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AND WELCOME TO THE MONDAY, MARCH 8TH, 2021 MEETING OF THE LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE FOR THE GROWING CITY COUNCIL.
I'M CHAIRMAN ROBERT JOHN SMITH.
TODAY I HAVE WITH ME COUNCIL MEMBER, RICH OVEN AND COUNCIL MEMBER, BJ WILLIAMS. UH, LET'S SEE, ITEM NUMBER
[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ONE ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 8TH, 2020 MEETING.
HAS EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THOSE? AND DO I HEAR A MOTION MOVE APPROVAL? ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN ROBERN TO APPROVE A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
NONE OPPOSED THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY MOVING TO AGENDA.
ITEM NUMBER TWO, A PUBLIC INPUT SECTION.
UH, I SEE NO ATTENDEES IN THE QUEUE TODAY.
LAURA, CAN YOU CONFIRM COLORED CONFIRMED MOVING ON, UH, ITEM NUMBER THREE,
[3. LEGISLATIVE UPDATES]
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES, ALL YOURS.UM, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN BILLS ARE STARTING THOUGH.
WE'RE STARTING TO, UH, SAVE, UM, UH, BILLS, GETTING SEPARATE HEARINGS ONE, EXCUSE ME, UH, THAT WE WERE TRACKING, UH, THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BRIEFLY BEFORE IT'S ON OUR TRACK LIST.
IT'S UH, UM, ONE OF THE SO-CALLED POLICE BILLS, UH, THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING IT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED, UM, UH, APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL FOR ALL INDIGENT CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS, WHICH BY AND LARGE, MOST OF THEM, UM, IN ALL MAGISTRATE SETTINGS.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN YOU GET ARRESTED, YOU GET MAGISTRATED BY SOMEBODY.
UH, IT WOULDN'T HAVE JUST BEEN FELONIES.
IT WAS ALL MISDEMEANORS TO, UH, THE COST TO BE ENORMOUS.
AND, UH, THE BUILDING PROVIDE WHO WAS GONNA PAY FOR THAT.
UH, IT, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BEEN SET TODAY, UH, RATHER THAN SCRAMBLING AND TRYING TO PREPARE, UH, SOME TESTIMONY OR MAKE IT DOWN TO AUSTIN TO SPEAK ON THE BILL.
UH, WE DOUBLE CHECKED, THANK GOODNESS.
AND IT WAS PULLED FROM THE SETTING OR LAST REPORT.
I DIDN'T WATCH A COMMITTEE HEARING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT HAPPENED.
UH, SO THAT'LL BE A BATTLE FOR ANOTHER DAY, BUT IT'S AN EXAMPLE THAT, UH, THINGS ARE STARTING TO MOVE DOWN THERE.
THEY AREN'T JUST THE BACKGROUND AND PILLS, IF YOU WILL.
UM, IT WAS, UH, UH, THE HEARINGS ON, UH, UH, ON THE RULES OR, UH, ON UTILITY MATTERS, LIKE WE SAW LAST WEEK.
UM, THEY'RE GETTING TWO SUBSTANTIVE BILLS, WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
UH, AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY YET, UM, THAT WE'RE TRACKING THAT WE KNOW ARE SET FOR HEARINGS, BUT IT'S COMING UP.
SO A COUPLE OF THINGS DOWN THE GOVERNOR HAS REOPENED THE STATE YOU'VE SEEN AS EXECUTIVE ORDER.
UM, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS FOR SENATE AND HOUSE HEARINGS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WORK FOR THE GOVERNOR AND I CAN SET THEIR OWN ROLES.
UH, LAURA AND I WERE CHATTING EARLIER TODAY AND SHE PARTICIPATES IN OUR, UH, TML BIG CITY GROUP DISCUSSION.
I KNOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, OR ARE WE GOING TO HAVE SOME, UH, ZOOM OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEARING PARTICIPATION AND DO WE HAVE TO DO LIKE THE OLD SCHOOL DAYS AND, UH, GO DOWN TO AUSTIN TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE MATTERS? AND THEN THE ANSWER THAT WE GOT IS WE DON'T KNOW YET.
UM, I THINK IT WAS LAURA IT'S THURSDAY.
THEY'RE GONNA DISCUSS SOME RULES AMENDMENTS TO SAY ABOUT REOPENING THE CAPITOL.
UM, WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SAY IF IT'S A DO REOPEN AS THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE WITH THE REST OF THE STATE.
AND I, MY SUSPICION IS THAT THEY WILL OR SUBSTANTIALLY REOPENED.
UM, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT ON, UH, OUR AUSTIN TRAVELING TWOS, UM, AND PHYSICALLY IT'D BE PHYSICALLY PLACE FOR SOME OF THESE COMMITTEE HEARING.
AND THAT'S WHEN IT GETS REAL BUSY RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT BILLS ARE COMING UP THERE.
[00:05:01]
THEY COULD HIT FAST AND HARD.I SUSPECT PROBABLY NOT MUCH IN MARCH, APRIL CAN BE REAL BUSY.
AND THEN YOU SEE THE SLOW DOWN NOW, UH, PRIME DAY, I BELIEVE IT IS FRIDAY LAST DAY FOR FILING BILLS IN THEORY.
UH, I THINK THERE ARE WORK AROUNDS FOR THAT TOO.
AND, UM, I'M NOT INTIMATE WITH, UH, UH, THE HOUSE AND SENATE RULES ON, ON HOW THAT GOES BACK, CAUSE THE RENT OPTIMUM EVERY YEAR AND TRY TO MEMORIZE SOMETHING LIKE THEY JUST LOOKED IT UP.
UM, IN THEORY FRIDAY LAST DAY, WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.
WE SHOULD SEE A FLURRY OF LAST MINUTE BILLS GETTING FILED.
