Update on Texas' Top Ten Percent Law

The Texas Senate is currently debating a bill to limit the top ten percent rule for university admissions. SB 175 would require universities to limit those automatically admitted under the top ten rule to no more than 50 percent of an entering class.

Our current top ten percent law has shown to be good public policy since its enactment, and I stand with my colleagues in support of it. Recently, when the House Committee on Higher Education considered legislation that would dilute Texas' top ten percent law, I sat in on the committee and vehemently defended our current policy. If a bill that weakens top ten percent comes to the House floor, I will continue to stand strong in support of our current law. Because of the current policy, Texas universities have seen a greater share of geographic and ethnic diversity. Students admitted under the top ten percent sustain better grade point averages and maintain higher graduation rates than their peers. This invaluable piece of legislation is good public policy, good for Texas universities, and good for Texas students.

I will keep you updated on this important issue as session progresses.

Rep. Coleman to Lay Out Legislation Restoring CHIP to Intended Levels

Ten years ago, I sponsored legislation in the Texas House to establish the Children's Health Insurance Program, which makes low-cost health insurance available to working families. Our goal was to cover as many children as possible, not create barriers that would deny them health coverage. Unfortunately, in 2003 the Texas Legislature diluted CHIP by enacting restrictive policies which caused more than a quarter million children to lose their health coverage. Although we were able to make slight improvements to CHIP in 2007, these improvements were not enough.

Today, I am happy to tell you that I will lay out legislation in the Health and Human Services Committee which will restore CHIP to its intended levels, and restore health coverage for hundreds of thousands of children in Texas. Representative Patrick Rose, Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, has also invited me to sit in the committee to hear testimony regarding the 25 CHIP and Medicaid bills which will be heard.

My legislation, HB 2962, will restore CHIP to pre-2003 levels by removing unnecessary barriers which stand in the way of Texas children. It will remove the assets test, allow deductions beyond those for child care, and make it easier to renew. HB 2962 will also eliminate in person interview requirements at renewal, and use joint applications and supplemental forms for Medicaid and CHIP. Additionally, it will keep the once-a-year applications, making it easier for both working families and an already overwhelmed system.

The fight to fully restore CHIP will continue until our state laws match federal guidelines to ensure every eligible child is enrolled in CHIP. HB 2962 takes full advantage of an opportunity from the federal government to expand state CHIP coverage to include children from families earning up to 300 percent above the federal poverty level. It also includes a buy in option, at no cost to the state, for children from families with a net income up to 400 percent above the federal poverty level.

Governor Perry has stated that he does not favor the increase in eligibility, and that we must focus on enrolling children currently eligible but not enrolled in the program. We can and must do both. My goal is to remove the bureaucratic hurdles that keep eligible children from receiving health care.

I will continue to keep you updated on this pressing issue as session progresses.

Legislative Update on my Higher Education Efforts

Expanding Tier One Universities

Although Texas has the second highest population in the nation, we have only two public universities classified as tier one institutions, lagging far behind other states with similar populations. The development of more top tier universities in our state is necessary to meet the demands in excellence for a growing population. As a long time advocate of increasing Texas' investment in university research programs, I have joined my colleague, Representative Dan Branch, Chair of the House Committee on Higher Education, by joint authoring HB 51. This bill would let seven public universities- including the University of Houston - compete for a new pool of state funds if they can attract major research grants, major endowment gifts, and top research faculty and staff. The Legislative Study Group, a House Caucus that I chair, released an analysis and recommendations on the state of higher education in Texas last year. To read that report, click here.

Freeze Tuition

Just as I've done every session since 2003, I filed legislation that would repeal the tuition setting powers of university boards of regents. Since tuition deregulation went into effect in 2003, tuition at Texas colleges and universities has skyrocketed 112 percent, placing the burden of these increased tuition rates on the backs of students and families.

Top Ten Percent

Recently the House Committee on Higher Education considered legislation that would dilute Texas' top ten percent law. I, along with Representative Sylvester Turner, Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, and other members, sat in on the committee to defend our current top ten percent law. Because of the current law, Texas universities have seen a greater share of geographic and ethnic diversity. Students admitted under the top ten percent sustain better grade point averages and maintain higher graduation rates than their peers. This invaluable piece of legislation is good public policy, good for Texas universities, and good for Texas students.

