Texas State Representative John V Garza

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Visit John's Texas House Site HERE

About John

John V. Garza represents Texas House District 117, which is located in far west and southwest Bexar County. His parents USAF S/SGT Arthur and Maria D. Garza were originally from the Westside of San Antonio. As a military family, the Garza's traveled extensively and globally before finally settling back to their Westside San Antonio home in 1967. Rep. Garza graduated from Edgewood ISD's John F. Kennedy High School in 1973.

He then attended The University of Denver where he received his Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication in 1977. John married a South San West Campus graduate, Debra A. Garza, in 1980 and has raised five children. He is also the proud grandfather of two grandchildren. The Garza’s currently live and work in District 117 and have always been active in serving and ministering to families in their community.

Issues

ISSUES

There are many issues pressing District 117 and the Texans residing in it. The issues discussed here are those that I feel need immediate resolution. Data taken from polls says that you agree with me.

Join me in bringing resolution and closure to our problems. Help me satisfy the needs of our community where we live, work, and play. Together we can lift the weight that shoddy education reform, healthcare, a sluggish economy, and increasingly higher property taxes place on us.

I want to make our District a better place. And I promise you that I care very deeply about the problems that face our region and will work dilligently to solve them.

Budget

THE BUDGET.

In these difficult times, I understand that we as Texans have to be more conservative with our spending. This applies to us all, even in the legislature. Our Constitution rquires us to have a balanced budget every time we convene, so my main priority is to do just that through fiscal responsibility and creating revenue in our State.

Creating a fiscally responisible budget is a process. In order to spend as much as we make in revenue, it is imperitive to scrutinize and inspect every Texas department and institution and re-evaluate them each on an individual basis. While in the House of Representitives, John has voted to balance the budget on HB 1, that slashed the State budget by 12.3%. John also voted for the usage of around $3 billion of the Economic Stabliization Fund, or the "Rainy Day Fund", in order to help pay for the shortfalls of the prior budgets in HB 275.

All in all, a safe and financially secure state will, in the long run, ensure economic growth and prosperity and a brighter future for all Texans.

Immigration
Illegal immigration is both a State and Federal problem, and it will take both entities to solve it. We need to prevent illegal immigration, but in doing so we wil need to find REAL solutions to the issue of undocumented immigrants and workers that are already here . It is John's belief that if a child is born here on American soil, they are a United States citizen no matter the legality of their parents' presence in the country. That is a right and a fundamental freedom ensured by the Constitution of the United States of America. As for the immigrants already here, a fair and responsible solution must be found. That is why John Co-Authored HB 2757 with Rep.Pena, which would create a Texas Commission on Immigration and Migration made up of 26 members and create a pilot visa project for immigrants already in the State. He has also co-authored HCR 88 which urges Congress to overhaul the current US Immigration policy and replace it with a more functional outline that will secure our borders and fairly deal with immigrants already here. The bill was called by a member from the Committee of State Affairs, Rep. Charlie Geren "The best piece of legislation come through this committee this session."

IMMIGRATION.

Education

EDUCATION.

Education is an issue that is very important to John. He understands that in order for our economy, our state, and our future to be positive, education on all levels have to be a priority. During his time in the Legislature, John has co-sponsored, co-authored, and supported several bills that would create a more effecient way of teaching in the state. Starting with HB 500, which replaces the TAKS test with an end of course exam, that would focus specifically on the subjects that each student is studying, rather than a broad section of knowledge. It also reforms previous accountability issues that schools had. John has also supported the school districts' rights to procreate funds as they see fit. In HB 400, school districts have the ability to re-adjust their budgets to prepare for the decrease in funds the state is going to make in the coming years. The bill will save jobs and create flexibility for the administrators, in planning for the larger class room sizes of the near future. He also believes that the community has the right to vote on the salary raises of the superintendent of the district in HB 3312. In the same sense, he believes that public campuses belong to the taxpayers who paid for them , and in HB 2415, it details that usage of the campus is allowed by the public. Private schools are also a focus of his, allowing, in HB 936, for more charter schools to be founded and in HB 2322, allowing private schools to compete in University Interscholastic Leaugue competitions. As for secondary education, John Garza has fought hard for the campuses in his district to mantain funding even during the educational cuts, lobbying and supporting amendments that would provide money to the brand new Texas A&M San Antonio, Alamo Community Colleges, and The University of Texas at San Antonio

Elections

ELECTION INTEGRITY

John believes that Texans deserve a fair and balanced election. In order to make this a reality, he has sponsored and authored bills that mantain the integrity and stablity that elections provide, from harsher punishments on voter fraud in HB 2057, to restricting poll watchers in HB 2050. A major reform of the election procedures, was the passage of HB 16, which John supported. It would require voters to present a photo ID before voting. He believes that this bill would increase the chance of a legitimate and fair vote, while ensuring that the process is not tainted in any way. Another way that the representation of the constituents in the district is justly defended by John's actions in the House is his own bill, HB 2416. This bill requires that the person who is running for office, live in the district he represents. If they do not, then they would not be able to make decisions for the district he does not reside in.

