Davis files first two bills

 Freshman State Sen. Wendy Davis filed her first two bills today. Both address wonky issues that appeal to city governments.

Senate Bill 575 will allow cities to hold elections for renewing crime control districts on the same days as all other city elections. Civic-minded Politex readers that vote in every election and not just the major ones know that crime-prevention tax elections are often held on separate dates. Officials with several cities have been hoping that the law would be changed so they could stop holding special elections for that one issue.

Senate Bill 576 will expand the list of items cities can spend money from Tax Increment Finance districts to include roads or sidewalks going into and out of that district.

-Aman Batheja

Comments

[Suzette Watkins]

Good for Wendy Davis!! Atta Girl! The first Bill will save tax payers money! GREAT! I need to learn more about the TIFs, but to my understanding, we are already paying the City, hard earned tax dollars to cover roads and sidewalks. Again, our local elected officials must get back to spending tax dollars on the Basics and THEN and only then (after) those are covered, we'll talk about all the "other" stuff. Just my opinion. Go Wendy Go!

[Harold]

Really tackling the tough issues, huh? How about education, property taxes, health care...you know, the stuff people care about?

[Suzette Watkins]

I care about saving tax dollars and so far she's off to a good start, imo. I agree with Harold though - I hope to see some tough issues tackled by all of my reps: Wendy Davis, Marc Veasey & Lon Burnam. I certainly hope they find a way to hold parents more accountable for participation in their children's lives instead of holding only the taxpayers accountable. We did not participate in producing the children. Why is the burden of raising them and providing for them soley on the taxpayer's backs? We need parental accountability now.

[Damian L]

Quote Suzette Watkins:

"I certainly hope they find a way to hold parents more accountable for participation in their children's lives instead of holding only the taxpayers accountable. We did not participate in producing the children. Why is the burden of raising them and providing for them soley on the taxpayer's backs? We need parental accountability now."

I won't even waste a bunch of time arguing this point. How can you seriously say this is beyond me! Maybe I am taking it the wrong way but i.m.o. this is very small minded thinking on your part.

[Damian L]

The only relevance I can see to your statement is towards the mother of 6 in CA that did invetro to have another 8 kids while living at home with parents that couldn't even afford to live in the house they were all living in. Other than that, I am not sure where your statement comes from.