Day 3 – Thursday – January 24, 2013 

Senator Charles Schwertner started off our third day with real pearls of wisdom – to be an effective advocate, we must be well informed.  Senator Schwertner comes from a farming family – actually the 6^th generation.  Currently he is on the appropriations committee – believes it is their constitutional duty to pass a balanced budget – priorities are education, health care, and Texas infrastructure.  It is a major concern that ¼ of the Texas population is uninsured – 6 million out of our 26 million Texans.  54% of births are Medicaid.  Medicaid is currently 3.9 million and Obamacare will add 1.5 million more of eligibility requirements.  Texas believes that this changes the philosophy to taking care of our needy to making health care an entitlement.  The truth is that the dollars required to take on the additional requirements is not sustainable in our budget – robbing education and other Texas needs.  Texas is pushing back on Federal encroachment.  By design our Constitution set up a weak Federal government and a strong State government.  NOT now – the Federal government keeps taking more power by giving dollars but telling the States exactly how they will spend the money.  Government health care was designed for the destitute – seniors in nursing homes.  Health care was supposed to be an individual responsibility.  Root cause of these issues – no personal responsibility.

Senator Duncan represents 51 counties over a great deal of rural Texas.  He shares some of the same concerns as others.  With Texas projected growth, we must address water – education – infrastructure issues.  Our greatest challenge is water conservation.  Metering is controversial and no one likes pumping limits.  So how do we solve our issues?  The other problem is rural Texas does not have the tax base to meet requirements.  But oil and gas is generating lots of revenue with the severance tax that goes into the rainy day fund.

Texas is unique.  Most Texans were raised on the dirt – not on the pavement!!

Mr. Mike Reissig is our Associate Deputy Comptroller.  For someone who talks about numbers – his time with us was most educational as well as entertaining.  Easy to say no to all – yes to all.  The problem begins when you have to say yes to some and no to others.  The comptroller is the revenue estimator – duty to inform the Legislature how much money they have to appropriate.  The comptroller duties for the State include:  chief tax collector – economist (revenue forecaster) – chief accountant – State treasurer – chief procurement officer, fleet management.

Texas is currently producing more jobs than any other state.

Mr. Michael Williams  – industry should be regulated in a common sense manner.  Education is critical to the success of our businesses.  Education should be where the child is.  Technology has opened doors to students who need greater challenges – higher levels of education.  If a student in Paint Creek needs a master math teacher that resides in Austin – computers now allow that student to access the teacher on line.  STAR is a better program because it requires critical thinking – requires the student to analyze.  Can’t teach to test – have to teach the information.  True education requires accountability.  One of the biggest challenges is to close the racial gap.  It requires even more focus with our population shift.  Texas will not be Texas if we don’t close the gap.

Representative Marsha Farney  added that education requires collaboration between schools and industry.  Not only from college prep and graduation, but it is critical to add the technical career for the ever increasing oil and gas industry.

Dr. Ellis is Executive Director/State Veterinarian – Texas Animal Health Commission.  His office is responsible for dairy – feed lots – sale barns – beef cattle – exotic – horse – poultry – swine.  This commission was formed in the 1890’s to fight fever ticks.  Now they work on everything in Texas and all along the Texas borders.  Issues today are trich, brucellosis from Mexico, and TB.

Dr. Shaw Chairs Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.  Most of his time is spent on air quality – water quality – and land fill.  He believes that overall, people and industry are trying to take care of our environment.   He works toward everyone working toward a solution.  The EPA is adversarial – not looking to problem solve – just want you to do what you are told to do even if their plan is not the best one.  Sometimes their facts are not correct – especially when it comes to agriculture.  When data is flawed – you won’t get the expected results.  Science needs to be rigorous – regulations need to be meaningful.  Science is never settled – always question it.

The key to economic prosperity is transporation.  Mr. Phil Wilson is our Executive Director, Texas Department of Transportation. Our challenges include the stresses of transportation with the oil industry – our population explosion in major cities – getting our expanded work force to new businesses.  TxDot must also deal with “silly” issues that cost the Texas tax payer millions and don’t really solve any real issue – the “extinct” spider that shut down a billion dollar bypass in San Antonio – a frog crossing in Bastrop – just to name a few.

Mr. Ben Taylor spoke to us about the responsibilities of the Attorney General’s Office – the law firm for the State of Texas.  Their duties include legal counsel – law enforcement – child support administration.  Crimes change and so much the agency – cyber crimes – sex offenders – human trafficking – money laundering – drug cartels.  Then there are business issues – consumer protection – business scams.  Basically any legal issue goes to this office.  They write the legal opinions on issues of  the law that are not clear.

Day 4 – Friday – January 25, 2013

The most incredible session we have ever had was our morning with Dr. Chiodo.  To be great advocates – to engage the people we need to engage – we need the skills Dr. Chiodo shared with us.  We need skills – knowledge – character.  We can teach skills but we must have character.  Stand for what’s right.  A character “failure” may take years or even a lifetime to repair.  Admit in truth – ask for forgiveness.  Will not be a change in behavior without a significant emotional event.  Your habits define your destiny.  Praise and recognition are most important to employees, family, friends.  #1 craving of the heart is praise and appreciation.  Praise character not achievement.  When you praise a person’s character 1) they will follow you around wanting to hear more 2) others have a desire to make us successful – loyalty 3) others begin to incorporate character quality into his/her life (if you praise honesty, people don’t want to violate that praise so they want to be honest).  Be attentive – make eye contact – smile – nod your head – be aware of your posture.  Have a welcoming face – embrace others with your heart.

When praising another person’s character: 1) name the character quality – 2) define the quality – 3)give a specific example of how the person has demonstrated the character quality – 4) tell the individual how his/her life has benefited me personally.

Approval is powerful.  Be sure the character quality if really there – be sincere and genuine.  Never compare character between individuals.  Learn to deflect praise – be gracious and say thank you – then pass thanks to those who make us great.

Character is everything.  Character can be repaired, restored, built – changing our culture – one real praise moment at a time.

Our tour of Capitol Land & Livestock and time with Jim Schwertner was absolutely amazing.  Great man – great agricultural story!!  His grandfather actually ran a mule auction.  It was Jim’s dad that started the public auctions for cattle in Austin.  Everybody can make money – not everyone can keep it.  Mr. Schwertner’s family has created a business formula that works in the cattle industry.  They buy cattle every day – all are sold by tomorrow.  They are now full service – a weaning business (actually were the innovators of Vac 45 program) – brand – dehorn – castrate.  Mr. Schwertner lives by the Code of the West and handed us all a copy so we might be better people – better advocates – live up to the standard that he lives by everyday.