By Sen. Carlos Uresti

I recently received a letter from a man recalling an overnight experience he had at Guadalupe River State Park. When he and his wife pulled into park headquarters to get a camping space, they were warned that some Girl Scouts were in the park and there might be some noise. Turned out there were 200 girls and their fathers on a father/daughter camping trip. "For over 48 hours," the man wrote, "the sound of girls laughing, screaming and giggling echoed throughout the park. The girls' bikes zoomed past our campsite at the rate of 1 per minute. The scout leaders lead the girls in sing-a-longs, nature walks, chants and prayers." At first I thought the letter was a complaint — campers are usually seeking solitude — but then I read the next paragraph: "My heart was filled with joy at the sights and sounds I heard from the girls and their fathers becoming bonded together and becoming one with nature at a Texas state park." What a testament to our state park system and the pleasure these outdoor facilities bring to Texas families. But the purpose of his letter was to express concern about news reports that Texas may have to close some of its parks. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the initial funding proposals by the House and Senate are more than $4 million short of the amount needed to keep all 91 state parks up and running. That would put at least nine parks in danger of closing. With all of the pressing needs confronting state budget writers, parks may not be on the same priority list with public and higher education, water and transportation infrastructure, Medicaid, child protection, and public safety. But with Texas Comptroller Susan Combs predicting a 12.4 percent increase in general revenue funds for the 2014-15 biennium, we may not have to make the stark choice of closing parks. Another approach is a simple matter of giving parks the money they are due. My Bexar County colleague, Rep. Lyle Larson, is proposing that we end the practice of raiding the sales tax revenues on sporting goods — money that was originally dedicated to Parks and Wildlife but appropriated for other uses. According to the Houston Chronicle, the proposed 2014-15 parks budget of $140.7 million is about $19 million less than we spent in the 2008-2009 budget cycle, despite soaring costs for maintaining our parks. Even the weather has been a factor, with hurricanes, wildfires, and drought taking their toll. Senate Finance Chairman Tommy Williams said recently he is "not personally interested in seeing any state parks closed," and those are encouraging words. As the budget process proceeds, it will become more clear just what the Legislature can do to prevent that from happening. Senate District 19 contains ten state parks, including Garner State Park in Uvalde County, which many consider one of the crown jewels of the state park system. I share Sen. Williams' goal of keeping all of them open. And I certainly share the sentiments of the letter-writing camper: "Let me urge Governor Perry and the state Legislature to continue to fund the Texas State Park System in order for families to continue to enjoy and appreciate nature. The state park experience allows treasured family time and valuable learning experiences for all." We must keep our parks open for the benefit of all Texans, whether they like the sounds of birds or crickets, gurgling creeks, or Girl Scouts singing with their dads.

AUSTIN

State Sen. Carlos Uresti and other members of the Senate Democratic Caucus filed a Senate concurrent resolution Wednesday urging Congress to swiftly enact meaningful, comprehensive immigration reform.   SCR 15 notes that America is a nation of immigrants and that their story is woven into our social and cultural fabric. It states that we require an immigration system that "provides for public safety, national security, economic prosperity, and the well-being of all who live and work in the United States."  Uresti, chairman of the Senate Hispanic caucus, said there is a growing consensus among the American public and elected leaders in both political parties that the time is right to address the issue. The resolution cites a January poll by the Associated Press that found 62 percent of Americans support immigration reform.   "Everyone has been waiting for a moment like this," Uresti said. "This is an issue of national importance, and our leaders in Washington must not let the opportunity pass. We need a sound immigration policy that addresses not only the need for border security, but 21st Century economic realities and the common decencies that people owe to one another."   As far the economic benefits of immigration reform, the resolution cites a 2012 report by the CATO Institute that said reform could lead to a $180 billion gain for American households. Closer to home, a study by the Perryman Group found that Texas would lose $69.3 billion in economic activity, $30.8 billion in gross state product, and approximately 403,000 jobs if all undocumented immigrants were removed from the state.  Uresti said immigration reform must reflect the nation's sovereignty and the right to secure its borders, but should not stop there. It must also be compassionate, and address the needs of temporary and migrant workers and young people who were brought to the United States as children without their consent.   "The Dream Act must be part of any immigration reform legislation," he said. "The senses of fairness, justice, human dignity, and mutual respect that are imbedded in America's value system demand a pathway to citizenship for these individuals who have no other home."  Sen. Uresti represents Senate District 19, which covers more than 35,000 square miles and contains all or part of 17 counties, two international ports of entry, ten state parks, 51 school districts, almost 9,000 miles of highways and county roads, and more than 29,000 producing oil and gas wells. The district is larger than 11 states and 124 Nations, and contains almost 400 miles of the Texas-Mexico border.

(StatePoint)

Do you lay awake at night wondering if you’ll have enough money to pay the bills, let alone retire? Could you pay the bills at $170 to $350 daily if you or your spouse were disabled? Do you have an extra $100,000 a year for this care? Expect the unexpected. Be prepared. Many challenges which can ruin your financial life can be avoided in less than 60 minutes, according to financial experts. “Even if you are just starting out in your career you have to start making plans for retirement if you want your money to be there when you need it,” says Kris Miller, a retirement and living trust expert and author of the new book “Ready for PREtirement? Plan Retirement Early So Your Money Is There When You Need It.” “No one relishes talking about emergencies, layoffs, long-term illness and death. Planning for such circumstances is crucial to protecting your family’s financial future,” she stresses.

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