January 2003

From the Executive Director

As a state employee, every two years the Texas Legislature makes decisions regarding your salary, health care benefits and retirement. By continuing to support TPEA and its political action committee - EMPACT - and by encouraging others to join, you have a voice regarding your compensation and benefits package. With the upcoming legislative session, your voice is more important now than ever.

The 78th Texas Legislature convenes January 14, and, due to your support and direction, TPEA is in a good position to work with both Democrats and Republicans in both houses of the Legislature. The work put in by the TPEA staff prior to the elections is bearing fruit today and will prove even more important during the upcoming session.

TPEA sees the Republican-led state government as a new opportunity to promote the cause of state employees and to build on the strong relationships we enjoyed with the previous Democratic leadership. Quality public service is not a partisan issue. Although the projected budget crisis faced by the new administration is an incredible challenge, with each new challenge comes opportunity. We believe that the new leadership views state employees as an asset to Texas, and to help reinforce this idea, you, as a state employee, must take control of your future. Contact your legislators and get to know them. Let them know what it is that you do for the state and how critical your job is to the welfare of Texas. It is our job to advocate for you in the Texas legislature, but your involvement is directly related to our success as an organization and to your success as a state employee. To find out who your legislators are, go to http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/.

Andy Homer’s story, titled “The Budget Looms Large for the 78th Texas Legislature,” gives an in-depth and insightful view of some of the budgetary issues that face this legislature, including state employee health care benefits and salaries. These items are primary targets for legislative budget cuts. TPEA's goal is to protect the entire compensation package - health care benefits, salary, retirement - for those employees who have chosen a full-time career with the state. You can help us help you by getting involved and staying involved. Your livelihood depends on it.