UM, WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT MORE IN SUBSTANCE, UM, BUT STILL ON A HIGHER LEVEL AND THEORETICALS, CAUSE I NEED TO GET A SENSE FROM THE COMMITTEE OF HOW YOU WANT US TO APPROACH THESE THINGS.
IF THEY START GETTING SET FOR HEARING, AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE'VE TYPICALLY SHIED AWAY FROM OTHER SESSIONS NOW, AND THESE ARE OUR REVENUE TAX RELATED BILLS.
THE LAST SESSION COURSE, THE THING THAT GOT EVERYBODY TO CHANGE, IT WAS SB TO THE REVENUE CAPS.
UM, AND NOW IT IS OUR REALITY AND WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.
AND SO I THINK IT MAGNIFIES THE IMPACT OF SOME OF THESE BILLS THAT WE HAVE SAY LARGELY SILENT ON OVER TO HERE.
I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF REAL QUICK.
I'M NOT CALLING THESE OUT FOR INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION AT THIS TIME, BUT THEY'RE EXAMPLES OF THE SORTS THAT WE'VE MORE OR LESS THE LAST LAP PASS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS OR SEVERAL SESSIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE POLITICALLY SENSITIVE.
AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS, UM, GOING BACK TO WHAT I CALL THE SILENCE DEPENDENT.
PREBILLS THE ANTI TAX PAYER, UM, SO-CALLED TAXPAYER FUNDED LAW BILLS, UM, AND THAT THE PROPONENTS OF THE SILENCE, THE PEASANT CREE TYPES OF LEGISLATION, UH, USE CORE EFFORTS TO IMPACT THIS TYPE OF LEGISLATION AS MOURN ARE THEIR KEY POINTS ON WHY MINUTES PALITY, SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HIRE LOBBYISTS.
AND REALLY WHAT THEY WANT US TO DO IS SAY OUT AUSTIN, THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS ALL TOGETHER, BUT WE'VE ALREADY HAD THAT CONVERSATION.
AND THAT'S MY EDITORIAL IS ATTRIBUTING THAT TO THE COMMITTEE OR THE CITY COUNCIL.
YEAH, YOU'RE, YOU'RE USING THEIR USE IN YOUR MIND TO GO DOWN AND TRY TO KEEP YOUR TAXES HIGH, WHICH WE KNOW IS A LIE, BUT, UM, THAT GETS A LOT OF PLAY.
AND ESPECIALLY WITH PEOPLE DON'T WANT A CANDLELIGHT TO, TO PLAY.
UM, AND THEN IT COMES BACK TO THE QUESTION, WELL, HOW ARE WE GOING TO OPERATE SANDY AT ALL WITH THAT SAID, LET ME GO THROUGH SOME OF THESE REAL QUICK AND GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
THERE IS A HP 35 COMPANION AND HP 47, 23.
I DON'T HAVE A SPOT ON THE AUTHOR'S THING, THIS ABOUT DEBT AND TAX, WHERE WE CAN'T ISSUE DAD RAISE TAXES ABOVE THE SO-CALLED BETTER APPROVAL, RIGHT? UH, ON THE LAST, AT LEAST 25% OF REGISTERED VOTERS SHOW UP TO VOTE IN THE ELECTION.
NOW THIS ONE IS KIND OF A HEAD-SCRATCHER TO ME BECAUSE IT GIVES PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY BY DOING NOTHING.
UM, AND I THINK WHAT THE PROPONENTS OF THESE BILLS, LET ME GO BACK A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE SURE I'VE EXPLAINED THIS RIGHT.
SO W WHEN WE HAVE, UM, UH, DAD ELECTIONS, UH, BOND APPROVAL ELECTIONS, LIKE WE DID A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, UH, WHAT THIS BILL WOULD SAY IS, UH, ON LAST 25% OR THE REGISTERED VOTERS AS MEASURED AT SOME POINT IN TIME, THEY SHOW UP TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT ELECTION THAN THE, UM, NOTWITHSTANDING WHAT'S, UH,
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UH, THE ULTIMATE VOTE ARE THOSE WHO DID SHOW UP WAS IT WOULD STILL BE DEEMED DISAPPROVED.THE BOND ELECTION WOULD STILL FAIL.
UM, AND I, I THINK WHAT THE PROPONENTS ARE SAYING, THESE, SOME OF THESE ELECTIONS HAVE SUCH A HISTORICALLY LOW VOTER TURNOUTS.
THEY AREN'T REALLY EXPRESSING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE NOW.
AND SO IT WOULD INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO SHOW UP AT THE POLLS.
THIS IS VERY, UM, IMPORTANT TO THEM.
UH, NOW MY ESTIMATION, YOU GET SAME SORT OF INCENTIVE BY REVERSING THAT AND SAYING EVERYTHING'S APPROVED, UNLESS AT LEAST 25%, OF COURSE WE WOULDN'T DO THAT.
UM, BUT THE, THE PROBLEM IS, AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE WOULD, UH, EVEN MAKE THAT ARGUMENT DOWN THERE.
BUT, UM, UH, I THINK THIS BILL ACTUALLY SUFFERS FROM A FUNDAMENTAL CONSTITUTIONAL DEEPAK BECAUSE, UH, THE CONSTITUTIONAL NOTION IS ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE.
AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW YOU'D MEASURE THAT PRINCIPLE.
YOU KNOW, SOMEONE GETS TO VOTE BY NOT VOTING BECAUSE IT REALLY WORKS OUT THE SAME WAY.
SO, UH, I MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO POUR MYSELF, GO DOWN TO THE POLE.
UM, BUT MY NEIGHBORS ON EITHER SIDE OF ME, I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT EVEN INTERESTED.
AND THEY WENT WHERE THEY WEREN'T BY, BY DOING NOTHING.
MAYBE THEY REPORT, MAYBE THEY'RE PROBABLY, I MEAN, IF, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE AGAINST IT, STAY HOME, IT'S THE EASIEST WAY TO VOTE.
