Legislative Update - Senator Rodney Ellis

T
E
X
A
S
S
E
N
A
T
O
R
Rodney Ellis
FA L L 2 015
L E G I
S
L
A
T
I
V
E
U
P
D
A
T
E
Dear Friend,
After 140 days, Texas’ 84th legislative session
ended on June 1. This newsletter will provide
an update on what took place in your State
Capitol and how it will impact you as a
constituent of Senate District 13.
Texas works best when everyone, regardless of
race, gender, or who they love, gets a fair shot
and plays by the same rules – goals that will set
our state on the path to progress and equality
of opportunity for all. Texans deserve better
paying jobs and a fair
economy that works
for all families. Our
state needs affordable
health care options,
as the quality of one’s
care shouldn’t depend
on the contents of
their
wallet.
We
need affordable and
accessible
worldclass
educational
opportunities
in
our
communities’
schools,
colleges,
and
universities.
Our criminal justice
system should provide
everyone the reliable, effective, and equal
justice they deserve. We must protect the right
to vote by fighting efforts to erode access
to the ballot box and increasing the number
of citizens who participate in the electoral
process.
While I am disappointed where we fell short,
I am looking forward to continuing to fight
for policies that make our communities and
democracy stronger.
Recent tragedies in Waller, Charleston,
Ferguson, and elsewhere are an unfortunate
and sobering reminder of how far we still
have to go to create a state and nation as
good as their constitutional promise. We have
work to do. But as heartbreaking as those
events have been, I
remain
dedicated
to pushing forward.
The successes from
this past session
and throughout our
history confirm that
when we are willing
to dedicate ourselves
and work together
toward a common
goal, we can move
Texas and the nation
in the right direction.
In the pages that
follow, you will read
about our efforts to
stand up for the people of Senate District 13.
We did not succeed at every turn, but I remain
as committed as ever to advancing worthy
causes that ensure every family, in every
community, has the opportunity to succeed
and be a strong voice in our democracy.
While we took some steps in the right As always, it’s a pleasure representing the
direction, the legislature missed far too many constituents of Senate District 13, and I look
opportunities to create better schools for our forward to continue fighting for you.
children, make college more affordable, close
Sincerely,
corporate giveaways and create better paying
jobs for hardworking Texas families, provide
access to quality, affordable health care, and
work toward a more fair and just criminal
justice system.
Rodney Ellis
SENATOR ELLIS’ 2015 LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS
INVESTING IN
OUR FUTURE
The budget is the one bill the legislature is constitutionally
required to pass. It’s often referred to as a moral document,
as where the state invests shows where its priorities lie. With
a large surplus and a long list of neglected needs, Texas had a
unique opportunity and responsibility to build a better future
for our state and make fiscally responsible investments in the
vital needs of Texas.
Unfortunately, the final budget only took halting steps in that
direction. It includes increased funding for mental health
services and reduced waiting lists for programs that serve
Texans with disabilities and their families. It also increased
funding for TEXAS Grants, the financial aid program
Senator Ellis created in 1999 that has helped over 432,000
Texans pay for higher education.
But the budget can also be described by what’s not in it.
Instead of investing in better educational opportunities
by reducing the overcrowding in our classrooms, paying
teachers a fair salary, and funding full-day pre-kindergarten,
the legislature hoarded $18 billion and refused to invest
it in our state’s future. Instead of investing in a stronger
economic future for all Texans by making college more
affordable and fixing our overcrowded and crumbling roads,
the legislature chose to spend their time and money on tax
giveaways for companies that spent millions lobbying the
Capitol. Texans deserve better.
A FAIRER JUSTICE SYSTEM
Our criminal justice policies should effectively improve
public safety, efficiently utilize taxpayer dollars, and treat
all people and communities equally and fairly. That seems
basic enough. But Texas has historically been criticized for
its wasteful, ineffective, and overly "tough" approach to
criminal justice that has too often relied on mass incarceration
first and asking questions later.
Fortunately, the legislature took some important first steps
to create a fairer and more accurate criminal justice system.
After 14 years of struggle, Senator Ellis and Representative
Ruth Jones McClendon were finally able to pass a bill
Senator Ellis celebrates passage of the Tim Cole Exoneration Review
Commission with Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, a bill which will improve
the quality and fairness of our justice system
creating an exoneration review commission to study wrongful
convictions. Texas takes away the liberty of more citizens
through incarceration than any other state. With that power
comes the responsibility to make sure we are locking up only
the guilty, protecting the innocent, and continuing to make our
justice system as reliable, fair, and effective as possible.
