VOTER IDENTIFICATION

BROWN LED THE FIGHT FOR ELECTION INTEGRITY - HB 218

After much debate, the House of Representatives approved legislation that I authored to ensure the sanctity of the ballot by requiring a photo ID to vote. Polls show that confidence in our election process is diminishing and that as confidence increases, participation increases.

HB 218 required a photo ID or two forms of non photo ID in order to vote. Voters who say they cannot afford the charge for a state ID, which is good for six years, could obtain one free of charge. Similarly, those over 80 years of age would not have to prove ID. The bill did not affect the use of mail in ballots.

Currently, all that is needed to vote is a registration certificate, but individuals are not required to show identification in order to register to vote. According to Harris County elections officials, at least 35 foreign nationals either applied or received voter registration cards that would have allowed them to vote. In one case, one of them voted four times in a general election. There is also evidence that hundreds of deceased votes have been shown as casting votes.

The bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform, led by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James A Baker III, recently concluded that a properly administered identification system could deter, detect, or eliminate several potential avenues of fraud, such as multiple voting or voter impersonation. One of their recommendations was that of requiring photo identification at the polls.

Though the bill did not pass the Senate, I believe it extremely important that we continue to push for photo identification of voters in order to help secure our election process. Recent polling has shown that more than 90% of Texans from both political parties agree that photo id should be required. If requiring a photo identification check in order to rent a DVD from Blockbuster or a book from the library is reasonable then certainly showing identification at the polls should be a reasonable request as well.

IMMIGRATION REFORM

BROWN CONTINUES FIGHTING TO ELIMINATE BENEFITS FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS

Representative Betty Brown joined a nationwide organization of legislators who oppose any legislation supporting the status of illegal aliens in the United States. The organization, known as State Legislators for Legal Immigration, was founded by Pennsylvania House member, Representative Daryl Metcalfe (Butler County). It's mission is to provide a network of state legislators who are committed to working together in demanding full cooperation among our federal, state, and local governments in eliminating all economic attractions and incentives (including, but not limited to: public benefits, welfare, education, and employment opportunities) for illegal aliens, as well as securing our borders against unlawful invasion.

Several bills were carried in the Texas Legislature this session requiring proof of citizenship to qualify for benefits but were defeated.

EDUCATION

In response to teachers from across the state, the TAKS test will be phased out in grades nine through twelve by the year 2010. It will be replaced with end-of-course exams in the four core-subject areas. A large increase in the state contribution to the Retired Teachers Pension Fund made the fund actuarially sound. It also provides for a thirteenth check this year for retired teachers, up to a maximum of $2,400. The increase was part of the $3.9 billion overall increase to education.

CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE

House Bill 109 expanded health insurance coverage to an additional 170,000 children in Texas. The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides coverage for many working families that cannot otherwise afford it. The program covers primary and preventative health care such as immunizations, wellness exams, eye exams, and dental check-ups to Texas children who do not have private health insurance or cannot qualify for Medicaid.

YOUTH COMMISSION REFORMS

After disturbing details about sexual abuse at the state's juvenile correction center, the Texas Youth Commission was reformed. Senate Bill 103 is a complete overhaul of the agency and its processes. The bill will require age segregation in facilities, prohibit inmates 19 or older from being committed there, set up an independent office of ombudsman, and form advocacy groups for inmates. In addition, future crimes at TYC facilities will be inspected by a newly created office of the inspector general.

BEWARE CHILD SEX OFFENDERS!

House Bill 8 - This bill establishes severe penalties for those who commit sexual offenses against young children and allows the death penalty to be pursued for a second offense. The bill provides minimum sentences of 25 years imprisonment for anyone convicted of a sexually violent offense committed against a child under 14 years of age. It also establishes that a second sexually violent offense committed against a child under 14 years of age is a capital felony subject to the death penalty.

House Bill 401 - Child predator bill by Rep. Brown is discussed on the following page.

BEWARE CRIMINALS!

Senate Bill 378 - The Texas Legislature passed legislation known as the "Castle Doctrine." The doctrine establishes a presumption in law that if a criminal forcibly enters your home, place of business, or vehicle, the criminal intends to cause bodily harm or death. This intent gives you the right to defend yourself with force, including deadly force to protect yourself or your property. You no longer have a duty to retreat.

