Texas Tribune | by Ryan Murphy |
Texas candidates and officeholders would have to file quarterly campaign finance reports — instead of semiannual ones — under legislation filed by Rep. Chris Turner, D-Arlington, who wants to overhaul parts of the state’s financial disclosure laws.
Bill Would Double Campaign Finance Disclosures Read More »
Reforming candidate/PAC reporting and expanding personal financial statements join “double dipping” bill to round out Turner’s transparency and ethics legislative package.
AUSTIN − In addition to House Bill (HB) 413, which would prohibit so-called “double dipping” by state elected officials, state Representative Chris Turner has filed three more pieces of ethics-focused legislation aimed at increasing transparency by government officials, candidates and political action committees (PACs).
“Elected officials owe it to the people they represent to be as open and transparent as possible,” said Turner. “The changes I am proposing in House Bill 2190 will help give the public a clearer view of elected officials’ and candidates’ personal finances. By requiring us to report income from pensions, this bill goes hand-in-hand with the measure I filed to prohibit ‘double dipping’ in our state, the practice which allows elected officials to use state service to trigger state annuity benefits while still holding office.”
Turner Files Measures Aimed At Increasing Transparency By Elected Officials And PACs Read More »
Bills would expand job opportunities, boost assistance fund and help surviving spouses
AUSTIN − State Representative Chris Turner (HD 101) has filed six measures to aid veterans, service members and their families. Turner’s veterans’ package covers several areas, addressing veteran unemployment, providing an additional funding source for the Permanent Fund for Veterans’ Assistance and exempting spouses of service members killed in the line of duty from paying property taxes on their home.
“Since my first term, I have been incredibly fortunate to work on initiatives to honor the service and sacrifice of our service members, veterans and their families,” said Turner. “With unacceptably high veteran unemployment rates, many of the bills I have filed this session focus on helping service members and veterans get good-paying jobs that capitalize on the skills they attained during their time in uniform.
“We must also never forget the spouses of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation,” continued Turner, “which is why I filed a measure to exempt the spouses of service members killed in the line of duty from paying property taxes on their homes, the same benefit we currently extend to 100 percent disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. It’s one small way that we can honor those who died defending our country and provide crucial economic help to their families.”
Chris Turner Files New Measures to Help Texas Veterans, Service Members and Families Read More »
There is not a state in the country that would benefit more – both in the total number of dollars received and in reduction in the total number of uninsured – than Texas.
Even as we work toward expansion of Medicaid under the ACA, there are some positive changes coming to Texas, no matter what our Republican leaders say. Just this past week in the Insurance Committee, I learned that there are positive elements of the ACA already being implemented . For example, starting in 2014, Medicaid participants will only have to enroll every 12 months, as opposed to six. The assets test, which unfairly penalizes many applying for Medicaid coverage, will also be abolished in 2014. These are important reforms to Medicaid that will help people across our state and in our district, and I am happy to see them taking place.
The stakes are high for Texas. With nearly a quarter of our state’s population without coverage, we have the highest uninsured rate in the nation, a sad fact that costs all of us, whether we have insurance or not. Faith-based, medical, and even business groups are joining in the call to the Republican leadership to do the right thing for Texas and accept Medicaid expansion. I remain hopeful that by speaking up and speaking out, good conscience and common sense will prevail.
Good Conscience and Common Sense Read More »
AUSTIN — Rep. Chris Turner of Grand Prairie is proposing a half-billion-dollar drawdown from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to help school districts beef up security and bolster technical training.
The Tarrant County Democrat introduced HB 1770 that would authorize spending $250 million from the Rainy Day Fund to establish a grant program that school districts would use to improve security. HB1771 proposes an identical amount from the fund to help schools buy equipment for career and technology education courses.
School security has emerged as a high priority in the 2013 Legislature after the slaying of 20 children and six adult staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newton, Conn., in mid-December.
While some lawmakers have advocated placing armed guards in schools, Turner said his measure would be aimed at “equipment and infrastructure,” such as installing security cameras or strengthening door locks. In school districts that have campus police departments, it could also be used for purchases such as additional vehicles or two-way radios, Turner said.