The bill creates the Tim Cole Exoneration Review
Commission to bring together trusted criminal justice experts
to review proven wrongful convictions, identify the main
causes of those convictions, and recommend more reliable
practices to improve public safety and prevent such tragedies
from reoccurring in the future. Prior to the bill's passage,
when an innocent person was wrongfully convicted, our
system did not have any institutional mechanism to evaluate
the conviction, identify what went wrong, and correct those
mistakes to ensure it does not happen again.
There were other successes. The legislature ended the broken
"key man" – or "pick-a-pal" – grand jury system in Texas and
required grand jurors in most cases to be picked randomly,
just as we select trial jurors. It also passed legislation to
promote and expand the use of police officer body cameras,
complete with proper checks and balances on their operation
and accessibility. Finally, the legislature reformed the state's
truancy system that had resulted in thousands of Texas
children with criminal records simply because they couldn’t
afford to pay their fines.
Need Health Insurance?
Texans will have another opportunity to enroll in health care coverage when the health insurance marketplace
opens annually in the fall, with enrollment running through January. You can compare and shop for quality,
affordable health insurance that best meets you or your family's needs. Financial and free enrollment help
are available. Health insurance plans have new consumer protections and cover ten essential benefits like
emergency services, prescription drugs, and preventive care. Many of these preventive services are covered
at no additional cost to consumers.
If you are eligible for health insurance and don’t get covered for 2016, you might have to pay a fine of $695
per adult and $347.50 per child – or 2.5 percent of your income (whichever is greater).
If you miss the enrollment period for 2016, you may qualify for a special enrollment period if you've recently
had a life changing event such as getting married, having a baby, or losing other health care coverage.
Information about where to get free local in-person assistance, new health insurance plans, and how to apply
for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program can be found at www.healthcare.gov or by
calling 832-393-5423.
PAGE 2
SENATOR ELLIS’ 2015 LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS
However, it failed to take action on numerous measures
that would have reduced Texas’ overreliance on mass
incarceration, reduced racial disparities in our justice system,
and made our communities safer. This shows there’s still a
long way to go to have the justice system Texans expect and
deserve. With the news of continued injustices in Waller,
McKinney, Baltimore, Ferguson, and elsewhere, there are
still essential reforms that are needed to close the gap
between the constitutional promise of equal justice under
the law and the unfortunate reality of disparate justice in
too many of our communities.
STRONG COMMUNITY
SCHOOLS
Attending high-quality pre-kindergarten has a lasting impact
on a child’s success both in school and life. Early childhood
education creates learning foundations and allows students
from all backgrounds to establish the skills that will last the
rest of their lives. Children who attend high-quality programs
are less likely to be held back a grade, less likely to need
special education, and more likely to graduate from high
school. The legislature passed legislation promoting highquality pre-kindergarten, but the bill unfortunately does not
expand the eligibility of pre-k – something Senator Ellis has
long advocated for. Additionally, following up on reforms
from 2013, the legislature took further steps to scale back the
use of high-stakes tests, and pseudo-reforms like vouchers
and efforts to privatize our community schools were killed.
Unfortunately, despite a court decision finding Texas’
public schools are woefully – and unconstitutionally –
underfunded, the legislature took no steps to address the
funding inadequacy. Instead, the state budget’s funding for
public education does not even keep pace with inflation and
leaves neighborhood schools struggling with overcrowded
classrooms and underpaid teachers.
Without adequate and equitable funding, it becomes
extremely difficult to provide children from all neighborhoods
with equal educational opportunities. Effective teachers,
small class sizes, and intensive interventions for struggling
learners all require investment and have been proven to
deliver results. It shouldn’t take lawsuits to solve a problem
that affects so many Texas families. Weakening the state’s
investment in schools and failing to find a permanent
solution to this critical challenge only makes the lives of
Texas students, families, and teachers that much harder.
Senator Ellis at a press conference fighting for a fairer economy and
urging closure of a loophole that increases homeowners’ property taxes
AFFORDABLE HIGHER
EDUCATION
Senator Ellis fought to tackle the out-of-control growth of
tuition at our state’s colleges and universities and make
higher education more affordable. After all, the cost of
public higher education in Texas has more than doubled in
the past twelve years. Since 2003, Texas’ total growth in
tuition and fees is the fifth highest in the nation, making it
harder for students to attend the schools that were built to
serve them. It’s pushing families to incur enormous debt and
pricing many out of higher education altogether.
