Higher education in Texas; it’s all for the students in the classroom, right?. From Guidry News Service:
“State Representative Ron Reynolds (Fort Bend County, District 27) is proud to joint author a bi- partisan bill with Representative William “Bill” Callegari. The Representatives filed HB 1373 to provide a platform for public junior colleges to award contracts for certain goods and services to businesses and workers from its local community.”
Who in the world writes these press releases? The lead paragraph in the release does not publicize a need to hire teachers due to increasing enrollment. No, the lead paragraph makes known the most significant aspect of HB 1373 is the purpose of awarding contracts to public junior colleges.
Why is this bill necessary?
“Presently, cities and counties are allowed to give preference to local businesses; for example, the City of Houston’s Hire Houston First Program. Public junior colleges seek the same statutory authority that is currently extended to cities and counties. Institutions like Houston Community College are eager to strengthen their local economies by allowing its citizens’ tax dollars to stay local.”
Oh, I get it. Someone figured out that Houston Community College does not have the statutory authority to redistribute the wealth…err….award contracts for certain goods and services to businesses & workers in the local community.
Maybe they should have thought about that prior to the November 2012 HCC Bond Proposition. The news release further states:
“Houston Community College recently passed a $425 million bond referendum in November 2012 that will help create significant economic opportunities for local businesses.”
Oh sure. This bill will be rationalized by those in The Machine who will cry “but The Lege didn’t meet in late 2011 or early 2012 to pass the bill prior to the bond vote!”
My point is the principle advocated by this bill & accompanying press release isn’t first and foremost for the purpose of teacher salaries or hiring additional teachers. HCC can’t justify hiring additional teachers/ instructors if enrollment is declining. The Sienna Plantation campus in Missouri City, which is in Ron Reynolds house district BTW, has a -11.07{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} drop in semester hours credit for Spring 2013 over Spring 2012.
IMHO, HB 1373 should not be passed. What say you?
Sally Belladonna Baggins Stricklett says
I agree
j.davis says
Ms. Larsen: The bill relates to contracts awarded by certain school districts; it’s not about contracts awarded to school districts.
Also, someone should tell the legislators that in this sentence of the press release “its” should be “their” to agree with “public junior colleges”.
The Representatives filed HB 1373 to provide a platform for public junior colleges to award contracts for certain goods and services to businesses and workers from its local community.”
CharlesJr says
I agree that the desire to TAX us with no regards to what is right or wrong rules. The WHCRWA Act in 2000 continues to reach into our Pockets and has included North Fort Bend into the madness. But we are Blind and the Government knows better what we need. NOT! I continue to be disappointed in Bill’s efforts because his desires to be back at AmTex and not Representing People. Stop the Government grab.