Money, money, money!
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Thanks to the wisdom of past Texas leaders, our state constitution requires the Legislature to pass a balanced budget every two years. While this constraint means that we must make tough choices on which programs to fund, it ultimately forces us to be good stewards of the state’s resources. In Texas, we don’t have the option of putting off necessary, difficult budget decisions by borrowing more money. The US Congress could certainly benefit from such a requirement, but that’s another story.
As we progress further into the 87th Legislative Session, we begin the process of creating and approving the state’s budget for the next two years. This edition of our weekly newsletter will provide an overview of the budget-building process, including a step-by-step explainer of how the budget works its way through the Legislature.
The process begins with the Comptroller’s Biennial Revenue Estimate (BRE). Essentially, this estimate lets the Legislature know how much money we have available to spend. While early projections from months ago appeared bleak due to economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, the current estimate paints a picture that is much less grim.
Following the Comptroller’s report, the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) released their budgetary recommendations. This 1,000 page document will act as the starting point for our discussions. You can view the entire document here.
With the Biennial Revenue Estimate and the Legislative Budget Board’s recommendations in hand, the Legislature can now begin to draft, debate, and approve the final budget. This process can be lengthy and confusing, but will hopefully conclude with a budget that puts the needs of Texans first without raising taxes. Below, you can find a more in-depth breakdown of what to expect as the Legislature creates the budget.
May God bless you and your family,
James B. Frank
Priorities, Preparation, and Politics Today
In the midst of a fairly busy national news week, including the Presidential Inauguration, the Texas Legislature is in the organization and preparation phase of the 140-day session. While we wait for committee assignments, my staff and I have been working on our priorities, filing legislation, and preparing for the busy days ahead.
For example, this week I introduced HB 1210, which would ensure earlier notification when new wind energy projects potentially endanger military missions. There is still some work left to do on this bill, but I’m hopeful it can continue the work Texas has done to protect national security and the economic importance of military bases.
I’d also mention that despite all of the talk regarding possible protests and riots at the Texas Capitol, there were, thankfully, no major incidents. I sincerely appreciate the work of the National Guard troops and DPS officers who ensured the safety of all at the Capitol.
Looking ahead, I’ve outlined five of the big issues that I expect to consume the majority of the Legislature’s time and attention this session: the budget, redistricting, health care costs and access, the government’s response to COVID-19, and the separation of powers. I’ve given a brief overview of each issue below, but, as always, I encourage you to contact my office should you have any questions or comments.
Finally, I have left you with some thoughts I have on the sad state of discourse in American politics that was taken largely from a Senator Ben Sasse op-ed. I believe this is a very important topic and wanted to share it with all of you who read the newsletter.
May God bless you and your family,
New Session, New Speaker, New Rules
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On Tuesday, January 12th, for the 87th time in the history of our great state, the Texas Legislature convened for its 140-day long, biennial legislative session. It is my honor to represent the amazing folks of Archer, Baylor, Clay, Foard, Knox, and Wichita Counties (aka House District 69) for the 5th time.This session is shaping up to be unlike any session before due to the realities of working in the midst of Covid-19. There will be difficult choices to make as we grapple with the budgetary impact of the virus – and government response to it – on the economy (and therefore state revenues). We will also be dealing with the logistical issues that arise when we have the need to stay safe and provide transparency in a situation where members have vastly different views of the risks of Covid.As always, the first day of session began in the House with the election of the Speaker of the House. Dade Phelan, my colleague from Beaumont, was overwhelmingly elected as the new Speaker. I know Dade to be a good, fair man who believes that conservative answers work best for the people of the state. Wednesday and Thursday were spent voting on the rules that will govern the Texas House during this session (as every session stands on its own).The next two to three weeks will bring a lull to most members, as the Speaker is now tasked with the incredibly important job of quickly and intelligently organizing the House into committees that will hear and act on the bills that will define the session over the coming months.My staff and I have been working during the interim on our legislative agenda and have already filed 5 bills that we hope to see passed in the coming session. Below, you will find a brief explainer for each of these bills. If you want to see more details of the bills, you can click on the link to read the text of the bill or you are welcome to reach out to my office with any questions you may have.Next week, we will provide a preview of the issues that we believe will gain the most attention over the next 137 days (but who’s counting?).
On a personal note, session always provides special challenges for my family and for the other men and women that serve in the Legislature. I would sincerely appreciate prayers for elected officials, our families, and the deliberations and decisions that will be made over the coming months.