AND I'M SAYING THAT AS I'M TRYING TO ILLUSTRATE THE PROBLEM, THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEFECT WITH THIS BILL, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BACK NOW.
THIS IS AT LEAST THE THIRD TIME SOME ITERATION OF THIS BILL HAS BEEN FLOATED, UM, THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.
UM, MAYBE, UH, THE FOURTH TIME.
UM, AND THE THEORY IS THAT, UH, SOMEDAY, MAYBE IT JUST CATCHES HOME.
AND THEN WHERE WE GO, UM, NEXT ONE, HB 1869, UH, PERTAINS TO SHORT-TERM DEBT AND, UH, WHAT IT WOULD DO AND, YOU KNOW, DEMANDS A TAX CODE, UH, TO SAY THAT IN PARTICULAR, THE PROVISIONS THAT CAN IMPACT THE CALCULATION OF THESE VARIOUS RIGHTS FOR REVENUE TAX PURPOSES, THAT WE HAVE THE VOTER APPROVAL, RIGHT? PEOPLE, YOU HAVE THE NO NEW TAXES, RIGHT? UM, THIS WOULD PUSH ALL SHORT-TERM DEBT LIKE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION OR TAX ANTICIPATION, THAT SORT OF THING ON TO THE ONM PORTION OF THE BUDGET RATHER THAN CAPITAL.
SO WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW IS, UM, ISSUE THE SHORT TERM OBLIGATIONS.
AND THEN USUALLY THEY'RE BACKED UP BY A LONGER TERM FORM OF DEATH.
IT'S NOT UNUSUAL THAT THIS BILL WOULD SAY ALL OF THAT COSTS SAVES OVER NO PORTION.
UH, MORE IMPORTANTLY WHAT'S THAT WOULD DO, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SEE I WAS INSIDE AND THAT'S, UH, UM, UH, FINANCING TECHNIQUES TO TAKE, UH, ADVANTAGE, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, LOW INTEREST RATES, OR YOU'LL KNOW, YOU'LL HAVE MORE MONEY NOW AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING.
WE HAVE VERY COMPETENT PEOPLE WHO DO THAT, BUT FOR OUR PURPOSES, IT WOULD AFFECT THE CALCULATION OF 3.5% REVENUE GAPS, BECAUSE YOU'D HAVE TO RECOGNIZE, UM, THAT PORTION OF THE BUDGET OVER ON THE OEM SIDE, RATHER THAN THE CAPITAL SIDE AND CAPITAL SIDE, DOESN'T REALLY GO TO THE CALCULATION.
UM, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT'S KIND OF SURPRISING TO ME.
I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL OUT THERE.
THIS IS ONE I HAD IN MY NOTES AS TRACKING HB 13 OR 1395, AMONG MANY THINGS.
THIS WOULD ELIMINATE BUSINESS, PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES AND WHY THAT IS, I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS, UH, YOU KNOW, PROPERTY TAX AND NOT VERY POPULAR, BUT
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THEY'RE KIND OF ALL WE HAVE AS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS STARTED TO SIZE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND COUNTY.AND THAT WOULD BE, UM, A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF OUR REVENUE RIGHT HERE.
UH, WE DIDN'T HAVE BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES.
NOW THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT, UH, UH, RAN THROUGH THE LIST REAL QUICK.
COULDN'T FIND A NUMBER ON, BUT I REMEMBER IT
AS AN EXAMPLE HERE, IT WAS A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW THE INDEFINITE DEFERRAL, THE TAXES.
UM, IN OTHER WORDS, UM, UM, MY MOTHER DIED AND SHE LEAVES ME A HOUSE.
I COULD DEFER THE TAXES ON THAT UNTIL AFTER I DIED AS, UH, AS A DIRECT INHERITOR OF THAT PROPERTY, I'D SAY, WOW, GOSH, I CAN'T PAY TAXES ON MOM'S HOUSE.
UM, SO ARE WE GOING TO KEEP IT? AND, UH, I DON'T HAVE TO PAY TAXES UNTIL I DIE AND I DON'T GIVE IT TO MY CHILDREN.
I DON'T HAVE TO PAY TAXES, BUT THEY ONLY HAVE TO PAY TAXES.
SO THE THINGS I REMEMBER THE BILL, UM, THAT WE'RE DOING AT THE TIME, UH, IS VERY SURPRISING BECAUSE SAME, LIKE IT WAS OPEN.
UM, WHEN I READ THROUGH THE BILL TO A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR MENTORSHIP, UM, CAN, IF YOU WERE, UM, UM, THE, LET'S SAY THE SOVEREIGN CITIZEN MINDSET, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, THERE'S THE GOLD FRINGE FLAG KIND OF, IF YOU'RE OF THAT MINDSET AND THOUGHT THAT TAXES IS STAFFED, LET'S SEE SOME OF THOSE BUMPER STICKERS TO THE TAXATION AND STUFF.
UM, WE GAVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY UNDER BILL LIKE THAT TO NEVER PAID TAXES.
UM, SO AGAIN, IT GOES BACK THAT AT ONE OF THE POINTS I MADE EARLIER, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT TAXES.
UM, THAT WAS MY LAST EXAMPLE, MR. CHAIRMAN.
UM, AND I WANTED TO USE THAT AGAIN, UH, TO BROACH THE SUBJECT, ENGAGE YOUR INPUT, UH, WHETHER YOU WANT US TO TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE, UM, AND SPEAKING TO LEGISLATION LIKE PANTIES OR TRYING TO FEED IT, UH, OR TO, UM, UH, MODIFIED IN A HAND WAY THAT WOULD BE, UH, MOST WORKABLE, UH, FOR ARTS IN THAT SENSE, AGAIN, KEEPING IN THAT, WHEN WE GO DOWN AND SPEAK ON THESE PEOPLE, USE THAT EXAMPLE TO SAY THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE THERE.
