SEN. KOLKHORST APPOINTED TO SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE
State Senator Lois Kolkhorst has been appointed to the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce.
(courtesy Office of Lois Kolkhorst)
The committee has oversight of business, banking, the electric grid, property, finance, alcoholic beverages and occupational licensing across the State of Texas.
The appointment from Lt. Governor Dan Patrick comes after Governor Greg Abbott announced plans to convene a special legislative session on July 8th.
Kolkhorst said she intends to use her new position on the committee to ensure that Texas remains a top state for businesses to thrive and grow.
Kolkhorst will now have direct oversight over the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and utility market. She said she will not stop asking questions as to how and why the electric grid failure in February happened, and will work to ensure that the public utility grid is “operating openly and honestly.” She said, “Massive system-wide reforms are needed and every option needs to be on the table.”
With this appointment, combined with her current roles on the Natural Resources & Economic Development, and Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committees, Kolkhorst now has a hand in overseeing every public utility in the state, including water, electricity and natural gas.
Kolkhorst said while major utility reforms were passed last session, she hopes that the upcoming special session will include more discussion on the grid.
Kolkhorst will continue to serve as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services and as a member of the Committees on Finance and Transportation.
Texas needs good business for good jobs. No question. And everything must be done to insure this happens. The dependability of our power grid is already effecting new business in Texas, because we can’t keep the “ lights on”. We can all agree that when it comes to dependable power for citizens, politics should not play a role. But, many of us, including myself do not have a clear understanding of why our power grid is, and has been, in dire need for two decades. I have been searching for a clear explanation and finally found one. There is a video on a Facebook page by a very honest, intelligent Texan who has provided us with a clear explanation. Please put politics out of your mind and go to the Facebook page of Mike Collier to find this clear explanation.