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*** CAPITOL UPDATE***
NTTA revises toll collection process
AUSTIN -- During the 82nd Texas Legislature, I supported Senate Bill 469, authored by Sen. Jane Nelson, to revise the North Texas Tollway Authority’s (NTTA) toll collection process. SB 469 aims to clarify the toll collection process and address concerns regarding exuberant administrative fees on toll violations.

The bill benefits customers who pay to use the NTTA System by assessing the cost of the NTTA’s toll enforcement efforts onto the small minority who refuse to pay. The bill includes the following five provisions for the NTTA’s toll collection process:

•	Requires issuance of an invoice for ZipCash tolls (i.e., non-TollTag transactions);
•	Upon failure to pay the invoice, authorizes a “first notice of nonpayment”, under which NTTA can impose a single administrative fee of not more than $25;
•	Upon failure to pay the first notice of nonpayment, authorizes a “second notice of nonpayment”, under which the NTTA can impose an additional administrative fee of $25 per unpaid toll, up to a total of $200; 
•	Upon failure to pay the second notice of nonpayment, authorizes a “third notice of nonpayment”, under which the NTTA can add third-party collection agency fees; and
•	Upon failure to pay the third notice of nonpayment, the registered owner may be prosecuted, in which case payment of the unpaid tolls, administrative fees, and third-party collection agency fees may not be waived by the court unless the court finds the that the owner is indigent.
This revised toll collection process will go into effect September 1, and make the system simpler and more fair to North Texans.  If you have any questions about the new payment procedure, please don't hesitate to contact my office using the information below or call the NTTA at 972-818-6882.

To contact Sen. Deuell about the legislative process or if you have a suggestion for a future Capitol Update, please contact the Capitol office at (512) 463-0102 or send mail to Sen. Bob Deuell, Texas Senate, P.O. Box 12068, Austin, TX 78711.  The website for the Texas Senate is www.senate.state.tx.us and Sen. Deuell's e-mail address is: bob.deuell@senate.state.tx.us.

Committee Approves Bills to Study Mid-Level Ethanol Fuel Blends and to Coordinate Federal Networking and Information Technology R&D

Washington D.C. – The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology today approved two important bills that coordinate and prioritize federal research expenditures.  H.R. 3199, introduced by the Committee’s Vice Chairman, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to coordinate with the National Academy of Sciences to comprehensively assess scientific and technical research on gasoline blends with 15 percent ethanol, commonly referred to as E15, before such fuels may be approved for consumer use.

“I am pleased that the Committee voted today to put science before politics,” Sensenbrenner said.  “When it comes to a decision of this magnitude that would impact every American who owns a car, boat, or lawnmower, we must base our decisions on sound science, not political expediency.  The Administration has fast tracked E15 without considering that increasing the percentage of ethanol in our gasoline will cause premature engine failure, lower fuel efficiency, and void vehicle warranties.  In small engines, E15 is downright dangerous and the EPA has no credible plan to stop mis-fueling.  If ethanol is going to be the ‘fuel of the future,’ then there should be no problem conducting independent, comprehensive scientific analysis of its effect on American drivers.”

A diverse group of 31 organizations ranging from Friends of the Earth to the American Petroleum Institute to the Milk Producers Council signed a letter in support of H.R. 3199, urging further study of E15 before EPA permits its use.  The Committee approved the bill by a vote of 19-7.

The Committee also unanimously approved H.R. 3834, a bipartisan bill introduced by Chairman Ralph Hall (R-TX) and Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), along with Research and Science Education Subcommittee Chairman Mo Brooks (R-AL) and Ranking Member Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), and Reps. Judy Biggert (R-IL) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), which reauthorizes the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Act.  The NITRD program, now in its 20th year, represents the federal government’s central R&D investment portfolio for unclassified networking, computing, software, cybersecurity, and related information technologies.

“I would like to point out that our efforts on this bill have been a true illustration of the bipartisan work for which this Committee and this Congress is capable,” said Chairman Hall.

Networking and information technology includes an array of evolving technologies from smart phones to cloud computing. Among its many goals, NITRD works to minimize and prevent disruptions to critical infrastructures like power grids and emergency communication systems.

“These investments are necessary not only to help maintain world leadership in science and engineering and strengthen U.S. competitiveness, but also to grow the economy through the creation of networking and information technology jobs and enhance national security,” Chairman Brooks said.  “I applaud the Committee’s approval of this important bipartisan legislation.”

Rep. Biggert added: “The NITRD program provides critical support for some of the most promising research on the high-end computing horizon.  American scientists are using these computing technologies to accelerate the pace of research on everything from new energy sources to new medicines.  I applaud Chairman Hall for his bipartisan work on this proposal, which will reauthorize and strengthen the NITRD program for the 21st century.”

