An odd moment in the sonogram debate
I was sitting in the Senate gallery yesterday, listening to the debate over the sonogram bill, when Dan Patrick said something that got my attention. He said that he had asked Speaker Straus to recommend someone to carry the sonogram bill, and Straus had recommended Geanie Morrison. He repeated this during the course of the debate, two, maybe three times.
This didn’t ring true to me. At the Republican state convention, Morrison had worked with former RPT vice-president David Barton to undermine Straus. During the speaker’s race, Morrison had been aligned with the Paxton forces. Why would Straus suggest an adversary to carry the bill–especially after Sid Miller, a Straus ally, had stepped forward to put his name on a new sonogram bill with a low (that is, priority) bill number? For that matter, why would Straus get involved in telling any senator whom to choose as the bill’s House sponsor? That decision belongs to House members. It would have been out of character for Straus, who is a hands-off speaker.
Apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought that Patrick’s comment was strange, because e-mails from members started coming into the speaker’s office. After talking to various sources in the House–not including Straus–here is what I think really happened. Sometime last year Patrick went to Straus and told him he would be carrying THE sonogram bill and Geanie Morrison would be the House sponsor. The most likely scenario is that Patrick didn’t ask Straus to recommend a sponsor; he told him who it was going to be. I can’t explain why Patrick repeated the story about Straus suggesting Geanie Morrison as a sponsor during the debate, unless he did it to put pressure on Straus to let Morrison carry the bill. I don’t think it’s going to work.
Tagged: dan patrick, david barton, geanie morrison, Joe Straus
Anonymous says:
Just another chance for the Senator to meddle in house affairs where he does not belong. He never misses one.
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Jane Roe says:
Burka, this is just preservation of self-importance on Dan Patrick’s part. I believe the House will pass HB 15 out – the Sid Miller bill. And I suspect that HB 15 will be picked up by another Senator – Williams or Harris, etc.
At that point the Senate will pass the House bill (or move HB 15 to conference before final passage). So the people standing at the Governor’s bill signing ceremony getting principal credit for the Sonogram will be Sid Miller (and not Geanie Morrison) and Tommy Williams or Chris Harris (and not Dan Patrick).
Vanity and Arrogance. That’s all this is. Vanity and Arrogance. But what else would you expect from someone who would change his last name to his stage name?
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Kenneth D. Franks says:
Republican overreach will catch up with them eventually. Maybe sooner than later if they don’t address real emergencies including the structural deficit. It is not small government to monitor every pregnancy in the state while we are losing teachers and starving community colleges in a growing state that needs an educated workforce.
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Lady Gaga says:
Dan Patrick is an arrogant megalomaniac. I’m with you Burka. Why on earth with Straus say something like that? Even if Straus did, it’s one dumb move by Senator Patrick to speak for the Speaker on the senate floor. Patrick may be trying to manipulate Straus.
If this bill must pass, I bet Straus’s guys pass Miller’s bill, which is a better bill, and bury Dan Patrick’s six feet under. Miller gets all the credit.
Patrick’s been all over national TV and radio shows the last two days crowing about the great sonogram bill he passed out of the Senate. He’s been saying so on his radio show today.
More humility like Sid Miller. Less grandstanding and preening like Dan Patrick.
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Pat says:
Let me get this straight: there’s a rumor that Dan Patrick started a rumor?
There’s also the possibility, however small, that Patrick honestly just got things mixed up. It happens, even to megalomaniacs. Frankly, there’s plenty of other character evidence on which to indict Patrick. Give him a pass on this one.
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Brain Surgeon says:
Even if Senator Patrick got things dead right, which is possible but doubtful, you don’t say things like that on the chamber floor about a private conversation with the opposite chamber’s leader. No brainer.
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Dan Dan the Senate Man says:
Pat, I can’t. I could if it wasn’t something that he hyped on his radio show and didn’t include a discussion about the House. The first is the stage for his mania, the other is the place he thinks should listen to his show but doesn’t.
If Dan wants more respect, he has to find a filter.
But he can’t.
And he won’t.
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paulburka says:
Senator Patrick deserves respect as a public servant. I think he played fast and loose with the facts here, but that shouldn’t be a license to call him names.
