Amarillo.com 06/02/2009

Enrique Rangel

AUSTIN - Amarillo will get to finance a convention center with hotel-occupancy taxes, the Texas Tech system got over $800 million and legislation that will help Tech and six other universities get national research institution status got the green light.

In addition, rural counties in West Texas soon will be able to attract more doctors, food banks in Amarillo and Lubbock will get much-needed state money and the Lubbock State School for the mentally disabled will be able to improve care.

Those are among the victories for the Panhandle and South Plains from this year's 140-day legislative session, which ended Monday. Area lawmakers believe the region fared well, despite a tight economy,

"I think we did just fine," said Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa. "We got a decent amount of money for Texas Tech, which is very important to us, and also for West Texas (A&M University), our junior colleges did quite well so that bodes well for us."

The final piece of the puzzle for area legislators came late Sunday night when the House overwhelmingly passed House Bill 51. It seeks to help Tech and six other so-called emerging universities get national research institutions status, more commonly known as tier-one or flagship.

The measure, authored by Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, includes $50 million that would be distributed among the schools based on which institutions raise the most money from endowments.

The House also approved a constitutional amendment to facilitate the tier-one process. It will have to be ratified by the voters in November.

Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, said he was pleased with what the Legislature delivered for West Texas. He called the tier-one legislation a major achievement under the circumstances.

"This was a session where we had serious budget issues," Duncan said. "In my view, we had to be fiscally conservative in our budgeting because what we see as an impending economic decline."

The Legislature estimated last year $500 million would have to be allocated for the seven schools under consideration for tier-one. Tech Chancellor Kent Hance had earlier estimated the school would need between $40 million and $60 million of that money.

Rep. Carl Isett, R-Lubbock, said things generally turned out well for the Panhandle/South Plains region this session, despite some disappointments. Among them was the death of his bill to overhaul the Texas Department of Transportation.

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Convention center a winner at Legislature
Amarillo will get to finance project with occupancy taxes
June 2, 2009 Enrique Rangel AUSTIN - Amarillo will get to finance a convention center with hotel-occupancy taxes, the Texas Tech system got over $800 million and legislation that will help Tech and six other universities get national research institution status got the green light. In addition, rural counties in West Texas soon will be able to attract more doctors, food banks in Amarillo and Lubbock will get much-needed state money and the Lubbock State School for the mentally disabled will be able to improve care. Those are among the victories for the Panhandle and South Plains from this year's 140-day legislative session, which ended Monday. Area lawmakers believe the region fared well, despite a tight economy, "I think we did just fine," said Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa. "We got a decent amount of money for Texas Tech, which is very important to us, and also for West Texas (A&M University), our junior colleges did quite well so that bodes well for us." The final piece of the puzzle for area legislators came late Sunday night when the House overwhelmingly passed House Bill 51. It seeks to help Tech and six other so-called emerging universities get national research institutions status, more commonly known as tier-one or flagship. The measure, authored by Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, includes $50 million that would be distributed among the schools based on which institutions raise the most money from endowments. The House also approved a constitutional amendment to facilitate the tier-one process. It will have to be ratified by the voters in November. Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, said he was pleased with what the Legislature delivered for West Texas. He called the tier-one legislation a major achievement under the circumstances. "This was a session where we had serious budget issues," Duncan said. "In my view, we had to be fiscally conservative in our budgeting because what we see as an impending economic decline." The Legislature estimated last year $500 million would have to be allocated for the seven schools under consideration for tier-one. Tech Chancellor Kent Hance had earlier estimated the school would need between $40 million and $60 million of that money. Rep. Carl Isett, R-Lubbock, said things generally turned out well for the Panhandle/South Plains region this session, despite some disappointments. Among them was the death of his bill to overhaul the Texas Department of Transportation.

Convention center a winner at Legislature

Amarillo will get to finance project with occupancy taxes