Big Jolly Politics

politics in Harris County and Texas

The choice is clear on the Houston Pension bonds, Prop A

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It really is because it distills into a simple, reasonable question: Is the proposition good for the city?

If you recall, I asked, no, that’s not right, I begged the Houston Chronicle’s newest hire, Ericia Grieder, to take a look at the issue and render a verdict. I did that because I knew from past experience that she is (a) an expert on economic issues, (b) she is new to the city and the issue and (c) she really doesn’t care if you are a liberal or a conservative, she’ll call the balls and strikes as she sees them (heh, I had to get a baseball reference in there, right?). I even committed to purchasing a subscription to the Chron if she would write about it. She did and I did. Here is part of what she had to say:

Everyone agrees that Houston needs pension reform. The city has three public pension funds, for police, firefighters, and municipal employees. They are, as it stands, only 55 percent funded. The unfunded liabilities work out to $15.7 billion. The city’s share of that would be up to $8.2 billion, depending on how shrewd the fund’s managers might be.

Sylvester Turner campaigned on the issue while running for mayor in 2015, and the pension obligation bonds are part of the plan he proposed this year and pursued in the 85th Legislature. The result, after extensive negotiations, was Senate Bill 2190, authored by state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston. Its terms call for city employees to contribute more to their pension funds and accept $1.8  billion in benefit cuts in exchange for an infusion of cash via the pension obligation bonds. It also limits the risk of future cost increases, through a financial corridor provision that caps the city’s contribution rates.

…

The deal itself is not perfect, for a variety of reasons, and conservatives may see it as a Band-Aid, because city employees would still be enrolled in defined-benefits plans. Fiscal conservatives are wary of that approach, in general, because if the benefits are defined, the costs of the plan itself are necessarily indeterminate. They can easily be higher than expected, and often are.

…

All of this raises some reasonable questions about the city leaders urging voters to approve the pension obligation bonds, as it might if someone asked you for a loan so they can pay off their credit card. Another loan, that is; Houston already has about $600 million in outstanding pension obligation debt.

“Issuing the bonds eternalizes a failed pension system,” argues Bill Frazer, who ran for city controller in 2015.

I can see where he’s coming from.

Still, I disagree with his conclusion. A billion dollars is a lot of money, but Houston voters are already on the hook for more than that. And passage of Proposition A would help lessen the burden, in addition to its sting. Interest rates are low. Houston’s municipal debt has a decent credit rating. The deal, as mentioned, includes significant benefit cuts – which can be rescinded, if the city doesn’t come through with the pension obligation bonds.

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In my view, the passage of Proposition A would be a good thing for Houston. The measure is reasonable in itself, and it’s only one part of the pension reform deal – a deal which may not be perfect, but is already done.

(click to read Pension reform deal may not be perfect, but it’s good for the city on HoustonChronicle.com)

A couple of things that she writes stand out to me. First, as I told you, she will listen to all sides (if you click on the link to the full article, you’ll see more of that). Second, she doesn’t hyperventilate over it, she simply states her opinion after reviewing it. And lastly, she distills it down to the essence of the issue: is it good for the city?

Clearly the issuance of these bonds (substituting high cost debt for low cost debt and future concessions from employee unions) is a net positive for the city.  No serious observer can make a case against that basic premise.

Most of the opposition is based upon the fact that the City of Houston has been controlled by liberal Democrats for many years. Something along the lines of ‘you get what you ask for’. And that is completely true. But finally, after years of neglect, conservative Republicans have stepped in and come up with a plan that, while certainly not perfect and certainly not all encompassing, is good for the city’s future. Which means that it is good for the taxpayers in the city.

Hopefully the voters will agree with conservative Republican State Rep. Jim Murphy and vote for Prop A.

I heard that ad today on the Charlie Pallilo sports talk show on 94.1 FM in Houston. Talk about a micro targeted ad! Whomever is running that campaign is seriously good at recognizing who votes and who doesn’t. If you even know that Pallilo is back on the air and you tune in to a small FM station to listen to his highly analytical sports commentary, there is a high probability that you are a voter. In fact, as a political nerd, I’d guess it was close to 100%.

I was thrilled because some of us have been advocating for years that Harris County Republicans should spread their wings beyond conservative political talk radio. As best as I can remember, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett is the only Republican to recognize this, appearing multiple times on sports talk radio. Listening to Rep. Murphy’s ad and knowing that Republicans can indeed adapt to the politics of a purple county is very heartening.

Hopefully, Republicans will cast aside their inclination to oppose anything that Democrats propose, look at the facts at hand and vote FOR Prop A.

It really is good for the city.

Was Speaker Joe Straus ‘ousted’?

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Just as I said would happen, the usual suspects are blasting emails, Facebook posts and Tweets claiming that they were responsible for ‘ousting’ Speaker Joe Straus. Dr. Steve Hotze even made a video praising God for the victory.

