Senator Wentworth's column
From the Office of State Senator Jeff Wentworth

For Immediate Release
December 27, 2002
Contact: Margaret Rambie - (210) 826-7800

Texans voice their opinions by responding to questionnaire

Communication between elected officials and constituents is essential for effective representation.

To ensure that your concerns are reflected in new bills that I introduce or existing laws I might vote to repeal in the 78th Legislature, I included a questionnaire in my newsletter that was mailed to registered voters in Senate District 25. I appreciate the more than 8,000 of you who shared your opinions on issues that are important to you.

Adopting a budget is probably the most important and difficult thing we do in the Legislature. Because a budget shortfall could necessitate budget cuts, I asked what areas you would cut.

More than 54 percent chose business and economic development. The other choices were 47 percent environmental protection, 40 percent higher education and 30 percent health and human services. Public safety, highways and public transportation and public education were areas where the fewest of you wanted to see budgets cut.

Although constituents are overwhelmingly in favor of lowering school property taxes, you are not so united on ways to replace the resulting deficit. Forty-three percent favored an expanded or increased sales tax, 38 percent chose a business activity tax and 21 selected a statewide property tax. Only 12 percent favored a state income tax.

You were closely divided on taxing Internet sales. Forty-seven percent favor an Internet sales tax, while 42 percent oppose it.

Another issue that evoked an almost evenly divided response was life imprisonment without parole as an alternative to the death penalty. Forty-nine percent oppose that option, while 44 percent support it.

Fifty-two percent of you do not want the Legislature to further restrict abortion beyond the third trimester, which is current Texas law.

Your concerns about traffic safety are reflected by a 68 percent response in favor of the use of cameras at intersections to record license plate numbers of drivers who run red lights. Almost 70 percent of you want to require motorists to use only hands-free cell phones in moving motor vehicles.

The 58 percent of you who favor requiring schools to set aside one minute each day for meditation, reflection or prayer may want to follow the progress of Senate Bill 83, which I have already pre-filed. The bill tracks a recent United States Supreme Court decision that upholds a Virginia law which includes the word "prayer" in options offered to students.

Sixty-one percent of you favor the bill we passed in 2001 that prohibits schools from starting before the week in which August 21 falls.

The rising cost of health-insurance premiums will be a major issue this session. Fifty-three percent of you favor eliminating some required coverage, such as hearing screening for newborns, contraception and chemical dependence, if it would reduce health insurance premiums.

I encourage you to stay in touch with me on these and other state issues by calling my Capitol office toll-free at (888) 824-6984 or my San Antonio district office at (210) 826-7800.