ALL RIGHT, LET ME OPEN IT UP FOR FACE PALMS. UM, BECAUSE THIS IS A, IT KIND OF MAKES YOU WONDER WHETHER THE LEGISLATURE ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDS HOW ANYTHING WORKS AT ALL.
WHEN YOU SEE BILLS FILED LIKE THIS.
UM, LET ME OPEN IT UP TO THE MEMBERS FIRST.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, ROBIN WILLIAMS. DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY ON THESE PARTICULAR BILLS? JUST GO AHEAD AND PUNCH IN.
WAIT, ARE WE EXPECTING PARTICULARLY THAT LAST ONE TO GET ANY LEGS AT ALL? I MEAN, THAT JUST SOUNDS IDIOTIC, AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEND TIME CHASING OUR TAIL ON IDIOTIC BILLS THAT AREN'T GOING TO GO ANYWHERE EXCEPT MAYBE TO SEND A LETTER TO WHOEVER PROPOSED IT, YOU KNOW, SIMILAR TO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU EVER SAW THE, THE LETTER FROM ART MADELL, THE OWNER OF THE CLEVELAND BROWNS, UM, WHEN HE GOT, IT'S KINDA THIS, THIS ICONIC LETTER, HE GOT THIS EMAIL FROM SOME LAWYER WHO WAS VERY UPSET ABOUT GOING TO THE BROWNS GAME AND SOMEBODY THROWING PAPER PLANES UP FROM THE UPPER DECK AND WHAT A GREAT RISK OF INJURY IT SHOULD BE AND HOW THE BROWN SHOULD TOTALLY STOP THIS AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.
AND, UM, MADELL, I THINK IT WAS MADELL WRITES BACK A LETTER TO HIT TO THE LAWYER THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, DEAR FRED, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT SOME A-HOLE HAS BEEN WRITING STUPID LETTERS AND SIGNING YOUR NAME TO THEM.
THAT'S JUST LIKE, YOU ALMOST WANT TO SEND A LETTER TO SOME OF THESE REPS AND JUST SAY, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT SOME MORE ON HAS BEEN PROPOSING THESE, FILING THESE BILLS, AND THEY'VE SIGNED YOUR NAME TO THEM.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK ON THAT BECAUSE SOME OF THE, I MEAN, IT'S, I ALMOST FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT, IF A BILL LIKE THAT GOT LEGS AND I'M
[00:20:01]
VERY CONCERNED FOR THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLIC.I MEAN, I, I MEAN, YOU CAN ALWAYS HAVE ONE MORE ON WHO FILE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT THAT ACTUALLY STARTS TO GET SOME TRACTION.
SO I, I KNOW THAT'S NOT A VERY GOOD ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, BUT IT'S KIND OF LIKE, I MEAN, I KIND OF RELY ON, ON YOU GUYS TO BE LIKE, THIS IS, THIS IS A SCARY BILL THAT ALSO MIGHT GET SOME TRACTION.
AND MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT TY CAN WORK ON US WITH, YOU KNOW, OR SOMEBODY CAN ASK AROUND DOWN THERE AND GET A SENSE OF WHETHER THIS BILL MIGHT HAVE ANY POTENTIAL LEGS AT ALL, BECAUSE IN THAT CASE, YES, ABSOLUTELY.
WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO GO DOWN AND FIGHT ON THAT STUFF.
JUST LIKE WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT THESE LIKE SENIOR TAX RATE FREEZES AND THINGS, YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT STUFF ABOUT HOW DEVASTATING THAT WOULD BE, AND IT'S NOT JUST, AND THAT'S THE THING IT'S NOT DEVASTATING TO THE CITIES.
THE CITY IS JUST A COLLECTION OF PEOPLE.
IT'S DEVASTATING TO THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CITY WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE THEIR SERVICES REDUCED BECAUSE WE HAVE A REDUCED REVENUE.
AND SO THAT, I MEAN, THAT'S HOW I FRAME IT.
AT LEAST THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE CITY TRYING TO KEEP YOUR HATS AS HIGH OR DO THIS OR THAT.
IT'S ABOUT THE CITY TRYING TO PROVIDE KIND OF THE BARE MINIMUM OF, OF, UM, OF SERVICES IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES AND TRYING TO DEAL WITH ALL IS ROBERT.
JOHN SAYS THE UNFUNDED MANDATES AND, AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO THAT'S KIND OF, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HELPS.
I DON'T WANT TO ANYTHING THAT I SAID HELPED AT ALL, BUT THERE IT IS.
WELL, WHAT I TOOK FROM IT WAS WE NEED TO PICK OUR BATTLES FOR, AND SPEND TIME FIGHTING THINGS THAT ACTUALLY ARE BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
AND THERE MAY BE ONE REP OUT THERE WHO'S FILING ALL OF THESE THINGS AND NOBODY'S TAKING THEM SERIOUSLY.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I, LET ME, LET ME TAG ON TO, TO RICH.
UM, I AGREE WITH THEM, UH, THEIR DAY AROUND, LIKE I SAID, WHEN I DIALED DOWN, YOU WERE, YOU WERE, UH, JOKINGLY, YOU USED A PHRASE AND I WON'T, I WON'T REPEAT THAT PHRASE DURING THIS MEETING, BUT I AGREE WITH RICH.
I THINK IF, IF TY AND BRAD AND OTHERS GETS A SENSE THAT SOME OF THIS STUFF IS SERIOUS AND HAS LEGS, UH, THEN, UH, WE NEED TO BE ON THE GROUND, UH, FACE TO FACE WITH THE STUFF.
OTHERWISE WE'RE CHASING THE KITE, YOU KNOW, ON THESE.
