2017 texas legislative session and small business

2017 texas legislative session and small business plus#

When he served in the state House, Workman was the secretary and founder of Workman Commercial Construction Services. He was also an adjutant with the Second Brigade from the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. in building construction from Texas A&M University, which he received in 1973. The next meeting of the Ethics Commission is in September.Email to notify us of updates to this biography. They can ask to speak at our meetings and put that idea forward.'įrom there, the commission could make a recommendation. 'Well, they would have to come to the Texas Ethics Commission, which they're welcome to do,' she says. That request would have to come from a member of the public. Katie Kennedy, who serves on the Ethics Commission, says state lawmakers can't change how much they make. So this is where we get back to our question-asker, Tyson.

2017 texas legislative session and small business plus#

'Our family calculated that every time we had a legislative session, it would cost our family around $50,000 or more because I wasn't working,' she says.Įven when they're not in session, lawmakers are expected to juggle committee hearings, interim reports, constituent services, plus a constant parade of parades. When Van de Putte first ran for office, she was a pharmacist with her own business and six kids under the age of 10. Van de Putte says it's not easy making $600 a month, so some reps can't put their primary jobs on hold. 'She'll work a 24-hour shift and come off and come to the Capitol, change out of her scrubs, and put on high heels and a dress and go to the Senate floor,' says Van de Putte. She says, take for instance Senator Donna Campbell. Leticia Van de Putte represented part of San Antonio for almost 25 years, first in the House, then in the Senate. Some representatives point out Texas is better off having perspectives from all sort of professionals on the floor. 'We say we're a part-time legislature, but I literally have to take six months out of my job to go to Austin,' she says. 'Because I really believe that it is about community service.'ĭavis says being a lawmaker should be a sacrifice, and if people were paid higher salaries, they might be there for the wrong reasons. 'If I were designing the system, I probably wouldn't even give the legislators $7,200 a year,' she says. She says the per diem is important, but she would eliminate the salary.

Sarah Davis is a Republican representing Houston's District 134 in the House. When the legislature is in session, lawmakers also get a per diem of $190 a day to pay for their expenses, like if they need to rent an apartment while they're in Austin. 'The support is not there, because the majority of the people that I work with, they don't need a salary increase,' she says. Thompson says yes, more people would run for office in Texas if they had the money, but don't expect changes anytime soon. Houston Democrat Senfronia Thompson was a public school teacher before she was elected to the Texas House.

What we expect from lawmakers isn't as clear.Īs Tyson's question points out, not everyone can afford to be a Texas lawmaker.

That's why voters in California may expect more from their legislators than folks do in New Hampshire. But in New Hampshire, they've been paying their lawmakers just $100 a year since 1889. There the state legislature works full-time, all year, every year and the lawmakers make $104,000 annually. $600 a month may not pay the bills, but in Texas it's not supposed to.Ĭompare that to California. So it's legal because it's in the state's constitution. 'That's Article 3, Section 24 and 24A of the Texas constitution.' 'The Texas constitution addresses both legislators' salary and per diem payments during a legislative session,' she says. Judge Katie Kennedy is a Houstonian who serves on the state's Ethics Commission. Basically, lawmaking isn't supposed to be a full-time job. In Texas, there's a long tradition of the citizen legislature. Congress all have the same base salary, but for state lawmakers, the pay can be wildly different. He asked, 'Why is it legal for state legislators to not get paid a living wage? It seems like built in class discrimination, where you have to be rich to do it.' One comes from Tyson, who is wondering about why Texas lawmakers get paid just $600 a month. We’re working with our public radio partners across the state to cover the Texas Legislature’s special session. X We’re answering listener questions about the Texas Legislature.