Jason Isaac – State Representative

AUSTIN – State Representative Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) announced that over $6 million additional dollars will be distributed to school districts across Hays, Caldwell, and Blanco counties.  The money is part of the federal education funds that have recently been made available to Texas.

“This money will be crucial in helping to save teacher’s jobs and supplement school district budgets in the midst of our current shortfall,” said Rep. Isaac.  ”No funds may be spent for central office employees, administrative expenses, or construction.  Therefore, there is no question that these dollars will be spent in the classroom to support the teachers who dedicate their lives to our children, including mine, and the future of our state.”
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Rep. Isaac Passes Legislation to Protect Safe Sport Shooting Ranges from Frivolous Lawsuits

Release from the Texas State Rifle Association

Today, Senate Bill 766 by Rep. Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) passed the Texas House and is now headed to Governor Perry’s desk.

The Texas State Rifle Association sponsored Shooting Range Protection Act was authored by Senator Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) in the Senate and Rep. Jason Isaac in the House.  This bill protects safe sport shooting ranges from frivolous lawsuits, while making it easier to shut down a dangerous range.

Rep. Isaac stated, “Having access to safe shooting ranges where CHL holders, hunters, and others can practice marksmanship is important to gun owners across the state.  This legislation will help to ensure that these ranges aren’t forced out of business because of groundless claims.  At the same time, it will prevent dangerous ranges from continuing to operate unlawfully.”
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Rep. Isaac Speaks Out Against Tax-Cuts to Cancer Causing Products Amid Budget Shortfall

Article written by Tim Eaton, Austin-American Statesman
As many places across the country raise tobacco taxes — in an effort to reduce usage and save on public health costs down the road — the Texas House has gone in the other direction.

Members of the Texas House on Wednesday approved a bill to lower a tax on Red Man and other brands of loose-leaf chewing tobacco.

When Rep. Allan Ritter, R-Nederland , laid out House Bill 2599, one freshman House member from Central Texas couldn’t believe his ears.

“I just had to clarify. It’s cutting taxes to chewing tobacco?” a shocked Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, asked from the floor.

Isaac was the only member to question the measure, which passed 83-53.

“We just created an incentive for people to use cancer-causing products,” Isaac said after the bill was approved. “When we have the fiscal problems that we have, it’s wrong to be cutting taxes on products like chewing tobacco.”

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Governor Perry Signs Sonogram Legislation

Rep. Isaac was a co-author of this significant legislation.  He commented, “The decision to have an abortion is an incredibly important one, and you never want to make a big decision without all of the facts.  Performing a sonogram before this procedure is not only good medical practice, but it provides both the physician and the patient with the most complete information possible about the pregnancy.  I was proud to support this bill.”

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The following is a press release from Governor Perry.
Gov. Rick Perry today ceremonially signed House Bill 15, which requires a woman to have a sonogram before electing to have an abortion to ensure she is fully informed before making such an impactful decision. The governor designated the measure an emergency item for the 2011 Legislative Session. He was joined by Sen. Dan Patrick and Rep. Sid Miller at the signing ceremony.

“Every life lost to abortion is a tragedy we all must work together to prevent, and I commend Rep. Miller and Sen. Patrick for their hard work on this significant legislation,” Gov. Perry said. “This important bill will ensure that every Texas woman seeking an abortion has all the facts about the life she is carrying, and understands the devastating impact of such a life-changing decision.”

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Common Sense Solutions to Education Challenges

By Rep. Rob Eissler, Chairman, House Committee on Public Education

Educating our students is the state’s most important responsibility.  As a former school board member for over 18 years, I understand the complex challenges facing our schools and strongly believe decisions are best made locally – not micromanaged from Austin.

The state’s role is to set standards, provide resources, hold schools accountable, and then get out of the way.  Especially in these challenging budgetary times, we need to limit burdensome mandates and focus on core mission.

House Bill 400 helps school districts effectively and efficiently manage their operations; especially personnel costs, which comprise approximately 80% of a district’s budget.  Instead of the state mandating a one-size-fits-all salary schedule, this bill allows local districts and teachers to determine the best compensation structure for their individual needs.  This flexibility treats our teachers like the professionals they are, and it will help recruit, reward, and retain effective teachers.

