KOLKHORST AND SCHUBERT ADDRESS ISSUES AT POLITICAL FORUM

  

Blinn College and transportation, as well as education were some of the topics discussed by State Senator Lois Kolkhorst and State Representative Leighton Schubert who were the featured guests of the Washington County Forum hosted by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce which was held Wednesday at the Blinn College Banquet Room in Brenham.

Senator Kolkhorst and Representative Schubert gave a recap of the 84th Texas Legislative Session and discuss some of the most critical issues facing our area, including one of the biggest, House Bill 1903. The bill would have required Blinn College to allocate funds to each campus based on student contact hours.  The bill died after a vote on the floor in which it received 42 votes for and 92 votes against.

Rep. Schubert had this to say about the defeat of House Bill 1903

 Both Schubert and Kolkhorst voiced their support for two appointed representatives from the Bryan campus so those representatives could see Brenham’s support for the Bryan campus as well as support for the Blinn Brenham campus.

The county commissioners of each branch campus with an enrollment of more than 10,000 students, would appoint two members to serve six year staggered terms for two years.

Both Schubert and Kolkhorst reminded those present that the attacks on Blinn College have not ended, and that they could expect more bills of that sort in the next legislative session.

Also discussed were transportation issues and how to strengthen the transportation infrastructure. Up for a vote in November is Senate Joint Resolution 5, which says that if you have 28 billion dollars in sales tax collection in Texas, 2 ½ billion would be directed to transportation infrastructure. If the 28 billion dollar level is not reached, then there would be no money going to the Transportation fund. All this would be done without raising taxes or instituting fees.

Also discussed Dedicated Funds, which are to be used for specific projects and not diverted for other uses.

Other topics up for discussion included the spreading of the tax base, tax relief in the form of the Homestead Exemption rate, which was raised from $15,000 to $25,000.

Another issue that was close to both candidates was the Brenham State Supported Living Center, which the state is, little by little, trying to close most of the schools in the state.

Kolkhorst says that she believes that the first school to be eventually closed would be the Austin State School, who already has plans to use the land for veterans.

Senator Kolkhorst tells about what she thinks it would take to save the Brenham State Supported Living Center

Both Schubert and Kolkhorst again voiced their concerns about the current layoff situation in the community, and implored the people present and members of the community to “Buy Local” and support their fellow business owners.

The forum was moderated by Randy Weidemann of VanDyke Rankin.