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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Burnt Orange Report Coverage

Lawmakers move to push out Craddick, but he won't give in.

Mutiny in Texas House
By Laylan Copelin, Mike Ward - AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF - Saturday, May 26, 2007

Speaker Tom Craddick refused early this morning to recognize a motion to remove him from office after a long, raucous evening on the House floor.

During several hours of pandemonium and tedium (during lengthy recesses), Craddick's two parliamentarians resigned, former Reps. Terry Keel and Ron Wilson assumed those posts and members began discussing taking the speaker's ruling to court.

For weeks, mutiny against Craddick had been building, and a motion to remove him was expected to come Sunday after the $153 billion budget was approved and out of the way.

On Friday night, however, the House stumbled into open confrontation when Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco, a Craddick opponent, began asking questions about the removal procedure. Dunnam said he had not intended to start a fight Friday night, but he and other House members were caught off-guard by Craddick's remarks.

Craddick said the speaker doesn't have to recognize a member with motion to remove the leader — and the speaker's ruling can't be appealed.

After several minutes of parliamentary back-and-forth, and a 45-minute break for Craddick to consult with key lieutenants, the speaker returned to the House floor about 8:40 p.m., attempting to resume approval of bills without answering more questions about his stance.

When a House member objected, Craddick recessed the House until 11 p.m. and left with a cadre of sergeants-at-arms and supporters by his side.

The House then burst into chaos, with members booing and demanding that Craddick return, that he resign and that the House continue business. Many yelled when the House clerk posted an electronic message at the front of the House Chamber announcing the delay.

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House resumes business after challenge to speaker

Austin American-Statesman

Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick answers a question from the floor during a Saturday morning session at the Texas House. Tensions in the Texas House boiled over late Friday in a showdown between Craddick and a group of lawmakers trying to unseat him. Craddick's two parliamentarians resigned. Craddick was joined by newly named House Parliamentarian Terry Keel and Assistant Parliamentarian Ron Wilson, right. Bottom: Extra security was put in place Saturday at the House.

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House presses Senate on gas tax holiday

By JAKE BATSELL / The Dallas Morning News - Wednesday, May 23, 2007
jbatsell@dallasnews.com

AUSTIN – A summer reprieve from soaring gas prices is still in limbo, but the Texas House gave it an extra push Tuesday.

Earlier this month, House members approved a three-month suspension of the 20-cents-per-gallon state gas tax, arguing that Texas drivers need a break from record prices at the pump. The measure would cost as much as $700 million.

The Senate has offered a chilly reception because of the price tag.

On Tuesday, Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, won a 137-0 vote from his colleagues to keep pressing for the gas tax holiday.

Now it's up to a 10-member conference committee to sort out the gas tax holiday's fate.

Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, said that adding a $700 million item is "not feasible" this late in the legislative session.

"All of us would love to be able to do something about our gasoline tax," Ms. Shapiro said. "We are seeing the numbers just escalating exponentially every day. But that's not the way to do it, just decide midstream that you're going to stop getting money from the tax. ... I would hope that cooler heads will prevail."

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Toll-road ban includes exemptions

By AMAN BATHEJA - Star-Telegram staff writer -Fri, May. 18, 2007

AUSTIN -- Maybe the second time's the charm.

After three hours of tweaking, the Texas House on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a second bill calling for a two-year moratorium on most new privately built and operated toll roads after Gov. Rick Perry threatened to veto a similar measure sitting on his desk.

"The citizens want to take a look at how we're building private entity toll roads and ... make sure it's the right way to go," said Rep. Wayne Smith, R-Baytown, the bill's sponsor in the House.

What happened?

After considering a flurry of amendments, the bill passed 145-2. Reps. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, and Nathan Macias, R-Bulverde, voted against it.

The bill had passed the Senate on Monday. The measure retains the moratorium on private toll roads but carves out more exemptions in parts of the state.

Several North Texas lawmakers strongly lobbied to make sure no amendments would jeopardize projects already under way in the region.

At one point, Rep. Vicki Truitt, R-Keller, told Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, that the wording in her amendment could be misinterpreted to include North Texas projects that were already in the works. Kolkhorst insisted those projects were exempt from her amendment, but Truitt wasn't buying that explanation.

"Unless you can stand there and tell me unequivocally that these changes don't affect projects in our area ... I'm going to ask you why you can't keep your nose out of our business," Truitt said.