“Tonight the President once more devoted significant time and attention to energy as a key to American prosperity and the economic recovery—that much we can agree on.  But this was his third State of the Union address, and by now it is clear that his lofty rhetoric goes nowhere when it comes to policies that will actually increase domestic energy supply and production.  His message may appear supportive of encouraging all forms of energy, but past experience has shown these promises ring hollow.  Nothing the President could have said tonight would make me believe it wasn’t accompanied by a wink to the EPA as it continues its all-out assault on American industry and the U.S. economy.

“For example, the President incredibly said he would take ‘every possible action’ to expand domestic natural gas production, when in fact his EPA appears to be doing the exact opposite.  Much of the President’s regulatory agenda is based on shaky science, and as Chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I will continue rigorous oversight to ensure the administration’s regulations are developed in an open and transparent manner and based on sound science.  EPA’s ongoing efforts to regulate hydraulic fracturing are a great example.  Natural gas is a vital domestic resource, and hydraulic fracturing is a well-established process borne from American ingenuity, enabling greatly increased production of clean, affordable energy.  This production is critical to America’s economic growth, and yet EPA continues its quest to suspend this process by any means.

“The President accurately noted that federal research contributed significantly to the current shale gas revolution, but he failed to mention that his administration has worked hard—and fortunately failed—to eliminate nearly all of the Department of Energy’s natural gas research and development.  I expect this budget to be no different.

“The President also called on Congress to pass a clean energy standard.  This was a centerpiece of his speech last year, but it went nowhere because it amounted to a massive new electricity tax on the American people.  In a report I requested of the administration, Department of Energy analysts estimated the President’s clean energy standard would ultimately raise electricity prices by 30 percent nationwide.  This is not what our economy needs.

“We need policies that encourage domestic energy producers to harness and develop new sources of energy and create jobs in the U.S.  Instead, the President’s policies have obstructed such investments, limiting the momentum of any economic recovery.  Just last week, the President blocked the Keystone pipeline proposal that would have immediately created 20,000 jobs.  From blocking energy exploration and production to the EPA’s assaults on U.S. industry, the administration is making domestic energy more expensive.  These are job-killing policies, and the American people have collectively spoken out against such government red tape, and in favor of more domestic energy.

“Energy reform is a significant component of House Republicans’ Plan for America’s Job Creators, and will continue to be a focus for the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.  We will strive to ensure good science informs regulatory decisions at the EPA in order to spur economic growth by reducing government barriers that are detrimental to our economy and stymie private-sector job creation.”

Elections in Texas seem to get more complicated each time we go to the polls. This year we get the opportunity to vote in National, State, County, and Local elections. But unfortunately there is a lot of uncertainty here in our State about when we will actually get to vote, who some of the candidates will be, and what will be the actual voting geographic lines that define the area of candidate representation. This uncertainty all stems from the 2010 census and the resulting redistricting of political boundaries based upon population changes.

Because of the census results, Texas will get four new Congressional districts. These districts must be defined and established through the redistricting process so that each member of Congress in Texas will represent about the same number of citizens. Sounds complex but really it is fairly easy to do. The issue that has caused all the problems has been the Federal Law that hinges on the "one person-one vote criteria" which requires that each person have the opportunity to be fairly represented. This means that if the population growth in Texas has been caused by an increase in the minority population, then the new Congressmen should be from Congressional Districts that give these new citizens in the State the fair opportunity to select their representative.

This criterion of equal representation has resulted in a legal battle where the State legislation initially established the new political boundaries. A lawsuit was filed saying these new proposed boundaries did not meet the Federal guidelines. This resulted in a Federal Appellate Court located in San Antonio establishing new proposed geographic lines. However these lines were then challenged by the State of Texas. This drove the issue to the US Supreme Court which agreed with the State, in part, and returned the issue to the Appellate Court. This is what has caused our Primary election date to move from early March to early April to unknown at the present time.

We did not have this problem with redistricting our new political boundaries here in Rockwall County. A Citizens Committee of fifteen volunteers worked in conjunction with our law firm, our Commissioners, and our elections administrator to establish new Commissioner precincts that equally divided our citizens in the county. This new plan was submitted to the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. where it was approved without exception. We are ready for the election once the date is established by the Courts system.

But who are we going to elect and what is their job here in the County?

We have two District Judges located in the county. They are both up for election. In Texas these judges preside over courts of general jurisdiction in our State. They have original jurisdiction in all felony cases, divorce cases, cases involving title to land, election contest cases, civil matters with specific dollar limits, and any matter in which jurisdiction is not placed in another trial court. Their yearly salary is $140,000 of which the County pays $15,000 and the State pays the remainder.

