Sen. Paul Bettencourt has filed SJR 59 which will force a vote on the idiotic Daylight Savings Time.
Senator Bettencourt Says Let Texans Vote on Daylight Saving Time
SJR 59 would let voters decide to eliminate the time shift that will occur this weekend
Fall vote stops “spring forward”AUSTIN – Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) filed SJR 59 to let Texans vote on the elimination of Daylight Saving Time. If the voters approve, this would group Texas in with Arizona and Hawaii, the only two states that do not currently observe daylight saving time in the United States.
“When you think of hot button public policy issues what usually comes to mind are things such as property tax relief and school finance and pension reform. However, the issue of Daylight Saving Time has roused passions on both sides of the debate for over 100 years,” said Senator Bettencourt. “Giving Texans the opportunity to vote on the issue will settle the debate once and for all in the Lone Star State!”
SJR 59 would apply to all portions of Texas using Central Standard Time as well as Mountain Standard Time. If passed, the bill would require a vote on the November 5, 2019 general election where Texas voters would decide whether or not to abolish daylight saving time. If approved by the voters, the change would take effect in 2020. Daylight Saving Time was first enacted in the United States during World War I but was repealed in 1919 over the veto of President Woodrow Wilson. It was restarted during World War II but again repealed three weeks after the end of the war during the Truman Administration. What remained was a patchwork quilt until Congress passed the Uniform Time Act in 1966, which allows States to remain on standard time if they wish.
“I have advocated for a public policy of ‘let the people vote’ when it comes to pension obligation bonds and rollback elections regarding their property tax bills,” continued Senator Bettencourt. “The issue of Daylight Saving Time is no different. Let the people vote and trust their vote!”
One major justification given for Daylight Saving Time is that it reduces energy consumption. Studies on the issue have been mixed however, with a 2008 Department of Energy study finding that an extended Daylight Saving Time “saved about 0.5 percent (1.3 billion kilowatt hours) in total electricity per day” over a four week extension. A University of California Santa Barbara study however found that when Indiana moved to a statewide system in 2006 it caused a 1% increase in residential electricity use.
“Instead of fall back and spring forward it would be a fall vote to stop a spring forward!” quipped Senator Bettencourt.
Senator Bettencourt currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Property Tax and he sits on the Senate Finance, Senate Education, and Senate Higher Education Committees. Senator Bettencourt also serves as the Chairman of the Texas Senate Republican Caucus. He plans to file additional legislation before Friday’s deadline.
Gosh I hope this happens. Unfortunately it won’t happen before Sunday, when we have to “spring forward” for an artificial “extra hour” of daylight.
I’ll spend my life dedicated to killing the careers of politicians who stick us with Standard Time which loses a huge amount of evening time for any of us who work past 5pm. I’d be all for permanent DST but current Federal law doesn’t allow this. Going to full-time standard time is awful. Plus this idea that changing clocks is so horrible is laughable. Over the past decade we’ve gone from no clocks that change time to almost all of them that change automatically.
Kids and the elderly with dementia have difficulty handling being told to change their schedule. This doesn’t give you an extra hour of daylight in the evening, it moves one from the morning. Just enjoy the daylight in the morning.
That extra hour in the morning can’t be enjoyed by the kids whose baseball league that doesn’t have lights has to reduce the number of participants because fewer games can be played. Quit thinking about yourself, and consider the impact on others that are less fortunate
It’s for the children Ross. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2008-03-08/news/darkstart08_1_daylight-saving-time-elementary-schools
I hope the bill passes and gets Gov. Abbott’s signature. Then let’s see if the voters have the good sense to rid us of the idiotic time change. The problem for me is that I’ll probably have croaked by the time we get to vote on it.
I hope this passes. Arizona never changed and they don’t have these twice s year conversions. Hawaii as well. If you want to play 9 holes after work on Fridays, just leave the office an hour early. With today’s “virtual office” environment nobody will notice. Just say your working on the “Greens Account.” Or go fishing and just tell everyone you’ve gone fishing.
You really could have left that last paragraph off. Just a little bit of hope of anulling the stupid exercise we call Daylight Savings Time would be nice.
If I had left that off, you wouldn’t have commented! 😉
Senator, please focus on more important things. Leave DST alone.
That is exactly what I was thinking….
It is going to be dark later in the morning so lights will be needed. How does that save electricity. I am all in for eliminating DST.
My concern which no one has address including Senator Paul and most on the thread is about the safety of Students. Why?
That was my first thoughts where the elementary, middle and high schooler (those that dont drive). In the fall when it gets dark and at 7 still is dark and they have to stand on street corners for busses will that help them and please explain how?
It bothers me on issues that changing clocks and oldsheimer mentality or the ironny of ones discomfort is more significant than Mothers and children bearing the bronght of our lackness that places them in unsafe time zones.
Paul needs to do more on each of his committes and get better savings Bills done and better education Bills for students and Teachers.
What they seem to us voters, are doing in Austin is “sit, listen, go eat, then go fundraise”.
Please name 10 most important legislation Bills we Republicans have put foward on the tables in the last 8 years and past.
I would like to be educated in case I missed hearing or reading about it. Please help me and others out on this thread. David lend us your knowledge too.
Melissa Rowell also made a good statement and knows why she did. I agree with her.