BROWN SUPPORTS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN TEXAS

Calling it a great victory for religious freedom in Texas, Representative Brown noted three significant bills concerning religious expression passed in recent legislative session:

• House Bill 1034 added the words "under God" to the Texas pledge. The new pledge reads, "Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible. (Brown co-authored)
• House Bill 1287 put the Bible back into the classroom. It strengthened traditional values in Texas by allowing an elective course on the Bible to be offered in Texas schools. (Brown co-authored)
• House Bill 3678 permits students to voluntarily express religious viewpoints in public schools, and to add to a discussion on art, literature, science, or other subjects in which the free expression of religious views has previously been excluded. (Brown co-authored)

All three bills were signed by Governor Rick Perry and became effective immediately.

BROWN PASSED CHILD PREDATOR BILL

HB 401 addresses the serious problem of people using new technology to solicit minors on-line and the problem of teachers using new technology to further improper relationships with students. While it is a crime to use certain types of technology to solicit minors and a crime for teachers to have sexual relationships with students, limited definitions of both crimes are a shortcoming in the current law.

The offense of on-line solicitation of a minor is designed to allow adults to be charged with an offense before sexual contact occurs, and HB 401 will help ensure that if adults used text messaging to solicit a minor, they can be charged for an improper relationship between a teacher and student, which is a second-degree felony. This gives prosecutors an additional needed tool in their efforts to prosecute.

STATE BUDGET FOR 2008-2009

House Bill 1, the 2008-2009 biennium budget, totaled just over $152 billion - an increase of 7% (3.5% per year) from the previous biennium. Compared to the state's population growth and the rate of inflation, this increase represents a fiscally conservative use of taxpayers' money. A balance of $2.5 billion remained unappropriated to carry forward to the next biennium. The state's emergency or "rainy day" fund will accumulate to $4.3 billion by the end of fiscal year 2009.

• Education - received a $3.9 billion funding increase. This amount covers the Teacher Retirement System, financial aid, and additional funding for public schools and higher education.
• Heath and Human Services - received $2.2 billion in additional funds for increased Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program costs. It also included improved provider rates for physicians and other health care professionals, as well as a major increase in new mental health crisis services.
• Public Safety and Criminal Justice - received an increase of $677 million to meet inmate population growth, increased funds for rehabilitation programs, and border security operations.
• State Parks - received a substantial increase in funding to repair, renovate, and improve operations for our state parks system and historical sites.
• Property Tax Relief - $14.2 billion was appropriated to complete property tax reductions passed in the Third Called Session of the 79th Legislature. School property taxes were reduced by 17 cents in 2006 and will be reduced another 33 cents at the end of 2007.

BORDER AND HOMELAND SECURITY

Senate Bill 11 allocates $100 million for border security and sets up a border security council to ensure financial accountability. The money will primarily be used for suppression of drug trafficking and criminal activity.

BROWN AWARDED FOR STRONG CONSERVATIVE VALUES

Recently, Rep. Brown was awarded Legislator of the Year by the Texas Organization of Residential Care Homes (TORCH). They honored her for:

• Her work on behalf of Community Care for the Aged and Disabled (CCAD) and Community Based Alternatives (Medicaid waiver),
• Authoring an amendment to HB 1055, which enabled aged nursing homes to be converted into assisted living centers
• For her dedication and support of HB 1168, which requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to develop and implement a pilot program to license boarding houses.

Also, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR), a nonprofit organization based in Austin, released its legislative scorecard of the Texas House on June 26, 2007, ranking Rep. Brown in the top 25 House members this session.

The Eagle Forum, a nonprofit organization committed to families on both social and economic issues, honored Rep. Brown as one of the most conservative members of the legislature.

"Rep. Brown stands out for her courageous efforts concerning voter ID. For two sessions now she has stepped up to protect not only what is important to conservative voters but to protect our very form of government"

-Cathie Adams, Texas Eagle Forum

In the Heritage Alliance, a nonprofit organization committed to conservative values, 2007 Conservative Report, Rep. Brown tied with three other legislators for the second most conservative voting record in the House of Representatives, based on 67 votes regarding free enterprise, taxes, limited government, and traditional values.