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In this issue: House Names Budget Conferees

I. House Names Budget Conferees

II. Bill Update

I. House Names Budget Conferees

House Speaker Tom Craddick has named the House Conferees who will be working with members of the Senate on reconciling the differences between the House and Senate versions of the proposed state budget for 2008-2009. The House Conferees are:

Rep. Warren Chisum: (512) 463-0736; fax: (512) 463-5896; Web email form: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/email.php?dist=88&rep=warren.chisum; you may also try warren.chisum@house.state.tx.us.

Rep. Dan Gattis: (512)463-0309; fax: (512) 499-8354; Web email form: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/email.php?dist=20&rep=dan.gattis; you may also try dan.gattis@house.state.tx.us

Rep. Ryan Guillen: (512) 463-0416; fax: (512) 463-1012; Web email form: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/email.php?dist=31&rep=ryan.guillen; you may also try ryan.guillen@house.state.tx.us

Rep. Lois Kolkhorst: (512)463-0600; fax: (512) 463-5240; Web email form: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/dist13/kolkhorst.htm; you may also try lois.kolkhorst@house.state.tx.us

Rep. Sylvester Turner: (512) 463-0554; fax: (512) 463-8380; Web email form: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/email.php?dist=139&rep=sylvester.turner; you may also try sylvester.turner@house.state.tx.us

The Senate is soon expected to name four conferees with Sen. Steve Odgen, chair of the Finance Committee.

CALL TO ACTION

All library supporters are urged to contact the members of the budget Conference Committee. Members of this committee must hear from library supporters statewide on the urgent need to appropriate funding for library programs.

Library supporters should also contact their own legislators (even if they aren't appointed to the Conference Committee). Ask them to contact their colleagues who serve on the Conference Committee and urge them to ask for library funding, as specified below.

What do we want?

• Senate recommendation of $1 million/year increase for direct aid to public libraries in the Appropriations Bill (HB 1) under the State Library and Archives Commission budget, which is in Article I

• Senate recommendation of $500,000/year increase for TexShare in the Appropriations Bill (HB 1) under the Texas State Library and Archives Commission budget, which is in Article I

• Funding of House recommendation of $2.5 million/year for K-12 database access included in Article XI for the Texas Education Agency of the Appropriations Bill (HB 1)

Be sure to describe why this funding is needed in your school or community! For additional talking points, go to the TLA Government Affairs Web page at http://www.txla.org/html/govt_aff.html. Go to the pull down menu called "80th Legislative Session Issues" and select any topic for briefing papers.

How do I reach state legislators? Go to www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/. Just type in your address, and you'll be able to pull up the list of everyone who represents you. It will also have links for legislators’ Web pages, where you can get access to an online email form and phone and fax information.

II. Bill Update

The House Committee on State Culture, Recreation, and Tourism met last week and voted favorably HB 2845 (the State Library's reauthorization bill) out of committee. The Committee approved a substitute version of the bill which added language allowing regional library systems to retain program income for year to year.

The House Committee on Local Government Ways and Means heard testimony on SB 940 (the library district bill related to clarifications on statute allowing the creation of districts which may be funded through ad valorem taxes) earlier this week. The bill was left pending.