CALL TO ACTION: SAVE TEXSHARE FUNDING

In this issue:

1. CONFERENCE COMMITTEE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION
2. URGENT CALL TO ACTION: SAVE TEXSHARE FUNDING

I. CONFERENCE COMMITTEE BUDGET RECOMMENDATION

The Conference Committee has opted to accept the House budget recommendations for the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC). That is, the final budget determination for TSLAC is at the 95% level (a 5% cut). The only item that was left pending was the item request for additional funding for TexShare. Several members spoke about trying to find funds for this item. Rep. Turner said that the work group’s sentiment was that they needed to do more for TexShare than just leave the amount at the base budget level. Rep. Kolkhorst and Chairman Pitts mentioned an earlier discussion about trying to find additional funds for the TexShare databases. Sen. Zaffirini said she would be happy to work with members to identify funding for TexShare because it is a “wonderful program.”

While it appears that committee members want to be supportive of the program, they did not yet approve the additional funding for TexShare. With many budget decisions still to be made, committee members must hear from their constituents to keep additional funding for TexShare a priority and to actually appropriate funds for the rider request.

Without the additional funding for TexShare databases, the number of databases will go from the current level of 49 to about 15 over the next biennium. Please describe the need for these resources at your library. Discuss the impact on the people who use your library. What will this loss mean? 

II. URGENT CALL TO ACTION: SAVE TEXSHARE FUNDING

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS IMMEDIATELY!

All members of the Conference Committee must hear from their constituents urging them to increase funding for TexShare. Please contact your representative or senator if they serve on the Conference Committee and urge them to increase funding for TexShare.

If your legislators do not serve on the Conference Committee, please contact them and ask their offices to contact Chairman Ogden and Chairman Pitts’s offices to ask for support of TexShare. Also, everyone should contact Gov. Rick Perry, Speaker Tom Craddick, and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. See contact information below.

The Conference Committee members are:

• Sen. Steve Ogden: steve.ogden@senate.state.tx.us; (phone) 512-463-0105; (fax) 512-463-5713
• Sen. Judith Zaffirini: judith.zaffirini@senate.state.tx.us; (phone) 512-463-0121; (fax) 512-475-3738
• Sen. Robert Duncan: robert.duncan@senate.state.tx.us; (phone) 512-463-0128; (fax) 512-463-2424
• Sen. John Whitmire: john.whitmire@senate.state.tx.us; (p)512-463-0115; (f) 512-475-3737
• Sen. Kip Averitt: kip.averitt@senate.state.tx.us (phone) 512-463-0122; (fax) 512-475-3729
• Rep. Jim Pitts: jim.pitts@house.state.tx.us; (phone) 512-463-0516; (fax) 512-463-1051
• Rep. Vilma Luna: vilma.luna@house.state.tx.us; (phone) 512-463-0484; (fax)512-463-8090
• Rep. Lois Kolkhorst: lois.kolkhorst@house.state.tx.us; (phone) 512-463-0600; (fax) 512-463-5240
• Rep. Dan Gattis: dan.gattis@house.state.tx.us; 512-463-0309; (fax) 512-499-8354
• Rep. Sylvester Turner: sylvester.turner@house.state.tx.us; (phone)512-463-0554; (fax) 512-463-8380

Contact the Speaker of the House (Tom Craddick), the Lt. Governor (David Dewhurst), and Governor Rick Perry and ask for support of library funding.

• Speaker Tom Craddick: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/email.php?dist=82&rep=tom.craddick
• Lt. Governor Dewhurst: http://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/Contact/?PHPSESSID=faa9cb1ee0d529287ee22939cf4397fa
• Governor Rick Perry: http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact

To find your state representative and senator, go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm.