Sen. Kip Averitt, R-Waco

Representing District 22 since 2003

Issues to push through

* Securing funding for the State Water Plan, a 50-year plan for managing and preserving the state’s water sources. “We got a good piece of that funded in the last session, but that’s mainly for just the first round of major infrastructure projects, so I’m going to be pushing to have the plan fully funded.”

* An omnibus clean air bill that would push for the development of more stringent and accurate air-quality testing and enhance efforts by the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan and AirCheck Texas Repair and Replacement Assistant Program to reduce air pollution.

Sen. Kip Averitt, pictured at the Bosque River, says clean water and water conservation laws are high on his agenda this session. (Jerry Larson photo)

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* Funding measures to preserve the Bosque River, including retrofitting wastewater treatment plants along the river, establishing a five-year hybrid bass program to reduce the river’s phosphorus levels, and mandating annual soil testing in the Bosque watershed.

* Obtaining funding to complete the renovation of the Thomas T. Connally Hospital in Falls County to be used by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

* Continue pushing for the completed construction of the Brushy Creek Reservoir in Falls County.

Other legislative concerns

Shaping the state budget, pushing for more funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program and expanding state contributions to Medicaid.

“The Texas economy has remained strong in spite of the economic crisis, and our revenue continues to grow,” Averitt said. “But a lot of those revenue dollars have been spoken for, so we may have to look at how we’re allocating those dollars to make sure we’re covered across the board.”

Highlight from last session

Passage of SB 3, which called for sweeping reforms to purifying and conserving water in the state. “I think we made huge progress towards preserving our water sources with that piece of legislation, and we can hopefully continue working to protect the state’s water supply.”

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State Rep. Jim Dunnam, pictured at his father's ranch in Moody, has dived in to his share of rough issues in Austin, from the fight over redrawing legislative districts to a campaign to oust the sitting House speaker. (Jerry Larson photo)

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Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco

Representing District 57 since 1996

Unhurried approach

“I don’t go into the session with a big, preconceived notion of what to do. I like to just get in there and see what issues will come up, to figure out where I can best make a mark and how can I best represent the district’s needs. I like to be open and ready to seize opportunities that other people don’t always see.”

Big-picture concerns

Setting budget priorities.

“I believe the state’s priorities should be on quality of life and economic development, and health care and education are two areas to address that.”

Dunnam said he would like to see the Legislature push to fully restore cuts made to the Child Health Insurance Program in 2003 and reverse the deregulation of public universities to make tuition more affordable to all Texans. Legislators also must focus on the state’s transportation and insurance departments, which are up for review by the Sunset Commission, he said.

2007 session highlight

The House’s collective effort to unseat Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Sugar Land, as House speaker.

“We broke free from the control of what’s been called the owner’s box, in which power was in the hands of lobbyists and a few lawmakers since ’03.”

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State Rep. Doc Anderson led the effort to keep the Tradinghouse power plant (background) from being converted into a coal fired plant and blocked the proposed construction of more than a dozen new coal plants in the area. (Jerry Larson photo)

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Rep. Doc Anderson, R-Waco

Representing District 56 since 2005

Highlights of pre-filed measures

* A bill creating a task force to regulate electric energy policy.

* A constitutional amendment prohibiting governmental bodies from taking private property through eminent domain to convert for commercial use.

* A bill making possession or use of hallucinogenic drug salvia a Class A misdemeanor.

* A constitutional amendment requiring a supermajority in both houses to raise the newly imposed 1 percent business tax. “A lot of people don’t realize that the federal income tax started at 1 percent, then they raised it to 5 percent, then 10 percent until you see what we have now.”

* A bill requiring voters to present photo identification in order to vote.

Major issues that should be tackled

“The budget, of course, is always something we have to look at. Education is a big issue — you never quite fix the education system, you just sort of manage what is there, so we’ll be taking a look at where we are spending our education dollars.”

Anderson said the Legislature also should focus on renewable energies in Texas, particularly in harnessing wind energy from West Texas and converting wave energy from the Gulf Coast in southeast Texas.

Proudest accomplishments from 80th Legislature

* Stopping the proposed construction of more than a dozen new coal plants planned within 100 miles of the Waco area. “I have two nieces . . . and all I could think about was them running around outside and not knowing what pollutants were in the air.”

* Passing Jessica’s Law, which heightened punishments for sex offenders.

* Passing a law requiring new school buses to include seat belts for students in 2010.

rdennis@wacotrib.com

757-5755