Task Force

The Task Force on Public School Finance examined the state’s most pressing policy challenge by hosting seven public hearings. The Task Force was comprised of the following MALC members: Rick Noriega (D-Houston, Chair), Joaquín Castro (D-San Antonio), Garnet Coleman (D-Houston), Jessica Farrar (D-Houston), Pat Haggerty (R-El Paso), Scott Hochberg (D-Houston), Ken Mercer (R-San Antonio), Joe Moreno (D-Houston), Dora Olivo (D-Missouri City), Inocente “Chente” Quintanilla (D-Tornillo), Elvira Reyna (R-Mesquite) and Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin).

Public Hearings

While legislative education committees held hearings mostly in Austin, MALC traveled across Texas to take testimony from the public. MALC avoided the temptation to focus exclusively on areas represented by Hispanic legislators. The Caucus opted to hold hearings in areas not traditionally regarded as Hispanic strongholds, as well. For example, hearings were held in Arlington, Lubbock and Tyler despite the fact that MALC has no members from these cities. However, these cities were chosen because each has a rapidly growing Hispanic population. Legislators who are not MALC members were also invited to attend and participate in the hearings.

MALC hearings were held in the Fall of 2003 according to the following schedule: Houston (University of Houston Athletic Alumni Center), October 21st ; El Paso (The University of Texas at El Paso – El Paso Natural Gas Conference Center), October 23rd ; Arlington (City of Arlington City Council Chamber), November 3rd; San Antonio (City of San Antonio City Council Chamber), November 12th; Edinburg (The University of Texas – Pan American – International Trade and Technology Building), November 14th; Lubbock (Texas Tech University Museum – Jones Auditorium), November 20th; and Tyler (The University of Texas at Tyler – R.L. Muntz Library), December 11th. The hearings were extremely successful with impressive local turnout and significant press coverage.