Murphy Authors One of Twelve Bills Passed During Special Session
Rep. Jim Murphy
Austin, TX – State Representative Jim Murphy (R-Houston) joined Governor Greg Abbott for a bill signing ceremony on Wednesday for House Bill 215, a bill authored by Rep. Murphy during the 85th Special Session that ensures abortions performed on minors are properly reported.
“This new law provides information to ensure this procedure is carried out properly and to gather information that will be used to improve public health. Its passage is particularly important given the bill’s focus on girls under 18 years old.” said Murphy. As a result, better data will be collected and provided to lawmakers and the Department of State Health Services for use in evaluating state programs.
Improving abortion-complication reporting was part of Governor Abbott’s 20-item agenda for the special session. The bill was proposed and drafted by Senator Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola). HB 215 passed the House with bipartisan support and was passed in the Senate by Sen. Hughes. “When abortions occur, especially on minors, Texas must do everything possible to protect these young mothers. Thanks to this law, we will now have more accurate data concerning abortions being performed on minors. I am thankful for the leadership of Sen. Bryan Hughes and Rep. Jim Murphy in getting this bill to my desk, and I applaud the Texas legislature for passing this important reform this special session.” stated Governor Greg Abbott.
State Representative Jim Murphy represents District 133, West Houston. First elected in 2006, Murphy serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Special Purpose Districts and is a member of the Ways & Means Committee. Murphy also serves as Floor Leader for the House Republican Caucus. In addition to his work during the special session, Rep. Murphy passed fourteen bills during the 85th Regular Session.
Comments
Warren Fawcettsays
What about property tax reform that was torpedoed by Murphy and Bonnen? They killed SB1 in the regular and proposed a watered down joke bill in the special. If Murphy thinks the special was a success, he’s living in an alternate universe.
David Jenningssays
Hey Warren, good to hear from you.
If you really think that the bill that Paul/Dan rejected would actually reform property taxes, then we’ll agree to disagree. But the plain truth is that the House actually passed a property tax ‘reform’ bill and the Senate rejected it, didn’t vote on it, and let it die when they adjourned. Just the facts.
Murphy was successful in that he authored and passed 1 of 12 bills that went to the governor’s desk. Another fact.
Warren Fawcettsays
Thanks for the welcome, Dave.
I agree, and I’m glad that Paul/Dan rejected that watered down piece of crap from the house. I’m unhappy that there was no conference. The house had no intention of passing true tax reform and should called out for it. Just because Murphy passed one bill doesn’t make the session a success. He helped Bonnen water down the senate bill. I’m hoping that the Governor calls a special session early next year exclusively for tax reform. Then, we’ll see who’s really conservative and on the taxpayer’s side. The 4{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} trigger for an election only solves part of the problem. Until the appraisal cap is cut in half (at a minimum), we are still overtaxed.
P.S. Just curious, are you happy with the DA’s performance so far?
Rosssays
Want lower property taxes? First, get the state to fund schools properly. State funding for HISD has dropped from 24{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} in 2009-2010 to -1.3{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} in 2016-2017 after recapture. That means that some of the property taxes I pay don’t even go to HISD, but to other school districts, just so Dan Patrick and his fellow travelers can tell the money men how much richer they are going to be. I am tired of the cretins in the legislature trying to make the rich in this state even richer at the expense of the middle class.
As for city taxes, Houston’s property tax collections aren’t enough to even fund the public safety budget, so imagine the effect a tax cut would have there, especially with the pension obligations.
Harris County seems to have a surplus, but I haven’t seen a material tax cut there. Come on Republicans running the County, put your money where your mouth is, and give us a tax cut that makes a difference, just to show us you aren’t hypocrites. Even better, how about cutting taxes for people in the incorporated areas, since you don’t provide any services to us. If not, how about spending some real money on roads in the cities, and maybe give us some patrol deputies to supplement HPD. I pay the same taxes as someone in Spring, why don’t I get the same services?
Mick Abrahamssays
Hey Ross: I don’t know where you live in the county that you don’t get courts . . . or jails . . . or law enforcement . . . or hospitals. Boom, there’s 80{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} of the county’s spending right there – and you benefit from it.
Rosssays
I don’t get law enforcement services from the County. If I call HCSO, they tell me to call HPD. I don’t get roads, either, the County says I pay Houston for that. So, I am not getting my tax dollars worth from the County.
David Jenningssays
Hey Warren,
The original bill sent to the House did not lower anyone’s property taxes. That is a fact. What it did do was slap the idea of representative democracy in the face, which is the ultimate goal here (populist referendums like California). It is possible that by forcing elections at 4{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986}, political subdivisions would slow the growth of government – not certain but possible. That is pretty much all the bill from the Senate did. Why do you think Paul didn’t address the root of the problem, appraisals? There were many ways to do that and a cap, while helpful, isn’t the best way.