It’s Game Time, Early Voting, & All the Way Down the Ballot
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Is today the first day of “Early Voting” or is it really just the first of 19 days that you are allowed to vote for the Nov 3rd elections? Calling it “Early Voting” makes it sound like you are doing something wrong by voting early and should wait until the “real” election day (in this case Nov 3rd).
On the contrary, I believe that voting is so important that you should vote at your earliest opportunity once you have made up your mind on the choices you will make on your ballot. If you wait until the last day to vote (aka Election Day), there are countless things that could keep you from voting (severe weather, family emergency, work responsibilities, personal illness, etc.). It seems risky to unnecessarily put off voting until the last possible day.
One good reason to delay is if you are still researching the many candidates and issues that will be on your ballot when you arrive at your polling site. While virtually everyone has decided how they are going to vote for President, there are very important offices and issues down the ballot that will likely have an even greater impact on your local community than the President will. While the ballots in the six counties I represent will all be different as you go down the ballot, everyone will be voting on at least the following (my vote is in bold):
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President – Trump/Biden/Jorgensen/Hawkins
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US Senator – Cornyn/Hegar/McKennon
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US Rep, Dist. 13 – Jackson/Trujillo/Westbrook
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Railroad Commissioner – Wright/Castaneda/Strerett
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Chief Justice, Supreme Court – Hecht/Meachum/Ash
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Justice Supreme Court, Place 6 – Bland/Cheng
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Justice Supreme Court, Place 7 – Boyd/Williams/Strange
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Justice Supreme Court, Place 8 – Busby/Triana/Oxford
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Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3 – Richardson/Frizell
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Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4 – Yeary/Clinton
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Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9 – Newell/Birmingham
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State Board of Education, District 15 – Johnson/Betancourt
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State Representative, District 69 – Frank
NOTE: It is very important to remember that you will NOT have the option of doing one-punch straight-ticket voting in this election. That means you will need to make your selections all the way down the ballot so I encourage you to plan accordingly as it may take a bit longer for you to complete your ballot than in years past (if you used the one-punch option).
We have links to the elections pages from all six of the counties in HD-69 (Archer, Baylor, Clay, Foard, Knox, Wichita) below if you’d like to see polling locations or take a look at a sample ballot from your area.
The ability to get out and freely and fairly vote for our representation at all levels of government is a vital component for our system to work. Please take advantage of the extra week of early voting and get out and vote!
May God bless you and your family,
James B. Frank
Voting Information (Polling Locations, Sample Ballots, and Other Info)
Polling Locations
- Archer – http://www.co.archer.tx.us/page/archer.Elections
- Baylor – http://www.co.baylor.tx.us/page/baylor.County.Clerk
- Clay – https://www.co.clay.tx.us/electionsadmin
- Foard – http://www.foardcounty.texas.gov/upload/page/9439/2020/img-201009125724.pdf
- Knox – https://www.knoxcountytexas.org/docs/20201006_145846.pdf
- Wichita – https://wichitacountytx.com/download/early-voting-locations-2/?wpdmdl=3068&refresh=5f85f957cedf71602615639
Sample Ballots
- Archer – http://www.co.archer.tx.us/page/archer.Elections
- Baylor – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yHZrLcmmywexnGPT2cgl08g-ljMgP2Ba/view?usp=sharing
- Clay – https://www.co.clay.tx.us/electionsadmin
- Foard – County Clerk – 940.684.1365
- Knox – https://www.knoxcountytexas.org
- Wichita – https://wichitacountytx.com/download/sample-ballot-general-election/?wpdmdl=3074&refresh=5f85fa97019011602615959
Endorsement for Drew Springer for Senate District 30
Special Election
Beginning this Monday, September 14 through Tuesday, September 29, voting will be taking place for the Texas State Senate spot that includes all of Archer, Clay, and Wichita Counties (along with others not in my house district). This race will determine who fills the State Senate seat currently occupied by Pat Fallon. It is tremendously important for the people in these three counties to participate in big numbers in this election to make sure that we are well-represented in the Texas Senate by someone who knows this area when the Legislature convenes in January.
The election is a general election with 5 Republicans and 1 Democrat battling for the seat. If no one gets 50% of the vote, a runoff will be necessary. With the start of session looming in January, I appreciate Governor Abbott so quickly scheduling this special election so that we will have someone representing us in the other chamber from the outset.
Great Guy
I am supporting and have unreservedly endorsed Drew Springer for this position. Drew currently serves as the state representative for HD-68, the district which surrounds the six counties I represent. I have served with Drew in the Texas House for four terms and assure you that he’s a hard worker, a true conservative, and understands the unique issues of our district. He will be an effective voice for us in the Senate.
