SB 15, which will establish a statutory framework for the actions of the Board of Regents, and which is supported by Texas Exes, is currently stalled in the House Calendar Committee. The bill must clear this committee to be considered by the full House of Representatives. Many of us are familiar with this bill from recent articles here; it is designed to protect the University of Texas from the destructive actions of the current overreaching Board of Regents that was appointed by Rick Perry.

Representative Todd Hunter of House District 32, which is centered in Corpus Christi, is the chairman of the House Calendar Committee. I received an email from Texas Exes today, asking me to call and email Chairman Hunter to express my support of SB 15 and to encourage him to move it forward for consideration by the House. I am passing this along to all Texas Exes and supporters of the University who are constituents of Representative Hunter, that we might do what we can to support this bill and prevent its death in committee.

From the Texas Exes statement:

SB 15 will increase preparation and accountability for regents, and institute governance guidelines for the boards of our treasured institutions of higher education. Currently, there are no checks on the policies and procedures governing boards place on themselves. It is critical to enact statutes that spell out governance practices and provide better transparency for the public.

Representative Hunter's Capital office can be reached at 512 463 0672.

He can be emailed at http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=32&session=83

Obviously, messages from the chairman's constituents will likely have the most effect. As for Longhorns located elsewhere, I leave it to you to think and act for yourselves, which is something at which many of us excel. This is a good time for all of us to contact our state Representatives and Senators to express support for those measures that will protect UT in its role as a leading academic institution, and to thank those who continue to do so. Obviously, all communications with an elected representative should be expressed in a respectful manner.

I believe this is one victory that we truly need.

Hook Em.