On January 9, 2001, I was sworn in to begin the 77th session of the Texas Legislature. I must admit that it was a thrill to raise my hand to take the oath of office along with 149 other citizens from across Texas. But what made the swearing in most meaningful was being surrounded by family and friends encouraging and trusting me to do what is right for Texas.

This session promises to be very exciting. Again the House is deliberating many landmark issues, among which are public school finance, public school employee health insurance, transportation and the prioritization of policy driven by the appropriation of more than $100 billion for the biennium. This session has the added dimension of the once-every-ten-year requirement of redistricting. I haven't been through a redistricting session before but longtime veterans assure me that it dramatically changes the dynamics. I am told to expect a compressed time line and some late session fireworks with more than one set of frayed nerves.

My priorities will still be on public school finance and the reduction of the onerous burden of Robin Hood taxes on the citizens of District 108. In addition, from my research as interim Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Healthcare Technology, I have filed several bills in support of what are quickly becoming the leading economic drivers of the 21st Century: biomedicine/biotechnology and nanotechnology. Texas--and especially the Dallas area--needs to become much more aggressive in these leading edge sciences, working to spur economic development and create jobs through the commercialization of our taxpayer-funded research and development. Dallas (and all of Texas) is fortunate to have the U.T. Southwestern Medical School, U.T. Dallas and U.T. Arlington providing outstanding academic and research leadership in these two areas. To view any of the bills that I have filed or will file this session, please visit the Texas Legislature's web site at www.capitol.state.tx.us.

If you would like to receive a copy of my newsletters, which address a variety of issues, please send me an email at kenn.george@house.state.tx.us. As always, thank you for giving me the honor and privilege of serving as your state representative. Please feel free to contact me or my staff if there is anything we can do for you.

Sincerely,
Kenn S. George
Kenn S. George