Podcast: The Texas Legislature & The Electric Grid
Last month’s winter storm left millions of Texans without electricity. So what is the Legislature doing about it?
In the latest episode of The Austin Common Radio Hour, we sit down with state Representative Vikki Goodwin to find out. Vikki Goodwin represents Texas House District 47 (which includes western Travis County & far south Austin).
As Texans endured days in the dark, the state failed to deliver vital emergency information
Normally, disaster planning involves constant communication between state agencies to create protocols for any possible emergency situation, according to Redlener. The Texas House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee oversees the Division of Emergency Management, but Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, said the committee only meets with TDEM officials on an as-needed basis.
“When it comes to disaster preparedness, I would say that they don’t really give us instructions or advice or even a network to say in an emergency ‘Here’s who you should be reaching out to,’” Goodwin said.
Goodwin added that she plans to bring up the lack of communication during the legislative session, and she wants to see TDEM use the national Emergency Alert System during future disasters because an automatic cellphone message would be the most effective way to share information. Committee Chair Rep. James White, R-Hillister, also said he has already contacted House Speaker Dade Phelan about scheduling committee hearings to improve the state’s disaster planning and preparedness strategies.
Parents of girl who died in Cedar Park pool incident fighting for change
HB 1676, named Cati's Law, would prevent drownings of children in day camps or child care by ensuring staff put life jackets on non-swimmers when at a pool. KVUE visits w/Cati's parents who want to keep others from experiencing their heartbreak.
New bill proposes raising the minimum wage in Texas
This isn't the first bill filed in the Texas Legislature attempting to raise the minimum wage. Rep. Vikki Goodwin filed HB 615 in November that proposed raising Texas' minimum wage each year based on the preceding year's consumer price index.
Texas Regulators Vent About Natural Gas Flaring, Suggest Staff ‘Dig Deeper’ Before Approving Requests
State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, an Austin Democrat, introduced House Bill (HB) 1494 that would, among other things, impose a 25% tax on the market value of gas flared and vented. The gas byproduct now is exempt from state taxes normally levied on gas production, as it is burned off and released instead of being captured and marketed.
“Texas is one of the top oil and gas producing states, and as a byproduct of pulling oil out of the ground, this gas comes out — the same gas we use in our homes to cook our food,” Goodwin said. “But for oil producers, they see it as a waste product. Rather than figuring out how to sell it or how to use it onsite, they’re basically just throwing it away.”
Democratic state lawmakers want to tax flared, vented natural gas. Texas oil industry says no.
“Texas is one of the top oil and gas producing states, and as a byproduct of pulling oil out of the ground, this gas comes out — the same gas we use in our homes to cook our food,” said state Rep. Vikki Goodwin, an Austin Democrat who wrote a bill to tax flared or vented gas. “But for oil producers, they see it as a waste product. Rather than figuring out how to sell it or how to use it on-site, they’re basically just throwing it away.”
Vaccine fast-track: Texas lawmakers get offer to skip the line for COVID-19 inoculation
Three House Democrats — Vikki Goodwin and Gina Hinojosa of Austin and Erin Zwiener of Driftwood — told The News they declined the vaccination opportunity.
“Everybody who can get the vaccine should get the vaccine at some point in time, and I definitely look forward to being able to get it,” Goodwin said. “But it would give a wrong impression to people that I valued my own health and wellbeing above others if I was skipping the line.”
Texas lawmaker files bill to ban the display of firearms at public demonstrations
A bill filed in the Texas House would ban the display of firearms at public demonstrations, creating a misdemeanor charge.
State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, an Austin Democrat, filed the bill in response to threats of violence at the Texas Capitol in the run-up to the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday.
The Texas Capitol grounds remain closed through Wednesday after the Texas Dept. of Public Safety warned of violent extremists intending to demonstrate at the Texas Capitol, where it is legal for licensed-to-carry individuals to possess firearms.
Legislature convenes; Austin Public Health Authority offers COVID-19 vaccine to lawmakers
Texas House Representative Vikki Goodwin says she was also approached, but didn’t accept receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Like everybody else I am anxious to receive the vaccine, but I don’t think it’s right to skip the line,” said Goodwin. “The CDC and the state government has set up guidelines of who should be receiving it, and I don’t fall in those guidelines.”