He is a close friend, someone that I trust wholeheartedly, and someone that I firmly believe is best qualified to represent this area on the myriad of issues that will be coming before the Texas Legislature next session. I have included a map of the district below so you will be able to see whether you are in SD30. I would also note that Drew lives 70 miles from Wichita Falls (in Muenster, Texas) as opposed to virtually every other candidate, most of whom are from the metroplex.
Big Favor
I am asking you to vote on Monday or Tuesday of next week for Drew–don’t wait. It should take less than 5 minutes of your time as it will be the only election on the ballot. I am also asking you to ask your friends to do the same via text or social media. (I will warn you that if you choose social media, you need to be prepared for the inevitable blowback, false stories, etc. that are sure to follow.)
It is a blessing to represent you in the Texas House.
James
. . . This is an excerpt from a newsletter sent September 11, 2020
The Election, Redistricting, and What To Do to Keep Texas from Turning Blue
Early voting for November 3rd elections begins on October 13th, less than 40 days away!
In addition to the presidential and US Senate election (Cornyn), the race for Texas Republicans on this year’s ballot who are running for State Representative will be the toughest many have ever had. Texas House races will receive special focus as Democrats picked up 12 seats two years ago and they need only win 9 seats this cycle to hold the majority. That possibility is very much in play.
With such an important election only two months away, I have had a number of constituents reach out and ask what they can do to keep Texas red. I’ll attempt to answer that question in this newsletter but here’s the overview:
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Vote
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Encourage others to vote (especially in areas with competitive races)
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Donate to candidates in key races
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Volunteer
VOTE
The most important thing you can do is go vote, period. While I have no Democrat opponent in this election, President Trump and Senator Cornyn need to “run up the score” in more rural parts of the state to win reelection. Many people are vocal fighters on social media, but if they don’t follow up by actually voting, they are Shakespeare’s “tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
Please make sure that you go all the way down the ballot to ensure your voice is heard on local elections as well. These races are often decided by a handful of votes and have a huge impact on our communities.
Finally, I would like to remind you that one-punch straight ticket voting is no longer on an option on ballots this year. Take this into account when planning on going to the polls and–again–go all the way to the bottom of the ballot!
ENCOURAGE OTHERS
Secondly, talk to friends and family and make sure they understand the importance of voting in this election and that there is no option to do one-punch straight ticket voting. Especially in more urban parts of the state, the ballot can often be multiple pages and some folks are tempted to vote for a couple of offices at the top and then leave everything else off.
If you (or they) believe in keeping the Republican majority in the Texas State House because the policies of Texas have benefited the people of this State and Country more than the policies of a Democrat-controlled Legislature, it is imperative that we completely fill out our ballots.
DONATE
This is also an election where monetary contributions matter a great deal. Races for seats in the Texas House are normally run on a relatively small budget compared to congressional elections-so strategic contributions can make a much larger difference in these races than they would elsewhere.
Eric Holder, the former Attorney General in the Obama Administration, heads the National Democrat Redistricting Committee. He is raising millions of dollars from left wing donors to give to State Representative races in hopes of gaining Democrat majorities in State Legislatures across the country. Texas is on the list and his organization and many other federal left-leaning PACS have already contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to their Democrat State House candidates in Texas.
That is why I have been donating to Republican House candidates across the state. Since I do not have a Democrat opponent, I am able to send resources to other campaigns where they are needed. If you would like to contribute directly to candidates, I would be more than happy to discuss which candidates/races might benefit most from your support to keep Texas red.
VOLUNTEER
Finally, donate your time as a volunteer. I’m sure your local county Republican party–here’s the link to Wichita County’s–would love to put you to work. There are also other races around the state where you might be able to contribute your time in a number of different ways.
A FINAL WORD
Every election is important. Due to the effects on redistricting (see the separate section below for more info), this Texas House election will have ramifications over the next decade. If you’ve ever thought about getting involved, there’s no time where it could matter more.
May God bless you and your family,
James
. . . This is an excerpt from a newsletter sent September 8, 2020
REDISTRICTING
I’ve often been asked why redistricting is such an intense and emotionally charged process. The answer is that boundary lines on maps can often mean the near-certain loss of a member’s seat, either to the other party or to another member within one’s own party. It is about as personal a business as happens in the Legislature and can be perceived-rightly or wrongly-as the settling of grudges or playing favorites. It can also be extremely partisan and can have profound impacts on elections over the next few cycles as demographics change.
