Items filtered by date: January 2011

January 2011

TASA Visioning Institute Conference

Rep. Branch spoke before an audience of tech-savvy superintendents and business leaders about the implementation of Branch's bill that allows school districts to utilize more technology and electronic textbooks in the classroom. Also speaking on the same panel was Rep. Hochberg and Rep. Strama on their initiatives for more innovative uses of technology for teachers in tracking student progress, as well as use of open-source textbooks.

Published in Around Texas

January 2011

Overview: Making Textbooks Affordable, Re-Examining Parking Meters

January 27, 2011

Branch

Daily Texan Editorial Board

Making textbooks affordable

As the state reduces financial support for higher education, students will undoubtedly be forced to make up the difference. Though the cost of tuition rose in the last year and will continue to rise in the future, some immediate relief is possible thanks to bills filed by state legislators who hope to make college textbooks more affordable.

State Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, filed a bill that would require universities to include with their course schedules a list of textbooks, both required and recommended, by the respective professors no later than 30 days before the first day of class. This measure would provide students with sufficient time to find the most affordable textbooks.

Published in TV/Media

January 2011

Textbook Bills Aim to Lower Student Costs as Tuition Rises

January 28, 2011

Melissa Alaya

This legislative session, students can keep their eyes on two higher education bills that could significantly alter how much textbooks cost in the coming semesters.

UT alumni Rep. Jose Lozano, D-Kingsville, proposed a bill that would exempt textbooks from the required 8.25 percent sales tax. The bill, if passed, could take effect July 1.

Published in TV/Media

January 2011

Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas Breakfast

Chairman Branch met with leaders of many independent colleges and universities in Texas for a breakfast in Austin to discuss their unique issues and challenges.

Published in Around Texas

January 2011

College education a worthy goal for all Texans

Rep. Dan Branch
Special to the Education U Edition

As the old saying goes, "everything is bigger in Texas." Our recently released census numbers, as well as our state's education challenges, are no exception.

According to 2010 census figures, at 25.2 million Texans, our state is now home to 8% of all Americans and we are now educating 10% of all public school students nationwide. Demographers agree that new jobs and population growth go hand in hand, which may explain why almost half of the 4.2 million new Texans added this decade moved here from other states.

To date, Texans have weathered the recent recession much better than most. We added more jobs than any other state during the last decade, more Fortune 1000 companies now call Texas home than any other, and we were the nation's leading exporter for the 8th consecutive year in 2010. Texans must not take this positive momentum for granted.

Published in Press Highlights

January 2011

College education a worthy goal for all Texans

Rep. Dan Branch
Special to the Education U Edition

As the old saying goes, "everything is bigger in Texas." Our recently released census numbers, as well as our state's education challenges, are no exception.

Published in TV/Media

January 2011

BRANCH, DAVIS TO CO-CHAIR DALLAS AREA LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT
Ryan Trimble
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
512) 463-0367

BRANCH, DAVIS TO CO-CHAIR DALLAS AREA LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION

Rep. Dan Branch (R- Dallas) and Rep. Yvonne Davis (D- Dallas) Elected by Peers to Lead Multi-County Delegation

AUSTIN, Texas—Texas House members from north Texas elected Rep. Yvonne Davis (D- Dallas) and Rep. Dan Branch (R-Dallas) to Co-Chair the Dallas Area Legislative Delegation (DALD), at the delegation's first meeting of the 82nd Session. Davis replaces Rep. Roberto Alonzo (D-Dallas), who chose to step down after serving as Democrat Co-Chair during the 80th and 81st legislative sessions; Branch is returning for his second term as Republican Co-Chair of the delegation.

Published in Press Releases

January 2011

Peña Forms Legislative Hispanic Republican Conference

January 27, 2011

Patricia Kilday

Blog

State Rep. Aaron Peña of Edinburg, who recently changed the D after his name to an R, is forming a legislative Hispanic Republican Conference, which he hopes will “inject a dose of realism” into some of the session’s most divisive issues.

Before everyone jumps to the comments section to be the first to make the joke about meeting in a telephone booth, let me explain the membership of the new group: it includes the six Republican members of Hispanic descent (Peña, Jose Aliseda of Beeville, Dee Margo of El Paso, Larry Gonzales of Round Rock and Raul Torres of Corpus Christi).

Published in TV/Media

January 2011

TAB Distinguished Speaker Breakfast Series

Rep. Branch spoke to members and friends of the Texas Association of Business for their distinguished breakfast speaker series in Austin. Also sponsoring the event was the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce.

Published in Around Texas

January 2011