The Wise Report
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
April 20, 2007
I have been notified by Glenn Lowenstein, with Terrain Solutions, that Senator Dan Patrick, District 7, issued a press release on April 12, 2007 which states:
"On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee passed a $152 Billion budget. The budget, as recommended, increases spending by 10% over the next two year budget cycle. While Senator Patrick is not a member of the Senate Finance Committee and therefore was not involved in preparing the budget, he did gather information in just two days on ways the Legislature could save nearly $3 Billion in state spending.
"Furthermore, under this budget, Texas will spend just $110 million (or 0.07%) to secure our border. "I believe illegal immigration is driving much of our budget increases. Exploding health care and education costs have our budget in a bind. However, we are dedicating the equivalent of a budget hick-up to secure our border. Illegal immigration is an area of significant concern to a vast majority of Texans, and we are just tossing pocket change at the problem," Senator Patrick remarked.
"While each area we identified where the budget could be cut will most certainly have its supporters and detractors, I look at each one of these areas and have to ask two simple questions: Is this a critical role of government, and do I feel comfortable in taxing my constituents to fund it?," Senator Patrick questioned. Those areas Senator Patrick identified are:
"...Board of Professional Geoscientists (eliminate) $858 Thousand
"Validation: The agency limits competition and consumer choice and there is little evidence the agency was or is necessary....
"Senator Patrick has authored SB 1190, which would create a Texas Spending Commission to find waste, fraud and abuse in state government. The commission, modeled after President Reagan''s Grace Commission, would have audit powers over state agencies so they could report to the Legislature ways to cut spending.
"Editor''s note: The Senate''s budget (with the above spending) passed by a vote 26-5. Senator Patrick voted against the budget."
The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists are preparing a response to Senator Patrick.
Senator Patrick''s office is accepting comments at:
Court Koenning: 512-463-0107 or 713-876-4444
Mailing address: Room 3S.3, Austin, Texas 78711 (fax: 512-463-8810)
or
11451 Katy Freeway, Suite 209, Houston, Texas 77079 (fax: 713-461-0108)
EDITORIAL COMMENT
I''ve said it many times in the past, we''ve fought very hard to get to where we are today and need to defend it. We all need to support a lobbying effort so that this sort of thing stops re-occurring.
The $858,000 that Senator Patrick is trying to save is the smallest amount he looked at in the two days he studied the problem and I don''t believe that the small staff of the PG board spends anywhere near that amount. I believe it''s the amount of income the State receives from the fees the TBPG charges during the year, all of which goes into the general fund and then is allocated back to the TBPG as needed. The TBPG is self-funding and therefore not an expense to the State of Texas.
If Senator Patrick succeeds, we''ll go back to having to have our work overseen by engineers who can provide the necessary seals that are required by various laws, people who are not necessarily as knowledgeable as we are on the subject of geology and hydrogeology. This is why we fought for the PG in the first place. I believe you''ll find the future will require more geology being sealed by someone who can be legally be held responsible for the work. I don''t believe an engineer is qualified to oversee geology and hydrogeology. I''ve personally had to correct them too many times.
I plan on sending my own letter to Senator Patrick pointing out these items.
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
The Wise Report
4/20/2007