Redistricting is a constitutionally required process that happens every 10 years to redraw congressional and legislative districts based on population changes in the state. While preparations are already underway for the process, the opening kickoff cannot happen until the US Census Bureau reports the official numbers. In normal years, that happens by April 1 of a ‘1 year (’91, ’01, ’11, ’21, etc.). However, COVID pushed back the data gathering operation and we have been told not to expect numbers before July of next year. The three month delay is already a difficulty, but that also means the Legislature will not be able to tackle redistricting during its normal legislative session which ends on May 31st, 2021. As a result, expect at least one late summer special session to tackle redistricting.
Plans to enact new redistricting maps proceed through the legislative process just like any other piece of legislation. In other words, they must pass both chambers of the Legislature and be signed by the Governor. If, for whatever reason, the Legislature is unable to pass a plan (or the Governor vetoes it), there is a constitutionally mandated backstop-the Legislative Redistricting Board (LRB). The LRB is a five-member body of state officials (Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, Attorney General, Comptroller, General Land Office Commissioner) which must meet within 90 days of the end of the regular session and adopt its own plan (within 60 days of convening).
If past history is any indication, whatever maps are agreed to will be challenged in court, and that can be a lengthy, drawn-out process.
Normally, the Legislature only has one “must-pass” bill, the budget. In 2021, the need to do redistricting means we’ll have two-and neither are likely to be easy.
2020 Early Voting Announcement
Early voting for the March primaries kicks off on Tuesday, February 18th with the races to conclude on March 3rd. As we always do, we’ll provide information in the body of the newsletter on how to find out the logistics of voting in your area and other voting resources. As a reminder, I rarely, if ever, endorse in the local races. While I sometimes have strong opinions on these races, I must be in a position to work well with whoever ends up winning. This prospect is made considerably more difficult if I endorse against the eventual winner. I will share with you how I am voting on many of the up-ballot races, as it is often very difficult for people in the district to have any real information about these races (especially the judicial ones).
The following is who I will be supporting on my Republican primary ballot:
- President – Donald Trump
- US Senator – John Cornyn
- US Representative District 13 – See comments below
- Railroad Commissioner – Ryan Sitton
- Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3 – Bert Richardson
My support for the incumbents at the top of the ticket, President Trump and Senator Cornyn, needs little explanation. Both men are obviously the best Republicans on the primary ballots when it comes to representing the state against their Democratic challengers in November. The same goes for Ryan Sitton who is running for reelection as a railroad commissioner.
The TX-13 congressional race is an extremely crowded one with 15 candidates. The March 3rd election is really about which two candidates will make the run-off as it is extremely unlikely that anyone will be able to garner 50% of the vote in such a crowded field. There are a number of quality candidates who I believe would do a good job representing us in Washington. With that said, I think it is nearly impossible for someone who has not lived in the district for a substantial amount of time to effectively understand the makeup of the people who live here and how they should be represented.
Also, I have had a handful of people reach out to me to ask my opinion about the propositions on the ballot. As a reminder, the propositions on the primary ballot are simply a form of opinion polling. They are not binding in any way and are mostly used as a way to gauge general interest on certain issues of the day. I think it’s also important to recognize that they are often worded in ways to obtain a specific result, not necessarily gauge the primary electorate’s stance on issues that can be nuanced.
There’s one other item I’d like to touch on that matters not only for this election, but also for our civic life in general. I cannot stress enough the importance of local elections. Though the races at the national level are the ones that get all the attention in the media and on Facebook, it is the local politics in your city, county, school districts, and state that have a more direct impact on your life. If you want to have a big impact on politics, spend time learning who your local elected officials are and begin engaging with them. Very few of us can have a meaningful effect on what is happening at the national level, but many have the time, talent, and ability to influence local politics.
It is a blessing to represent you in the Texas House.
James
. . . This is an excerpt from a newsletter sent February 17, 2020
New Year, Running Unopposed and CPS Review
As some of you may know, I have been blessed this year to be unopposed in both the Republican primary election and in the general election in November. That means that I will be “reelected” as your state representative for another two year term (2021-22). The best part of being unopposed is that it allows me to use the next 11 months to dig in on policy work as we prepare for the next legislative session.
As we have started the new year, my staff and I are setting goals and objectives for our legislative priorities. Since the foster care system, Child Protective Services (CPS) and its parent agency, the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), have long been a high priority for me, I thought it would be timely to share some of these ideas as we plan for the next legislative session.
