5:00 p.m., Sunday, July 17, 2005

Austin, TX - Thank you to all those who have contacted Senate leaders to express opinions on the Robin Hood recapture limit proposed by the Texas House.

House school finance conferees, including Rep. Dan Branch, are sustaining their effort to implement a limitation on recapture, i.e., Robin Hood payments paid by "property wealthy" school districts to the state.

The Senate leadership appears to be siding with proponents of the Robin Hood wealth-sharing system. The attached articles from Sunday papers across the state reflect the Senate's opposition of the House plan to curb Robin Hood.

Negotiators will reach either agreement or impasse in the next few hours. If an agreement is reached, the Senate needs a simple majority (16 votes) to approve the agreement. The Senate currently has 19 Republicans and 12 Democrats.

If you have not done so already, please give your feedback on this critical issue to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and other Senate leaders listed below.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst
http://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/Contact/#email
512-463-0001

School Finance Conference Committee

Chairman Florence Shapiro (R-Plano)
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist8/dist8.htm#form
(512) 463-0108

Sen. Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock)
http://www.duncan.senate.state.tx.us/email/
(512) 463-0128

Sen. Kyle Janek (R-Houston)
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist17/dist17.htm#form
(512) 463-0117

Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio)
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist26/dist26.htm#form
(512) 463-0126

Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas)
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist23/dist23.htm#form
(512) 463-0123

District 16

Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas)
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/members/dist16/dist16.htm#form
(512) 463-0116