oscar longoria

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Although Cameron County had a relatively new slate of legislators going into the 88th legislative session, it did not suffer from inexperience.

That is the view of state Rep. Oscar Longoria of La Joya. Longoria represents District 35, which is the only constituency in the Rio Grande Valley that straddles both Cameron and Hidalgo County. Indeed, it stretches all the way from La Joya, Longoria’s hometown, all the way to the edges of Brownsville. Longoria says he likes representing such a broad swathe of the Valley because it him him to think regionally. 

“I love that it encompasses the entire Valley and takes a little snippet of every single city,” Longoria said, at the recent Brownsville Chamber of Commerce 88th Legislative Update Luncheon.

On the new-look Cameron County legislative delegation, Longoria said:

“So I found myself going into session with all new colleagues, right. We have a new senator, Senator LaMantia, who does a phenomenal job. We have two new representatives, Rep. Gamez, who sits in front of me, and Rep. Lopez, who sits to the left of me. I felt like the new kid in class trying to get acclimated to everyone and working together. And I want to give them a round of applause because it was their first session, but they acted like senior legislators. They made sure that their districts were provided for and they did a phenomenal job. So I really think everybody needs to give them a round of applause for the situation we put them in.”

Longoria went on to list the funding he brought back to District 35.

“It is always important whenever you can to bring home the bacon,” Longoria said. “You don't say earmark but you kind of want to make sure you can kind of, you know, pigeonhole it (the funding).” 

“So, for House District 35… we got $625,000 for parks and recreation. For Monte Alto, $250,000 for a multipurpose community center. And for Cameron County and this is important: $625,000 for Lions Park in La Feria, which will include for courts and be able to house our EMS center, $1 million for a new park in Santa Maria to replace the old one that had closed, and $2.5 million for Olmito Nature Park, which is a massive new project from Cameron County, which includes RV sites, canoeing, fishing, and hike and bike trails. So, I think the District did really well. Cameron County did incredibly well.”

Longoria said if Texans look at the new state budget they would see little bullet points where those direct appropriations went. “I think there could have been 10 or 11 direct appropriations in the entire state. The majority of them came to South Texas, and a portion of those came to Cameron County.”

Here is an audio recording of everything Rep. Longoria said at the Brownsville Chamber event.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

LA JOYA, Texas - State Rep. Oscar Longoria has responded to criticism from a local teachers group about his votes this legislative session.

The La Joya chapter of the American Federation of Teachers went public with their disappointment in the hopes that the lawmaker would not support a school vouchers bill. The bill could be heard on the House floor as early as today.

Longoria, D-La Joya, gave his response in an audio interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International New Service from the state Capitol.

“I represent a diverse district, all the way from Sullivan City to Brownsville. So I try to take my votes based on what makes the most sense for the district and what is sound policy,” Longoria said.

Brenda Salinas, president La Joya AFT, explained why her group is upset with Longoria.

"Earlier this year, La Joya ISD nearly closed two elementary schools. The reasoning: Our district has lost an estimated $79,880,680 to the expansion of for-profit charter schools in our area in just the past few years,” Salinas said.

“We saved those school employee jobs because the community spoke out. Where was Rep. Longoria, who represents those employees and their families? He was in Austin, voting against this community again and again.”

Salinas said Longoria voted for a bill that would “make it easier for charter schools to move into our community and defund our neighborhood public schools.”

This audio comprises Rep. Longoria's response.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

HARLINGEN, Texas - State Rep. Oscar Longoria of La Joya discussed the upcoming legislative session in a recent speech at the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce.

He talked about the likely amount of money that will be available for appropriations, as well as education and healthcare policy. He also took questions from the audience.

Here are his remarks, including the Q&A.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - Four state lawmakers from the Rio Grande Valley were asked what is one specific area that needs to be addressed in the next legislative session. 

Reps. Terry Canales of Edinburg, Sergio Muñoz of Mission, R.D. ‘Bobby’ Guerra of McAllen, and Oscar Longoria of La Joya were asked the question by moderator Jim Darling, the former mayor of McAllen, at a McAllen Chamber of Commerce event. 

Held at the Radisson McAllen Airport Hotel, the event was titled “Legislative Update Luncheon." The master of ceremonies was Dr. Fred Farias, chairman of the McAllen Chamber’s government affairs council.

This podcast has the answers from the four Rio Grande Valley lawmakers.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - Four state lawmakers from the Rio Grande Valley were asked what was the most important negative piece of legislation passed last session for the region.

Reps. Terry Canales of Edinburg, Sergio Muñoz of Mission, R.D. ‘Bobby’ Guerra of McAllen, and Oscar Longoria of La Joya were asked the question by moderator Jim Darling, the former mayor of McAllen, at a McAllen Chamber of Commerce event. 

Held at the Radisson McAllen Airport Hotel, the event was titled “Legislative Update Luncheon." The master of ceremonies was Dr. Fred Farias, chairman of the McAllen Chamber’s government affairs council.

This podcast has the answers from the four Rio Grande Valley lawmakers. 

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - Four state lawmakers from the Rio Grande Valley were asked what was the most important positive piece of legislation passed last session for the region.

Reps. Terry Canales of Edinburg, Sergio Muñoz of Mission, R.D. ‘Bobby’ Guerra of McAllen, and Oscar Longoria of La Joya were asked the question by moderator Jim Darling, the former mayor of McAllen, at a McAllen Chamber of Commerce event. 

Held at the Radisson McAllen Airport Hotel, the event was titled “Legislative Update Luncheon." The master of ceremonies was Dr. Fred Farias, chairman of the McAllen Chamber’s government affairs council.

This podcast has the answers from the four Rio Grande Valley lawmakers. 

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - Four state lawmakers from the Rio Grande Valley were asked what has changed the most in the Legislature over the past ten years. 

Reps. Terry Canales of Edinburg, Sergio Muñoz of Mission, R.D. ‘Bobby’ Guerra of McAllen, and Oscar Longoria of La Joya were asked the question by moderator Jim Darling, the former mayor of McAllen, at a McAllen Chamber of Commerce event. 

Held at the Radisson McAllen Airport Hotel, the event was titled “Legislative Update Luncheon." The master of ceremonies was Dr. Fred Farias, chairman of the McAllen Chamber’s government affairs council.

This podcast has the answers from the four Rio Grande Valley lawmakers. 

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.