Monday, October 26, 2009

Al Edwards "Watchman on the Wall" Capitol Report & Legislative Update on KCOH 1430 AM

State Representative Al Edwards
"Watchman on the Wall"

Dear Friends in the Community,

I would like to invite you all to listen and participate in my weekly radio program on KCOH Radio 1430 AM.

The next Al Edwards Capitol Report and Legislative Update will air on October 27th from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on KCOH Radio 1430 AM.

I look forward to having both Reverend Max Miller, Jr. & Reverend S.J. Gilbert, Jr. of Houston as my guests on the show.

The program will now run every Tuesday morning at the same time slot, and it will cover the issues that impact you the most; including the hot topics, issues of interest from the State Legislature, and important local community issues just to name a few.

On the program we will touch on the recent Legislative session, including some of the bills that passed and some that did not pass.

So please tune in to KCOH Radio 1430 AM or listen on the internet at:
Listen Live to KCOH online

Tuesday, October 27th from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. for an enlightening time you won't want to miss! And make sure you pass on the word!

Also don't forget to get out and vote on the Constitutional Amendments which are currently on the November ballot.

Best Wishes,

Al Edwards

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

St. Rep. Al Edwards Seeks Solutions to Crime Problems in Houston

St. Rep. Al Edwards Seeks Solutions to Crime Problems in Houston
"Al Edwards Crime Fighter for District 146"
Passes Important Legislation to Help Crime Victims & Monitor Sex Offenders

Today, Houston faces an unfortunate increase in burglaries and thefts. In fact from August 2008 to August 2009, burglaries and thefts have increased by 8.1% city-wide in Houston. In light of such unsettling news, Rep. Al Edwards plans to meet with HPD Chief Harold Hurtt and the Mayor to request more uniformed police patrolling the streets in District 146 to prevent more crimes. In order to provide a long lasting solution to this problem, Rep. Al Edwards plans to propose legislation next session which would require certain specified levels of private security at shopping mall locations based on the amount of the shops in order to promote better safety.

Also reported has been an increase in violent crimes in Houston. Helping victims of violent crime to receive treatment, counseling or other assistance even when they do not have the financial resources to get this help is a critical necessity. In the recently concluded session, the Texas Legislature addressed this very issue. SB 1377 sponsored in the House of Representatives by Rep. Al Edwards was passed to ensure that the Crime Victims Compensation Fund remains a solvent source of funds to provide victims of crime financial assistance to help get their lives back in order. This bill provides a mechanism so that excess funds are annually shifted from the Auxiliary Fund to the main Crime Victims Compensation Fund to ensure long-term solvency. This great bill will ensure that payments to victims for costs incurred as a result of a crime committed such as medical bills or counseling are available to be made. In recent years the Crime Victims Compensation Fund had been in danger of insolvency, with this bill's passage in the future this will no longer be the case.

Equally crucial was the passage of HB 2465 which now will require prosecutors to take a deposition of an elderly or disabled person who is the alleged victim of, or witness to a crime no later than 60 days after charges have been filed. This will enable elderly or disabled persons to commit their accounts on the record before they can become hazy and help to ensure that those who commit these crimes are held accountable for their actions.

During this session particular progress was made in protecting our citizens from the threat of sex offenders. Significant legislation that was successfully passed includes HB 2153 by Representative Edwards which requires sex offenders who claim to be homeless to physically check-in to law enforcement authorities once every 30 days. Also, SB 689 by Senator Shapiro gives law enforcement authorities and social networking websites additional information to track sex offenders online by requiring them to provide e-mail addresses, cell phone numbers, and online usernames to state authorities.

For more information on the assistance for victims of violent crime from the Crime Victims Compensation Fund, please contact the Attorney General's Office at 1-800-983-9933.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Constitutional Amendment Analysis on November Ballot

Dear Constituents,

I would like to pass along this information regarding the Constitutional Amendments you will be voting on, in the upcoming November Election. I hope this helps you as a voter to be as informed as possible.
Early voting starts October 19th!

