TEXARKANA - In a Zoom conference Wednesday, Texas state Sen. Bryan Hughes addressed the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce on a wide range of issues.
Hughes noted the challenges Texans have been dealing with, such as the pandemic and an unprecedented winter storm, but asserted the state's ability to deal with these challenges.
He said there are advantages to how state government is structured.
"Due to the part-time legislature, sometimes really good bills don't make it through the first time," he said. "But lots of bad bills don't either. The process legislation has to go through reveals priorities of funding. And we have to balance our budget, just like a business does. (If) you let politicians overspend, they will."
Hughes said things looked grim, budget-wise, coming out of COVID, but the state is rebounding.
He said the state budget is "not perfect, but it is a good, conservative budget. It is a work in progress and it does what it needs to do."
In the wake of the pandemic, there were concerns about a possible pullback in funding for education.
"We will not need (to do that)," he said. "The Texas economy is doing great."
Hughes then talked about legislation he feels strongly about.
"I have a bill that deals with free speech," he said. "Have you notice how ugly people can get online? It is free speech, though. Social media companies are the new town square and common carrier. Phone and cable cannot deny service because of your views. This bill is intended to prevent internet companies from doing the same."
Election fraud, he said, is also on the minds of many, especially since the latest election cycle. This is nothing new, Hughes says.
"Democrats and Republicans have both reported cheating, (including this year), he said. "Senate Bill 7 is intended to make the system fair for everyone. Case in point, Longview, a county commissioner is under indictment for fraud. Nothing new. If elections are fair, more will show up to vote. Lots of Americans currently have no faith in the process. We are trying to fix that. As for redistricting, we will draw lines that are fair and comply with the Constitution. It is going to be awhile, as we are waiting on census results."
Hughes was asked about state's Court of Appeals that sits in Texarkana being moved.
"Nothing will happen to affect our appellate courts," he said.
Hughes said Texas law emphasizes the Constitution of the United States.
"We have a religious freedom bill," he said. "One bill being considered is that no government can never close a church. Also, we are considering shoring up Second Amendment concerns. We have Senate Bill 8, the 'heartbeat bill,' to protect little babies."
"Fifteen hundred or so bills will pass," said Hughes. "How many will be on a party line vote? About 20-25%, which is remarkable, all things considered. We are a Republican majority and we won, I'm proud of that. But we actually try to work with each other in the Legislature in a bipartisan manner. We do listen to each other. We don't hate each other."
Another matter he noted that will likely be reflected in the coming census results is the shifting population.
"California, for most of its history, has gained seats (in the U.S. House) in every census until 2010, when it broke even," he said. "Now they will be losing House seats. Texas is gaining. New districts will be drawn fairly."
Mike Malone, chamber president and CEO, asked whether redistricting would happen in time for the coming election season? Hughes replied that filing deadlines may be moved to allow changes to a part of the coming election season.
Mayor Bob Bruggeman of Texarkana, Texas, said the outlook here is good.
"I-30 is adding lanes, overall, we are doing fine here in Texarkana, Texas," he said.
Hughes said despite unsavory fiscal policy in Washington, Texas's government will be sure to get its fair share of COVID funding.
"COVID affected everything, so we are scouring information from the Feds to see just what the plan is going to be," he said. "Whatever federal money is available, we will take it."
All in all, the state is doing well, Hughes said.
"We did not get the devastation we expected, all things considered," he said. "The retail sector is shifting, with the online part expanded, which is one way businesses are remaking themselves. Retail, rental, real estate lots of business interest in Texas, which causes us to boom even more."