Kolkhorst later revised the amendment and it was adopted.

Several lawmakers relayed serious concerns from constituents with Perry's proposed Trans-Texas Corridor, especially the specter of having major roads around the state privately owned for decades.

"This is a tip of the hat to the grassroots," Kolkhorst said. "The populists said, 'We don't like what you're doing.'"

The problem

Perry said he wouldn't sign the original version of the bill because it contained language that would hamper North Texas officials trying to go forward with much-needed projects such as the North Tarrant Express and improvements to Texas 121 between downtown Fort Worth and Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.

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Watching the Dome - TEXAS BILL ALERTS

Action Alerts for May 14-15 for the Texas House and Senate include:

GOOD BILL THAT NEEDS TO BE APPROVED BY BOTH HOUSES:

ACTION ALERT CSSB 439 by Deuell attempts to correct legislation which allows medical providors to withdraw patients from life support over the objection of their families and prior to decisions by ethics or medical review committees. The bill was placed on the Senate Intent Calendar on May 10th. It needs to be passed and go to the house. This is a life and death matter which could impact any Texan if left unaddressed.

BACKGROUND ON THE BILL: Author’s Intent:

Currently, if a physician refuses to honor an advance directive or treatment decision, the physician's decision must be reviewed by an ethics or medical committee, during which time life-sustaining treatment is required to be provided to the patient. Some hospitals are withdrawing life-sustaining treatment from patients before they can be transferred to an alternative facility, often resulting in their death.

C.S.S.B. 439 requires life-sustaining treatment to continue to be provided to the patient until the patient's transfer to another facility is complete and the facility from which the patient is being transferred is required to provide a list of facilities, maintained by the Department of State Health Services, that have volunteered their readiness to accept transfers. The bill ensures the rights of patients and their families in deciding to accept or reject life-sustaining treatment, seeks to improve the doctor-patient relationship, allows doctors to refuse to continue a treatment that conflicts with their personal code of ethics, strengthens the power and legitimacy of advanced directives, and promotes the public's trust in hospitals.

History and Status of Bill:

Text of Bill

Texas Senate Contact Information

Texas House Contact Information

ISSUES BEFORE THE TEXAS HOUSE:

GOOD BILLS:

S.B. 1667 – Good Bill – Relating to the amount of an administrative penalty assessed by the Railroad Commission of Texas for a violation of the Texas Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act or a permit issued under that act. Has passed the Senate and was placed on the General State Calendar in the Texas House on May 14th.

Current law sets the maximum penalty fee for a violation of a mining permit at $5,000. The Railroad Commission of Texas recommends increasing the maximum penalty for a violation of the Texas Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act to reflect the impact of inflation since the fee was established in the 1970s.

As proposed, S.B. 1667 increases the maximum penalty from $5,000 to $10,000 for a violation of coal mining and reclamation operations or underground mining operations permit.

History and Status of Bill

Text of Bill

Texas House Contact Information

Good Bill: C.S.S.B. 199 Has passed the Senate and was placed on the General State Calendar of the Texas House for May 15, 2007.

Currently, a number of convictions for violent criminal offenses do not bar a person from being employed as a home care attendant. Current law provides a list of hiring prohibitions that prevent a person of certain criminal offenses from being employed to care for certain elderly or persons with disabilities.

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 199 adds to the list of offenses that preclude a person from being employed to care for the elderly or disabled.

History of Bill

Text of Bill

Texas House Contact Information


SB 64 -Good Bill passed by Senate, placed on General Calendar of House on May 14th.
Zaffirini’s bill tightens the campaign finance reporting rules.

History and Status of Bill

Text of Bill

Texas House Contact Information

ISSUES BEFORE THE TEXAS SENATE:

GOOD BILLS:
H.B. 2660 Has been passed by the House and has been received in the Senate. Relating to the use of money from the Texas economic development bank fund for rural rail development atttempts to address some funding issues for Rail initiatives approved in previous sessions of the Legislature

Pursuant to Chapter 91, Transportation Code, the authority to create rural rail districts is granted.
The establishment of rural rail districts (who may own facilities and railways) were authorized under provisions of Chapter 623, Acts of the 67th Legislature, Regular Session, 1981 (Article 6550c, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes). However, no state funding has been provided to assist in the initial creation of said rural rail districts.

