Craddick opponents walk out - Lack of quorum shuts down business after budget passes.

By Laylan Copelin, Jason Embry - AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF -
Monday, May 28, 2007

Dozens of lawmakers shut down the Texas House shortly after midnight by walking out after a member tried to take a roll call vote on Speaker Tom Craddick's leadership.

Rep. Pat Haggerty, R-El Paso, stunned the House leadership when, during a personal privilege speech, he began taking a roll call vote on Craddick's leadership. Meanwhile, the Midland Republican sat on the podium.

As Haggerty called out the members' names, he asked them to shout out "aye" or "no." Many of Craddick's supporters stood and objected when their names were called.

When Speaker Pro Tem Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, who had been presiding, finally stopped the roll call, Haggerty urged the members to leave the chamber.

As the rebel House members streamed out of the chamber, led by Haggerty, a crowd that had been watching in the gallery quickly poured into the hallways and began cheering. Shouts echoed through the Capitol: "Go! Go! Go! Out! Out! Out!"

Inside the chamber, Turner called for a vote. With only 94 votes registered — many suspect because members who left were shown present — there was no longer a quorum. Turner adjourned the House until 2 p.m. today.

The 140-day session ends at midnight, and more than 30 bills are pending on the House calendar. It will take a two-thirds vote of members present to consider any legislation. Among bills in danger are ones dealing with water, child protective services, border security and parks.

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Hypocrites in Texas House Pass Marriage Legislation

Wednesday, April 11, 2007 the Texas House passed legislation to raise the cost of a Marriage License from $30.00 to $100.00. To strong-arm couples to submit to an eight-hour class on marriage, the fee is waived for participants! In their eternal concern for the morals of the poor and underclass of Texas, they decreed from their high and lofty moral perches under the dome of the Texas State Capitol that poor couples can apply for scholarships to the class!

Rep. Warren Chisum (R-Pampa) authored two marriage bills. The second includes a "Healthy Marriage Development Program" which includes abstinence education for couples (both previously married and never married). There are parenting skills and premarital counseling components to the program.

Yep, the Texas House, which is littered with Representatives, many of whom have been married and divorced multiple times, passed these bills. They are running from facing hard choices which will give Texas a realistic tax structure to finance public highways from public funds, but have time to dictate good marriage practices to the state's citizens.

There were a few voices who spoke against interfering in citizens' lives. The second bill transfers funds from the State's Temporary Assistance for Needy families program which is grossly under funded in comparison to most other states. Pat Haggerty (R-El Paso) tried to kill the bill by attaching an amendment requiring lawmakers to "take this silly class every year." He invited members to "take the male or female of your choice to these classes." (That amendment failed.) Obviously the House views it more important to dictate and direct others in sound marital practices than they are committed to learning about them themselves!

Dean of Women in the Texas Legislature Rep Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston) was a voice of reason. Unfortunately her words which questioned the appropriateness of the members of the Texas Legislature in dictating pro-family premarital education into law appeared to fall on member’s earwax. She states: "If this body loves marriage so much, then why do we have some members of this House that have been married five or six times?"

A better question is: If this body is qualified to prescribe a pre-marital educational program, why have so many of them been divorced multiple times?

Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, emerged from the pack of hypocrites and asked: "Will there be a test associated with this program? I haven't done too well in the past."

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