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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Section 5(b), Article III, Texas Constitution, |
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reads: |
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"When convened in regular Session, the first thirty days |
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thereof shall be devoted to the introduction of bills and |
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resolutions, acting upon emergency appropriations, passing upon |
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the confirmation of the recess appointees of the Governor and such |
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emergency matters as may be submitted by the Governor in special |
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messages to the Legislature. During the succeeding thirty days of |
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the regular session of the Legislature the various committees of |
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each House shall hold hearings to consider all bills and |
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resolutions and other matters then pending; and such emergency |
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matters as may be submitted by the Governor. During the remainder |
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of the session the Legislature shall act upon such bills and |
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resolutions as may be then pending and upon such emergency matters |
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as may be submitted by the Governor in special messages to the |
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Legislature."; and |
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WHEREAS, It is specifically provided in Section 5(c), Article |
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III, Texas Constitution, that either house may otherwise determine |
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its order of business by an affirmative vote of four-fifths of its |
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membership; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas is facing the largest revenue shortfall in the |
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state's history; and |
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WHEREAS, The proposed cuts to the state's budget in House |
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Bill 1 (82nd Texas Legislature) include the elimination of |
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prekindergarten programs that would affect 192,000 children; a |
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$1.57 billion reduction in payments to nursing facilities, ensuring |
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that the state will not keep its promise to the elder population; |
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the termination of 100,000 educational jobs that will cripple the |
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state's economy and schools; a drastic reduction of $1.15 billion |
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for the Texas Closing the Gaps Program that will result in the |
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dreams of many Texans who aspire to higher education being |
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deferred; and the eradication of four community colleges that will |
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change the fate of the hundreds of students at those schools; and |
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WHEREAS, The Governor has identified five emergency items to |
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be considered by the 82nd Texas Legislature but has failed to |
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acknowledge either the largest deficit in the state's recent |
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history or that the deficit is the largest current threat to the |
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state's prosperity and to the fulfillment of the promises made by |
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the legislature to the state's citizens; and |
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WHEREAS, The House of Representatives acknowledges the |
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challenges Texas faces with resolving the state's economic troubles |
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and revenue shortfall; as both Democrats and Republicans, the |
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members of the House of Representatives recognize the state budget |
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as the single most important legislative matter to be considered by |
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the 82nd Texas Legislature; and |
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WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives |
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acknowledge that the members are bound by duty and service to the |
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constituents of the members' legislative districts to put all other |
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matters aside and devote the full attention and energies of the |
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House of Representatives to mastering and resolving the state's |
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budget challenge; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature, by an affirmative vote of four-fifths of its |
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membership, That the order of its business for the regular session |
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is hereby determined to be otherwise than set forth in Section 5(b), |
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Article III, Texas Constitution, and declared to be specifically as |
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set forth in the permanent rules of the House of Representatives of |
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the 82nd Legislature, except that during the first 60 days of the |
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regular session the House may not consider any bill before the |
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general appropriations bill, and may consider any other bill after |
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that bill is considered on second reading in the manner provided by |
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the permanent rules of the House of Representatives. |