In an effort to address both the high cost of getting a college
degree and the serious workforce needs across our state,
Senator Ellis filed legislation to allow community colleges to
provide certain four-year degrees in areas of the state where
needs are the greatest. This proposal would provide another
avenue for working adults and students who want a more
affordable higher education experience to complete a four
-year degree. Community colleges offer lower costs relative
to universities, and they often have more flexibility to offer
courses in the evening and on weekends. Unfortunately,
Senator Ellis’ efforts fell short in the end, and the legislature
chose to spend its time and effort passing a bill that allows
guns on college campuses. This is clearly a reflection of
misplaced priorities. We should be arming our students with
21st century educational opportunities, better paying jobs,
and fairer wages rather than arming them with guns.
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
Texas has the highest rate of uninsured in the country, with
one in five Texans living without health insurance. Despite
this shameful reality, our state continues to refuse to expand
Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, preventing over
one million Texans from accessing quality, affordable health
care. Not only does it make good moral sense to ensure that
your ability to access health care isn’t dependent on your
bank account, but it’s a great opportunity to create over
300,000 good paying jobs per year over ten years, return
$100 billion in Texans’ federal taxes back to our state,
and grow our economy. Senator Ellis pushed to close the
coverage gap and secure aid for what local taxpayers pay
for already: the costs of uninsured Texans who show up in
our doctor’s offices and emergency rooms. While his efforts
were voted down, he will continue fighting for this common
sense change.
Senator Ellis fights to make college more affordable for Texas families when
debating the skyrocketing cost of higher education on the Senate floor
Senator Ellis did pass a few measures to help improve the
health of Texans. SB 265 creates a uniform statewide policy
PAGE 3
SENATOR ELLIS’ 2015 LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS
Today, the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour yields an annual
income of only $15,080 for full time work, which is below
the federal poverty line for a family of two or more. This
was not always the case: throughout the 1960s and 1970s,
a full-time, full-year minimum wage income was above the
poverty line for a family of two. How can folks be expected
to climb the economic ladder if they are not given fair wages
for their work?
Senator Ellis partnered with John Legend and the Texas Criminal Justice
Coalition to launch the #FreeAmerica campaign to end mass incarceration
to allow for the use of sunscreen in schools. Believe it or
not, this bill was needed after some school districts banned
the use of sunscreen – despite the fact that childhood sun
exposure has been associated with a significant increase in
risk for skin cancer.
Senator Ellis also passed a bill to allow Texas applicants
for need-based assistance to opt in to being contacted by
community and faith-based organizations. This will connect
applicants for public assistance to charitable organizations
that can provide additional wrap around services and help
them move toward self-sufficiency.
CLOSING WASTEFUL
CORPORATE LOOPHOLES
Texas spends billions of dollars on corporate loopholes for
special interests without any transparency or accountability.
With a tax system rigged with tax breaks and loopholes that
only benefit a few, the burden gets shifted onto the backs of
Texas families. These aren’t small numbers we’re talking
about: tax exemptions in Texas’ tax code will total at least
$54.2 billion in 2015 alone, yet there is no regular assessment
to determine the loopholes’ effect on job creation, their cost
to Texas families, and their effect on the state’s tax burden.
When structured responsibly, these investments can
encourage innovation and help to move our economy
forward. However, when these exemptions extend long
past their usefulness, they become at best wasteful spending
programs “hidden” within the tax code, and at worst,
giveaways to special interests that drain valuable resources
from essential investments like our schools and highways.
This session, Senator Ellis fought to pass legislation to
increase the state minimum wage, which would have helped
hardworking families rise out of poverty without requiring
a single dollar in new taxes or spending. In fact, it would
have resulted in millions of Texans receiving a pay increase.
As an alternative to a statewide increase in the minimum
wage, he also filed legislation to give cities and counties the
ability to raise the minimum wage themselves. Texas is an
enormous state, and local economic needs vary from place to
place. Allowing cities and counties the option to increase the
minimum wage on their own will provide the same benefits
to the areas that choose to take a stand for living wages.
PROTECTING
VOTING RIGHTS
March 7, 2015, was the 50th anniversary of “Bloody
Sunday,” a voting rights march and its savage reprisals in
Selma, Alabama, which played a pivotal role in the long and
painful struggle for civil rights and equal opportunities for
all Americans. This anniversary stands as a lasting reminder
that when we the people lock arms, stand up for what is right,
and make our voices heard, we can move our nation and
the quality of our democracy forward. Unfortunately, that
struggle is by no means over. The advances secured by the
sacrifices in the past are still under attack today, including the
venerable Voting Rights Act of 1965. It’s our responsibility –
today and in the future – to honor what millions have fought
for by taking meaningful action towards the preservation of
a fundamental freedom: access to the ballot box.
In that spirit, Senator Ellis filed and fought for far-reaching
legislation to improve and protect voting rights in Texas,
including allowing election day voter registration, making
election day a state holiday, and criminalizing deceptive
election practices. Our state, nation, and democracy are
stronger when all of our voices – regardless of race, gender,
or economic status – are included in the political dialogue.
