Republican three-card monte

Kimberly posts her Quorum Report article on the furious money shuffling that the House GOP is doing to get enough votes for HB2 to pass (breaking update - according to QR, it passed by a surprisingly close 76-71 vote, with Speaker Craddick casting an Aye; correct me if I'm wrong here, but isn't it unusual for the Speaker to vote on a bill?) - it would be funny if it weren't so serious. Yesterday, she emailed me a big PDF of all the proposed amendments and what the Republicans were told to do with them. Here's the QR blurb on it:

Quorum Report has obtained a copy of a list identifying amendments to HB2, who is carrying them, what the amendment does, who is assigned to rebut the amendment and whether Republicans are to vote yes or no. Some items include points of argument for the rebutters to use.

One of our favorites is Amendment 100 by Dunnam which appears on page 6 of our list. It orders the Legislative Budget Board to create a list of mandates in HB2 and identify which ones are funded and which are unfunded mandates. Representatives Madden, Mowery, Hill and Hope are tasked with arguing against the amendment. According to the script, this useful amendment will go down.

You have to admire the discipline, though it must have been painful getting those nose rings they installed in order to lead the herd around. Once again, it'd be funny if it weren't serious.

Of course, if you want funny, be sure to read the coverage of this circus from Governor Perry's favorite blog, In the Pink Texas. In order, start here, then here, here, here, and here. Eileen, I believe the taxpayers of the great state of Texas owe you a margarita and a lifetime supply of seat cushions. Call my office to collect.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on March 09, 2005 to Budget ballyhoo | TrackBack