The horses prepared for battle but the victory belongs to the Lord.

Well then.

The thing is, that it isn’t quite the truth. Oh sure, Speaker Straus did announce he was not running for re-election, that much is surely true. But the ousting part? Not so much.

Joe straus

Embry also had the tally for the Speaker elections:

Joe straus

The members consistently voted for Straus because he did what he said he would do – he let the members run the place. He called it the ‘will of the House’ and took the heat for those representatives that didn’t have the courage to publicly go against the loudest activists in the party.

Harvey Kronberg at the Quorum Report lays out the truth.

It remains to be seen if the business community and local governments as well as the teachers coalesce after this demeaning session, but they have pretty much lost all confidence in two of the big three.

Speaker Joe Straus today stunned even his closest colleagues with his announcement that he would not seek re-election to his seat in the House. This after polling in the field showed that even his weakest San Antonio precincts were solidly behind him.  In addition, there was no possible math that did not have him re-elected to lead the House.

While his low opinion of the hysteria-based rhetoric of other statewide officials and the off the rails priorities of the special session(many but for his efforts) would have further made the recovery of the Gulf Coast even more protracted than it would otherwise be were barely camouflaged, one of the great stings had to be Governor Greg Abbott reassuring CEOs that Straus would kill the bathroom bill at the same time he was rallying pastors to sermonize on its behalf from the pulpit.

Obviously, I don’t think Kronberg was as stunned as others seemed to be. Beyond that, a couple of things stand out. First, as Kronberg points out, there was zero chance that Straus would not have been re-elected, both to his seat and to the Speaker’s gavel. Zero. Second, he reminds us of the duplicity of Abbott. Think about that as you re-read Kronberg’s opening line:

It remains to be seen if the business community and local governments as well as the teachers coalesce after this demeaning session, but they have pretty much lost all confidence in two of the big three (emphasis mine).

If there is one thing that Speaker Straus is not it is duplicitous. He isn’t going to rail against something publicly while privately supporting it, unlike Gov. Abbott’s ‘bathroom bill’ shenanigans. It simply isn’t his style.

I think probably the biggest factor in his decision can be found in these statements (emphasis mine):

“A confident leader knows when it’s time to give it back,” Straus said. “And I feel really good about the last year or so when I’ve been able to speak for myself about issues I care about and not necessarily every member of the legislature’s priority. And the reception I’ve gotten since I’ve been more outspoken has been really strong and really positive. And so I want to do more of that, find other ways to serve the state.”

“And I have to tell you as I’ve traveled the state, speaking out on issues that I think are important to our economy and important to most people, not just Republicans but most Texans who want to see our economy and our opportunities grow and…do things that attract jobs and not chase them away, the response I’m getting is very, very strong. And I’ve had people suggest, on a daily basis, that I run for another office, I don’t have plans to do that but I will be looking forward to speaking out more and more about issues that I think are important to most people. What that leads to, we will have to see. But I think there is a hunger for a republican voice out there that stresses issues that maybe haven’t gotten enough attention around the Capitol the last few years.”

Last year, before he decided to speak for himself, Speaker Straus spoke to the C-Club of Houston. His speech was about education in Texas and the path forward. By all accounts it was a complete flop. It was dispassionate and the reports were that he didn’t say anything of note on the issues. You know the kind of speech that when you leave you are left wondering what the heck the speaker was saying? That kind. Perhaps that speech and the reviews of it contributed to Speaker Straus deciding to speak on his priorities instead of trying to thread the needle representing 149 other voices. For Dr. Hotze’s pleasure, there is something in the Bible about being lukewarm.

Whatever caused him to reach the decision to give Texas Republicans an alternative voice to the increasingly shrill ones that have dominated Republican primaries the past few years is mighty welcome in my household. As I said yesterday, for now it is just a dream but sometimes dreams come true.

Mount the horses and prepare for battle. There is an army of PTA’s, PTO’s, local elected officials and business owners to organize.

Pro-Life praise for Speaker Joe Straus and Rep. Byron Cook

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Joe straus

Texas Alliance for Life Praises Pro-Life Legislative Accomplishments of Speaker Straus and House State Affairs Chairman Cook

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 25, 2017
CONTACT:
Melissa Duncan, Director of Communications
512.477.1244 (o)
[email protected]

 

AUSTIN — Today, Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) announced that he would not seek re-election for his Texas House of Representatives seat in House District 121. The following is a statement on behalf of Texas Alliance for Life (TAL) Executive Director Joe Pojman, Ph.D.:

“Texas has become the envy of the nation because of the tremendous pro-life accomplishments of the Texas Legislature. Over the past five sessions, Speaker Straus has ensured Texans that pro-life issues are one of his priority issues,” said Dr. Pojman. “Speaker Straus has been critical to the substantial success of the pro-life movement in Texas, and we commend his strong record of accomplishments like the 10 pro-life bills recently passed by the Legislature and the continued defunding of Planned Parenthood — a record achievement in Texas. In his role as Speaker, we will always be grateful for his partnership with Texas Alliance for Life and other productive pro-life organizations, and we look forward to working with the future leaders in the House to ensure continued pro-life success for all of Texas,” Dr. Pojman added.

