Monthly Archives: May 2007

I’m about midway through the season finale of Lost (thank prime for my in-laws’ TiVo) and wanted to pause for a moment for a brief House update. The anti-Craddicks are still trying to make a motion to vacate the Speaker’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I know, it’s the Saturday of a holiday weekend, but the Lege is back at it, and who knows what will happen today. At some point, bills will be considered and maybe even passed. Here’s one that’s dead, killed by … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Short answer: Several members attempted to make a motion to vacate the Speaker’s chair. Craddick refused to recognize them, refused to allow an appeal of his rulings, and declared that he had sole and total discretion in the matter. If … Continue reading → Continue reading →

It’s official – HB13 is dead. Grits explains what that means in practical terms. The Governor already had authority to accept federal homeland security grants, so that doesn’t change (his homeland security director Steve McCraw is the agent who receives … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Well, something is going on in the House. It all started about an hour ago. A short while ago, Rep. Jim Dunnam made a simple parliamentary inquiry. Would the speaker recognize someone for a privileged motion to vacate the chair? … Continue reading → Continue reading →

She did it before, and she’s doing it again. Throw Democrat Senfronia Thompson of Houston’s stylish hat into the ring. She was the first state rep to start the rumbling last summer when she filed her candidacy for speaker for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’d almost forgotten about HB13 since it passed out of the House nearly three weeks ago. A much-amended version was passed by the Senate early this week, and apparently those amendments have left it open to attack. Yesterday afternoon the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

It’s a goner. Although Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, may be holding out hope for her statewide smoking ban proposal until the Senate and House adjourn sine die, the Smoke-Free Texas coalition is admitting defeat. The organization, which includes the American … Continue reading → Continue reading →

So all the pieces seem to be falling into place for that long-awaited motion to vacate the Speaker’s chair. According to BOR, Republican Rep. Todd Smith has filed two resolutions that would allow for a secret ballot in the event … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The bad news is that SB419 did not make it through the House. The good news is that it’s still alive as an amendment to another bill. Pete has an email from Sen. Eddie Lucio’s office, which lays it out: … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The strip club fee story has a little sidebar on it entitled “Other bills of particular interest in the Houston area”, which includes this tidbit: Clean air The measure: To prohibit Houston and other cities from using city nuisance laws … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I confess, I hadn’t paid very close attention to Rep. Ellen Cohen’s bill to raise money for sexual assault prevention by imposing a $5 per customer fee on strip clubs because I didn’t think it would make it through. Clearly, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Good. It appears the Legislature will not pass a voter identification bill that Republicans desire and Democrats loath as Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst sent ailing Sen. Mario Gallegos home Wednesday night. Gallegos, recovering from a liver transplant and potentially in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Well, we’ve made it through another day without an official motion to vacate the Speaker’s chair. It makes sense that it would happen after last night’s deadline for passing bills on third reading, but until it actually happens, I and … Continue reading → Continue reading →