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Rog says:
What was the fiscal note on the sonogram bill?
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Anonymous Reply:
February 18th, 2011 at 9:54 pm
There is no fiscal note on the sonogram bill that passed the Senate and there doesn’t appear to be one on HB 15 or 201.
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Publius Reply:
February 19th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
My assumption may not be accurate (they run 50/50 on a good day) but is it not possible, and perhaps probable, that a sonogram is performed routinely on seekers of abortions as part of the exam? Generally when medical folk do surgery they like to have an idea of what they’re looking for and dealing with before they begin and the best way to do so in abdominal issues would seem to be a sonogram.
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Anonymous says:
Dan’s not stupid-he has to know HB 15 is the bill that is going to move through the house. He may be trying to save face with the senate and with Morrison but he is playing with fire gigging the Speaker this way. Bad form, Senator, bad form.
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Dan Dan the Senate Man says:
“Senator Patrick deserves respect as a public servant. I think he played fast and loose with the facts here, but that shouldn’t be a license to call him names.”
Paul, this raises an interesting question: At what point of playing fast and loose with the facts does a public servant NOT deserve respect in your book?
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JohnBernardBooks says:
Paul, you need a hobby. You’re making way to much out of nothing.
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Dog is Ray Charles Reply:
February 19th, 2011 at 11:26 am
“Paul, you need a hobby. You’re making way to much out of nothing.”
So sayeth the birther.
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JohnBernardBooks Reply:
February 19th, 2011 at 11:58 am
why are you pedophiles so upset the SCOTUS is hearing a petition?
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Ted Baxter Reply:
February 19th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Pedophiles?
Anonymous says:
So he lies and you think we should respect him. No thank you. I do not respect men who say they are men of God, wear it on their sleeve, and then act this way. I believe these types of people are the worst. I cannot stand self righteous hypocrites.
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Anonymous says:
If I were Speaker Straus, I would’ve told him the same thing. Let someone carry it who can’t get it to the floor for a vote.
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JohnBernardBooks says:
“So he lies and you think we should respect him. No thank you. I do not respect men who say they are men of God, wear it on their sleeve, and then act this way”
Truthfully,do you respect President Obama? he says he’s a christian, and it certainly appears he’s been very selective in truth telling.
Or is it ok for democrats to lie-at-will, and republicans must refrain from any perceived transgression real or imagined?
Again much to do about nothing.
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Anonymous says:
Senator Patrick just formed the sonogram caucus. Because you will need a sonogram to see if his legislation had any life in the House.
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Rog says:
Some commentators attempted to liken abortion to slavery; I think they made a great point, but not in the way they thought they had.
It seems that many of the same states that once told certain human beings that the state could control their lives, because of the color of their skin, are now saying they can control other lives, because of their gender.
I also find it curious that some of the most admired Republican women, Barbara and Laura Bush, Susan Combs, Kay Bailey Hutchison, are pro-choice.
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Pat Reply:
February 19th, 2011 at 9:11 pm
KBH isn’t pro-choice. She’s voted repeatedly to restrict abortion. NARAL rates her at 0, whereas the NRLC rates her at 93. If that’s your definition of pro-choice, then there are very few pro-lifers.
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Mary Lincoln's dressmaker says:
Oh Rog – they’re admired by liberals and Democrats, not real people.
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pro-lifer says:
Dan Patrick sold the pro-life movement out. He is promoting a very weak bill in the House and has shown that he will do whatever he has to do in the Senate to make sure that he gets the credit for the sonogram bill. The Senator has blood on his hands for his disgraceful behavior.
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fed-up says:
Mandating sonograms shows utter contempt for women. Period. Our Texas legislature is filled with ignorant misogynist a-holes.
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Phil King's an A_s says:
What did Dan atrick think was going to happen? Doesn’t he understand that there are consequences for bad decisions? Senator Patrick tried to insert himself into the Speaker’s race, not once, but multiple times. At no one’s request, he tried to act as the moderator of a Tea Party Summit with Joe Straus and even issued a press release advertising such without Straus having any knowledge of it. He later issued an op/ed calling for the Speaker’s race to be decided by the GOP Caucus and he attacked Straus constantly on his radio show for not being conservative enough and for failing to pass a sonogram bill last session. Now, he expects Straus to just stand aside and let him run the House during the session and to pass the weaker sonogram bill carried by Geannie Morrison–a leader in the small group of anti-Straus Republicans and a NO vote on the Speaker in the caucus. His Senate colleagues, many of whom are former House members, were furious with him for trying to stick his nose into House business and knew that his doing so would carry a price. For someone who claims to be such a great political strategist, Dan Patrick demonstrates time and time again that his primary motivation is shameless self promotion.
