Joe Deshotel
TX State Representative, 22nd District
Press Releases
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Struggling Texans need viable food-stamp service
A recent op-ed by members of the Texas Conservative Coalition articulated their reasons for the poor performance of our state’s food-stamp program. We agree that the food-stamp program in Texas has performed poorly. Interestingly, the program is a major success nationwide. The simple reasons for Texas’ lackluster performance include bad choices made by state policymakers.
The food-stamp program, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), was named by the conservative National Journal as one of the government’s top-10 successes. In fact, the National Journal cites the program’s success during hurricanes and its low national error rates as proof of its effectiveness. Before 2006, Texas ran a model food-stamp program that was awarded more than $125 million in bonus payments.
That’s no longer the case. In the post-2006 program, application processing can take up to three times the period allowed in federal law, and we have failed to meet federal performance standards for four years. Things are so bad that the federal government has threatened to withhold funds for fiscal year 2010 unless the state complies with a corrective action plan.
Why have we had such a hard time keeping up with other states’ performances in our food-stamp program since 2006? Our colleagues are technically correct that hurricanes and the economic downturn have made things more difficult, but again, in other states, the food-stamp program works so well that conservative publications felt the need to celebrate it. And, we’ve been out of compliance with federal standards since the boom times of the prerecession years.
The primary reason our food-stamp program is foundering in Texas is that a Republican-led attempt in 2006 to privatize this essential public service failed spectacularly. Our colleagues know this event led to the loss of thousands of qualified, well-trained state employees. Since then, the system has limped along, unable to handle the influx of applications in an accurate or timely way.
Some legislators are upset at the thought of having to conform to a federal corrective action plan to keep receiving federal dollars. But let us remember that we would not be in this situation had the conservative policymakers’ reckless pursuit of privatizing everything in sight not inflicted critical wounds on our public structures. The Republican-led privatization effort was a massive blunder.
The piece written by the members of the Texas Conservative Coalition is especially indignant about the federal government’s demand that we drop our ineffective and costly finger-imaging requirement during the food-stamp application process. Finger-imaging was supposed to prevent fraud in the food-stamp program.
However, when state officials asked the University of Texas to study finger-imaging, experts concluded that the finger-imaging system didn’t save the state a dime. The coalition’s op-ed cites a 10-year-old federal report that said biometric identification had the potential to reduce double dipping, but that potential has not been realized. Since that report was written, all but four states have dropped finger-imaging, based in part on updated studies from the very agency that authored the report cited by the coalition. Finger-imaging is such a dismal failure that the former chair of the coalition co-authored a bill to kill it to save taxpayers’ money.
The Conservative Coalition wants to blame the federal government for our state’s failure to provide low-income families in Texas with food stamps. The reality is that the Republican-led privatization catastrophe cost us thousands of trained, qualified eligibility staffers and is the reason we are in such trouble in Texas.
When adequately supported at the state level, the food-stamp program can play a critical role in helping struggling Texans make ends meet during tough economic times. We need to invest the needed resources in hiring and training the appropriate number of eligibility staffers for the food-stamp program. We also need less excuse-making from legislators who supported and voted for drastic cuts in needed staff.
This article was submitted by Texas state representatives Carol Alvarado, Kirk England, Scott Hochberg, Armando Martinez, Solomon Ortiz, Jr., Alma Allen, Rafael Anchia, Joaquin Castro, Garnet Coleman, Joe Deshotel, Yvonne Davis, Dawnna Dukes, Al Edwards, Joe Farias, Jessica Farrar, Ana E. Hernandez, Terri Hodge, Eddie Lucio III, Marisa Marquez, Ruth Jones McClendon, Elliott Naishtat, Dora Olivo, Sylvester Turner and Armando Walle.
Dec. 16, 2009, 8:16PM
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/6774226.html -
Deshotel Files for Re-Election
BEAUMONT – Fresh from a rousing fundraiser/birthday celebration amongst friends and supporters Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont, announced that he has filed for a seventh term as District 22’s State Representative. “I want to continue putting Southeast Texas’ interests first and continue to serve as our voice in Austin,” Deshotel stated.The start of the election cycle officially starts today, where upon I have filled for the 2010 March Primary and 2010 November General Election.
Deshotel has represented the 22nd House District, which includes Jefferson and part of Orange Counties, since 1999. “We have gone through a lot over these years,” Deshotel said, “we have enjoyed more funding for the Lamar System, increased funding for transportation projects, and worked for a better quality of life. We should build on these successes, and I want to be a part of that.”
Currently, Representative Deshotel serves as Chairman of the House Business & Industry Committee; which oversees most business transactions in Texas. It is also charged with protecting consumers and furthering worker safety. In his last term Deshotel was appointed to serve as Chairman of the House Economic Development Committee.
