Traylor & Associates News

Get to know these two men. One of them will most like be our next Lt. Governor.

Most Still Think Government Workers Better Off Than Those in Private Sector

Most Still Think Government Workers Better Off Than Those in Private Sector

Obama faces big week on $447B jobs bill

Obama faces big week on $447B jobs bill

Chandler To Consider ‘In God We Trust' Motto In Chambers

Chandler To Consider ‘In God We Trust' Motto In Chambers

Kilgore City Council taps new city manager

Council taps new city manager

Housing Advocates Welcome "New Sheriff in Town"

BY JOHN HENNEBERGER



JERRY PATTERSON

 Readers will recall Governor Perry passed responsibility for the Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Dolly disaster recovery programs to Texas General Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson effective July 1. This afternoon I met with Gary Hagood, Deputy Commissioner of GLO and the new man responsible for overseeing the program.

Also present were two of Hagood’s key lieutenants, Sandra Dodd and Jorge Ramirez. Hagood has been at GLO 25 years. He impresses me as someone ready to shake things up and get the disaster relief flowing. He now serves as Deputy Commissioner for Financial Management overseeing 100 GLO employees. Hagood allowed that he is used to managing big projects. While still in his 20′s Hagood says he oversaw the transfer of child support from DHS to the Office of the Attorney General. More recently, he oversaw the $40 million GLO effort to clean up Texas beaches after Hurricane Ike. He got that done quickly.

The $3.1 billion CDBG disaster recovery program is many times the size of those programs.
Like his boss Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, Hagood is a genuine Texan. He expresses himself emphatically and makes clear he is prepared to make decisions and shake things up. It appears the Governor has given Patterson the authority to run the CDBG disaster recovery program how he thinks best. That means Hagood will have a chance to make good on his promise of change and efficiency. Read More

City Officials Hail New Disaster Chief

GALVESTON — Cities such as Galveston and Houston, where Hurricane Ike rebuilding efforts are lagging, could lose federal disaster funding if they don't manage their programs properly, says the state official who recently took charge of recovery efforts.

"If they are not getting it done, I'm going to hold the cities and counties responsible," said Gary Haygood, deputy commissioner of financial management for the Texas General Land Office. "Either the funds will be in jeopardy, or they will be reallocated to another area." Read More

What's Great About America

Special article reposted...Whats Great About America...Have a Happy 4th, and Stay cool everybody!

SB 1 Confirms Transfer of TXCDBG to Agriculture; TDHCA Gets 2-Year Extension

SB 1, approved by both Chambers of the Texas Legislature, has now been sent to Governor Perry for his signature.  Among the numerous provisions of the bill are two (2) sections that are of particular importance to local governments in Texas:

Article 62. Transferring Texas Department of Rural Affairs (TDRA) to Office of Rural Affairs Within Texas Department of Agriculture.  This abolishes TDRA, accomplishing the wishes of Governor Perry, as expressed in his State of State Address back in January. Current employees of TDRA will become employees of the Office of Rural Affairs in the Department of Agriculture.  This will place operation of the federally-funded Texas Community Development Block Grant Program under the oversight of Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples.  Many local leaders have called for this change, expressing a desire for the Program's operation to be guided by a statewide elected official, instead of an independent Board.

Article 74. Operation and Administration of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). Governor Perry vetoed TDHCA's Sunset Bill over disagreement with objectionable language regarding future response to natural disasters. His veto effectively abolished TDHCA, effective September 1, 2011.  Article 74 in SB 1, absent authorization in a future Sunset Bill, abolishes the agency on September 1, 2013.  So, if signed by the Governor, SB 1 grants TDHCA a two-year reprieve, and ensures additional review of Agency operations and effectiveness by the Texas Sunset Commission, in the interim period until the next Legislature meets in 2013.

Non-disaster CDBG Headed to Agriculture

Today both Chambers of the Texas Legislature approved the Conference Committee version of SB 2.  Primarily a bill about financing Texas education, SB 2 also provided funds for the transfer of non-disaster CDBG funds from TDRA to the Texas Department of Agriculture;

SECTION 32. Texas Department of Rural Affairs: Transfer of Functions. Contingent on enactment of SB1, 82nd Legisalture, First Called Session, 2011, or other similar legislation providing for transfer of all functions of the Texas Department of Rural Affairs:

(a) All appropriations, FTE's, riders, and measures for TDRA in HB 1, 82 Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, for all non-disaster relief funding purposes, including Community Development Block Grant planning grant funds, are hereby transferred and appropriated to the Texas Department of Agriculture."

(b) The Legislative Budget Boad shall work with the affected agencies on an agreement for the proper amount and allocation of appropriations, FTEs, measures, and riders.  The LBB shall approve the allocation agreements by August 31, 2011, and will resolve any allocation issues that arise thereafter.