H.B. 2660 will authorize funding to provide, as start up money, for the creation of such rail districts. These powers were authorized to the Texas Department of Transportation (department) under the afore mentioned authority, but funding to assist these local districts has never been provided by the state of Texas.

History and Status of Bill

DANGEROUS BILLS:

Dangerous Bill Alert: HB 2564 was passed by the Texas House and was received by the Texas Senate on May 14th. Many governmental watchdog groups, non-profit groups, and journalist argue that language in this bill could restrict the public’s timely access to information. Previous law allowed citizen examination of unlimited amounts of information and only charged for photocopies. Citizens access for examination of information is curtailed by language in this bill.
History of Bill


Text of Bill

Texas Senate Contact Information

Limit on Property Tax Appraisal Rate Increases voted by House

Weaker tax bill advances in House -
Lawmakers give a tentative OK to limits on revenue for governments
By JANET ELLIOTT
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau April 27, 2005, 6:43AM

AUSTIN - A watered-down bill designed to make cities and counties more accountable to voters for property tax increases finally won tentative approval Tuesday in the Texas House.

Currently in Texas, property tax rates often stay the same, but tax bills increase anyway because of rising property values. That means local officials can rake in additional revenue without having to vote on raising the tax rate, said Rep. Carl Isett, sponsor of House Bill 1006

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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."

Other posts on this subject are: MUSING

Texas Kos by Lightseeker

Take Action to Get Anti-NAIS Bills Passed

There are two Anti-NAIS Bills in the Texas House of Representative.
Representative Rose filed HB 3573 which will repeal HB 1361. This is a great development in the fight against NAIS!!! More information is available on the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance website: http://farmandranchfreedom.org
You can read the bill on the State of Texas website at: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB3573.
There is a very long road between getting a bill introduced and getting it made into law. Right now, the law in Texas allows the TAHC to make NAIS mandatory at any time. So we must get a bill through the House, Senate, and past the Governor's veto that changes the current law.

The committee substitute of HB 461 and HB 637 would be a big step forward by barring a mandatory program and preventing coercion from being used to force people into it. HB 3573 goes further by repealing the statute that specifically gave TAHC authority for NAIS. But even then, the NAIS issue would not be over because the bill does not stop all the problems with NAIS. In several states, agencies have implemented NAIS through their general powers to protect animal health, and used coercive methods to force people into the program. We must make sure that does not happen in Texas. Please urge your legislators to support all the anti-NAIS bills: HB 461, 637, and 3573.

There is a very long road between getting a bill introduced and getting it made into law. Right now, the law in Texas allows the TAHC to make NAIS mandatory at any time. So we must get a bill through the House, Senate, and past the Governor's veto that changes the current law.

The committee substitute of HB 461 and HB 637 would be a big step forward by barring a mandatory program and preventing coercion from being used to force people into it. HB 3573 goes further by repealing the statute that specifically gave TAHC authority for NAIS. But even then, the NAIS issue would not be over because the bill does not stop all the problems with NAIS. In several states, agencies have implemented NAIS through their general powers to protect animal health, and used coercive methods to force people into the program. We must make sure that does not happen in Texas. Please urge your legislators to support all the anti-NAIS bills: HB 461, 637, and 3573.
Take Action

1) Look at the list of legislators at the end of this alert. If the Representative is a co-author of HB 461, send an email saying thank you. Be sure to put "Thank you for supporting HB 461" in the subject line of the email. And tell your Representative about the new HB 3573.

2) If your Representative is not yet a co-author, call, email, or write, asking that he or she sign on to HB 461, 637, and 3573.

3) Call, write, or email you Senator. Tell him or her that you want a commitment to support HB 461, 637, and 3573 if they come to the Senate.

Tell your friends and relatives to do the same!

TIPS:
Always be polite. Explain your views to the staff person or legislator concisely, and ask them for their opinion in return. Engage them in a dialogue and try to respond to the issues they raise. Offer to follow-up with more information, which we can provide. We gain nothing by antagonizing people or being rude, so remember that you can disagree politely!

In-person visits, calls, and faxed or mailed letters are the most effective methods. If you e-mail your legislator, put what you want in the subject line ("Thank you for supporting HB 461" for example). Legislators get many, many emails every day!

CONTACT INFORMATION:
The tables below include the phone number for each legislator. If you don't know who your legislator is, go to http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/ Contact your State Representative and Senator about HB 461, 637, and 3573.