By Valinda Bolton
Texas State Representative
It’s a frequently asked question: What does a State Representative do when the session ends? You’re probably aware of the high-profile part of my job — the whirlwind that we call “session” gets plenty of attention in the media.
That’s when we file bills and work to advance them through the legislative process. But session is only 140 days every two years. That leaves 590 non-session days. When asked, “What does a state representative do during those 590 days?” my answer is simple — I work for you.
The other important part of the job is the constituent services that go on year round every year. Although not as high-profile as session, for the individuals, families, neighborhoods or communities that need assistance it can have a big impact. The work falls into two categories, work for individual constituents and work benefiting the entire community.
My office has developed one of the strongest constituent service programs in the capitol. Since first being sworn-in in January of 2007, my office has sent out 102,000 letters, and opened and completed 300 casework files. You should be receiving a newsletter in the next couple of weeks and that will push the number up to 161,000 letters! The issues we deal with are as varied as the people who contact us. From working with the Attorney General’s Office to help sort out child support problems, to the Workforce Commission to help expedite applications for unemployment, to cutting through some of the red tape in order for new businesses to receive licenses, my office is able to help constituents in many different areas. With property appraisal values on the rise, we also make a lot of calls to the Travis County Appraisal District when people have concerns about their appraisal and aren’t sure how to proceed. While we can’t dictate to any of these agencies what to do or how to decide a case, we do help folks get information to understand what next steps are needed to move their case along, and frequently we are able to facilitate a resolution when a case is stalled.
Sometimes constituent services just takes a phone call or two, and sometimes it can be weeks of gut-wrenching work, as in the case of a single mother of three who lost her employer based health insurance when her cancer reoccurred and she could no longer work. She desperately needed to qualify for Medicaid in order to be admitted to M.D. Anderson and receive the specialized care her type of cancer required. After much back and forth at the state and federal level, lead by my office and Congressman Doggett’s office, she was successfully transferred to MD Anderson, where she is undergoing treatment.
Transportation gridlock is one example of a community issue that affects all of us and I’ve been privileged to work with other elected officials, state agencies, cities and the county to find doable solutions to traffic problems.
3 Working with TxDOT I helped bring an additional $5 million to the “Y” at Oak Hill project, getting it back on track. We’re also working with community partners toward near-term, operational improvements at the “Y” that could significantly reduce congestion. I’ve seen the initial modeling for the project and it looks very promising!
3 Pulling all our partners together, we were able to get sidewalks and a pedestrian activated signal installed at Slaughter and RM 1826. It’s an innovative approach to signal placement where sightline is impeded by hills or curves. Now Goryzcki middle schoolers can get to and from school safely.
3 Sen. Kirk Watson and I were able to secure funding for all the safety improvements you’ve seen on Texas 71.
Constituent services are an important part of the work that I and all your other elected officials can provide, whether it’s your senator, congressperson, state senator or representative, county commissioner, city councilmember or any of the others. Constituent services are a big part of putting the public in public service.
Please remember that I work for you. I hope that you never have a problem that requires intervention from my office. But know that if you do, my office is available to assist you. You can call 512-463-0652 or email me at district47.bolton@house.state.tx.us year round, whether we are in session — or not.