About DA Ogg, I don’t have an opinion at this point.I’d rather wait and see a body of work before commenting. If pressed, based upon the limited amount of time I’ve observed of the office, I’d say I’m happy.
DJ
Warren Fawcettsays
Dave,
The 4{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} rollback trigger is a starting point. I would expect that appraisal reform would follow. Local officials are currently unchecked. They are more accountable to TML/TAC. That is just wrong. It’s obscene for city mgrs, politicians, school administrators making fat 6 figure incomes that they couldn’t get in the private sector. It also stinks when the press and a school district rave and brag about a new $70 million football stadium. Why do local taxing jurisdictions need annual increases of 6, 7, 8,and percent? The taxpayers don’t get that.
What about property tax reform that was torpedoed by Murphy and Bonnen? They killed SB1 in the regular and proposed a watered down joke bill in the special. If Murphy thinks the special was a success, he’s living in an alternate universe.
Hey Warren, good to hear from you.
If you really think that the bill that Paul/Dan rejected would actually reform property taxes, then we’ll agree to disagree. But the plain truth is that the House actually passed a property tax ‘reform’ bill and the Senate rejected it, didn’t vote on it, and let it die when they adjourned. Just the facts.
Murphy was successful in that he authored and passed 1 of 12 bills that went to the governor’s desk. Another fact.
Thanks for the welcome, Dave.
I agree, and I’m glad that Paul/Dan rejected that watered down piece of crap from the house. I’m unhappy that there was no conference. The house had no intention of passing true tax reform and should called out for it. Just because Murphy passed one bill doesn’t make the session a success. He helped Bonnen water down the senate bill. I’m hoping that the Governor calls a special session early next year exclusively for tax reform. Then, we’ll see who’s really conservative and on the taxpayer’s side. The 4{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} trigger for an election only solves part of the problem. Until the appraisal cap is cut in half (at a minimum), we are still overtaxed.
P.S. Just curious, are you happy with the DA’s performance so far?
Want lower property taxes? First, get the state to fund schools properly. State funding for HISD has dropped from 24{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} in 2009-2010 to -1.3{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} in 2016-2017 after recapture. That means that some of the property taxes I pay don’t even go to HISD, but to other school districts, just so Dan Patrick and his fellow travelers can tell the money men how much richer they are going to be. I am tired of the cretins in the legislature trying to make the rich in this state even richer at the expense of the middle class.
As for city taxes, Houston’s property tax collections aren’t enough to even fund the public safety budget, so imagine the effect a tax cut would have there, especially with the pension obligations.
Harris County seems to have a surplus, but I haven’t seen a material tax cut there. Come on Republicans running the County, put your money where your mouth is, and give us a tax cut that makes a difference, just to show us you aren’t hypocrites. Even better, how about cutting taxes for people in the incorporated areas, since you don’t provide any services to us. If not, how about spending some real money on roads in the cities, and maybe give us some patrol deputies to supplement HPD. I pay the same taxes as someone in Spring, why don’t I get the same services?
Hey Ross: I don’t know where you live in the county that you don’t get courts . . . or jails . . . or law enforcement . . . or hospitals. Boom, there’s 80{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} of the county’s spending right there – and you benefit from it.
I don’t get law enforcement services from the County. If I call HCSO, they tell me to call HPD. I don’t get roads, either, the County says I pay Houston for that. So, I am not getting my tax dollars worth from the County.
Hey Warren,
The original bill sent to the House did not lower anyone’s property taxes. That is a fact. What it did do was slap the idea of representative democracy in the face, which is the ultimate goal here (populist referendums like California). It is possible that by forcing elections at 4{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986}, political subdivisions would slow the growth of government – not certain but possible. That is pretty much all the bill from the Senate did. Why do you think Paul didn’t address the root of the problem, appraisals? There were many ways to do that and a cap, while helpful, isn’t the best way.
About DA Ogg, I don’t have an opinion at this point.I’d rather wait and see a body of work before commenting. If pressed, based upon the limited amount of time I’ve observed of the office, I’d say I’m happy.
DJ
Dave,
The 4{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} rollback trigger is a starting point. I would expect that appraisal reform would follow. Local officials are currently unchecked. They are more accountable to TML/TAC. That is just wrong. It’s obscene for city mgrs, politicians, school administrators making fat 6 figure incomes that they couldn’t get in the private sector. It also stinks when the press and a school district rave and brag about a new $70 million football stadium. Why do local taxing jurisdictions need annual increases of 6, 7, 8,and percent? The taxpayers don’t get that.