Texas is one of the few states still using the bicameral legislative session. This current Texas legislature is based on the needs of Texas when the presently enforced Constitution was written. The Texas legislature is only in session every odd numbered year for 140 days. Even though special sessions are limitless in the Texas legislature it would be more efficient to give Texas a full time legislature. This would help with planning things such as the state’s budget since the legislature would no longer have to plan out a budget two years at a time giving the state a more relevant budget.
Currently Texas legislatures are some of the lowest paid legislatures in the country earning a meager $17,920 a year for a regular session. For a group of people that are planning out the future of our state and making important decisions on the future of our state this amount of compensation is ridiculously low. And if the legislature session would be extended to a full time legislative session a increase in legislatures compensation would be even more necessary. Also if the compensation was raised it would bring in better qualified candidates for representatives of the legislature.
The Texas Constitution should be amended so that the legislative is better equipped for the states needs today rather than the needs of when the Constitution was written. The legislative sessions should be lengthened to year round sessions. Also the legislatures should be better compensated to match the amount and importance of work they put in.
1 comment:
While I agree with the Texas Legislature in need of Change by Cory Gurganus and believe it would be greatly beneficial to have a full time legislation, I do not think that the legislate would be so inclined to amend the Constitution in a manner that would only require them to work more, even if we did raise their pay. I mean, we all know that their compensation is not much, but we also know that there has to be another reason why they do it.
I too, would like to believe that by making Texas a full-time legislature it would not only bring in a better level of representation, it would also greatly improve our financials. However, I just can’t seem to find that same level of confidence.
How many times were they warned about the budget and precautionary measures they should be taking? Yet, this did not stop them from over spending and we can’t be mad at anyone but ourselves when it comes to our current representation; we appointed/voted them there.
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