How could Chairman Todd Hunter allow HB 1076, by Steve Toth -- the "nullification" bill -- to get on the general state calendar? Calendars is not a charity booth for clueless tea party members. It's serious business. This is the worst breach of the way Calendars is supposed to work since Speaker Craddick let Ryan Guillen's local bill get on Major State, in 2007. I know Saturday was "gun day," but that's no excuse.
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Tue April 30, 2013 2:11 pm
Senator Dan Patrick and Attorney General Greg Abbott have teamed up to try to prohibit Texas employers from providing domestic partnership benefits to their workers. Patrick got the ball rolling when he discovered that Pflugerville ISD offered domestic partnership benefits to employees. Abbott made his ruling through an Attorney General's opinion, which Patrick had sought. The basis of the ruling was Article I, Sec. 32 of the Texas Constitution, which reads:
Sec. 32. MARRIAGE. (a) Marriage in this state shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman. (b) This state or a political subdivision of this state may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage.
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Tue April 30, 2013 10:02 am
It was a wild night in the House yesterday as Democrats and Republicans battled over their respective priorities: water, for Republicans and education, for Democrats. The leadership could not get the votes for taking money out of the Rainy Day Fund for water—even though Perry came out for doing so in a mid-day GOP caucus. The reality of the House is that many members, particularly those in the last two classes, still fear their own constituency (and enforcers like MQS) more than Perry or Straus.
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Mon April 29, 2013 3:00 pm
Today is the pivotal moment of the session—a vote on HB 11, the funding bill for the water plan. The vote was preceded this afternoon by a meeting of the House Republican caucus, at which Rick Perry was in attendance. Afterward, he told reporters that the prudent thing to do was to use to the Rainy Day Fund to pay for the water plan. The bill, he said, "was far from perfect, but this is one way to address the most important problem facing our state."
I am told that at this point, the Republicans have around 80 votes—not enough to pass the bill on third reading because using money from the RDF requires a vote of 2/3s of the members present (second reading requires only a simple majority). This is also the last point in the session when the Democrats will have any leverage. The moment the gavel falls to certify the final passage of HB 11, the Democrats will lose whatever power they have.
Sylvester Turner has been in heavy negotiations with Republicans. One plan he was supporting was to go with a 2 + 2 + 2 bill: $2 billion each for water, transportation, and education. But Republicans have pushed forward with water alone right now. In the meantime, Jim Pitts is concerned about a "nuclear bomb"—that is, attempts by Republicans to fund the water plan with general revenue, which would implode not only HB 11 but the budget. This is not an R vs. D issue; Democrats care about water too. But remember that all of this is occurring while the budget is in conference committee. As Pitts said, "If we pass HB 11 today [using GR], then you had better bring your scissors tomorrow."
AP Photo | Tony Gutierrez
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Fri April 26, 2013 10:37 am
The opening of the George W. Bush Presidential Center went smoothly, complete with blue skies and warm feelings. There were a few protestors with signs on the SMU campus, but they were stationed a long distance from the area occupied by the presidents--and out of their sight. The best description I can give for the proceedings was "sweet." W. is not a man who hides his emotions, and his eyes glistened during the speeches. He choked up as he finished his own remarks, and he was particularly moved by the presence of his parents, noting that this was the first time the parents of a president have been present for the dedication of their offspring's presidential library. Laura's appearance was greeted by a huge ovation; for the former First Family, Dallas is most certainly home.
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