UM, SO, BUT I WOULD BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, 10 YEARS AGO, SOME OF THIS STUFF WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN BEEN THOUGHT OF, BUT NOW AS SOON AS YOU SAY, YOU KNOW, NO, THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
NO, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND THIS ENVIRONMENT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.
SO I WENT FOR, TO BRAD AND ENTERED INTO THAI AS, AS RICH SAID, AND IF THEY WERE GOING TO SENSE THAT, THAT, UM, THIS THING IS GOING TO GET GRA GRAB LEGS AND WALK, THEN WE NEED TO BE ON THE GROUND, UM, UH, DOWN THERE.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'VE LEARNED IS NUMBER ONE, UH, AND I USE THE TERM EDUCATION LOOSELY TRYING TO EDUCATE LEGISLATORS ON ISSUES.
UM, YOU PROBABLY HAVE, UH, PROBABLY A, A 5% SUCCESS RATE IF, IF THAT MUCH.
SO I THINK TWO THINGS, I THINK, UH, IF WE NEED TO DO WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE BRAND, UM, OR LETTER TO THEM, AND THEN WRAP IT UP, IF WE THINK IT'S GOING TO, UM, IT'S GOING TO TAKE LEGS BECAUSE I THINK ONE OF THE STRATEGIES FROM EVERYTHING I'VE READ SO FAR IN THIS SESSION, IT'S KIND OF A SCATTER SHOOT AND DIVIDE AND CONQUER.
SO I'M SAYING LET'S SAVE THAT, SAY RACK, SAVE IRL.
I CAPITAL, IF YOU WILL, FOR THINGS WHO NEED PULL THE TRIGGER, ITS OWN THINGS THAT HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT, BUT SORT OF KEEP OUR EYES AND EARS THROUGH BRAND AND TIE ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, CLOSE TO THE GROUND.
UH, JUST WATCH CAUSE EVERYTHING IN THE AIR OR NOT JETS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM OR A PRO PROP DESK, YOU KNOW, JUST MAKING NOISE.
SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, I'M FOLLOWING THEIR LEAD ON THIS, BUT NOT, I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS I'M NOT TAKING ANYTHING FOR GRANTED, NOT DOING SESSIONS.
THAT'S WHERE I AM, BUT I DEFINITELY, IF WE HAD SAID, YOU KNOW, BRAD TIE, THEY S THEY SENT SOMEBODY UP THE FLAG POLE AND LET US TELL US THAT, HEY, THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE PREPARED THEN TO DEMOBILIZE IN WHATEVER FASHION THAT THEY THINK IS BEST.
[00:25:01]
THANKS, SIR.UM, YOU SAID THAT ALL OF THESE HAD GOTTEN COMMITTEE REFERRALS.
HAVE ANY OF THEM ACTUALLY GOTTEN HEARD? OH, NO.
THESE WERE MAJOR ON OUR TRACKING LIST.
I SEE SO FAR AS I KNOW, BUT I WAS TRYING TO GIVE YOU A FLAVOR FOR WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
UM, AND LET ME GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT WOULD, I WOULD NOT ADVISE YOU, UH, TO BE INVOLVED IN A LOT OF THESE EVERY THEN THEY'RE MORE OR LESS TINKERING BILLS THAT, UM, PROVIDE SOME KIND OF SPECIALIZED TACTIC OR A HOMESTEADING SAY FOR DISABLED BEDROOMS OR, UH, THE SPOUSE OF, UM, UH, THE SERVICE MEMBER IS KILLED AND THERE ARE LOTS OF FLAVORS.
SO THERE YOU THINK THEY'D BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH ONE COVERS ALL OF THESE BEDS.
WE SEE DOZENS OF THEM EVERY YEAR.
WE'RE NEVER STANDING IN FRONT OF THOSE.
UM, THEY'RE, WELL-INTENTIONED, UM, THEY, THEY DON'T HAVE A HIGH COST BECAUSE THEY DON'T COVER THAT MANY PEOPLE.
UM, THE LEGISLATURE ALLOWS THEM BECAUSE IT DOESN'T COST THEM A DIME THEY'RE GIVING AWAY PROPERTY TAX.
UM, SO THOSE, WE WOULD SAY COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS WAS SAYING, IF WE SEE SOMETHING, UM, IT SAT FOR A COMMITTEE HEARING.
UM, YEAH, SOMETIMES I FALL OFF.
UH, SOMETIMES WE RUN AROUND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE THERE AND I STILL DON'T GET HURT.
UM, BUT WE SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE, UM, A LETTER THAT WE COULD SUBMIT IF WE CAN'T MAKE IT DOWN THERE PHYSICALLY OR A ONE PAGER, UH, AS WE CALL THEM, UH, TO HAVE, UM, TO PRESENT IT TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
I DOUBT IT WOULD MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO THE BILL OFFER AND THE OFFER.
NO, I CAN COME BACK THERE FROM ONCE THEY'VE ALREADY SUBMITTED, ALTHOUGH EVEN THERE, IF THERE'S SOME DEFECT IN THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE USE, OR IF THEY'RE OPEN TO CHANGES TO MAKE IT MORE WORKABLE, SEVENTIES BUILDS YOU CAN'T FIX THE 25% OR, OR MORE SAY, I THINK IT'S CONSTITUTIONALLY DEFECTIVE, BUT, UM, I DOUBT THE AUTHOR WENT BACK THERE AND POINTED THAT OUT TO THEM.
BRETT, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? JUST SORT OF THIS, JUST TELL ME IF IT'S OFF THE WALL.
IS, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO PREPARE LIKE A TEMPLATE OR SONOMA SKELETON LETTER TO HAVE READY WHEN YOU THINK, HEY, WE NEED TO SEND, WE NEED TO SHOOT SOMEBODY A LETTER, YOU KNOW, ON THESE, THESE POINTS THAT SORT OF READY TO GO, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU TIE THAT TO FILL IN THE BLANKS, YOU KNOW, THE MEAT OF IT.