Citing his list of legislative accomplishments benefitting public health, higher education and consumer protection measures, Representative Deshotel wants to promote those efforts and tackle emerging issues including better workforce compensation measures, Windstorm Insurance, and bettering regional economic conditions to help lower the area high unemployment rate.
“I’ve done my best to serve the people of Southeast Texas and I look forward to doing it again,” Deshotel stated.
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Agency hasn't spent 60% of Rita aid
Agency hasn't spent 60% of Rita aid
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
September 24, 2009
Posted: September 24, 2009, 2:56 PM CDTHundreds of southeast Texans displaced by Hurricane Rita four years ago are still waiting for new federally funded homes to be built while a state agency tries to spend the housing construction money it has a little faster.
Those waiting residents are living with relatives or in trailers, rental property or their dilapidated, blue-tarped houses damaged when the storm struck Sept. 24, 2005. Hurricane Ike further wrecked the region on Sept. 13 last year.
So far, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs has spent 38.5 percent of a $428 million federal allotment that arrived in 2007, agency executive director Michael Gerber confirmed this week.
"I think we're making really strong headway," said Gerber, who blames federal environmental, historic preservation and proof-of-ownership regulations for much of the delay. "It certainly took some time to ramp up the program. Hurricane Ike caught us in between and that caused delays and it changed the flood maps for the region."
Texas' first round of federal Rita relief money - providing $40 million for housing - is 85 percent spent. Those dollars were distributed through local governmental councils.
The state is using much of the second batch of money to pay for home construction through private-sector contractors.
"We're not simply cutting a check to people and then trusting it to them to use the dollars the right way, because as we've seen in other states that's been a significant problem. We've instead built a system with lots of integrity to it," Gerber said.
Though progress is being made now in home-building, it took too much time to get the Rita housing money moving, said state Rep. Joe Deshotel, a Beaumont Democrat.
He said federal, state and local bureaucracy are responsible.
Deshotel said it would have been better to give homeowners or nonprofit organizations the government money, with accountability rules in place, and allow them to arrange repairs and rebuilding.
"No question it has taken too long," Deshotel said. "I think the people involved have learned a whole lot."
In some cases, he said, roof damage or other problems caused by Hurricane Rita could have been repaired if quickly addressed, but mildew and other troubles over time caused houses to deteriorate to the point that some need rebuilding.
"The people could have fixed their homes if they had money," Deshotel said. "But they (state officials) are so scared that somebody's going to get a dime they shouldn't have gotten, nobody gets anything for three years."
Hurricane Rita victims also found themselves frustrated at having to fill out too many applications for assistance, he said.
Of the estimated 2,500 to 2,800 houses to be built in the program, 516 are under construction and 336 are complete, Gerber said. The houses cost from $60,000 to $75,000, and money is paid out after construction, he said.
Construction begins on about 40 homes each week and is completed on about 30. Gerber said the agency is trying to step up the rate of completion.
The homebuilding part of the federal money accounts for $222 million. One portion is dedicated solely for the hard-hit community of Sabine Pass, the tiny coastal town where Hurricane Rita made landfall. Other chunks of the $428 million allocation are being used to build rental apartment units, make infrastructure repairs and pay for services to help Hurricane Katrina evacuees who relocated to Houston.
State Auditor's Office reports have questioned the time it has taken to spend the Rita home-building money, but said the state Department of Housing and Community Affairs enacted earlier auditor recommendations for the funds.
Gerber said he expects all home construction to be complete by late 2010.
"We believe people have waited long enough, and we want to get these homes built as quickly as we can," he said. "For those that are still waiting, help is on the way."
Gov. Rick Perry's office acknowledges home construction time for Rita victims has taken too long and said state officials have tried to keep Hurricane Ike victims from facing similar roadblocks.
"You can never rebuild a community that's been devastated by a storm fast enough," said Perry spokeswoman Allison Castle. "Hurricane Rita at the time was the largest recovery effort ever undertaken by the state. We learned from it."
Among the steps state officials have taken to improve post-hurricane aid was passage of legislation this year by Rep. Craig Eiland, D-Galveston, streamlining the path for confirming title to a home, Castle said.
Perry's office has voiced concerns about misuse of relief money in Louisiana and Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina.
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New Items added to Sales Tax Holiday
New Items added to Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday
Deshotel Reminds Parents of Back-to-School Savings
With parents looking to save, Representative Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont, is reminding them that the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday begins Friday, August 21st, and ends at midnight on Sunday, August 23rd.
“The holiday offers a reprieve for Jefferson County families,” Deshotel said, “and this year, there are new items parents can buy without paying sales tax.”