Lawmakers ask Gov. Abbott to prioritize teachers, grocery and food workers in COVID-19 vaccine rollout
What State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, said was supposed to be cause for celebration, has turned into confusion and frustration.
Access to COVID-19 vaccines, and according to Goodwin, public information about how to get vaccinated, is lacking.
Goodwin wrote a letter with 37 other Texas House Democrats calling on Gov. Greg Abbott and Dr. John Hellerstedt, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, to clear up confusion on the state’s vaccine rollout.
Texas House Democrats ask Gov. Greg Abbott to overhaul COVID-19 vaccine distribution process
“The dearth of reliable public information leads to skepticism over the government’s ability to look out for the public health,” state Rep. Vikki Goodwin wrote in the letter, which 37 other House Democrats signed.
Realtor Magazine: Your Champions on the Virtual Hustings
Like all candidates must do these days, Goodwin is rethinking her outreach to voters in light of the pandemic, using tactics like phone banks, social media, and online events. And with the shift to remote campaigning, she sees a silver lining. “While the energy in the room during a public event just can’t be replicated online, so many more people from across the state are participating,” she says. “I much prefer seeing people’s faces and body language, but we have to be flexible and adapt.”
Goodwin forms anti-racism advisory group
The May 25 death of George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis was a turning point for many western Travis County residents who responded by holding rallies to support Black Lives Matter. For State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, Floyd’s death made it “very apparent that we still have a long way to go to reach where we need to be with civil rights.”
As a result, Goodwin—whose House District 47 covers Lakeway, Bee Cave, Spicewood and some unincorporated Westbank areas—recently formed an Anti-Racism Advisory Group. With 15 members representing diverse neighborhoods and races, the group aims to improve race relations and address racism in the area.
Travis County delegates issue joint statement supporting peaceful protests, condemning violence
The members of the Travis County Delegation to the Texas House of Representatives have issued a joint statement supporting peaceful protests while condemning violence and destruction. The statement comes following days of growing anger and unrest over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Bowie High School band still fighting to get refund on trip cancelled by COVID-19
Goodwin wrote a letter to the airline. “I would like for British Airways to offer cash refunds for those who ask for them. There may be some who feel like they may use the credit in time so not everyone would ask for a cash refund but for those who do we feel like they should offer that,” she said.
FOX 7 Austin reached out to British Airways earlier this week with the concerns of these parents and students, and so far they’ve told us they are looking into it.
State Rep Vikki Goodwin on Austin homeless situation
Amid outrage over Austin's homeless policies, state lawmakers are preparing for the next legislative session, looking for ways to fix homeless issues across Texas.
New Hamilton Pool Road development vandalized
On Jan. 10, the monument sign at the front of the Provence neighborhood was defaced with the spray painted message “Keep the Hills Country.” Vandals also broke glass and removed front panel lettering. The matter was referred to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office the following day, but sheriff’s spokesperson Kristen Dark said the case has been suspended “due to lack of investigative leads.”
Rep. Goodwin outraises 5 GOP candidates in Travis County state House district
State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, raised more money during the second half of 2019 than each of the five Republicans seeking to challenge her. Goodwin, a real estate broker, raised $120,000, according to a campaign finance filing released Thursday by the Texas Ethics Commission. She spent $64,600 and has nearly $106,000 in cash on hand.
State representatives urge governor to allow refugees to settle in Texas
A letter signed by nine members of the Texas House of Representatives on Thursday had urged the governor to participate in the federal refugee resettlement program.
Billboards, traffic safety key issues
On December 17, Rep. Goodwin assembled a panel of local experts on topic of billboards and traffic safety along Highway 71. Acting as moderator, she posed questions to Epi Gonzalez, engineer with the Texas Department of Transportation; Bob Moore, executive assistant to Travis County Precinct 3 Commissioner Gerald Daugherty; Stacy Suits, Travis County Precinct 3 constable; and Sarah Tober, executive director of Scenic Texas.