Addressing Ike Damage

Hurricane Ike caused significant damage to our state and to our institutions of higher education. These institutions should be focused on providing the best education to our students, and should not be burdened with costs incurred by natural disasters. Representative Craig Eiland, Chair of the Hurricane Subcommittee of Appropriations, filed HB 6 which proposes exact amounts from the state's economic stabilization fund to cover damages and loss of revenues for some institutions as a result of natural disasters. Included in the bill is funding for Houston Community College, Texas Southern University, the University of Houston, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Texas Southern University

This session, I continue to work on the long-term success and independence of Texas Southern University. To assist the university, its students, and the faculty and staff, I have been working with Representative Scott Hochberg, Chair of the Education Subcommittee of Appropriations, and have requested several riders which would provide funding to:

• Avoid increasing tuition over the next two years
• Support increased outreach activities required to implement the change in admissions requirements
• Prepare certain entering freshmen for college level work through the eight week Summer Academy
• Resolve financial issues relating to increased parking rates for both students and faculty/staff
• Rehabilitate and expand the Robert J. Terry library
• Evaluate programs prior to the 2011 visit for full ten year accreditation/reaffirmation of the University
• Address the deferred maintenance issue
• Insure E&G buildings

University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston

The University of Texas School of Public Health has been making great strides in the public health field in Texas. Regrettably, spending on public health in Texas is 50 percent of the U.S. average. The number of public health workers has declined, and an estimated 23 percent will be eligible to retire by 2012. Public health schools will need to triple their number of graduates to meet an increased need. To improve healthcare in our state, and assist the UTSPH at Houston, I submitted a rider request to appropriate funding that will allow the University to increase student capacity by at least 10 percent per year.

Continued Investment to Student Infrastructure

Students recognize the need to continue to invest in their school's infrastructure.

Students at TSU passed proposition 1, which would increase fees used for improvements of the Student Center facility. They also overwhelmingly passed a referendum in favor of a new athletics fee for the purpose of continued development and maintenance of intercollegiate athletic programs. To comply with students' request, I filed HB 2954 and HB 4501 which would authorize the fee increase.

University of Houston students passed a referendum with an impressive 77 percent voting to support a fee increase to fund a transformation to the University Center. To comply with students' request, I filed HB 2961.

I am committed to improving the quality and accessibility of education to the people of Texas. I will continue to keep you up to date on these issues as session progresses.

Changes to State Schools Long Overdue

As the Chair of the Legislative Study Group, I created an interim committee on state schools with Representatives Herrero and Ortiz, Jr. in response to allegations of abuse and neglect in 2007. The LSG held hearings and gathered testimony from clients, family members, current and former employees, advocacy organizations and other individuals with concerns about the conditions of state schools. The committee also toured some state schools to get a first hand view of operations and conditions of the facilities. The LSG released a report of interim findings and recommendations to improve the conditions at the Corpus Christi State School, which was released on December 17, 2007. These recommendations did not need legislative action, they could have all been implemented through the agencies' rulemaking and transferability authority.

LSG recommendations to the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) were:

-Increase number of FTEs while reducing turnover rates, insuring continuity of care for clients.
-Increase pay for direct care workers to attract and maintain quality employees.
-Training procedures and refresher courses should be reviewed and improved to ensure quality of care. More frequent training and refresher courses should be instituted.
-Minimum quality standards for employment must be raised in order to insure that state schools are safe and provide the best care possible.
-More accountability and discipline must be enforced for allegations of abuse. The state should respond swiftly to allegations and investigate abuse. If the claims are found to be valid, steps should be taken immediately. To prevent conflicts of interest, it would be best to establish an independent authority outside of the HHSC enterprise to assist and oversee investigations of potential abuse.
-Better care should be taken to monitor and supervise interaction between clients and the population of individuals with violent or sexual criminal histories found incompetent to stand trial. If possible, a separate forensic facility should exist to maintain the population of those with sex offender status and violent crimes.

Unfortunately, the state failed to implement all of the changes that could have protected clients of state schools immediately. Now, after public outrage, media scrutiny, and questioning from the House Committee on Human Services, DADS Commissioner Addie Horn has said the department will implement certain changes to state schools.

It is shameful that the department is waiting until now to make changes that could have saved lives. These issues could have been resolved internally over a year ago by the agency's rulemaking authority, without requiring legislative action.

You can read more about the House Committee on Human Services hearing here and here.

We will continue to keep you updated on this important issue as session progresses.

