Howard County Commissioners extend Burn Ban for the county Ban extends to fireworks with fins and sticks

During their regular meeting Monday afternoon, Howard County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution opposing a proposed state law banning “collective communication to state legislators.”

“Basically, what they’re doing is silencing our county government from taking a stand on the issues or bringing something to their attention,” said County Judge Kathryn Wiseman during the meeting. “They want us to personally contact them or personally come before them. We have a person. We belong to an association of counties that watches these bills and makes sure that our county rights are safeguarded. So we really need this man, always there before our legislators to protect our rights.”

While a statement by the Texas Public Policy Foundation claims “Governments are forcing taxpayers to pay for lobbyists whose job it is to advocate for more government,” the Howard County resolution argues the Texas government engages in the same tactics in its communications with the federal government.

“...the State of Texas, the Texas Legislature and state agencies actively employ large numbers of taxpayer funded lobbyists to analyze and monitor the thousands of bills filed each legislative session and to advocate for its interests in Washington, yet bills would deny local communities this same ability while continuing public support of state agency lobbying...” according to the resolution.

The resolution denies that local lobbying is harmful to taxpayers.

“Indeed, a priority of county government and its ‘lobbying’ effort is focused on ending the state and federal practice of passing unfunded mandates, which impose billions of dollars in increased taxes upon local property taxpayers annually...” the resolution states.

The resolution, signed by Judge Wiseman and the four county commissioners, will be sent to the state legislators for their consideration.

In other business, commissioners approved hiring a long-time Howard County jailer to finish the term of resigned Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1, Place 2, Robert F. Fitzgibbons.