In addition to Speaker Straus’ announcement, an announcement was also made today by Representative Byron Cook (R-Corsicana). Cook, who served as the powerful Chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, will not seek re-election in the next cycle. The following is a statement on behalf of Texas Alliance for Life Executive Director Joe Pojman, Ph.D.:

“For the past fourteen years, Chairman Cook has been a legislative leader who was pivotal to many great things that happened across the pro-life movement in Texas. In his role as State Affairs Chairman, numerous bills came to be considered and heavily debated in the State Affairs Committee. Without his leadership, many pro-life priority bills may not have moved on to become the laws they are today. Chairman Cook did much for Texas regarding bills such as the Sonogram Bill in 2011, HB 2 in 2013, and numerous bills which were passed in the 85th Legislative Session and First Called Special Session. We are fortunate to call him a true friend of Texas Alliance for Life, and we know that his pro-life legacy will long surpass his years in office,” said Dr. Pojman.

This past year, during the 85th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, Texas celebrated another sensational session on the life issue. This follows a very successful pro-life session in 2015. Under the leadership of Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and Speaker Joe Straus, the Legislature passed six pro-life bills. The Legislature continued funding for alternatives to abortion, continued the defunding of Planned Parenthood, and passed numerous other pro-life provisions in the General Appropriations Act, the state’s two-year budget. For a full listing of pro-life accomplishments in the 85th Legislative session please visit the TAL website.

Pro-life success carried on through the First Called Special Session in the summer of 2017. Upon the conclusion of the special session, the Legislature passed an additional four pro-life bills. Governor Abbott quickly signed them all into law. Texas Alliance for Life strongly supported each of these pro-life bills during the special session. To learn more about these bills, please click here.
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Speaker Joe Straus will not seek re-election

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Joe straus

This is not entirely unexpected:

speaker Joe straus
Speaker Joe Straus

Speaker Joe Straus

I first ran for the Texas House in 2005 to be a voice for our community and for the principles that I had spent years advancing behind the scenes. It did not occur to me that I would ever become Speaker of the House. (And I’ve learned that it didn’t occur to anyone else, either!)

However, after an unusual and unexpected chain of events, my 149 colleagues chose me to be our presiding officer less than four years later. I’ve since won re-election four times with the support of an overwhelming majority of House Members from each political party. In every legislative session, I’ve tried to bring real solutions to real challenges. For example, we’ve made significant gains in K-12 and higher education, water, transportation, and mental health care. But just as important as what we’ve done is the way in which we’ve done it. Even as politics has become more tribal and divisive, I’ve led by bringing people together and working across party lines. We’ve fallen short at times. But on our best days, we have shown that there is still a place for civility and statesmanship in American politics.

I believe that in a representative democracy, those who serve in public office should do so for a time, not for a lifetime. And so I want you to know that my family and I have decided that I will not run for re-election next year. My time as a State Representative and as Speaker will end at the conclusion of my current term.

Just as my ascension to the Speaker’s office was unconventional and my approach to governing is unusual in these divisive times, I know this is also an unexpected decision. It’s been decades since someone has left the Speaker’s office on his own terms. But we have accomplished what I had hoped the House would accomplish when I first entered this office, and I am increasingly eager to contribute to our state in new and different ways.

Instead of acting on behalf of the entire House, I will now have a greater opportunity to express my own views and priorities. I will also continue to work for a Republican Party that tries to bring Texans together instead of us pulling us apart. Our party should be dynamic and forward-thinking, and it should appeal to our diverse population with an optimistic vision that embraces the future. I plan to be a voice for Texans who want a more constructive and unifying approach to our challenges, from the White House on down.

I want to thank Julie and our daughters, Sara and Robyn, for their love and support. I also want to thank my parents, Joci and Joe, who have set a wonderful example for me and taught me a true appreciation for public service. I want to thank my House colleagues for giving me the privilege of leading, and I want to thank the members of my staff who have worked so tirelessly to help the House succeed. Most of all, I want to thank the people of District 121 in Bexar County for giving me the chance to work on your behalf. Your strong support has provided a foundation upon which I could stand and provide leadership for our entire state.

One of my heroes, President George H.W. Bush, said, “Any definition of a successful life must include serving others.” I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Texas House, and I look forward to talking to you more in the future about my continued service to the state of Texas.

