Committee assignments now complete
Rep. Chuck Hopson, Sen. Robert Nichols ready to begin work
BY TERRIE GONZALEZ MANAGING EDITOR

State Rep. Chuck Hopson

State Rep. Chuck Hopson (D-Jacksonville) and state Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) plan to set the "D" and the "R" aside during the current Legislative session and work together in Austin on their respective committees.

Rep. Hopson received his assignments at about 5:15 p.m. last Friday from House Speaker Tom Craddick.

For the fourth consecutive session, Rep. Hopson will serve on the powerful Appropriations Committee, which originates the omnibus bill that divvies funds for all state agencies.

"I met with the speaker last week, and I was pretty sure about it (my committee assignments) when he asked what I wanted. I asked for appropriations, public health (which oversees Rusk State Hospital) and higher education.

"However, I got the same committee appointments as last time: appropriations, judiciary and redistricting. I couldn't be more pleased. It will be good for East Texas," he told the Cherokeean Herald Monday morning in a telephone interview.

Rep. Hopson initially backed Speaker candidate Jim Pitts during a contentious race for the top job in the House. Many political watchers in East Texas wondered how the Jacksonville legislator would fare on committee appointments.

State Sen. Robert Nichols

At the other end of the State Capitol, freshman Sen. Nichols also received some choice appointments from the presiding president of the Senate, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.

Sen. Nichols was asked to serve on Transportation and Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Nominations, Intergovernmental Affairs vicechairman and Evacuations and Flooding sub-committee.

As a former commissioner of the Texas Department of Transportation, Sen. Nichols said he will bring practical know-how and credibility to his new roles in the Senate.

"My goals are simple but vitally important: Keep Texans safe and keep Texans moving."

In his position on Health and Human Services, he will provide oversight which impacts Rusk State Hospital.

"I requested a seat on Health and Human Services because it is important to help Texans in need without creating disincentives for independence," said Sen. Nichols. "Texans have a reputation for hard work and independence, but we also have great compassion. My philosophy for working on Health and Human Services is to combine the best of those traits."

He said he offers practical insight intoTexas' healthcare needs. He holds 30 medical patents and has served on a hospital board for more than 24 years.

The session began Jan. 9 with a ray of good news. State Comptroller Susan Combs certified that the state treasury is holding more than $14.3 billion in surplus funds.

Rep. Hopson said that much of the money is already spoken for, and the surplus will realistically amount to somewhere between $1 billion and $2.4 billion.

"Gov. Perry asked all state agencies to submit budgets which were cut by 10 percent," he said. "There will be some smoke and mirrors with the accounting system. Lower property taxes will come directly off of the budget surplus. And there probably won't be much left."

The Texas Legislature will meet for 180 days during the 80th session and will adjourn May 28.