As the newest member of the Dallas delegation to the Texas legislature, Rep. Eric Johnson may have had the slightest inkling what he was getting into when he first contemplated running for the District seat once held by longtime state rep Terri Hodge. But with the legislative session entering its third month, and with Johnson having filed several pieces of legislation, including bills on ethics reform, eminent domain, and curbing abuses in the payday lending industry—not to mention his recently being named to the all-important House Appropriations Committee—Rep. Johnson can no longer be considered uninitiated. With HB 1, the House’s version of the budget, having just passed out of the Appropriations Committee on an 18-7 party-line vote, Johnson has a front row seat to some of the most contentious and high-stakes negotiations among legislators, negotiations that will profoundly impact the lives of his own constituents as well as those of Texans in general.
Examiner: On Feb. 9 the Senate passed SB 18, which purportedly protects private property rights against eminent domain. Have you had a chance to look at it, and how similar is it to your bills?
Johnson: I have begun to review SB 18 with my staff. It contains provisions similar to my bill, HB 747, which requires the disclosure of more information to property owners who are affected by the eminent domain process. My other bills touch on subjects not addressed by SB 18: HB 745 will ensure that property owners are provided documents pertaining to eminent domain in the language of their choice. HB 746 will ensure property owners receive enough compensation to allow them to continue to own a home or operate a business in their community.
Examiner: One of the provisions in HB 745 is that a government entity provide a property owner with documents printed in the language of the owner’s choosing. What have you heard about the experience of immigrant communities in dealing with eminent domain?
Johnson: I believe the right to own property is fundamental in the United States, and the language that a property owner speaks should not place him or her in greater jeopardy of losing his or her property to eminent domain. I have heard from constituents in my district who are very concerned about immigrant communities being unfairly targeted in eminent domain proceedings.
Examiner: Tell us about HB 1106. What’s its primary purpose?
Johnson: HB 1106 will help Texans understand their rights when accepting deferred adjudication for a criminal offense. Many Texans are unaware that after the successful completion of deferred adjudication, the deferred adjudication will remain on their record unless they seek an order of non-disclosure. This criminal record impacts those who successfully complete deferred as they try to find employment and housing. The court will be required to inform the defendant of his/her eligibility to seek an order of nondisclosure to make sure Texans are fully aware of their rights.
Examiner: Yours isn’t the only deferred adjudication bill. Sen. West has one, SB 144, in committee right now. What Republicans do you think you’ll be able to win over to get this passed? Does this issue break along the usual partisan lines?
Johnson: I think ensuring that Texans understand their legal rights is not a partisan issue at all, and I look forward to working with all of my colleagues to address this issue with HB 1106.
Examiner: You’re on the Appropriations Committee. Have you begun formulating the arguments you’ll have to make to your colleagues to keep budget cuts from being as harsh as some are fearing?
Johnson: The cuts that are proposed will have a devastating impact on the people of Texas, especially our working class families. Slashing our state's investment in education and health and human services will lead to more students dropping out of high school, fewer Texans earning college degrees, and more of our citizens ending up in emergency rooms for basic medical care. This will cost the state far more in the years to come than what it would cost to pay for what Texans need today.
Examiner: Gov. Perry sounded a characteristically upbeat note about the state’s future prospects. What did you think of his State of the State address last month? Were there any issues you wished he had touched on to a greater extent?
Johnson: Governor Perry's State of the State address was far too optimistic about the state of Texas economy. I believe that in a legislative session where we face the largest budget shortfall in our state's history, it's critical to be open and frank about the problem so we can get to work finding solutions that are fair to the people of Texas. It's time to put the political games aside and focus on what is best for our state.
Examiner: Let’s go back to your initial decision to challenge for the Dist 100 seat. Did you have a single moment of insight that made you realize that serving on the Legislature was a real possibility?
Johnson: There was no single moment of insight. Having grown up in House District 100, I know first-hand both the challenges the district faces and the great opportunities that can be found in our community. Most people don't know that when I was in high school I worked in the district office of State Representative Sam Hudson, who represented District 100 when I was growing up. I also served as Legislative Director for State Representative Yvonne Davis after graduating from college. It took years of hard work and community service to get here, and I hope people understand that my road to Austin was not easy. People should also know that I wouldn't be where I am today without my wife, Nakita, who has been my biggest supporter. I couldn't have won a seat in the Texas House without her.
Examiner: Your predecessor, Terri Hodge, continued to receive the support of stalwart Democrats like E.B. Johnson and J.W. Price even after she fell under criminal suspicion. As a relative newcomer, how much work do you think it will take to forge ties with traditional Dallas Democrats?
Johnson: I may be relatively new to Austin, but I am not a newcomer to Dallas or to Democratic politics. I have long been active in the community through my work with non-profits like the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dallas. I have also been an active supporter of the Democratic Party, from serving as a Democratic precinct chair to helping bring a then-unknown Senator named Barack Obama to Dallas for his first Dallas fundraiser. I have an excellent working relationship with all of the elected officials in Dallas County, irrespective of political party.
Examiner: Speaking of Hodge, you made ethics reform a key part of your platform. What kind of feedback have you gotten on your HB 246, which would strip certain pension benefits from public officials who have been convicted of felonies?
Johnson: The response from other legislators has been very encouraging. Thirty members of the Texas House, both Democrats and Republicans, have signed on as joint and co-authors of this bill. I am thrilled to serve in a body where so many members are committed to integrity in their service. I should point out, however, that HB 246 would not apply to Terri Hodge or any public official who committed a qualifying felony prior to the effective date of the bill, and would only apply to state legislators and elected members of the executive branch of state government.
Examiner: Hodge, for all her faults, was remembered as someone who was responsive to constituents. Are you satisfied so far with the level of constituent responsiveness shown by your office?
Johnson: The residents of House District 100 are my top priority. Whenever I introduce a bill or cast a vote on the House floor, it all comes back to whether or not it is good for the people of District 100. My staff and I make it a priority to respond to every one of our constituents' concerns promptly, and I'm very proud of the work we do for our constituents.
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