Eliminating unnecessary barriers to the vote ensures that
public servants are accountable to Texans’ priorities:
education, infrastructure investment, and an economy that
works for all Texas families, not just a select few.
The sad truth is that perks, tax breaks, and loopholes
have perverted our tax system and made it blatantly
unfair for the average Texas family. That’s why Senator
Ellis filed legislation to scrub scores of preferential tax
breaks in the Texas tax code and answer one simple
question: are they working for the people of Texas?
ECONOMY THAT WORKS
FOR ALL TEXANS
Texans believe in honoring hard work with honest pay.
Unfortunately, hardworking Texans are finding it more
difficult to make ends meet – even those working full-time.
In 2013, Texas had the highest number of minimum wage
workers in the country and the fifth-highest percentage of
workers making at or below the minimum wage.
Senator Ellis questions a witness at a Senate Committee on State
Affairs hearing
PAGE 4
ABOUT SENATOR RODNEY ELLIS
Born and raised in Houston's Sunnyside neighborhood,
Senator Rodney Ellis was elected to the Texas Senate in
1990. During his tenure, he has been a leader on economic
development, educational opportunity, civil rights,
responsible environmental policy, middle class tax cuts, and
criminal justice reform, having passed more than 630 bills.
Before his election to the Texas Senate, Senator Ellis served
three terms as a member of the Houston City Council and as
chief of staff to the late U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland. He
holds a bachelor's degree from Texas Southern University,
a master's degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of
Public Affairs, and a law degree from the University of
Texas School of Law. Ellis also studied at Xavier University
of New Orleans and the London School of Economics.
Senator Ellis is a member of the Senate Business & Commerce,
State Affairs, and Transportation committees, providing a
unique opportunity to scrutinize many of the legislature’s
most significant bills. In past sessions, he chaired the
Senate Finance, Jurisprudence, Intergovernmental Relations,
Government Organization, and Open Government committees.
Ellis chairs the Board of Directors for the Innocence Project
and co-chairs the National Conference of State Legislatures
Task Force on International Relations. He also serves on
the National Conference of State Legislatures Executive
Committee, LBJ Foundation Board of Trustees, Council on
Foreign Relations, and Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public
Affairs Advisory Council.
Senator Ellis is married to Licia Green-Ellis and has
four children.
Texas Legislative Internship Program
In 1990, Senator Ellis started the Texas Legislative Internship Program (TLIP) to give undergraduate and graduate
students from our community an opportunity to become key public policy players in government. Since then, the
program has provided 670 young people the opportunity to make a difference in their communities through public
service. Three former TLIP interns are now members of the Texas House of Representatives.
The 65 interns in the Spring 2015 class worked in offices both inside and outside of the Texas Capitol, including the
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, Texas Supreme Court, Senators, Representatives, advocacy
organizations, and elsewhere. To learn more about TLIP, contact Senator Ellis’ district office at (713) 236-0306.
PAGE 5
Helpful Phone Numbers
Senate District 13
Child Care Information … (800) 862-5252
Child Support Enforcement … (800) 252-8014
Children's Health Insurance (CHIP) … (877) 543-7669
Consumer Protection … (800) 621-0508
City of Houston … 3-1-1
Elections Questions … (800) 252-8683
Immunization Hotline … (800) 252-9152
Injured Employee Hotline … (800) 252-7031
Legal Referrals … (800) 252-9690
Medicaid Questions … (800) 252-8263
Nursing Home Complaints … (800) 458-9858
Social Security Administration … (800) 722-1213
Unemployment Benefits … (800) 939-6631
Senator Rodney Ellis
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
District 13
Harris and Fort Bend Counties
P. O. Box 12068 Austin, Texas 78711
How
to
Permit No. 2468
Austin, Texas
Contact Senator Ellis
Senator Ellis is committed to high quality, effective constituent service.
That is why he has offices across the district to better serve you.
Houston:
440 Louisiana,
Suite 575
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 236-0306
Alief:
6100 Corporate Drive
Suite 288
Houston, Texas 77036
(713) 776-2228
Fort Bend:
2440 Texas Parkway,
Suite 110
Missouri City, Texas 77489
(281) 261-2360
Austin:
P.O. Box 12068
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-0113
1-888-870-9996
Dial 711 for Relay Calls
E-mail: [email protected]
www.senate.state.tx.us
THE TEXAS SENATE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR,
NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, RELIGION, AGE OR DISABILITY IN EMPLOYMENT OR THE PROVISION OF SERVICES.