SO THAT WHEN THAT COME WITH WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHAT DO YOU, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? COULD WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT? AND WOULD THAT BE BENEFICIAL AT ALL? I WISH WE COULD.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE GREAT IF WE COULD SEND A LETTER AS A WAY TO POSE, BECAUSE THIS IS A REALLY NONSENSICAL BILL OR SOMETHING, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE MORE EXPLANATORY.
AND THEN, SO, UM, IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, WE HAVE TO TAILOR THEM TO EACH BILL AND WHICH MEANS WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE BILL AND FIND PARTICULAR POINTS AND SAYING, THIS WON'T WORK BECAUSE OF THIS.
AND SO I DON'T REALLY HAVE TO BE LENGTHY, RIGHT.
AND THAT'S WHY WE CALL THEM ONE PAGERS.
THEY DO HAVE TO HAVE SOME TAILOR MADE BULLET POINTS.
SO TO GET OUR MESSAGE ACROSS, IF THEY'RE NOT, I THINK WE CAN DO A LOT OF GOOD WORK OF THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
IF WE CAN GET ONE OR ALL, THREE OF Y'ALL TO GIVE US AN ODD SIGN OFF ON THEM OR WHATEVER.
UM, BECAUSE A LETTER FROM ME ISN'T GOING TO MEAN ANYTHING.
I KNOW I TELL YOU ALL THAT OVER AND OVER, BUT IF QUICK CAN PREVAIL UPON ONE OR ALL THREE, FIND THIS LETTER, UM, AND, AND GET A DOWNER.
[00:30:01]
DOUBT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET ALL THREE OF YOU THERE FOR THAT.THEN WE'LL GET IT SAT DOWN THERE.
UM, SOMETIMES, UM, WE, WE PUT TOGETHER THAT ONE PAGER AND TRY TO GO TO EITHER, UH, PEOPLE WE THINK ARE RECEPTIVE TO OUR MESSAGE WHO WERE ON THAT COMMITTEE, UM, NOT, OR OUR LOCAL DELEGATION, PEOPLE WHO ARE RECEPTIVE TO OUR MESSAGE.
UM, AND THEN, UH, TRY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMITTEE HEARING.
UM, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU'LL FIND BILLS GET PUSHED OFF UNTIL THE NIGHT THAT HERE IT'S FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
YOU GOTTA TURN AROUND AND COME BACK.
THERE'S NO WAY YOU'RE GOING TO GET A HEARING YOUR PORTION.
QUESTION WAS SHARON STARTS QUESTION FOR LAURA SHE'S SHE'S MUTED.
ARE YOU BEGINNING TO SEE ANY COMMUNICATIONS OUT OF TML ON AND IF SO, CAN YOU JUST REACH THEM? WHAT'S IT, ARE THEY STARTING TO GENERATE, UH, I DON'T WANT TO JUST 10 POSITION PAPERS, BUT TO ADDRESS, ARE THEY STARTING THE PAPER FLOW TO, AS, AS THE LEGISLATURE MOVES, MOVES INTO SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSIONS, ARE YOU SAY, ARE WE SEEING ANYTHING, ANY NOW TO ADVISORIES ANYTHING'S COMING OUT OF TIA MAIL TO THE CITIES? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? ABSOLUTELY.
UM, SO TML HAS BEEN PROVIDING, UH, SUMMARIES OF MANY OF THE CITY RELATED BILLS, UM, WHICH ARE VERY HELPFUL AND THAT'S ACTUALLY ON THEIR WEBSITE.
UM, THEY PROVIDE WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATES ON, UM, BILLS TO LOOK OUT FOR.
AND SO, UM, I KNOW WE, UH, WE CERTAINLY USE THAT AND THEY'VE, UM, BEEN TRYING TO GATHER AS MUCH INFORMATION, UM, PERTAINING TO DIFFERENT, UM, I GUESS, HOT TOPICS.
UM, HOW CERTAIN BILLS WILL IMPACT CITIES, WHETHER THAT'S FINANCIALLY OR, UM, JUST, UM, PERSONNEL WISE, I GUESS, HUMAN CAPITAL WISE.
UM, SO THEY HAVE BEEN, UM, OUTSIDE OF THE BILL SUMMARIES AND, UM, JUST KIND OF COORDINATING, UH, CITIES.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY PARTICULAR, UH, PAPERS, UM, OR POSITION PAPERS, BUT THEY'VE BEEN MORE OF COORDINATING CITIES.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF LETTERS THAT HAVE GONE OUT TO SOME OF THE DELEGATION.
UM, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF BRAD WANTED TO ADD TO THAT OR, WELL, THANKS TO YOU BECAUSE I'VE LOOKED AT SOME OF THE SUMMARIES ON THE WEBSITE.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF ANYTHING ELSE, IF THEY WERE POSTURING TO SOME GET STUNNING, THE BEGAN TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE FOCUSED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BECAUSE I'VE LOOKED AT, YOU KNOW, I'VE GONE OUT TO THE WEBSITE AND LOOKED AT THAT.
SO THANKS VERY MUCH THINGS, JIM, SOMETIMES WE GET SPECIALIZED, UM, BILL ATTACHMENTS FROM, UM, VERY, UH, THE BUILDING OFFICIALS GROUP, OR THERE ARE GROUPS LIKE ON A GAS BILL CASH FOR LETTING ME BUILD A GROUP OF CITIES THAT HAS, UH, THE ADMINS, CITIES, STEERING COMMITTEE MORE INVOLVED IN AND WRITE IN INCREASE REQUESTS.
BUT THAT GROUP ALSO ANALYZES, UH, BILLS AND ARE SPECIFIC TO, UM, SOME OF THESE ISSUES LIKE GAS REGULATION.