Click here for early voting locations in Harris County:
Harris County Early Voting Locations

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT #1
The constitutional amendment authorizing the financing, including through tax increment financing, of acquisition by municipalities and counties of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to a military installation for the prevention of encroachment or for the construction of roadways, utilities, or other infrastructure to protect or promote the mission of the military installation.

Brief Explanation:
Allows the legislature to authorize by law for a city or county to issue bonds or notes to finance the acquisition of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to a military base in order to prevent encroachment, or in order to construct roadways, utilities or other infrastructure to further the military base's mission.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT #2
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property's value as a residence homestead.

Brief Explanation:
Allows for the taxation of a residence homestead to be based solely on the value of the property as a residence homestead, regardless of whether residential use by the homeowner is considered to be the highest and best use of the property. This amendment would extend protection to homeowners whose neighborhoods are in transition from residential uses to commercial development. This is a necessary constitutional amendment that could possibly benefit homeowners with their property tax appraisals.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT #3The constitutional amendment providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes.

Brief Explanation:
This amendment would give the legislature full discretion to prescribe the manner of the enforcement of uniform appraisal standards and procedures in order to promote consistency and fairness.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT #4
The constitutional amendment establishing the national research university fund to enable emerging research universities in this state to achieve national prominence as major research universities and transferring the balance of the higher education fund to the national research university fund.

Brief Explanation:
Texas lags behind other major states in the number of nationally recognized research universities, with only two public research universities of national prominence- University of Texas at Austin & Texas A&M University. Texas must continue strengthening these existing universities, and it also must focus resources on establishing additional nationally prominent research universities. The proposed amendment along with HB 51 passed this session, would direct a national research university fund to spur emerging state universities in Texas, most importantly University of Houston to become a Tier 1 university.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT #5
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations.

Brief Explanation
The proposed amendment would allow the legislature by law to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT #6
The constitutional amendment authorizing the Veterans' Land Board to issue general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts previously authorized.

Brief Explanation
The amendment authorizes the Veterans' Land Board to sell bonds for the purpose of selling land or providing home-mortgage or land-purchase loans to Texas veterans above the current cap of $500 million but states that the principal amount of outstanding bonds will never exceed the total principal amount of bonds previously authorized. These bonds would not be included in the calculation of the amount of state debt payable from the General Revenue Fund used to determine the state debt limit.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT #7
The constitutional amendment to allow an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices.

Brief Explanation
The amendment would allow a civil official to be an active member in the Texas State Guard, thereby allowing state military personnel to hold another civil office while serving.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT #8
The constitutional amendment authorizing the state to contribute money, property, and other resources for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of veterans hospitals in this state.

Brief Explanation
The amendment would allow Texas voters the opportunity to ensure that the state could contribute to a federal initiative to build, operate, and maintain veterans' hospitals in this state in order to improve access to medical care for Texas veterans.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT #9
The constitutional amendment to protect the right of the public, individually and collectively, to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico.

Brief Explanation
The amendment would establish in the state constitution that the public has a right to the unrestricted access and use of a public beach in Texas, specifically noting those along the Gulf of Mexico. The right would be dedicated as a permanent public easement, and in effect would bolster the standing of the Texas Open Beaches Act.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT #10
The constitutional amendment to provide that elected members of the governing boards of emergency services districts may serve terms not to exceed four years.

Brief Explanation
The amendment would extend the current term length for emergency service district members from 2 years to 4 years.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT #11
The constitutional amendment to prohibit the taking, damaging, or destroying of private property for public use unless the action is for the ownership, use, and enjoyment of the property by the State, a political subdivision of the State, the public at large, or entities granted the power of eminent domain under law or for the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property, but not for certain economic development or enhancement of tax revenue purposes, and to limit the legislature's authority to grant the power of eminent domain to an entity.

