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November 12, 2008

Let the bills begin

Area legislators get early start on 81st legislative session

By Lauren Ricks STAFF WRITER

The 81st Texas Legislative Session will convene on January 13, but work is already underway.

State Senator Robert Nichols and State Representative Betty Brown, whose districts include Henderson County, both pre-filed bills on Monday — the first day such actions can be taken.

Brown filed a bill requiring voters to present identification to vote. She said a voter will present either one photo identification card, such as a drivers license, or two forms of non-photo ID.

“Essentially it’s the same bill as last year,” Brown said. “We just want to make sure people are who they say they are.”

Brown submitted House Bill 218 in the last session. The bill allows seven forms of photo ID and 11 types of non-photo ID to be used to vote.

“That just proves how far we went to satisfy (opponents’) objections,” she said.

Opponents of the voter ID bill claim it would not reduce voter fraud, but would cause suppression of legitimate votes.

“Over and over we showed we were not trying to keep anyone from voting who was qualified to vote,” Brown said. “Whatever we do we have to prove we are who we say we are. We are used to doing that.”

She said the Texas Department of Public Safety will provide a photo ID similar to a drivers license. The ID will cost $15 for a person under 60 years of age and $5 for a person 60 years of age and older. The ID will be provided free of charge to citizens who cannot afford it.

She said the state controller’s office estimated it will cost the state $177,060 a year.

“That is their best estimate,” Brown said.

She said the bill should be in effect in time for the next gubernatorial election.

“We will be able to get the word out,” Brown said.

A press release from Nichols’ office states he filed a bill to lower appraisal caps from 10 percent to five percent on the first day of pre-filing.

“Escalating tax appraisals make homeownership less and less affordable,” he said. “We need to keep citizens from being literally taxed out of house and home.”

Nichols also submitted bills to prohibit the use of eminent domain for recreational projects, prohibit converting non-tolled roads to tollways and require investor-owned utilities to provide necessary generators in order to keep water flowing to areas without power.

“People depend on these investor-owned utilities for clean, safe water,” he said. “It’s reasonable to ask the utilities to at least provide a basic back-up measure in case of an emergency.”

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