Trey Martinez Fischer, a state representative, has been going to Austin for legislative sessions ever since he was first chosen in 2000.
But this year, according to the San Antonio Democrat, is apart from all the others.
“My eleventh term is now. There are always great ideas but no money whenever I come here,” he said. As a result, Martinez Fischer said on Inside Texas Politics, “we now have some money to invest in our employees. “And let’s see who has a better plan for assisting middle-class Texans as they battle through what we know to be a very difficult period.”
‘Small Bit of Money’
A “small bit of money” is an understatement of the size of Texas.
How to spend a record $32.7 billion budget surplus will be decided by lawmakers. That amount exceeds the total budgets of 29 other states.
The majority of the focus leading up to the session has been on lowering our property taxes, but Rep. Martinez Fischer claims it wouldn’t benefit all Texans, particularly renters.
The Democrat says he’d want to talk about the concept of giving Texans their own personal inflation aid payments.
Given how often Republicans talk about liberty and choice, he contends, why not allow Texans to choose how to spend their own money?
“We are aware of the hardships. This will be given to you,” he said. “You have the option to purchase medication if you so want. If you want to reduce your taxes, you can. You wish to assist your child in covering the expensive college costs. You’ll get that flexibility from us,” he added.
Significant Role
Martinez Fischer will play a significant role in the discussion and bring a distinct political energy to the post as the next chair of the Democratic caucus in the Texas House.
He recalls his time playing linebacker at Oliver Wendell Holmes High School in San Antonio and claims that he still only has two speeds: on and off.
“There are two things you can do when you get to Austin: either come here to be liked or come here to be feared. In all honesty, I receive all of my affection at home, right? It’s business when I come up here,” Martinez Fischer remarked.
Other Reports, Texas Laws
The Texas Legislature’s 2023 session began this week in Austin, marking just another instance of our state’s legislative body grappling with difficulties of the twenty-first century while operating under a state constitution that is 147 years old.
While the majority of state legislatures in the US convene annually, the legislature only meets every other year.
Add to it the fact that Texas has very short legislative sessions for a state with its size and number of issues. While most other state politicians gather for somewhere between six months and a full year, lawmakers only meet for 140 days.
The governor of Texas has the authority to convoke a special legislative session and summon the Texas legislature back to Austin.