It may seem shocking to some but if you’ve read between the lines the past couple of years, it has become increasingly apparent that Straus has been very frustrated with the direction of the Republicans in Texas. As have many of us.

Sure, he would have won re-election, both to his seat and as Speaker. But realistically, the only thing he would have gained by doing that would be to block some of the more asinine proposals of the Senate. As well, the Senate would have continued to block his attempts to improve education, keep local control and improve the business climate in the state.

I’m most interested in the last line of his statement:

I look forward to talking to you more in the future about my continued service to the state of Texas.

Texas will certainly benefit from whatever he chooses to do in the future, just as we have greatly benefited from his service in the House. There are many of us that would love to see him take on either the Governor or the Lt. Governor next year. Unfortunately, most Texans have given up and don’t vote in the primaries, so the chances of him winning a primary are slim to none. While we can dream about November voters showing up in March, it is simply that, a dream. Until they do, for the right candidate. Who knows?

The usual suspects will be blasting out emails, Facebook posts and Tweets about how they got rid of the RINO. Because that is what the political arena in the country has devolved into. Insults instead of ideas. Slander instead of thoughtfulness. A purity test instead of a big tent.

As for me, I’ll simply say thank you to a man that was able to serve his state honorably and with distinction and grace. I look forward to hearing about his future plans even as I dream about what they could be.

Rep. Dennis Paul BBQ Fundraiser tomorrow night!

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If you live in the SE area of Harris County, your representative in the Texas House is Dennis Paul. Dennis is a solid conservative that votes his district and isn’t beholden to any group or faction. You won’t see him on the evening news making a name for himself but you will see him in the district helping the people he was elected to serve.

Obviously, it is easier to raise campaign funds if you are either a bloviator on the nightly news or if you are beholden to someone with deep pockets. Since Dennis is neither of those, he needs a lot of grassroots support to help him raise the funds necessary to run an effective campaign. And if you review his latest campaign finance report, you’ll see that he doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk by contributing from his own pocket.

What better way to raise funds than having an old fashioned BBQ plate dinner and auction?

Dennis paul
(click the picture to get your tickets!)

Not only will you get a chance to meet with Dennis and talk about the district, there will also be tons of elected officials, candidates and grassroots activists on hand.

So come on out and support a true grassroots conservative!

Rep. Jim Murphy: fixing Houston’s pension mess begins with you

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pension

Rep. Jim Murphyby State Rep. Jim Murphy

Earlier this year I took to these pages to clear up confusion about the HISD recapture vote. Working together, we passed the HISD proposition and kept $8 billion of commercial property on the HISD tax rolls, preventing skyrocketing property taxes for homeowners.

This November, Houston voters must once again decide between a fiscally prudent path or one that guarantees financial calamity and higher taxes for everyone. While good people may disagree on a final pension solution, we can all agree that we must begin now to reduce the current $8 billion in unfunded pension liabilities and limit future taxpayer exposure.

Houston voters can begin to reduce the city’s high-cost debt and shore up the pension funds by voting for Prop. A, the Pension Obligation Bond. Currently, taxpayers are charged 8{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} interest on the $1 billion which the City of Houston borrowed from the police and municipal workers retirement funds (by not making its contributions). This debt leaves the funds dangerously underfunded and costs us taxpayers millions in unnecessary interest charges.

Passing Prop. A, is good for taxpayers. Here’s why:

  • Unlike the other bonds, Prop A does not saddle the City with additional debt.
  • Passing Prop. A will refinance existing debt at a much lower interest rate, potentially saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars over the next 30 years.
  • In return for passing Prop. A, taxpayers receive an additional $2.5 billion in agreed upon benefit reductions.

If voters reject Prop. A, we taxpayers will lose the $2.5 Billion in savings from the agreed upon concessions. What’s more, we taxpayers will also continue to pay higher interest rates and the city pension crisis will worsen to the point where we will be forced to pay more and higher taxes, leaving us and our city poorer each year.

To put it plainly, would you continue to pay 8{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} interest on your house or car if you had the ability to refinance at a much lower interest rate? I wouldn’t.

As someone who has consistently advocated and fought for returning control of the pensions to local governments, I can assure you that it is much easier to design the perfect fix than it is to garner the necessary support to make the perfect piece of legislation the law.

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick showed tremendous leadership by getting the multitude of parties to come to a baseline agreement that put taxpayers and retirees first. My friend, Senator Joan Huffman worked extremely hard to craft a bill that ALL sides could agree upon. Joan’s bill goes further than any previous pension bill. It ensures that our City employees and first responders will indeed get the pensions they have earned. It also gives taxpayers a seat at the table. That seat is our ability to vote for Prop. A which was championed by Senator Paul Bettencourt along with an overwhelming majority of our colleagues in the legislature.

The process of fixing Houston’s pension mess begins with you and all of us voting for Prop. A.