Texas Political Lobbyists
The following document is public and available at the Texas Senate website. The Texas Lobby Group is offering it here as a public service for Texas political lobbyists, Texas Republican lobbyists, Government Consultants, Political Activists, and other interested parties.
Interim Charges Relating to Higher Education
The Lieutenant Governor today released the following interim charges:
Higher Education Committee
Study and make recommendations regarding more cost-effective funding of financial aid, including ways to restructure financial aid programs to incentivize student success, particularly among low-income students, and the efficacy of current exemptions and waivers offered to students at institutions of higher education, including in-state tuition for undocumented students. Examine student loan debt, state and federal loan forgiveness programs, and institutional default rates.
Study and make recommendations regarding more effective means of using technology, including the effectiveness of online learning and online coursework for underprepared students. Examine the cost and funding of online education. Examine how electronic coursework and technology impacts students with disabilities, and make recommendations to ensure all students have access to electronic materials and courses. Review and make recommendations concerning statewide or inter-system cooperation for blended and online learning.
Study developmental education programs in public higher education institutions. Include a demographic analysis of students who require developmental education, and identify alternative means of assessing the need for developmental education, the effectiveness of delivery of developmental education programs, and the role of P-16 councils in addressing solutions for better preparing students for higher education. Review alternative means of offering and financing developmental education courses and identify potential cost savings.
Examine the existing transfer systems and the potential development of a 2+2 transfer system between public junior colleges and universities. Examine the transfer of credit between degree-granting private sector colleges, public junior colleges, and public universities. Examine the impact of national, regional, and professional accrediting associations on course credit transfer.
Study and make recommendations regarding academic and non-academic barriers to non- traditional students, including students with disabilities. Focus on ways to restructure course and program delivery, student support 2/29/2012 services, financial barriers, and remediation and academic advising. Study and make recommendations to reduce time-to-degree, incentivize on-time graduation, and increase graduation rates to meet the goals of Closing the Gaps by 2015 and beyond.
Study and make recommendations regarding the methods of financing capital projects at higher education institutions. Examine the levels of deferred maintenance, the impact of deferred maintenance on the ability to offer basic instructional services, and the methods used to finance deferred maintenance projects. Recommend alternatives for providing a structured and recurring funding mechanism more suited to the state’s fiscal capacity and institutional needs. (Joint Charge with Finance Committee)
Consistent with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s legislative directive to work with the Texas State Technical College System (TSTC) and other appropriate state agencies to develop a returned value funding model for TSTC, examine the benefits and challenges such an approach will have ontechnical education in Texas.
Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Higher Education, 82nd Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance and/or complete implementation. Specifically, monitor the following:
The Texas Lobby Group is a full service lobbying and government relations firm that continues to earn incredible stature throughout the state lobby industry. Through our contacts with Texas’ public policy makers, we provide a turn-key legislative advocacy approach. Our services include legislative lobbying, administrative lobbying, strategy development, grassroots development and mobilization, internal and external communications, and political strategy, advice and counsel.
Partners Lara Keel, Bill Messer and Mike Toomey are all at the top of the game. Both Mike Toomey and Bill Messer have been named “Number one hired gun lobbyist” by “Capitol Inside” and by Texas Monthly magazine as two of only 4 lobbyists listed in the “top 25 most influential people in Texas politics.” Lara Laneri Keel was named a “top five lobby star to watch” by Capitol Inside’s Texas Lobby Power Rankings two years in a row. Recently Mrs. Keel was named the top female hired gun lobbyist in Capitol Inside’s Texas Lobby Power Rankings.
Since it’s forming in 2002, the group’s client portfolio has grown to include an impressive list of Fortune 500 companies including: Liberty Mutual, AT & T, UnitedHealth Group, and Texas Instruments, as well as other companies, associations and government entities.
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