Ogden's Appointments to Interim Comittees Reflect Priorities, Expertise

State Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, has been appointed to three joint interim committees by Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff. Ogden will co-chair the Joint Interim Committee on Higher Education Excellence Funding and serve on the Joint Interim Committee on Public School Finance and the Joint Interim Committee on Health Services.

"I was pleased to be appointed to these committees. Public school finance, higher education funding and health care are the biggest budget issues for the state of Texas. They deserve thorough, serious study and review," Ogden said.

Joint interim committees are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to study important state issues. The recommendations made by the committees, which are required to be completed before the next legislative session begins in January 2003, often become the basis for changes to state law.

The committee on excellence funding will study ways to ensure the funding is equitably allocated among Texas universities and has sufficient standards for generating high-quality scientific research. Excellence funding supports special university-based research and education.

Reflecting a growing concern about the so-called Robin Hood law and property tax limits, the committee on public school finance will examine the current system to determine if improvements can be made and to ensure the state is meeting its goals and constitutional requirements. The committee will review facility and transportation issues, the method used to fund public schools and the criteria used to determine state payments to school districts.

With the cost of health care taking up an ever-increasing portion of our state's budget, the health services committee will build on the work begun by Sen. Ogden and others during the session to improve access to care and quality of care while maintaining the fiscal integrity of the state's health care programs. The committee also will monitor the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the recent changes to the state's Medicaid program. "The legislature will have to make tough budget decisions next session. I hope our work on these interim committees will help us make the correct decisions." Ogden continued.

As a member of the Senate's Finance, Criminal Justice and Administration Committees, Ogden also will serve on special committees appointed to study specific issues under their jurisdictions. The Finance Committee will review the state's tax system, the impact of rising health care costs on the budget and funding for trauma care centers. The Criminal Justice Committee will focus on rehabilitation for nonviolent drug offenders, the management of private prison facilities and employee recruitment and retention efforts.

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