Contact Us
CAMPAIGN ADDRESS:
6410 McPherson #5
Laredo, Texas 78041
(Mailing address)
P.O. Box 450349
Laredo, TX 78045
Phone: 956-579-5838
IN AUSTIN:
Capitol Office: 1W.04 (Main building).
Capitol Address: P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0558
LAREDO DISTRICT OFFICE:
District Address: 5702 McPherson, Suite 16
Laredo, TX 78041
District Phone: (956) 753-7722
BY EMAIL: Click here
MARK SOKOLOW
338 Wedgerock
Webster, Texas 77598
mark@mtsokolow-attorney.com
http://mtsokolow-attorney.com
281-286-9749
409-457-5521
January 9, 2013
Dear Representative Raymond:
In October 2009, I retired from being a City Attorney and returned to private practice and to educational programs in Harris County, Texas. I appreciate the many Mayors, Council members, representatives and senators for their public service to their communities and I encourage citizens to participate in local government.
I reviewed the following bills that you have recently filed or that you support:
HB 109
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to local option elections to legalize or prohibit the operation of eight-liners and the imposition of a fee on eight-liner owners; providing penalties.
HB 110
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to leave for junior college district or university system employees who are physically assaulted while on duty.
HB 111
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to the fees collected by prosecutors for collection and processing of certain checks or similar sight orders.
HB 112
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to requiring parties in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship to disclose to the court knowledge of certain registered sex offenders; providing a penalty.
HB 113
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of the total appraised value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran.
HB 114
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to voluntary emissions inspections in border counties.
HB 125
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to the punishment prescribed for the offenses of false identification as a peace officer and misrepresentation of property.
HB 126
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to refunds or credits of certain sales tax paid by certain business entities during a limited period.
HB 127
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to electioneering on the premises of certain privately owned polling places.
HB 128
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to the creation of a childhood health program grant.
HB 129
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to recusal of a justice of the supreme court or judge of the court of criminal appeals based on political contributions accepted by the justice or judge from a person involved in a case before the justice or judge.
HB 130
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to honesty in state taxation.
HB 131
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to the filing of an application for a place on the general primary election ballot.
HB 132
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to establishing a pilot program in designated public high schools in certain municipalities for placement of students in Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs as an alternative to placement in disciplinary or juvenile justice alternative education programs.
HB 133
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to the dissemination of criminal history record information by the Department of Public Safety concerning certain intoxication offenses.
HB 134
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to the criminal jurisdiction of the supreme court and the abolishment of the court of criminal appeals.
HB 135
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to reports of suspected child abuse or neglect and training regarding child abuse and neglect.
HB 136
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to an annual state budget and legislative budget sessions in even-numbered years and to political contributions made during a legislative session.
HB 137
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to the information reported to the comptroller by a coin-operated machine license holder, the penalty for failure to report that information, and the penalty for gambling promotion.
HB 138
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to funding for certain commercial service airport projects.
HB 139
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to the exercise of urban renewal powers by certain counties.
HB 140
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to the punishment for the offense of manslaughter.
HB 141
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to county and municipal land development regulation.
HB 142
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to a prohibition against human cloning and regulating other uses of human tissue by institutions of higher education; providing penalties.
HB 143
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to the instruction of American Sign Language in public high schools.
HB 144
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Relating to a mental examination of a child subject to the juvenile justice system.
HJR 25
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment to dedicate net revenue from the state lottery to support educational programs that benefit classroom teaching in the state’s public schools and to prohibit certain lottery advertisements and promotions.
HJR 26
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for an annual state budget and annual legislative sessions for budget purposes.
HJR 27
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing local option elections to legalize or prohibit the operation of eight-liners.
HJR 28
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran who died before the law authorizing a residence homestead exemption for such a veteran took effect.
HJR 31
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting the authorization or funding of an elementary or secondary education voucher program.
HJR 32
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment providing honesty in state taxation.
HJR 33
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting the taxation of the sale or use of certain food, drinks, medicine, and child-care services.
HJR 34
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment regarding the dedication by general law of revenue of or money received by this state and money held in or deposited to an account or fund inside or outside the state treasury and the authorized expenditure or appropriation of revenue or money dedicated by general law.
HJR 35
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Supporting the ratification of a proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing for a balanced federal budget.
HJR 36
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment to abolish the court of criminal appeals and establish one supreme court with civil and criminal appellate jurisdiction.
HJR 37
Author: Raymond
Last Action: 11/12/2012 H Filed
Caption Version: Introduced
Caption: Proposing a constitutional amendment changing the terms of office of a district judge.