We have one Court at Law Judge. He too is up for election this year. This Judge has criminal jurisdiction of Class A and B misdemeanors and appellate jurisdiction over Class C offenses and Justice of the Peace and municipal court decisions. This position can also issue writs of injunction, mandamus, attachment, garnishment, sequestration and habeas corpus in cases where the offense charged is within the jurisdiction of the court. This Judge, as the District Court Judges, must be an attorney. The yearly salary of the Court at Law Judge is $139,000 of which the State pays $75,000 and the remainder is paid by the County.

The Sheriff is also up for reelection. The Sheriff is responsible for executing all processes directed to that office by the Courts. He is also responsible for operating the Jail and is charged with the security of the Courthouse. He serves civil process including citations, attachments, sequestrations, distress warrants, executions, garnishments, injunctions, and forcible entry and detainers. He is the chief law enforcement officer of the county and is charged with the enforcement of many criminal statutes. The Sheriff is also responsible for criminal investigations in the County and for the preservation of law and order. His salary is $80,916 and is all paid by the County.

The District Clerk is responsible to insure that the affairs of the District Courts are maintained objectively with the full confidence of the judicial authorities. This office holder is responsible and acts as the official recorder, registrar and custodian of all court pleadings, instruments, and papers that are part of a case. Other duties include indexing and securing all court records, recording all court verdicts, collecting filing fees, and handling funds held in litigation and money awarded to minors. This person is also responsible for the jury selection process and acts as the liaison between the jurors, courts and employees. This salary is $68,147 and is all paid by the County.

The Tax Assessor is the person responsible for the collections of monies due to the State and the County for property tax and automobile registration, titling, and title transfer of all motor vehicles and trailers in the county. State tax on all automobiles sold in the county is collected by this office. Citizens will most likely visit this office at some time because of the vehicle registration and license plate renewals requirements as well as the collection of the property tax on homes and businesses. The salary for this position is $68,147 and it too is all paid by the County.

The County currently has two Justices of the Peace. However because of State mandate we must add an additional two new JP's effective with the election in November. Each JP has jurisdiction over civil, small claims, and eviction suits up to $10,000. They also serve as a magistrate and can issue warrants for arrest as well as search warrants after determining there is enough probable cause to do so. They review applications for emergency mental commitments and emergency protective orders. They also are required to rule on cause and manner of death on unattended deaths and must determine when an autopsy is necessary to find the cause of death. The current salary for the County JP's is $66,018; however these salaries are under review based on the requirement to increase two JP's without a change in overall County workload.

As in the JP offices, the County currently has two Constables but must add an additional two based upon State mandate. Duties of these office holders include acting as bailiffs for the JP court, serving papers generated by the court system to affected citizens, overseeing the eviction of homes ordered by the court system, and serving as a peace officer when required. The current salary of the Constable position is $51,643 but again these salaries are under review based upon the increase to four Constables without an increase in workload.

Two County Commissioner positions are to be voted upon in the Primary and General election. Each Commissioner position is one of five positions that make up the policy and budgetary portion of county government. This group, the Commissioners Court, is composed of a Commissioner from each precinct in the County plus the County Judge. They develop the budget for the County and they provide policy guidance for the operation of the County. Prior to the 1980's, each Commissioner in the County was also responsible for the Roads and Bridges located in their precinct, however now the County operates under the "Unit Road and Bridge System" which relieves them of this direct responsibility. Commissioners are the direct interface for their citizens into the county system of government. The salary for each Commissioner is $63,888.

There are other elected officials in the County but they are not up for election this cycle.

As you have probably noticed, election signs are appearing on our streets and soon we will start to see advertisements in the papers about the various candidates. Based upon past experience, I know many people will say, " I don't even know who's running and I don't know what they are suppose to do or what's different about one candidate from another. I'm just not even going to vote."

Well, I say that is a cop-out. In short what you are saying is "I don't care who wins." And I bet deep down you really do.

Please take the brief information in this article and use it as a starting point to find out about the job and the candidates running for the job. Find out where they stand on the issues or if they are even running on any issue. Are they the person or persons you want to represent you at this level of government? Remember, none of us are happy with a $15.3 Trillion national debt, or an unemployment rate that bounces between 9% and 10% for three years, or a National government that has not even had a budget for three years.

You can help solve these problems by becoming involved. Make sure our officials are the ones you want to represent you. If they won't fix it at the top, we will start the process here at the bottom. Get informed and vote for those who will represent what you believe.

Jerry Hogan is the County Judge in Rockwall County. He can be reached at jerryhogan@sbcglobal.net or 214-394-4033.