Texas Lawmaker Seeks Overhaul of Water Board
In addition to the intensifying discussions of water infrastructure funding at the Capitol, an even more basic conversation is also getting under way: whether to restructure the Texas Water Development Board.
The board, created in 1957, is overseen by six part-time board members, who serve on a volunteer basis after being appointed by the governor. But state Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, wants to change the structure to three full-time members, also appointed by the governor.
Senate Bill 4, introduced by Fraser, would make those changes. According to a fiscal note for the ...
Comments (8)
John Johnson
Historically, Sen. Fraser has shown to be nothing more than a lackey for King Perry. He and the Gov should both retire and go into real estate together out at the lake. They did real well last time.
Fraser was also instrumental in helping Perry get everything he wanted with regards to electricity deregulation... and the appointed PUC board helped, too.
We don't need more Perry appointments. We need independent thinkers and not decision makers in the "do as I say or you're gone" position. Lots of money to be made in the water business down the road. Do we want it all directed toward Perry and his friends?
Luisa Inez Newton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Yes. You get what you pay for, so let's have scientists & professionals, not part-time cronies dealing with the precious water of Texas.
Andrew Goldberg via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I'm just waiting to hear how more guns, more bibles, and incandescent lightbulbs will make the water cleaner.
Steve Munday via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Water is a full time job in Texas is my belief.
Leland Acker via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Actually, Incandescent light bulbs don't contain mercury like florescent bulbs... so yeah, they do kind of keep the water cleaner. :D
Tom Blackwell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
There is so much about Technology that Troy Fraser does not understand.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Lusia, you apparently do not know much about the TWDB. They are staffed by full-time scientist and professionals who do the actual work that they are charged with doing. The Board is an oversight function for the agency. Go to their website and seethe reports that they produce!!
Jack Hunt
Anyone with any experience related to the TWDB knows how successful the Board has been through the years with its current structure. Certainly, it compares favorably in that regard to some of the other Boards with full time paid directors. Frankly, Frazier's bill is an insult to anyone of us who has every served on the Board as well as to the employees (past and current) who have done a mostly excellent job of managing billions of dollars of debt and assets without embarassing the State. I would suggeat there are other State agencies that can't make this claim that now have the organizational structure proposed by Fraser. This proposed legislation (SB4) is a political power grab and has little to do with getting the State moving ahead on its Water Plan. It will also likely eviscerate the regional approach that underlies the SB 1 Regional Water Planning Process
That certain legislators are havng troulble understanding the very complex issues associated with the Water Board's activities perhaps says more about them or their staffs than it does about the folks at the Board.