Conservative legislators have worked hard to deliver on a few basic things that matter: meeting the needs of a growing population by lowering taxes, improving our schools, strengthening the economy, protecting families and children, and reforming our health care system. However, the work of conservatives in the Legislature is far from complete. Property taxes are too high, border security remains a challenge, families need more affordable health insurance, and elections must be free of fraud. Expanded government is not the answer for a people as smart and industrious as Texans, and we need to continue to promote the values of faith, family, and hard work. We have a lot of work ahead of us and our "Renewed Pledge with Texans" serves as a foundation for our long-term goals for Texas.

We pledge to:

1. Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform:

Rising property taxes and appraisals are of concern to many of our state's citizens. In order to find a way to improve the current system, in April of 2008, Speaker Tom Craddick announced the formation of the Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform to oversee all matters relating to property tax relief and reforming the property appraisal system. Representative John Otto (R-Dayton) was selected to chair the committee.

The committee was charged with the review of the sections of the Texas Constitution and the tax code that limit or authorize limiting the appraised value or increases in the appraised value of property for tax purposes, and to issue a report to the House of Representatives before the 81st Legislative Session, which may include draft legislation or recommendations for legislation.

The Interim Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform held eight public hearings across the state. The 13-member committee took invited and public testimony on the state's Property Value Study and recommendations on how to improve the state's current property appraisal system. Some of the discussion and observations based upon testimony are:

• The public still wants the appraisal review board to be independent of the appraisal district.
• Current Truth-in-Taxation rules no longer serve as a clear measure by which taxpayers can determine the performance of their local governments. The committee is considering legislation that would better communicate the effective tax rate.
• The Property Value Study requires Central Appraisal Districts to appraise every year. To slow the rate of growth for homeowners, the committee is considering a 2-year mandatory appraisal cycle.

The committee has been vocal about their commitment to provide significant property appraisal tax reforms that will slow the growth of property tax appraisals for homeowners and businesses. I am optimistic that the committee will have appraisal reform measures ready to file during the upcoming legislative session.

2. Protect the Right to Vote by Requiring Photo ID and Verifying Citizenship

3. Stop the Trans-Texas Corridor and other Eminent Domain Abuses

From February to March of this year, officials at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) spanned the state, asking Texans to give their input on the proposed I-69/Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC). As a result of the citizens' input during 47 public hearings and 12 open houses, including 1,400 participants from the Victoria area, TxDOT announced, in Victoria, on June 11, 2008, it will recommend the I-69/Trans-Texas Corridor Project be developed using existing highway facilities.

TxDOT's recommendation would effectively shrink the environmental study down to roads such as U.S. Highways 77 and 281 in South Texas, State Highway 44 and U.S. Highway 59 along the Coastal Bend, and U.S. Highways 84 and 59 in East Texas.

If this recommendation is approved by the Federal Highway Administration, plans for a separate new corridor would be dropped from future environmental reviews, and the existing infrastructure would serve as the study area for future environmental review. TxDOT is expected to submit its Final Environmental Impact Statement for public review prior to federal approval late in 2008 or early in 2009.

If you would like more information, the TxDOT website is: http://www.keeptexasmoving.com.

4. Cut, Simplify, and Reform Business Taxes

5. Lower Electric Rates and Clean the Environment

In September 2008, Exelon Generation submitted a Combined Construction and Operating License application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission seeking authorization to build and operate a new dual-unit nuclear generating facility in Victoria County, Texas.

The construction and license application took a team of more than 60 Exelon employees and contractors just under 12 months to complete. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's evaluation of the application includes 35 months of technical review and 12 months of public hearings. A decision on the license is not expected before 2012.

The proposed facility would be built on an 11,500-acre site about 13 miles south of Victoria, off of U.S. 77. Plant structures would occupy about 300 acres and a manmade lake for plant cooling would cover about 4,900 acres. The two reactors would be capable of producing at least 3,000 megawatts, which is enough electricity to power more than 1.85 million typical Texas homes.

The U.S. Department of Energy projects that the Unites States will need 25 percent more electricity by 2030. In Texas, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) projects that "base load" energy needs will grow by 10,000 megawatts by 2014, about the output of seven large nuclear reactors or a dozen large coal plants.

The application does not imply that Exelon has decided to build the plant. Among conditions that must be resolved before a final decision is made are:

• Public acceptance of the plant;
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval of the license application:
• Assurances that a new nuclear plant can be financially successful based on market conditions; and
• That the government has made significant progress toward resolving questions around storage or recycling used nuclear fuel.

The proposed Victoria County plant would help to meet the growing energy demand in Texas without increasing dependence on foreign energy sources or increasingly expensive domestic natural gas. According to a report by Ray Perryman, the economic impact of Exelon locating in our area would be nearly $13 billion. It would create 2,000 to 4,000 construction jobs and approximately 700 permanent high paying jobs upon completion.

Energy costs have risen throughout the nation. Aside from oil and gas prices, the nation has seen rapid increases in natural gas and coal prices, which affects the price of electricity.

Currently, 71 percent of Texas' electric generation is derived from natural gas. The price of natural gas has increased almost 400 percent since 2002. To generate one megawatt hour using natural gas costs $78. To generate that same megawatt hour using nuclear costs $5.

Texas will meet its growing demand for electricity by building new coal, wind, and nuclear generation plants as well as advanced metering and smart grid technologies.

Wind, coal, and nuclear energy will dramatically reduce our dependence on natural gas to supply Texas electricity.

6. Make Texas a Leader in Public Education

7. Make Texas a National Leader in Higher Education

8. Make Healthcare Affordable for Families

9. Limit the Growth of Government