(c) The Legislative Budget Board shall make all necessary adjustments as a result of this section to the bill patterns of the affected agencies.

Robert E. Bob Layton Jr. Obituary: View Robert Layton's Obituary by Tyler Morning Telegraph

Robert E. Bob Layton Jr. Obituary: View Robert Layton's Obituary by Tyler Morning Telegraph

News Update from Gary R. Traylor

For results of Vidor Mayoral Runoff Election, click here

http://setxhomepage.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=141027

GOVERNOR'S VETO WOULD ALLOW TDHCA TO EXPIRE

Last Friday the Governor vetoed the Sunset Bill for the State’s housing department, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, citing objections to requirements placed in the Sunset Bill at the behest of the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission that called for better planning for disaster recovery programs before the next disaster hits Texas.

Our sources in the Capitol indicate that a deal has been reached that will extend TDHCA's existence for two more years.  The vetoed bill would have continued the agency until 2023.

Excerpt from Governor Perry's veto proclamation:

"House Bill 2608 is the sunset bill for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). This bill would adopt the majority of the changes recommended by the Sunset Commission, most of which are technical clarifications on administrative procedures. The bill would continue the operations of the agency until 2023.

However, overly prescriptive language was added to House Bill 2608 that would impose a new layer of bureaucracy that makes unrealistic demands of the state, delay assistance to communities hit by disasters and duplicate disaster planning conducted by the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
While this language may have been well-intentioned, in many instances it would require the state to issue plans for expenditure of federal disaster recovery funds before federal agencies have announced the rules governing the expenditure of those funds.

I do not take lightly the impact this veto may have in potentially shutting down TDHCA over the next year. That is why I have asked the legislature during this special session to amend language in pending legislation to continue the operation of TDHCA.

Since the Eighty-second Texas Legislature, Regular Session, by its adjournment has prevented the return of this bill, I am filing these objections in the office of the Secretary of State and giving notice thereof by this public proclamation according to the aforementioned constitutional provision."

TPWD Suspends Grant Programs

The 82nd Texas Legislature has suspended all Texas Recreation and Parks Account (TRPA), and all Large County & Municipality Recreation and Parks Account funding for the FY 2012-2013 biennium. The following grant programs are affected by these cuts; Outdoor Recreation, Indoor Recreation, Small Community, Urban Outdoor, Urban Indoor, and the Community Outdoor Outreach Program. Limited federal funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund may be available for some of these programs. Please check our website periodically for updates.

Disaster CDBG Transferred to Texas General Land Office

Governor Rick Perry

The Texas General Land Office (GLO) has been designated by Governor Perry as the lead agency for the state of Texas Hurricanes Dolly and Ike Disaster Recovery Program, effective July 1, 2011. All Round 1 grant contract and Service Provider contracts will also transfer to the GLO.


In a letter dated June 17 Texas Governor Rick Perry informed HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan that as of July 1 he is formally transferring designation of the state agency responsible for the administration of CDBG disaster recovery funds for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike and Dolly to Texas General Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson.


The Governor states that the land office has committed to hiring disaster recovery staff from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Texas Department of Rural Affairs, “so those familiar with the program operations will continue at GLO.”


Here is the text of the Governor’s letter to HUD Secretary Donovan…


As allowed under the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act (Public Law 110-329), the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-148), and Chapter 9 of Title II of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery, 2006 (Public Law 109-234), I am changing the designation of the state agency responsible for the administration of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) disaster recovery funding for Texas to the Texas General Land Office (GLO). This includes all CDBG disaster recovery funding associated with Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike and Dolly.


Changing the designation of the oversight agency will provide more accountability to the disaster recovery program. It will now be overseen by Commissioner Jerry Patterson, a statewide elected official who already is involved in hurricane disaster recovery through the coastal programs GLO operates. GLO has extensive background in the types of fast-paced and closely coordinated activities that the CDBG disaster recovery program demands.


The move also will save on administrative costs by eliminating duplicative tasks and expenditures, and will provide a single contact agency for local communities impacted by Hurricanes Ike and Dolly. The role of local partners, especially the critical leadership role of the councils of governments, will remain in place.


To ensure a smooth transition of the program, GLO has been participating in state disaster planning and decision making for the past several months. Key GLO staff members have familiarized themselves with the Conciliation Agreement and have received training on the duties to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing. To ensure that GLO has the institutional knowledge and subject matter expertise, it has committed to hiring disaster recovery staff from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) and the Texas Department of Rural Affairs (TDRA) so those familiar with the program operations will continue at GLO.