UM, AND, UH, IF, IF SOMETHING COMES UP THAT WE THINK THAT WE ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN, IF WE CAN FIND SOME MATERIAL, WE'LL FORWARD THOSE ON TO YOU, BUT SOMETIMES MORE IN FIVE THAN, UH, UH, DANIELLE DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB ON GIVING BILLS, BUT, UH, THEY SOMETIMES DON'T HAVE ALL THE DETAILS OR THE KNOWLEDGE IS A NEW PILL, OR ARE WE SEEING ANYTHING? I WONDER IF GIVEN THE STORM AND WHATNOT AND THE ISSUES WITH ERCOT T P
[00:35:01]
AND L AND EVERYTHING, IF WE NEED TO, UM, MAKE SOME REVISIONS TO OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA OR KEEP A PARTICULAR EYE OUT, UM, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT BILLS THAT MIGHT NOW TRY TO TAKE IT, YOU KNOW, AS, AS THE LEGISLATURE TRIES TO FIX THESE ISSUES, UM, BILLS THAT MIGHT IMPACT, UH, THAT MIGHT IMPACT G P AND L OR THAT MIGHT IMPACT, UM, OUR ABILITY TO EVEN OWN GP.AND I'M, I'M WORRIED THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO TAKE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT I'VE SEEN ENOUGH, JUST KIND OF STRAIGHT COMMENTS IN THE PRESS AND ELSEWHERE THAT TRY TO THROW ROCKS AT MUNICIPALITIES OR MUNICIPALLY OWNED UTILITIES.
I THINK THE BRAZOS, UH, BANKRUPTCY IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE, UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT US, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY SEE SOMEBODY SAYING CC THE REAL PROBLEM HERE WAS THE MUNICIPALS.
AND SO WE NEED TO ELIMINATE THEM.
SO I'M VERY WORRIED THAT I MIGHT QUICKLY NEED TO BECOME ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES IS TO DEFEND GPL, UH, TO THAT.
UM, MR. BRADFORD, UH, PUNCH IN HERE IN JUST A SECOND.
UH, I BEEN SPEAKING WITH THE MAYOR ON, UH, WHETHER OR NOT WE WANTED TO TAKE THE COMMITTEE APPROACH THERE, OR IF WE WANTED TO UTILIZE, UH, THE FULL COUNCIL AND HAVE REGULAR SPECIAL EMERGENCY MEETINGS AS NEEDED BECAUSE G P AND L IS SUCH A BIG PIECE OF US FINANCIALLY.
AND, UH, I THINK WE, RIGHT NOW WE'RE OPTING FOR FULL COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF EACH OF THOSE ISSUES ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS.
UH, BUT WE'LL NEED TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
UM, WELL, THOSE OF YOU WHO, UH, HAVE, HAVE HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF HAVING TO VISIT WITH ME LIGHTLY KNOW THAT THAT IS MY NUMBER ONE CONCERN RIGHT NOW.
AND, UM, UH, I FEEL STRONGLY, IT SHOULD BE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, AS FAR AS THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION GIVEN, GIVEN THE, UH, CATASTROPHIC IMPACT A NEGATIVE LEGISLATION COULD HAVE ON US.
UM, I'VE, I'VE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME OVER AT GP NOW THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
AND I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO, TO BRIAN TOGETHER FOR THIS COMMITTEE OR, OR FOR THE FULL COUNCIL, UH, ALL OF, ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING, UH, I THINK RAY SHORTNER CAN BE A PARTICULARLY INSIGHTFUL RIGHT NOW RAISED DOWN THERE IN AUSTIN.
HE, UH, HE KNOWS THE PLAYERS VERY WELL.
HIS COUSIN IS ACTUALLY THE ONE WHO IS PROPOSING THE MOST DAMAGING LEGISLATION.
UH, AND SO, UH, I, I REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR THE COMMITTEE OR THE FULL COUNCIL TO HAVE TO HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF HEARING FROM, FROM ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE VISITING WITH THESE DAYS, PLUS WE'VE HAD A LOT OF, OF ZOOM CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND WE CAN, CAN PROVIDE SOME, SOME INSIGHT THERE.
UM, BRAD, I GUESS ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS, IS, IS, IS THERE A WAY TO DISCUSS SOME OF THIS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, GIVEN THE, THE VERY SENSITIVE NATURE OF THIS AND, AND THE IMPLICATIONS THAT COULD COME OUT OF IT? I THINK WE'D HAVE TO AN AFRICAN, UH, UM, UM, ANY SPECIFIC, UM, UH, COMPETITIVE PATTERN AND KIND OF TURN ACQUIRE AND INFORMATION.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN LEERY OF ADDING DISCUSSIONS OF GENERAL LEGISLATIVE MATTERS AND SANCTION THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE PARTICULAR TO GARLAND.
IT'S NOT, UM, INFORMATION THAT I, AS AN ATTORNEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO RELATE.
SO, UH, IT WOULD FALL WITHIN THE REALM OF ATTORNEY PRIOR, AND THEN THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE SO, UM, SPECIFIC TO THE OPERATION.
THEY BECOME COMPETITIVE MATTERS.
YES, I HAVE, UH, WHAT THAT AGENDA LOOKS LIKE.
OKAY, WELL, YOU, YOU AND I CAN, CAN MAYBE WORK ON THAT TOGETHER AND THEN FIND A DATE WHEN ALL THE PARTIES WOULD, WOULD BE AVAILABLE.
UH, CHAIRMAN ARE, UH, UH, ARE YOU PREFERRING THIS THEN TO GO TO THE, TO THE FULL COUNCIL OR HERE FIRST? I HAVE NO PREFERENCE, SIR.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN, WE'RE CERTAINLY MORE NIMBLE AS A THREE-PERSON BODY, UH, AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO GET TOGETHER AND HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS, UH, EITHER DIRECTION WOULD GO, I'D LIKE THE MAYOR TO, TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THAT CALL AS TO WHETHER IT COMES TO US FIRST OR THE FULL BODY.
