goes that
everything in Texas is bigger,
the Legislature tries to ensure
we are keeping our state gov-
ernment small and efficient.
State agencies in Texas, unlike
federal agencies, are not al-
lowed to exist indefinitely, but
must be legislatively justified,
usually every 12 years.
The Texas Sunset Advi-
Loans or CDs
Check our rates 1st:
903-683-2277
Citizens ist
BANK
Member F.D.I.C.
sory Commission, on which
I served for four years, helps
this process by making recom-
mendations not only for which
agencies should be continued,
but also how they can operate
more efficiently and better
serve the public.
If an agency is not continued
through legislation it will be
automatically discontinued.
During my time with the Com-
mission, I helped to eliminate
six state agencies which saved
the tax payers $162 million.
Part of what makes Sunset
effective is the welcomed input
from the public. Anyone can
share their concerns with their
Representative, Sunset staff or
testify at a legislative hearing.
To learn more about how
you can participate, visit the
Sunset Web page at http://
www.sunset.state.tx.us.
Texans at the Olympics
The Olympics was a time
which brought not only nations
together, but also drew those in
the United States together to
cheer for their favorite Ameri-
can athlete.
While our unusual winter
temperatures may have rivaled
those in Sochi, Texas is not
known for its winter sports.
However, we did have four
Texans out of the 230 athletes
on the U.S. Olympic team. I
am always happy to see our
state represented on such an
international level.
Robert Nichols is the state
senator for Senate District
3. First elected in 2006, Sen.
Nichols represents 19 counties
including much of East Texas
and part of Montgomery Coun-
ty. He lives in Jacksonville.
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Gonzalez, Terrie. Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 165, No. 3, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 12, 2014, newspaper, March 12, 2014; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth649550/m1/2/: accessed June 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.