Overall, there is a lot of reason to be optimistic for the future of foster care in Texas. First, Texas families of all stripes continue to answer the call and take at-risk children into their homes, either on a temporary basis or as a new forever home through adoption. In December 2019, DFPS reported that they have seen an increase in the number of adoptions in the last fiscal year. Second, staff turnover at the agency has steadily declined over the last several years, which can help lead to better results for kids. Finally, Texas continues to roll out Community Based Care (CBC), a paradigm shift in the delivery of child welfare services, whereby non-profit organizations manage foster care services at a community level in order to better align services with the needs of foster children.
Notwithstanding these positive trends, there is always room for improvement. Specifically, wrongful child welfare investigations and removals continue to be a problem for many families in our state creating trauma for children and unnecessary churn and distractions for the workers trying to improve outcomes for those kids. I also am concerned for the implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) (a federal law which significantly redirects federal funding around foster care services) as well as the ongoing saga of the federal court case surrounding case load standards and other CPS items.
With any area of large governmental involvement, there are two distinct but interrelated areas to monitor-legislation and administration. Drafting law and directing state spending are two essential activities for which the Legislature is solely responsible, yet when done poorly, create massive challenges for even the best agencies. Conversely, it is equally true that innovative and carefully crafted laws can be undermined by poor implementation. Both sides are essential to good governance!
If you are interested in additional detail about 2020 and beyond for child welfare, we’ve got more for you in the bulk of the newsletter.
May God bless you and your family,
James B. Frank
. . . this is an excerpt from a Newsletter sent on January 27, 2020
End of Session Recap Part 2 – Income Tax & Health Care
Every session feels a little different as you get drawn into different issues and responsibilities. The 86th was one that was defined, for me, by my committee responsibilities and the world of healthcare that they encompassed. It’s an incredibly important policy arena and, while the learning curve is steep, I am very glad that I was able to dig in during this session (and in the upcoming interim).
There may be no more important issue to Texans and how they interact with their government than on healthcare. It is a vital issue but one too often characterized by overwhelming bureaucracy, bad information, high costs, and political fear-mongering. Also, to a large degree, healthcare and health insurance (not the same thing) policy is driven at the federal government level, leaving the state a smaller room for policy maneuvering.
In this newsletter, we have highlighted the major legislation that came through the Human Services and Public Health Committees on which I served. While by no means exhaustive (Human Services had 285 bills referred to it; Public Health had 360), it is intended to provide a window into many of the issues my staff and I worked on. We have also provided a brief synopsis of HJR 38 which will, if approved by voters in November, prohibit the imposition of a state income tax in Texas.
It has been fantastic to be back home now for over a month. Hope to run into you in the district soon!
May God bless you and your family,
… this is an excerpt from Newsletter dated April 22, 2018
End of Session Recap Part 1
We are just over one month removed from the end of the 86th Legislative Session. Since the 20-day deadline for the Governor to veto bills has come and gone, we now know what the final work product of the 86th Legislature looks like. These next few newsletters are my attempt to give you an overview of what the Texas Legislature did for you (and sometimes to you) during the 2019 legislative session.
With everything that took place in the 140-day legislative session, we thought it would be most convenient for the reader to break up the End of Session Recap Newsletter into 3 parts over the next 3 weeks. This newsletter, Part 1, will deal with the major legislation passed during the session . Part 2 will deal with what I spent the bulk of my time on this session — the work of the Human Services Committee and Public Health Committee. And Part 3 will discuss the interim and what to expect going forward from me, my office, and for state government as a whole.
Some of this, especially the information about SB 2 and HB 3, will seem familiar. We have already discussed these two bills in some depth in previous newsletters. However, these two issues (property tax transparency/reform and school finance reform) are what this session will be remembered for so we’re including information about them one last time.
It has truly been great being back hom e in Wichita Falls. I am thankful that a state rep in Texas gets to spend 19 months of every 24-month cycle living in his/her hometown. Not only is this much better for my own quality of life, it makes it much easier for representatives to stay connected to the needs and desires of their communities. I am also grateful for the opportunity recently to speak to various civic groups and organizations, including the Helen Farabee Centers Board, Wichita County Republicans, and Burkburnett Rotary Club. I fielded questions from them about the session and what law changes could mean.
Finally, the July 4th holiday is a reminder of the freedoms that we enjoy and should be a reminder of the sacrifices of those who died to give us these freedoms and opportunities. While it is fashionable in some circles to insult our country, it is clear by the number of people trying desperately to get into the United States that it remains a beacon of freedom and hope. These freedoms and opportunities seem evident to the world, but are missed by many within our borders.
May God bless you and your family,
… this is an excerpt from Newsletter dated April 22, 2018