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AUSTIN, TX – Recently, Rep. Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) held the first meeting of the Hill Country Caucus at the Capitol.  The caucus, founded by Rep. Isaac, is a made up of a group of state legislators who are dedicated to promoting and preserving the unique features and resources of the Hill Country.

“As I met with constituents about the issues facing Texas and the Hill Country, I recognized the need for members to come together as a caucus,” Rep Isaac said.  “The Hill Country Caucus will be an open forum for members to share ideas and hear concerns from their peers on the issues that are most important to our area.”

The caucus will host distinguished speakers and will provide members and their staff information on issues affecting the region in order to work together for the benefit of the Hill Country throughout the legislative process.

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AUSTIN, TX – State Representative Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) has filed House Concurrent Resolution 81, opposing the Environmental Protection Agency’s intrusion in Texas and asserting the rights of the people and the state as provided by the 9^th and 10^th Amendments to the United States Constitution.

“The federal government’s actions towards environmental regulation step outside the bounds of an appropriate interaction between the federal government and the State of Texas,” said Rep. Isaac.  “The Constitution provides necessary limits to the federal government’s power and their attempt to regulate Texas’ intrastate commerce is a clear violation of these protections.”

Texas has a strong record of enacting legislation at the state level to address environmental concerns without the unconstitutional overreaches of the federal government.  The state currently ranks as one of the cleanest in the nation for emissions of key pollutants.  Emissions of nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide in Texas have decreased significantly since 1985. (more…)

AUSTIN, TX – Today, State Representative Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) filed legislation to assist veterans in proving their status by adding a Veteran endorsement to the Texas driver’s license for honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces.  Rep. Isaac  is a strong supporter of veterans’ rights and will be seeking a number of solutions during this legislative session to address issues facing veterans in Texas.

Rep. Isaac commented, “I have many veterans in my family, and it was recently brought to my attention that they often must carry their discharge form (DD-214) with them at all times in order to prove their status.  Many businesses, organizations, and events provide certain benefits to this honorable group of citizens and it seems unnecessary that this cumbersome form is the only proof of service that they currently have.  Adding a small endorsement to a veteran’s driver’s license is a common sense solution to this issue.”

The bill would allow a veteran to present their DD-214 form at the Department of Motor Vehicles and have a small endorsement added when renewing their license.

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AUSTIN, TX – State Representative Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) signed on as a co-author to House Bill 670, legislation that would enact a comprehensive ban on smoking in the workplace.  In addition to protecting employees from the dangers of secondhand smoke, the bill is expected to save taxpayers over $30 million over the next two years in Medicaid spending.

According to an analysis by the Department of State Health Services, Texas would likely see a 9.2% reduction in spending on hospitalizations for heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory illnesses in 2012.  Savings as a result of the ban are expected to increase over time.

Rep. Isaac stated, “The potential benefits of this bill are overwhelming.  Not only does secondhand smoke kill over 53,000 non-smoking Americans every year, but it is costing taxpayers millions in smoking related illnesses.  In a time when our state is facing a major budget shortfall, that kind of savings is hard to overlook.”

Lawmakers are looking for savings in every area of the government.  Healthcare spending accounted for 32% of government expenditures during the current biennium, and Medicaid spending represents an overwhelming majority of those dollars. The legislature must address the ever-increasing costs associated with Medicaid in order to properly address the budget.

“Representative Isaac’s support adds to the increasing momentum for a comprehensive statewide law,” said James Gray, Director of State Legislative and Government Relations for American Cancer Society.  “Twenty-nine states already have comprehensive smoke-free laws, and 34 Texas cities, including the state’s four largest, have passed comprehensive smoke-free ordinances.  Yet, still only 45 percent of Texans living in incorporated cities are protected from secondhand smoke in the workplace.”

Many Texans live in unincorporated cities or rural areas where no entity exists to pass or enforce smoke free legislation. Without a statewide smoke-free workplace law, 23 percent of Texans will remain unprotected from secondhand smoke exposure.

Rep. Isaac concluded, “All Texans deserve the right to breathe smoke-free air in the workplace.  At a time when jobs are hard to come by, no one should have to choose between their health and a paycheck.”