Turner said both of his measures fully comply with Gov. Rick Perry’s admonition that drawdowns from the Rainy Day Fund should be used only for one-time expenditures, rather than recurring expenses.
“What better one-time expenses would there be than to help our school districts upgrade their security and make our schools safer,” said Turner, who represents House District 101 in eastern Tarrant County.
Turner said his second bill is designed to expand technical training at a time when businesses are calling for more emphasis on educational programs to help fill what they say is a critical shortage of skilled workers.
Chris Turner Seeks Funds to Boost School Security, Improve Technical Training Read More »
FORT WORTH — State Rep. Lon Burnam wants to make sure government is as transparent as possible.
So he filed a bill to prevent confidentiality agreements in legal settlements of civil cases where taxpayer money is involved or claims are released against a public official.
“I want to correct a wrong that has been going on for a long time,” said Burnam, D-Fort Worth. “It’s our money, and we have a right to know.”
One of the most recent public cases Burnam’s bill would have impacted is the confidentiality agreement attached to a $375,000 settlement last year in a case involving sexual harassment allegations against Tarrant County District Attorney Joe Shannon.
The measure, House Bill 382, has been referred to the Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee and has drawn a co-sponsor, state Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie.
Nearly 50 residents from Arlington and Grand Prairie made the trip down to Austin on Tuesday, January 29th for House District 101 Day at the state Capitol.
Attendees were recognized from the House floor as honored guests by Representative Turner. The group later listened to Governor Perry’s State of the State address, which outlined his focus for the upcoming year.
AUSTIN – Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, was named to the No. 2 spot in the House Democratic leadership on Tuesday, vowing to reverse the “harmful budget policies” of the Republican majority.
Turner, 40, a Grand Prairie public relations consultant, was unanimously elected as chairman of the Democratic House Caucus and will help shape Democratic policy in the Republican-led House.
“As a caucus, we will continue the fight for more funding for our public schools, increased access to affordable health care and ensuring that our elected officials play by the rules,” Turner declared.
Rep. Chris Turner Named to Leadership Post in Austin Read More »
AUSTIN − Today, state Representative Chris Turner (District 101, Grand Prairie) was unanimously elected Chair of the House Democratic Caucus.
“It is an honor to serve in this capacity and I thank my Democratic colleagues for their vote of confidence,” said Turner. “Now that the new House Democratic Caucus leadership has been elected, it’s time to get to work and fight for what matters to Texas families and reverse the harmful budget policies passed by our state’s Republican leaders.
“As a Caucus we will continue the fight for more funding for our public schools, increased access to affordable health care and ensuring that our elected officials play by the rules.
“The House Democratic Caucus reflects the incredible diversity of our state, and that diversity is a great strength. I look forward to working with my colleagues from around the state to ensure that our caucus is a strong advocate for our constituents,” Turner said.
Turner Elected Chair of House Democratic Caucus Read More »
AUSTIN – In response to today’s decision by the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) board to enter into discussion with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to construct the main lanes of State Highway 360 in south Arlington and Grand Prairie, State Representative Chris Turner released the following statement:
“Traffic congestion on SH 360 is a serious quality of life, economic, and safety issue for families and businesses in southeast Tarrant County. Today’s decision by the NTTA is a significant step forward in solving this problem. While this process is not yet over, I want to recognize and salute the hard work and good faith efforts by NTTA, TxDOT and NCTCOG.
“Specifically, I would like to personally thank NTTA Chairman Kenneth Barr, NTTA Board Member Victor Vandergriff, Transportation Commissioner Bill Meadows, TxDOT Executive Director Phil Wilson, and NCTCOG’s Director of Transportation, Michael Morris. These individuals and organizations have maintained a clear picture of what’s important in this project – improving mobility and easing gridlock in this high-growth corridor. I look forward to continuing to work with all of the stakeholders to advance this project.”
Since his first election to the Texas House of Representatives in 2008, Turner has made SH 360 a top priority. In 2009 and 2010, Turner organized a stakeholders group that brought community leaders, officials from the NTTA, TxDOT, NCTCOG, as well as officials from Arlington, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, and Tarrant County together in an effort to improve SH 360.
State Representative Chris Turner: Major Progress On SH 360 Read More »
