Voted to Increase State Authority into Private Utility Markets: House of Bad Cards

No one is charitable when using other people's money.

There are many people struggling for many reasons across Texas. The legislature imagines you are an ATM who can help others with "extra cash" you don't have whenever more cash is needed.

While the intent behind HB 1359 - assisting low-income Texans with electric bills during extreme weather emergencies - is understandable, here's the question: do you want the legislature to act as your arm for charity to others? The government doesn't have its own money. It only has yours. When the government inserts itself into anything, it's always more expensive because the government will need your money to fund its management of its self-assigned new activities.

This Democrat bill establishes a new Income-Based Assistance Fund within the General Revenue Fund, creating new responsibilities and administrative duties for the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). It requires additional staff, rulemaking, enrollment processes, reimbursement mechanisms, and direct coordination with utilities. In doing so, it expands bureaucratic reach deeper into the energy sector - an area where Texas has historically championed market-based solutions and individual choice.

The fiscal note projects a $8.47 million negative impact to General Revenue merely to administer the program over the first biennium - and the bill leaves open the possibility of greater ongoing appropriations. Future legislatures will certainly face constant pressure to continue or expand funding for bill assistance, thereby exposing taxpayers to growing and uncertain obligations without clear long-term limits.

You're not an ATM for every legislator's desire to be charitable.

GOP Platform Conflict: Principle 4 (limited government); indirect conflict with Planks 62, 68.

RV#1149: Yea 100 (R 39, D 61) - Nay 45 (R 45, D 0)
View Source

Yea - Allen; Anchia; Ashby; Bell, C.; Bernal; Bhojani; Bonnen; Bowers; Bryant; Buckley; Bucy; Button; Campos; Canales; Capriglione; Cole; Collier; Cortez; Craddick; Curry; Darby; Davis, A.; Davis, Y.; Dean; DeAyala; Dorazio; Dutton; Dyson; Fairly; Flores; Gamez; Garcia Hernandez; Garcia, J.; Garcia, L.; Gates; Geren; Gervin-Hawkins; Gonzalez, J.; Gonzalez, M.; Goodwin; Guerra; Guillen; Harless; Hefner; Hernandez; Hinojosa; Howard; Hull; Hunter; Johnson; Jones, J.; Jones, V.; Kerwin; Kitzman; LaHood; Lalani; Lambert; Landgraf; Leach; Longoria; Lopez, J.; Lopez, R.; Lujan; Luther; Manuel; Martinez; Martinez Fischer; McQueeney; Meyer; Meza; Moody; Morales Shaw; Morales, C.; Morales, E.; Morgan; Munoz; Noble; Ordaz; Perez, M.; Perez, V.; Phelan; Plesa; Raymond; Reynolds; Rodriguez Ramos; Romero; Rose; Rosenthal; Simmons; Smithee; Thompson; Turner; VanDeaver; Villalobos; Vo; Walle; Ward Johnson; Wilson; Wu; Zweiner

Nay - Alders; Barry; Bumgarner; Cain; Cook; Cunningham; Frank; Gerdes; Harris; Harris Davila; Harrison; Hayes; Hickland; Hopper; Isaac; Leo Wilson; Little; Louderback; Lowe; Lozano; McLaughlin; Metcalf; Money; Olcott; Oliverson; Orr; Patterson; Paul; Pierson; Richardson; Schatzline; Schofield; Schoolcraft; Shaheen; Shofner; Slawson; Spiller; Swanson; Tepper; Tinderholt; Toth; Troxclair; Vasut; Virdell; Wharton

Present, Not Voting - Burrows

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

Ben Bumgarner: "When Record No. 1149 was taken, I was shown voting no. I intended to vote yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Charles Cunningham: "When Record No. 1149 was taken, I was shown voting no. I intended to vote yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Shelley Luther: "When Record No. 1149 was taken, I was shown voting yes. I intended to vote no." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

Stan Gerdes: "When Record No. 1149 was taken, I was shown voting no. I intended to vote yes." (view other statements of vote for this Rep)

(Bill summary provided in part by Texas Policy Research)