Monthly Archives: May 2007

I don’t know about you, but about the last thing I want for this summer is a special session, on any subject. That specter has already been floated, with transportation issues (read: HB1892) the crux. There’s a lot more talk … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Geez, this late in the session you’d think every bad bill that could come up would have already come up, but if the 80th Lege has taught us anything, it’s that nothing is what you’d expect it to be. And … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Burka has a long take on what happened in the Lege Monday night. Our editor, Evan Smith, asked me this morning who was to blame for what has gone on this session. I waffled, but I think that there can … Continue reading → Continue reading →

How many times have we heard some variation on the phrase “The first time in recent memory that this has happened” in connection with the 80th Legislative session? Good thing or bad, it’s sure kept the entertainment factor high. Another … Continue reading → Continue reading →

One more press release from Rep. Jessica Farrar on last night’s House vote to pass HB13: On Monday, May 7, HB 13 by Chairman Swinford (R-Dumas) was voted out of the Texas House of Representatives. Before taking a vote on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Pete gives an update to the status of HB1224 and its Senate counterpart, SB419. This is the bill that would greatly help autistic children and their parents, if only it were to be passed without a pernicious amendment inserted by … Continue reading → Continue reading →

For what it’s worth. The smoking ban seemed to have recovered from a near-defeat Friday but staggered further Monday before it passed 91-48. Now in its weakened state, the bill still needs a final House vote before it goes to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Grits and Vince have the details. I predict it’ll have a much easier time in the Senate – it’ll need to have a much easier time, or there’ll be no time to pass it. Even a joint committee might run … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Remember SB1317, the anti-clean air bill that could have been stopped in the Senate but wasn’t? And remember how I was worried that it might get routed to a friendly committee for a clear path to passage in the House? … Continue reading → Continue reading →

HB13 is scheduled to be on the floor of the House yet again today, at which time we may get some answers to the questions Scott Henson raised concerning federal funding questions that its sponsor, Rep. David Swinford, had claimed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Grits asks a very interesting question regarding HB13: House State Affairs Chairman David Swinford has said he’d rather kill HB 13, the Governor’s homeland security bill, than move police powers to the Department of Public Safety away from the Governor’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

There’s three weeks left in this session, and a whole mess of bills still working their way through the system. Some will make it, but many others will die. Grits takes a stab at sorting out the good and bad … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Remember SB1317, the anti-clean air bill that could have been stopped in the Senate but wasn’t? And remember how I was worried that it might get routed to a friendly committee for a clear path to passage in the House? … Continue reading → Continue reading →

It was back in March when a statewide smoking ban bill was first heard in the House. Yesterday, it hit a snag after an amendment that would exempt all bars from consideration was adopted. As it originally hit the House … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Texas Democratic Party solicited feedback about people who would be unable to vote if HB218 were to become law. BOR has some of the feedback they got. From Sondra in Houston: My grandmother is in her 70’s, doesn’t drive, … Continue reading → Continue reading →