Statement on Action taken Today in the Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding from State Representative Garnet F. Coleman

Today, as a member of the Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding, I authored and passed a motion in writing from the Committee, recommending to the appropriate standing committees of the House and to the full House that the Legislature take certain actions to ensure receipt of all Recovery Act funds related to unemployment compensation.

The Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding has taken testimony, received evidence, and gathered information pursuant to its charge by the Speaker of the House. The Select Committee has found that since the beginning of the economic downturn, over 250,000 Texans have lost their jobs. By September 2009, the state's Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund will have a deficit of at least $800 million, triggering the implementation of a deficit tax on Texas employers. This deficit tax will likely double the overall unemployment tax burden on the average Texas employer.

Texas law already complies with a portion of the criteria needed to receive the full $555 million from the Recovery Act. To receive the funds, the Legislature must make three modifications to existing law:
-Alter the base period calculation for unemployment.
-Alter the compelling reasons criteria for a qualifying job loss.
-Alter either the training or the part-time worker provisions of Texas law.

Copies of the recommendation have been sent to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to each Member of the House. The motion in writing passed the Committee by a vote of 5-1. Joining me in voting for the motion were Representative Jim Dunnam, Chairman of the Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization, Rep. Jim Pitts, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Representative Solomon Ortiz Jr., and Representative Carol Kent.

Tom Pauken, Chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission, has already indicated that he will work on legislation with Representative Tan Parker and Representative Joe Deshotel that will take the action necessary to draw down federal funds that Texas employers have paid in to, and to prevent an unnecessary increase in deficit taxes.

Rep. Coleman: Governor Perry is Playing Politics with the Future of Texans

(Austin)//-- State Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) criticized Governor Rick Perry for playing politics with the future of Texans by rejecting the unemployment insurance component of the stimulus package. In January alone, Texas lost 75,800 payroll jobs, bringing the total number of Texans seeking jobs to 797,000. Unemployment claims in 2009 are double what they were in 2008, and the current unemployment fund reserves are not adequate for this downturn.

"Governor Perry ran Texas into the ground by suspending the tax on business that goes to the unemployment fund," said Representative Coleman. "That short-sided act has helped to deplete the fund by October."

If Texas accepts the stimulus funds, Texas tax payers will have to pay an additional $294 million in 2010. However, not accepting the funds will make it likely that employers will have to pay $935 million in 2010 to make up for the deficit.

"Governor Perry will run us further into the ground if he does not accept the unemployment insurance component of the federal stimulus," said Representative Coleman. "The Governor is costing Texas business owners close to $1 billion."

If Texas enacts necessary changes to its unemployment laws it could receive $555.7 million to pay for unemployment benefits from the stimulus package. Texas should make the changes, expand benefits, and help our fellow Texans by accepting this money.

"Texans who have lose their jobs in this economy deserve to receive the unemployment benefits that they have paid taxes towards," said Representative Coleman. "We should not let this money go somewhere else."

Additionally, today after learning of the Governor's actions, Representative Coleman authored and passed a motion in writing in the Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding describing findings and recommendations to Speaker Strauss.

Update on Voter Suppression ID Legislation and Top Ten Percent Law

In that past, we have fought to kill voter suppression ID legislation which would make it more difficult for people to vote, and have successfully maintained the top ten percent law. Unfortunately, today there are efforts by narrow thinking Republicans to enact voter ID requirements and make unnecessary changes to Texas' top ten percent law.

Voter ID

Voter suppression ID legislation places costly and time-consuming new bureaucratic barriers between voters and the ballot box that will make it harder for all of us to vote. There is no evidence of voter impersonation and Texans face far more urgent problems.

It is disappointing that partisan rhetoric is being used to encourage voter suppression, and now voter suppression is being written into the law. Requiring voter identification to vote will make it more difficult for communities of color, women, senior citizens, and the disabled to exercise their fundamental right to vote.

To view the Legislative Study Group, a caucus which I chair, analysis on voter suppression legislation from last session click here.

Top Ten Percent

Today, HB 156 and HB 52, which would eliminate and weaken the top ten percent law, are being heard in the House Committee on Higher Education. I support Texas' current top ten percent law and will fight to maintain it.

As a result of the top ten percent law, Texas universities have seen a greater share of geographic and ethnic diversity. Students admitted under the top ten percent sustain better grade point averages and maintain higher graduation rates than their peers. This invaluable piece of legislation is good public policy, good for Texas universities, and good for Texas students.

To view the Legislative Study Group analysis and recommendations on the state of higher education in Texas click here.

We will keep you updated on these critical issues as session progresses.