Voted to Bypass Legislative Budgeting in Favor of Regional Earmarks: House of Bad Cards

HB 265 serves as the enabling legislation for HJR 35 to create the Grow Texas Fund (GTF) and a state-run infrastructure grant program to support communities impacted by oil and gas activity. The two bills work hand-in-hand, with HJR 35 providing a new commission to manage the dollars directed to it.

The commission would consist of seven members who serve four-year terms. Appointments are made by:

The Lieutenant Governor sets two members of the senate to the commission.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two members of the House of Representatives to the commission.
The governor shall appoint three members of the public to the commission and shall designate the presiding officer of the commission.

The commission would oversee the grant process through 2042.

Lobbyists push for money to be collected from every part of the state for allocation to regional interests. Let's face it - anyone can make an argument to supply money for any local need. Does that mean the state should use your money to fund it?

In the 88th session, money was carved out to aid San Antonio with the renovation of two downtown buildings. What interest is that of anyone in the panhandle or the coast? Local interests should work with local industries to provide for local infrastructure needs. The legislature is not a place for pork-barrel projects, but it has become that.

GOP Platform Conflict: Plank 62 emphasizes fiscal responsibility. Bypassing budgeting undermines transparency.

RV#2825: Yea 84 (R 41, D 43) - Nay 47 (R 38, D 9)
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Yea - Ashby; Barry; Bell, C.; Bell, K.; Bernal; Bhojani; Bonnen; Bowers; Bryant; Buckley; Bucy; Button; Campos; Cole; Collier; Cortez; Craddick; Curry; Darby; Davis, A.; Davis, Y.; Dyson; Fairly; Flores; Frank; Garcia Hernandez; Garcia, J.; Garcia, L.; Gates; Gerdes; Geren; Gonzalez, M.; Goodwin; Guerra; Guillen; Harless; Harris; Harris Davila; Hefner; Hickland; Hinojosa; Howard; Hunter; Johnson; Jones, J.; Jones, V.; King; Kitzman; LaHood; Lambert; Lopez, J.; Louderback; Lujan; Martinez; McLaughlin; McQueeney; Metcalf; Meyer; Meza; Moody; Morales, E.; Munoz; Ordaz; Orr; Paul; Perez, M.; Perez, V.; Phelan; Raymond; Romero; Rose; Rosenthal; Simmons; Smithee; Thompson; Turner; VanDeaver; Villalobos; Virdell; Vo; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wu; Zweiner

Nay - Alders; Bumgarner; Cain; Canales; Cook; Cunningham; DeAyala; Dorazio; Gonzalez, J.; Harrison; Hayes; Holt; Hopper; Isaac; Leach; Leo Wilson; Little; Lopez, R.; Lowe; Lozano; Luther; Manuel; Martinez Fischer; Money; Morales Shaw; Morales, C.; Morgan; Noble; Olcott; Oliverson; Patterson; Pierson; Reynolds; Richardson; Rodriguez Ramos; Schatzline; Schoolcraft; Shaheen; Shofner; Slawson; Spiller; Tepper; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; Wharton; Wilson

Absent - Allen; Hernandez; Hull

Present, Not Voting - Burrows; Vasut

Please note: the following statements by legislators do not affect the vote count that was recorded.

Cody Vasut: "When Record No. 2825 was taken, I was presiding in the chair and was shown voting present, not voting. I intended to vote no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Cole Hefner: "When Record No. 2825 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Dennis Paul: "When Record No. 2825 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

James Frank: "When Record No. 2825 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Will Metcalf: "When Record No. 2825 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

(Bill summary provided by Texas Policy Research)