Public Safety

PUBLIC SAFETY

The safety and well being of the public is a fundemental priority for John and the State of Texas. In order to keep the citizens safe and healthy in District 117, he has supported bills that would keep the law enforcement agencies running, and provide them assistance in whatever job they needed to do.

In HB 993, John co-authored a bill that would give firefighters the jurisdiction to close a portion of a road or highway if they needed to. Providing this permission would gretly enable forefighters in their rescue efforts and make the environment safer for them, the victims, and the drivers.

Another way that the issue of public safety is addressed, is with HB 1425, in which offensive or dangerous graffiti can be removed by a city or municipality with the permission of the property owner. This would reduce the problem of property defacement and allow the owners to clean their walls to their discretion.

To protect the drivers of some busy intersections and roads, John authored HB 2596, which is a bill that would allow cities to lower the speed limits in their jurisdiction to keep the public safe.

Property Rights

PROPERTY RIGHTS

John believes that homeowners and landowners have rights to their land and property. To protect these rights, he has enacted and introduced several bills in order to keep the government from impeding on their liberties. In HB 1882 John works to improve the structure and integrity of Home Owners Associations in the State of Texas. It requires HOAs to have a database of records from meetings for reference and requires that all meetings be open so that homeowners have access to the assesments and services they provide. HB 2761 would give the same guidelines for Property Owner's Associations as well. John has also understands the power and influence that Appraisal Boards have over property owners in their ability to raise and regulate taxes. So, he has introduced HB 1884 which would limit the board to re-evaluate properties only once every three years in order to keep taxes from being raised every fiscal year. In HB 1717, he also introduced legislation that would allow the positions on the Appraisal Board be decided by the public in an election rather than government appointment. Affordable housing is also an issue that is important to John, and his HB 3552, he addresses the incentives for private companies to set up affordable housing with tax exemptions without government intervention or tampering.

Water

WATER

Water is one of the most valuable and vulnerable assets that the district has. It is John's belief that it should not be squandered or mishandled in any way, and that preservation of the highly important Edwards Aquifer be prioritized. Bexar Met is a major supplier of water and water needs in District 117. Although mismanagement and some administrative problems have been uncovered, John believes that the company itself must remain intact in order to properly serve the rural communities in the district. In HB 2145 & HB 3855, he addresses the possible takeover of the company by the San Antonio Water System. The acquisition would be a comprimising action that would take away the right for current BexarMet customers to vote on their board. John is fighting for a fair outcome, and supports the people of his district to be given fair representation in their water supplier's actions. Water quality is an issue that John is also addressing. In HB 3602, he would require that devices that are already being used to eliminate water pollution, have a minimum effectiveness of 80% in order to improve the quality of the water going into the aquifer.

Others

OTHER ISSUES

ENVIRONMENT-

HB 2760 would help ensure the Environmental Protection Agency's guidelines be placed on the Edwards Aquifer in order to keep the area protected and the local flora and fauna thriving.

VETERANS-

HB 1574 would allow VSAs or Veteran Service Angencies be classified as "small businesses", so they can be considered for government projects to create revenue, helping provide services to veterans throughout the state of Texas.

SANCTITY OF LIFE-

HB 15 is a bipartisan bill that was coauthored by John, which would allow a physician to show a patient a sonogram before an abortion is performed.

ISSUES
Budget
Immigration
Education
Elections
Public Safety
Property Rights
Water
Others

News

NEWS

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Rep. John Garza (Dist. 117) sits at his desk on the floor after morning session, February 28, 2011

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In San Antonio:

12395 Military Drive West

San Antonio, TX 78253

210-485-2109

Fax 210-679-0040

In Helotes:

12002 bandera Road, Suite 102A

Helotes, TX 78023

210-485-2109

In Von Ormy:

13940 Benton City Road Von Ormy, TX 78703 (210) 485-2109

In Austin:

Room E1.512, Capitol Extension

P.O. Box 2910

Austin, TX 78768

(512) 463-0269

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