We want to thank our TOA members who are taking the time to fill out our brief surveys. The latest survey on workers' comp billing and collections (silent PPOs or "ghosting") indicates there is a larger problem than we initially thought. We would like to thank Dr. Stephen Wilson for submitting this short survey. The results are very interesting. Click here to view the Survey Results.

State Representative Veronica Gonzales was first elected in November, 2004 to represent District 41 in the Texas House of Representatives. District 41 is contained entirely in Hidalgo County and includes portions of McAllen, Edinburg, and Mission. Representative Gonzales sits on the Judiciary, and Public Health Committees. She is the first female elected to represent District 41.

Representative Gonzales distinguished herself during her first session

among her colleagues by passing the highest percentage of bills by any Democrat legislator in the House and was subsequently recognized as Freshman of the Year by the Mexican-American Legislative Caucus and named a legislator to watch by the Texas Observer and as an Emerging Leader by the Dallas Morning News.

Representative Gonzales was raised in San Marcos, Texas. She is the eldest daughter and has two younger brothers.  As the first in her family to go to college, Gonzales understands the importance of a quality education.  To remain close to her family, she attended Southwest Texas State University. She earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Spanish while working full-time and graduated cum laude 1986. After completing her undergraduate studies, she enrolled in the University Of Texas School Of Law and earned her Doctorate of Jurisprudence in 1991.

Following graduation and being admitted to the Bar, Representative Gonzales moved to McAllen and began practicing law at Jarvis and Kittleman, P.C. where she became a partner after only four years.   She joined her partners to create a successful firm where she continues to practice law at Kittleman, Thomas & Gonzales, LLP.

During the 80th Legislature, Rep. Gonzales has filed legislation that would restore full health coverage for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), promotes prevention of STDs and reduces unplanned pregnancies through increased access to preventative health care services and education programs.  She also filed legislation that requires any seller to disclose if they have knowledge that the house was previously used as a methamphetamine lab.  This bill would protect not only any buyer from the hazardous long-term effects of toxic residue, but the realtor from liability from selling the house.

Her commitment to youth advocacy has made Rep. Gonzales a popular featured speaker at commencements and student functions at South Texas College government panel and Young Texas Democrats at UTPA.  At the Capitol, she has visited with countless students to encourage civic participation and involvement with student government. Representative Gonzales is a member the American Heart Association and supports local community advocacy causes such as the Miracle Riders Bicycle Team, which raises awareness and supports research for histiocytosis.  She serves as an Education Advisory Board Member for South Texas College and as an Advisory Counsel Member to Texas Rural Legal Aid. Rep. Gonzales is active in  McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and has been recognized by the Veterans of Foreign War and the South Texas School District Association for community involvement.

Email Veronica Gonzales to thank her for her work!
[top] [back to e-card archive page]

By Mignon McGarry
TOA Legislative Advocate / Memos: Thu Apr. 12 & Tue Apr. 10, 2007
TOA Online Version: All Memos

April 12, 2007, Thursday
The Senate took up their version of the budget bill today. The debate was considerably shorter than the 16 hour House budget debate, largely

because of the Senate’s practice of not introducing floor amendments on budget bills.

Present to vote on the budget was Senator Mario Gallegos (D-Houston), who has been recovering from a liver transplant back home. This was his first appearance on the Senate floor since opening day.

The Senate approved the budget by a vote of 26 to 5.  It now heads to a conference committee made up of five Representatives appointed by the Speaker and five Senators appointed by the Lt. Governor. The identity of the ten conferees is still up in the air.

Meanwhile, intense negotiations continue at the committee level in both the House and Senate. House committees have until the first week in May to get bills out of committee and set on a House calendar before May 8^th, the date the last House Calendar with House bills must be printed and distributed.

The Senate has roughly a week more to get Senate bills out of Senate committees.

As these deadlines approach, bills heard on the House or Senate floor quickly become potential vehicles for legislation still languishing in committee.

April 10, 2007, Tuesday
It is now the fourteenth week of the session and the pace at the Capitol will increase steadily until we run out of road on May 28.

Although this legislature has broken the record, established in 1999 when George W. Bush was governor, for the number of bills filed, the constitution only requires they pass one—the budget. The Senate Finance committee passed their budget bill out of committee today and we expect it to be heard on the Senate floor Thursday.

Late last week, the question about how much money is on the table for the budget was clarified somewhat when the state reached a tentative settlement in Frew v. Hawkins, the 14 year old class action lawsuit regarding the claim that Texas did not provide adequate care to children enrolled in the Medicaid program.

The latest figure we have on the state’s settlement is $706.7 million over the upcoming two year budget cycle. This sum is significantly better than the multi billion dollar amounts being bandied about at the beginning of the session.

The final agreement is due to federal Judge William Wayne Justice on April 27, but both sides told the judge in a hearing Monday that they were satisfied with the settlement.

At issue now is whether the judge will require a June hearing to review the state’s budget to ensure settlement funds are secure. The state says it’s not necessary but the plaintiffs would like one. Judge Justice adjourned Monday’s hearing without ruling on it.

Meanwhile, another issue impacting this budget is Texas’ 2007 Water Plan. Legislators are currently wrestling with how to address the recommendations from regional and state planners to spend $30.7 billion over the next decade on a new round of reservoirs, pipelines and other infrastructure needed to stretch our water resources.
[top] [back to e-card archive page]