According to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, the law exempts most clothing and footwear priced under $100 from sales and use taxes, which could save shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. Additionally, parents can also buy some backpacks tax-free.
New this year parents will also get a break on most school supplies priced at less than $100 purchased for use by a student in an elementary or secondary school.
Approved by the 1999 Texas Legislature, the sales tax holiday is designed to give families a tax break as they outfit their children with back-to-school clothing. Almost all clothing and shoes costing under $100 per item are included in the sales tax holiday.
“This holiday will give taxpayers more money in their pocketbook. The increase in disposable income will allow families to buy more of the school items they need,” Representative Deshotel stated. “I hope parents will take advantage of this significant cost savings.”
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Sales Tax Holiday Items
The following is a list of items parents can buy tax free this weekend (if priced less than $100):* Binders
* Book bags
* Calculators
* Cellophane tape
* Blackboard chalk
* Compasses
* Composition Books
* Crayons
* Erasers
* Folders; expandable, pocket, plastic, and manila
* Glue, paste and paste sticks
* Highlighters
* Index cards
* Index card boxes
* Legal pads
* Lunch boxes
* Markers
* Notebooks
* Paper; loose leaf ruled notebook paper, copy paper, graph paper, tracing paper, manila paper, colored paper, poster board, and construction paper
* Pencil boxes and other school supply boxes
* Pencil sharpeners
* Pencils
* Pens
* Protractors
* Rulers
* Scissors
* Writing tablets
Clothing, Footwear and Backpacks
The following items will be tax-free:* Baby clothes
* Backpacks for use by elementary and secondary students
* Belts with attached buckles
* Boots - cowboy, hiking
* Caps/hats - baseball, fishing, golf, knitted
* Coats and wraps
* Diapers - adult and baby
* Dresses
* Gloves (generally)
* Gym suits and uniforms
* Hooded shirts and hooded sweatshirts
* Hosiery
* Jackets
* Jeans
* Jerseys - baseball and football
* Jogging apparel
* Neckwear and ties
* Pajamas
* Pants and trousers
* Raincoats and ponchos
* Robes
* Shirts
* Shoes - sandals, slippers, sneakers, tennis, walking
* Socks (including athletic)
* Shorts
* Suits, slacks, and jackets
* Sweatshirts
* Sweat suits
* Sweaters
* Swimsuits
* Underclothes
* Work clothes and uniforms
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Beaumont Reaches Hurricane-Recovery Landmark by David Ingram
State and local officials say a ribbon cutting in Beaumont marks a milestone in hurricane recovery. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) is holding a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday morning to unveil the Pointe North multifamily rental house property.The new 158-unit apartment complex is funded with $13.7 Million from TDHCA’s Community Development Block Grant under the Hurricane Rita Disaster Recovery program. A statement released by the TDHCA says it is one of seven area affordable multi-family rental facilities damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Rita.
Tuesday’s ceremony will include a number of local, state and federal leaders including Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames and State Representative Joe Deshotel.
KBMT will attend the ribbon cutting and have more on this story later in the day.
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Deshotel Named Leader in Insurance Reform
Texas Watch Puts Legislator on Honor RollAUSTIN – Texas Watch, a nonprofit homeowner’s insurance advocacy group, named local State Representative Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont, on its 2009 Legislative Honor Roll.
Deshotel, who Chairs the House Business and Industry Committee, is the only Golden Triangle lawmaker to make the honor roll.. The bipartisan group of lawmakers on this year’s Texas Watch Legislative Honor Roll come from every corner of the state and represents diverse districts.
Texas Watch advocates for issues from homeowner rights and insurance reform to worker safety and access to the civil justice system. Texas Watch currently has 10,000 grassroots activist members across the state. It is considered to be one of the most influential consumer voices in Texas.
“To be recognized by Texas Watch is an honor valued by my fellow colleagues,” Deshotel stated, “I’m humbled by this but we know there is still a lot of work in restoring homeowner’s policies and legal rights.”
“The lawmakers on our Honor Roll prove that regardless of party, geography, ethnicity, or political philosophy, we should all be able to agree that Texas families should always come first,” said Alex Winslow, Texas Watch's Executive Director.
"Chairman Deshotel's leadership this session was crucial in the fight to level the playing field between homeowners and the powerful homebuilding lobby,” Winslow continued, “Chairman Deshotel also stood tall on the floor of the House as a leader advocating on behalf of small businesses, workers, and insurance policyholders, "The people of Jefferson County and all of Texas are better off because Chairman Deshotel is fighting on their behalf.”
Deshotel said he “will continue to work with Texas Watch and other organizations and companies to provide fair and balanced policies that work for Southeast Texas homeowners and families."
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