Saturday, May 24, 1997

Saving the war against the boll weevil

By Sen. Troy Fraser

AUSTIN - Every now and then a public policy issue comes along that seems to pull everyone together for the common good. A perfect example is the recent efforts of the cotton growers and local Farm Bureau presidents in my district who spoke clearly and with a unified voice about the need to keep the Boll Weevil Eradication Program up and running.

The ink was still wet on the Texas Supreme Court's ruling that struck down as unconstitutional the previous eradication program when Rolling Plains cotton growers lit up my Capitol office telephone lines and fax machine. They called from their homes, from their co-op gins and from their tractors.

It was important to me as your senator that the messages I received from cotton growers in places like Robert Lee, Colorado City, Winters and elsewhere throughout the western half of Senate District 24 were unmistakably clear. The scores of folks who took the time to call or write stressed the need to re-enact the eradication program because it's needed now more than ever, and because it represents an investment in their economic livelihood.

In fact, the overwhelming desire to rid ourselves of this pesky, destructive insect that threatens our state's cotton industry triggered as much feedback from my constituents as any other issue this legislative session, and ranks right alongside property tax relief and better management of our water resources.

As a direct result of the input from cotton growers, I teamed up with Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, to co-author Senate Bill 1814, which restores the eradication program. Our bill was approved unanimously on the Senate floor May 16 and will now be considered by the Texas House.

Under our bill, the Rolling Plains Central and Southern Rolling Plains boll weevil eradication zones within my Senate district will be able to continue their fight just as before the Supreme Court ruling, with their existing validated assessments.

The Rolling Plains Central zone includes Brown, Callahan, Mitchell, Nolan, Shackelford, Stephens, Young and part of Taylor counties. The Southern Rolling Plains zone includes Coke, Coleman, Concho, McCulloch, Runnels and another part of Taylor counties.

The bill also provides for Texas Agriculture Commissioner Rick Perry to gain operational oversight of the program and be empowered to plan, carry out and operate eradication and diapause programs. At the same time, Perry will be allowed to appoint the initial 15 members to the Texas Boll Weevil Foundation's board and approve its operating budget, ability to borrow money and its purchasing policy.

I've been a long-time supporter of the boll weevil eradication program dating back to my previous service in the Texas House, when we launched a very successful program in my West Texas district, so I was more than willing to help Sen. Duncan put the program back on track this session.

But my job is always made easier when I know what my constituents want. For this, I say thank you for your help and for making your voices heard.

State Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, represents District 24, which includes part of Abilene and Taylor County.