Monthly Archives: May 2007

I looked through some of my Election 2004 archives as I was searching for the Andy Taylor links in my previous post, and doing so reminded me of just how much the election contest brought by Talmadge Heflin against Hubert … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Remember the telecom bill that was finally passed in the second special session of 2005? Sure you do. What you may not remember – or, like me, even have realized – is that it contained a provision to do formal … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Dammit. Sen. Mario Gallegos is headed back to Houston for a surgical procedure and is not sure whether he will return to Austin for the remainder of the session, according to his spokesman Harold Cook. Gallegos, who received a liver … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Pete says that SB419, which is the bill that would greatly help autistic children and their parents (see here, here, and here for more), is languishing in committee and may not make it to the House floor. With sine die … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Chron follows up on yesterday’s late report that David Dewhurst had basically given up on forcing HB218 through the Senate. This is very good news, to be sure, but as the man once said, it ain’t over till it’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I said yesterday that SB12, one of the very few clean air bills to make it through the committee process this session, was supposed to finally come up for final passage last night. Unfortunately, Rep. Dennis Bonnen struck again: For … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The “Bill Ceverha bill”, which passed out of the Senate in March, has now passed out of the House, and should be signed into law. While there were multiple bills with the same intent that got filed, in the end … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Grits reports that the conference comittee has done its work on HB8, also known as “Jessica’s Law”, meaning that the final version can be voted on and sent to Governor Perry. He has a link to a report on how … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’ll believe it when I see it, but David Dewhurst is apparently saying that he won’t be able to force HB218 through, because the Democrats are strong in their unified opposition to it. All I know is that I’ve got … Continue reading → Continue reading →

It’s important to remember that Tom Craddick’s biggest supporters are the hardcore base of the Republican Party. His best strategy for staying in power is going to be to leverage that support as well as his vast financial resources to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Since I’ve raised questions about the email that’s been sent twice now by the Texas Alliance for Life in support of Tom Craddick as Speaker, I thought I should put the response from its Executive Director Joe Pojman, which he … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Despite rumors of rules gamesmanship in the Senate, they have recessed for the day without taking up any House bills. That doesn’t mean the Dems are out of the woods on HB218, just that it’s been pushed back for a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

From the Texas League of Conservation Voters, the latest shenanigans by Rep. Dennis Bonnen: Chairman of the House Environmental Regulations Committee, Rep. Dennis Bonnen, is threatening to kill his own clean air bill, SB 12, to avoid a floor vote … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Dammit. I thought that stupid “healthy marriage” bill had been scuttled, but the Senate revived the concept, and now it’s on to Governor Perry’s desk. Despite its earlier protests of government intrusion into private lives, the Texas House approved a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Keffer may be in, but Tom Craddick isn’t going away. And he has lots of money. The question is whether Keffer will strike before the end of the session or not. It makes sense that he will, but predicting the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Honestly, I don’t know what else there is to say about David Dewhurst’s actions today. Carlos Uresti came down with a serious bout of the flu Monday, and left the Capitol after fellow senators noted how bad he looked shivering … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The more I see and hear about Lt. Gov. Dewhurst’s attempt to ram through HB218 today, the more appallingly sleazy it becomes. Patricia Kilday Hart fills in more of the gruesome details. Today, Dewhurst recognized Fraser at a point in … Continue reading → Continue reading →