Parks Earmarks and Leadership Ds
What do the following state reps have in common?
- Rep. Aaron Pena, Rep. Kino Flores, Rep. Ryan Guillen, Rep. Sylvester Turner, Rep. Kevin Bailey, Rep. Eddie Lucio III.
They've all got parks projects in their districts or counties listed on the budget wishlist (Article 11) to earmark $7.6 million in local parks grants from Texas Parks and Wildlife.
This is a rarity, by the way. These grants are usually applied for after the budget's been passed by both chambers and certified. And if its in Article 11 it is SO not guaranteed, so let's keep that perspective.
But let's put all that aside for a second.
Critics (cities that didn't get the money, House Dems who don't like the look of this list) point out that the members on that list have something else in common.
They're all Craddick D's who supported the speaker during the race on opening day. Craddick (the only R on the list) has a project on there, too, as do a couple members of the Approps Committee.
More on that list, and on the merits - and uncertainties - of Article 11 below...
The Craddick Ds and Craddick spokeswoman Alexis DeLee all say that the list is fluid, it's uncommitted, it could disappear at any time, and the reason for the list is, as Ms. DeLee said, "the parks issue is something that's obviously a big deal and we're willing to look at anything that comes forward."
"These are just local parks that were brought forth by some members," she said.
Turner says there's no quid pro quo going on here, that it's just members who expressed a desire to fund their local parks and used Article 11 as a way to do it. The proof, he said, is the fact that's it in the wishlist and not the actual bill.
"If you wanted a firm commitment, then you want to be included, for example, in the baseline bill."
A statement from Guillen says he's had his eye on using land along the Rio Grande River for a park in the tiny city of Rio Grande City - which would get $80,000 in matching funds if this list goes into the actual bill.
"Conversations with south Texas county officials and officials of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department last fall highlighted the relative lack of parks available in one of the fastest growing parts of the state. This funding will provide and expand park facilities for several communities in south Texas."
Here's the background.
Out of $15.5 million budgeted for next year in HB 1 for local parks grants (matching funds), half of that would be earmarked for 10 projects under an item in the as-yet-meaningless Article 11 - which is basically a wishlist, about 90 percent of which never get funded or moved into the rest of the bill.
Some of them, of course, do. And because this particular list would just earmark money that's already in the budget (B 2.1 Strategy in Article XI), it wouldn't change the budget's bottom line at all - wouldn't cost another dime - to just move that list up into the actual budget. Either on the floor or in conference committee.
And who knows what else could pop up in that list on Thursday during the budget marathon on the House floor (you'll laugh, you'll cry...)
But so far, as it was passed from committee, and as it will be introduced tomorrow, here's the list of 10 parks projects that would have a leg up in getting millions in matching state grants if this earmark list goes into the actual bill.
Which, who are we kidding, everyone figures it will. Since the line item is already in the bill. These are all matching funds, so the cities would have to pony up first.
- $1 million for Townwood Park (Houston - Alma Allen, Approps member)
- $60,000 for renovations of the Kleberg County Youth Soccer Complex (we're assuming Kingsville - Rep. Juan Escobar)
- $80,000 for park construction in Rio Grande City (Guillen)
- $1.25 million for Senator Frank Madla Memorial Park
- $600,000 for expansion of rehab services at Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville (Eddie Lucio III and Rene Oliveira - Lucio supported Craddick and is on Approps, Oliveira did not, the zoo is technically in O's district)
- $2.5 million for construction of McAllen City Park. McAllen is rep'ed by three: Reps. Aaron Pena and Kino Flores, and Rep. Veronica Gonzales. Gonzales is not a Craddick D, but the other two are. And we don't know yet where exactly that park will be.
- $200,000 for Raymac Park construction (Houston - Rep. Kevin Bailey's district)
- $500,000 for construction at the Sibley Nature Center in Midland (Craddick)
- $750,000 for construction at the Will Looney Legacy Park (Pena's district)