In case you missed it, heres my last Capitol Update... The first official day of Spring has come and gone, and I hope that all of you are enjoying the warmer weather. Several East Texans made the trek to Austin during Spring Break recently and were kind enough to stop by and visit their Capitol Office. I hope you will always remember that our office in the State Capitol belongs to you and that you will make plans to come see it when you are in the area. Texas Leading the Way Employment statistics from January are in, and as has been the case for some time, our great state leads the nation in job growth. We added nearly 34,000 jobs in the month of January alone, after creating more than 322,000 in 2013, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. The statistics show that the unemployment rate in Texas has dropped all the way down to 5.7 percent; well below the 6.7 national average. Trade, transportation and utilities accounted for 7,600 new jobs in January, while education and health services added 7,100, according to the Bureau. But the best sign of things to come can be attributed to the construction industry, which added 6,200 new jobs in January; and has added 26,000 in the past year. Interim Charges: Agriculture and Livestock Over the next few months, I will devote some space in each column to giving you an inside look at the interim charges for the Texas House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House gives these charges to the various House Committees, and essentially tells them what to work on during the the months leading up to the 84th Legislative Session. So this week, we will start with the charges for the House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock. Another interesting task the Ag Committee will undertake is the examination of current statutes and rules as related to the eradication of feral hogs. The committee hopes to determine some necessary enhancements that can assist the eradication process by using practical solutions and effective techniques. As many of you know, the growing feral hog population is responsible for significant destruction of private property and agriculture commodities. These feral hogs cause tremendous damage to agricultural crops, tree seedlings, hay meadows, and livestock feeding and watering facilities. Anything the state can do to help eradicate these nuisances will be welcome news. As always my staff and I are available during the week at 936-634- 2762 or 512-463-0508.
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 14:48:05 +0000
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