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Aspect of the Chamber by Asa Yeamans, Past Chairman As past chairman and a member of the Board of Directors of the Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce since 1998, I want to bring to your attention an area that the Chamber works in to benefit the community. It is governmental affairs. On February 18 and 19, 2003, more than seventy-five members of the Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce traveled to Austin, Texas, to participate as “Citizen Lobbyists.” This group presented positions on the following: Local Government Issues; Education Funding; Public Health; Erosion Control; Subdivision Restrictions; Tourism, and Insurance. The following is a partial list of results from the regular session. In the area of Health and Human Services, a series of bills were passed and signed which provide significant reform in the Agency and strengthened the children immunization program. These bills included House Bills 2292; 3588; 1920; 1921, and 1926. The most significant legislations in the area of Health Care is House Bill 4 Medical Malpractice and Lawsuit Reform. This bill created a more fair and balanced civil justice system. Limits or non-economic damages will lower doctor’s and hospital’s liability insurance rates. These reforms also help prevent frivolous and unjust lawsuits. The select committee on State Health Expenditures developed and passed bills that change the way many government health services are provided saving $1.5 Billion without removing anyone from any program. Senate Bill 14 will regulate the rates for Homeowners’ and Automobile Insurance policies holders by creating and allowing more competition. The practice of discriminatory credit scoring has been eliminated and established penalties for discrimination based on race, color, religion, ethnicity or national origin illegal and subject to a state jail felony. Education funding was not completed during the regular session and will be the subject of a special session to be covered during the spring of 2004. The Aransas County bill to provide erosion relief was not reported from committee, but further hearings will be conducted and this bill will be filed again during the 79th Legislature. Concerning local Government, a very damaging bill, Senate Bill 315, was passed to allow Del Mar College to annex Aransas County into its taxing district. The Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce spearheaded the area effort to persuade Governor Perry to veto the bill. This effort included more than 6000 letters, faxes, and e-mails as well as several visits to the Governor’s office by local elected officials. The bill was stopped by a veto from Governor Perry. Overall, the 78th Texas Legislature was a positive and successful session and the Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce was a positive factor in all respects. |