I have always had a concern about campaign contributions and the affect that they may have on the judiciary. I would suggest that you expand the recusal provisions of HB 129 to all judges. Nevertheless, since the Judges will need to fund their own campaigns, I would recommend giving them a raise to offset these costs.
Thank you for serving in the State Legislature and I will encourage my clients and my friends to read your bills.
Best Regards,
Mark Sokolow
Please see my comments as to HB 129
I support HB 751. It was about time somebody pushed the issue which not only turns to fiscal responsibility but more importantly into an increasingly broken healthcare system. I practice law in Austin but was born and raised in Laredo and would like to do anything I can to help with this important issue. Thank you.
Please do not limit what my wife and I can buy with our food stamps. We use the food pantry’s to help us with necessities just so we can afford to use the SNAP to have a few nice things to eat once a month. How can there be any freedom for Americans with Disability’s if the Government tells us what we can and cannot eat. This is absurd. Just because we are poor, how does that justify taking away our choices and keeping us from bettering our lives. We do not spend all our assistance on junk food.
Please consider pulling HB 133. Stigmatizing offenders with registration on publicly accessed databases kills their ability to hold gainful employment and saddles their families with poverty and their children with the long-term effects of that poverty, the mostly likely of which is continued, perhaps, generational poverty. Poverty is one of the leading causes of criminal behavior so, in effect, this law would make us less safe in the long run by increasing those disfranchised by growing up in poverty. As a Representative of a district with a long history of trying to overcome poverty, please consider the indirect consequence of a law that could significantly reduce a person’s employability. Add to that the reality that public ostracism via public registration has zero deterrent effect on offenders. Most offenders don’t consider the outcome of their behavior until it’s too late. They won’t even be aware of this added consequence until they get arrested. It will also add to the backlog of our courts and result in more dismissed or reduced cases and less rehabilitation oppertunities. Like the disastrous results of the well-intentioned Texas Driver Responsibility program, the cost of going to trial and fighting a conviction will be cheaper than accepting a plea for probation and registration. Of course, those too poor to pay for a good DWI lawyer will have little choice in the matter. Thank you for service as a Representative and your consideration of my opinion.
Max Maurer, Seguin, TX
I think no minor should be allow to used the lone star card ! In addition to stop buying junk food with the food stamps some store are highly overprice people don’t mind spending their food stamps there ,but sure do mind spending cash.
RE: SB 418
Dear Representative Raymond,
As a Court Reporter serving the Judiciary in Laredo, Webb County Texas, since 1999, I am in opposition to SB 418. I feel there is room for possible HIPAA violations and possible attorney/client privileged communications. Would there be a process for redacting sensitive information or other confidential material?
Please consider opposing SB 418.
Thank you for serving in the State Legislature all these years.
In Service to the Judiciary,
Vicente Mendoza, Official Court Reporter, Laredo, Webb County, Texas
Hello,
How are you? I wanted to speak to you regarding a certain property tax code(Laredo) that I feel that is being misinterpreted in regards to my situation. You can reach me at 956-220-4167 (24/7) . Thanks in advance, John Pena
We need to change Texas Law – Currently, we require individuals that hold public office to resign their position if they choose to run for another office.
Example: A Laredo City Councilmen chooses to run for County Commissioner.
O.K. Understood – However, why should the tax payers foot the bill for a special called election to replace this individual?
This Law should be changed to require the elected official to pay for the special called election out of his or her own pocket, not from taxpayers.
This would prevent said representatives from misrepresenting the public and would also encourage them to complete their terms of office they ran for. Public funds are not personal bank accounts for politicians. This amounts to taxation without representation.
“The [Texas] Sunset Commission has not seen the elimination or major restructuring of an agency that mattered in 20 years.”
Source:
http://watchdog.org/265196/sunset-advisory-commission/?roi=echo3-34710068051-35411111-df3ef25444cd7acb35a29542eecf878f
Is the Sunset Commission really little more than a rubber stamp that doesn’t do much for taxpayers, to paraphrase a growing list of rather well-placed critics? It can be lucrative to play the “go along to get along” bureaucracy game, at least for as long as taxpayers will tolerate it. But Texas is running out of money to borrow:
http://www.usdebtclock.org/state-debt-clocks/state-of-texas-debt-clock.html
What’s next then, Rep. Raymond?
Stupendous leadership from Richard Raymond and all staff members keep it up! #5050justice
House Bill 1100. BAD IDEA!
It will increase crime and abuse. The State of Texas should have one day of rest from hard liquor sales