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paulburka Reply:
February 20th, 2011 at 11:57 pm
Patrick is still trying to pressure Straus. Today he put out a press release calling for prompt action by the House.
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Anonymous Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Is Dan Patrick just trying to kill this bill or just begging for the house to kick it over to someone else in the senate? Just saying. . .
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limited government says:
And DP has shown his penchant for big government. He really believes in big intrusive government for other people.
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Anonymous says:
DP–meet the Flanders of the senate. He joined forces with the house Flanders and became twins and not in a good way.
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Harold Cook says:
WAIT – you were sitting in the Senate gallery??
(sorry – couldn’t resist)
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paulburka Reply:
February 20th, 2011 at 11:58 pm
It was very uncomfortable, Harold. Couldn’t sleep a wink.
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Anonymous says:
Dan Patrick is a yankee…
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AreYouKiddingMe says:
I’m just glad to know that the sonogram bill, carrying a pistol to class, and voter ID, are the emergency items this session. What would be the priority if we had a 27 BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT!!!! The lunatics have officially taken over the asylum… Lord help us all…
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Anonymous Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 10:37 am
“I’m just glad to know that the sonogram bill, carrying a pistol to class, and voter ID, are the emergency items this session”
They are as a matter of fact. The sonogram bill and right to carry bills will save lives and the Voter ID bill is a pre-emptive strike to head off any attempt to undercut the integrity of elections. If “conservative” Speaker Staus had taken care of these matters last session, they would not be emergency matters now.
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anita Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 11:22 am
You need to check your talking points — don’t concede that the voter impediment bill “is a pre-emptive strike to head off any attempt to undercut the integrity of elections”.
Stick to the talking points — voter fraud is rampant, elections are being stolen, illegals are stuffing the ballot box in a stealth effort to turn Texas into Atzlan, a UN protectorate where you will have to speak Spanish and burn strange candles.
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eyeswideopen says:
Have Jerry Jones and Gov. Perr both gone into hiding? The two biggest self-promoters in the state seem to have gone missing.
Jerry did nothing to help his, nor the Metroplex’s, image through his greedy idea of adding additional seating …and starting the job just a few weeks from d-day.
Perry, on the other hand, has done a masterful job of backing one’s self into a corner that I have ever witnessed. He has made numerous rash, irresponsible statements, he has alienated his own state party leaders, and he now seems to understand that his prognostications are about to be proven wrong on every issue.
Maybe that is why he is spending so much time outside the state. Hopefully, he is looking for another home.
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Anonymous Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 10:44 am
“He has made numerous rash, irresponsible statements, he has alienated his own state party leaders, and he now seems to understand that his prognostications are about to be proven wrong on every issue.”
Being governor isn’t a poularity contest. Tax cutting budget conscious Governors Christie in NJ, Walker in WI, Cuomo in NY and Perry realize that people who want state government to keep dishing out more and more are heading down the wrong path. The money is not there. In order to keep out of the economic ditch, budgets must be cut so that we don’t have to squeeze more taxes out of us “undertaxed” citizens and the job producing class.
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Pojman Smojman says:
Joe Pojman just sent out an “URGENT LEGISLATIVE ALERT” calling on pro-life Texans to call Speaker Straus to “support the Patrick-Morrison Sonogram Bill, Senate Bill 16 / House Bill 201, and to allow it to move promptly through the committee process and onto the House floor.”
Sorry Poj, blackmail emails to your list don’t work with this Speaker. The House will pass the Sonogram Bill, HB 15, promptly, and you will have nothing to do with it by your own choice.
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texxasredd says:
What absolute and utter pandering. What are the Perrynistas doing while Texas burns? Why, they are passing fluff and nonsense under the guise of emergency legislation.
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