[00:40:01]
OKAY.IT'S CHAIRMAN EVERY ONE QUESTION, PLEASE.
UM, BRETT, LET ME ASK YOU THE DYNAMICS, IF THE DISCUSSION, WHETHER WE WERE IN OPEN HER EXECUTIVE SESSION, IF THE DISCUSSION, PARTICULARLY IN EXECUTIVE SESSION INVOLVED, ONE OR MORE OF OUR LEGISLATORS, THE INFORMATION THAT MAY BE DISCUSSED IN THOSE SESSIONS, IT'S USUALLY CONFIDENTIAL THAT WOULD NOT EXTEND TO OUR LEGISLATORS.
AM I CORRECT OR NOT? SO, AS TO WHETHER WE DO, WHETHER WE DO THIS IN A PUBLIC FORUM OR PRIVATE, BUT I'M THINKING IF WE WANT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ROUND AND INVITED LEGISLATORS, WHAT, IF ANY CONDITIONS WOULD ADDRESS THEM IF, IF THOSE DISCUSSIONS INCLUDED, UM, INFORMATION THAT NORMALLY WOULD NOT BE RELATED TO THE PUBLIC, UM, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE VISITORS VISIT WITH I HAVE TO DO IT.
UM, JUST, UH, ONE THING THAT I PICKED UP FROM MY CONTEXT ON THERE, AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE OBVIOUS TO ME BEFORE IS THAT THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF DESIRE, UH, ON A LOT OF LEGISLATORS PARTS TO MOVE FROM A PROPERTY TAX TO A CONSUMPTION TAX ACROSS THE BOARD.
AND I'VE MADE THE ARGUMENT REPEATEDLY THAT WE, YOU KNOW, FEUDALISM WAS TRIED AND IT'S A BAD IDEA.
UM, BECAUSE THEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO OWN LAND AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S STUCK ONLY RENTING IT.
AND THERE'S NEVER ANY REASON TO, TO GET RID OF LAND EVER.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THEY BELIEVE THAT IF THEY CAN DEFEND THE CITIES USING EVERY APPROACH POSSIBLE, UH, THAT WILL BE FORCED INTO A CONSUMPTION TAX MODEL AND, AND LANDFILL ESSENTIALLY BE, UH, A FREEBIE FOR ETERNITY.
AND SO THAT'S THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
UH, AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FIGHTING, THAT'S THE MENTALITY.
SO JUST HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THAT PUTS THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE, THE, THESE AREN'T, THE, THE, THE, THE BILLS AREN'T, AREN'T ROOTED IN COMPLETE STUPIDITY.
UM, THERE, THERE IS A METHOD THERE, AND THERE'S A REASON.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE FIGHT THAT OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO USE COMMON SENSE AND, AND KEEP TRYING TO WIN HEARTS AND MINDS IN THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH SEEMS AS MR. WILLIAMS, YOU SAID YOU GOT ABOUT A 5% CHANCE OF GETTING THROUGH TO PEOPLE.
SO MR. NEIGHBOR, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANTED TO BRING FORWARD TODAY? NO, SIR.
UM, JUST WANTED TO GET YOU PUT YOUR ATTENTION ON THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, UH, FROM THE ACCOUNT OR FROM A COMMITTEE.
UM, YOU WANT US TO TAKE UP THESE BATTLES TOURNAMENTS ON NEW RAIL FOR US, UH, FROM WHAT I GATHERED YES.
UM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BECOME MORE IMPORTANT TO US AND, UH, WORKING ON SENATORS SPEAK TO, AND WE'LL START DOING THAT.
WE'LL TRY TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN THESE, AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW, AS WE DISCUSSED DURING THE MEETING, UM, WE NEED YOUR HELP.
WE WANT TO REALLY STEP IN AND HELP US OUT.
AND THEREFORE IT, IF, UH, AS, AS WE GET FURTHER INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, IF YOU CAN LET US KNOW WHAT PHASE THESE BILLS ARE IN, UH, THAT YOU BRING TO US AND WHO THE AUTHOR WAS, UH, BECAUSE I HAVE THE FEELING WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF COMMONALITIES AND, AND, UH, THE AUTHORSHIP, UM, JUST THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE POP INTO MIND RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
AND I KNOW THAT MANY OF THEIR BILLS WON'T SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY.
SO, UM, WE JUST NEED TO KNOW WHO THE SERIOUS PLAYERS ARE AND WHERE WE NEED TO SPEND OUR, OUR LIMITED RESOURCES AS MR. WILLIAMS SAID REPEATEDLY.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S THE LESSON WE WANT TO CARRY AWAY FROM TODAY IS JUST USE OUR WISELY AND, UM, GO, GO UP AGAINST THE WORST OF THIS STUFF AND SEE WHAT WE CAN SEE WHAT WE CAN COME OUT WITH.
ONE WAY, WHEN WE GET OUR BILL TRACKING WAS WE LOOKED AT, FOR EXAMPLE, CLASSMATE, TELECAR BILL TRACKING.
WHEN WE GET MORE DISTILLED, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SHARE IT WITH YOU.
AND YOU'LL SEE, AS, AS SOMETHING COMES CLOSER TO GETTING A COMMITMENT HEARING, IF IT'S MOVING,
[00:45:01]
BECAUSE IT HAS THAT KIND OF GREEN DOT TRAFFIC SIGNAL TO IT, IT STARTS PICKING UP GREEN DOTS.WELL, VERY GOOD MEMBERS, STAFF.
DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE WE WANT TO BRING UP TODAY BEFORE WE FINISH UP HERE? ALL RIGHT.
IT IS 4:45 PM AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.