Brief Explanation
The amendment would clarify that in the use of eminent domain powers, public use would not include the taking of property for transfer to a private entity for the primary purpose of economic development or enhancement of tax revenues. It would also require that the granting of the power of eminent domain to an entity would require a two-thirds vote by the Legislature.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Al Edwards "Watchman on the Wall" Capitol Report & Legislative Update on KCOH Radio 1430 AM

State Representative Al Edwards
"Watchman on the Wall"

Dear Friends in the Community,

I would like to invite you all to listen and participate in my weekly radio program on KCOH Radio 1430 AM.

The next Al Edwards Capitol Report and Legislative Update will air on October 20th from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on KCOH Radio 1430 AM.

I look forward to having Houston Mayoral Candidate Gene Locke as my guest on the show.

In focus now are the Constitutional Amendments and laws recently passed this year.

The program will now run every Tuesday morning at the same time slot, and it will cover the issues that impact you the most; including the hot topics, issues of interest from the State Legislature, and important local community issues just to name a few.

On the program we will touch on the recent Legislative session, including some of the bills that passed and some that did not pass.

So please tune in to KCOH Radio 1430 AM or listen on the internet at:
Listen Live to KCOH online

Tuesday, October 20th from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. for an enlightening time you won't want to miss! And make sure you pass on the word!


Best Wishes,

Al Edwards

Monday, October 12, 2009

Al Edwards Capitol Report & Legislative Update on KCOH 1430 AM

State Representative Al Edwards
"Watchman on the Wall"

Dear Friends in the Community,

I would like to invite you all to listen and participate in my weekly radio program on KCOH Radio 1430 AM.

The next Al Edwards Capitol Report and Legislative Update will air on October 13th from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on KCOH Radio 1430 AM.

I look forward to having Houston Mayoral Candidates Annise Parker & Peter Brown as my guests on the show.

I will also touch on some of the constitutional amendments on the November ballot.

The program will now run every Tuesday morning at the same time slot, and it will cover the issues that impact you the most; including the hot topics, issues of interest from the State Legislature, and important local community issues just to name a few.

On the program we will touch on the recent Legislative session, including some of the bills that passed and some that did not pass.

So please tune in to KCOH Radio 1430 AM or listen on the internet at:
Listen to KCOH live on the internet

Tuesday, October 13th from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. for an enlightening time you won't want to miss! And make sure you pass on the word!


Best Wishes,

Al Edwards

Monday, October 5, 2009

Please join the National Night Out by the MacGregor Super Neighborhood Civic Association with State Rep. Al Edwards

You are cordially invited to join the

MacGregor Super Neighborhood

National Night Out

With

State Representative

AL EDWARDS



Where: Residence of Rep. Al Edwards

Location: 3108 South MacGregor Way

Houston, TX 77021

When: Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Time: 6:00 – 8:00 P.M.



For more information please call

Ms. Tomaro Bell at 713.825.8449 or 713.741.8800

Friday, October 2, 2009

Al Edwards Capitol Report & Legislative Update on KCOH Radio 1430 AM

State Representative Al Edwards
"Watchman on the Wall"


Dear Friends in the Community,

I would like to invite you all to listen and participate in my weekly radio program on KCOH Radio 1430 AM.

The next Al Edwards Capitol Report and Legislative Update will air on October 6th from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on KCOH Radio 1430 AM.
I look forward to having Mayor Bill White as my guest on the show.

The program will now run every Tuesday morning at the same time slot, and it will cover the issues that impact you the most; including the hot topics, issues of interest from the State Legislature, and important local community issues just to name a few.

On the program we will touch on the recent Legislative session, including some of the bills that passed and some that did not pass.

So please tune in to KCOH Radio 1430 AM or listen on the internet at:
Listen to KCOH live on the internet
Tuesday, October 6th from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. for an enlightening time you won't want to miss! And make sure you pass on the word!


Best Wishes,

Al Edwards