By William Lutz on
6/19/2009 8:45 PM
It's difficult -- after seeing the list for a couple of hours -- to differentiate which vetoes are the "most" significant. After all, every bill is important to someone.
That said, here are a few notes and initial impressions I have about the governor's vetoes. We'll supplement this throughout the week as new information becomes available.
First, the governor issued several signing statements and veto messages, which are posted on his website and can be viewed here.
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By William Lutz on
6/19/2009 8:20 PM
Since the governor announced his list of vetoed bills, we have received statements from groups praising one or more of his vetoes. We post a selection below:
Brooke Terry, Texas Public Policy Foundation praising veto of pre-K bill, HB 130:
Gov. Perry was correct to veto HB 130, which created an additional and unnecessary government full-day pre-k program. This legislation wrongly focused on inputs rather than results, and did not include the private sector as a full partner in providing early childhood education.
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By William Lutz on
6/19/2009 7:47 PM
Hate Crimes. HPV. And now HB 4294. These are all bills or actions where Gov. Rick Perry took his socially conservative base for granted.
That said, this time, he is at least trying to look like he cares about the concerns of social conservatives, even though the bill -- which he signed -- benefits primarily computer hardware manufacturers.
His executive order -- which can be changed or revoked at anytime and is not a TEA rule or law -- requires the commissioner to let the elected State Board of Education (SBOE) participate in the adoption process set up for electronic textbooks under HB 4294. The entire order can be read here.
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By William Lutz on
6/19/2009 6:17 PM
Gov. Rick Perry has announced the veto of more than 30 bills and three concurrent resolutions. The entire list can be found at this link:
http://tinyurl.com/kvh8qk
We'll post more information on some of the key vetos, signings and whatnot later today and in the coming days.
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By William Lutz on
6/19/2009 4:46 PM
Gov. Rick Perry signed the state budget today. He also released his list of line-item vetos. From first glance, no bombshells like last session's Community College veto. The item vetos can be viewed here.
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By William Lutz on
6/19/2009 4:07 PM
Earlier this week, I wrote a column on House Bill 4294, an electronic textbook bill supported by computer hardware manufacturers and opposed by the conservatives on the State Board of Education. It allows state textbook money to be spent on computer hardware and it takes approval of electronic content away from the elected State Board of Education and hands it to the appointed staff of the Texas Education Agency. It also makes it more likely that school districts will adopt products that cover less than 100 percent of the state curriculum approved by the board.
Here’s a catch. It could set the Legislature and the board on a collision course with the Texas Constitution.
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By William Lutz on
6/19/2009 2:50 PM
Gov. Rick Perry has named Ray Sullivan his chief of staff. Prior to joining the governor's staff, Sullivan was a public relations and communications consultant here in Austin.
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By William Lutz on
6/17/2009 8:39 PM
The Austin American-Statesman's Web site, statesman.com, has published LSR Managing Editor William Lutz's commentary on computerized textbooks. Lutz discusses the role the State Board of Education plays ensuring quality books for all students in the current system.
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By William Lutz on
6/17/2009 8:18 PM
Sunday, LSR Managing Editor gave a commentary on WFAA's Inside Texas Politics with Brad Watson. Lutz discussed the recently concluded legislative session and provided ideas of what should be considered in a special. Lutz's commentary starts at about the 8:30 mark of the program.
You can check out the program here. Inside Texas Politics airs every Sunday on Channel 8 in North Texas every Sunday at 9 a.m.
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By William Lutz on
6/15/2009 11:53 AM
Texas A&M University President Elsa Murano tendered her resignation yesterday. Murano had been given a negative performance evaluation -- which she disputed in a letter to the Texas A&M University Board of Regents -- by Chancellor Mike McKinney. The A&M Board of Regents met today to discuss the situation. The resignation will likely further a significant debate occurring about higher education reform at Texas A&M.
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By William Lutz on
6/13/2009 3:09 PM
For our North Texas readers, Lone Star Report Managing Editor William Lutz will appear on Inside Texas Politics with Brad Watson tomorrow (Sunday June 14) at 9 a.m. on Channel 8. Lutz will be discussing the recently concluded legislative session.
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By William Lutz on
6/10/2009 9:11 AM
Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones just got an endorsement from the first post-reconstruction Texas Republican governor, Bill Clements. Also offering her endorsement is Clements' wife Rita, who served as a member of the University of Texas System Board of Regents.
“I am honored to have Governor and Mrs. Clements support and leadership for my campaign,” Jones said. “He provided strong leadership that built the Republican Party to the majority party in Texas; I plan to follow his lead to keep it that way.”
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By William Lutz on
6/10/2009 9:02 AM
Speaker Joe Straus announced he has received several additional pledges in the last few days, bringing his total to 111 out of 150 House members. The recent additions to our previously posted pledge list are
Rep Charles "Doc" Anderson, Rep. Betty Brown, Rep. Susan King, Rep Debbie Riddle, and Rep. Diana Maldonado.
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By William Lutz on
6/8/2009 4:46 PM
Milton Rister, a long-time Capitol staffer who most recently was executive director of the Texas Legislative Council, has announced the formation of an exploratory committee for a possible bid for state representative in District 20. That House seat is currently held by Rep. Dan Gattis (R-Georgetown), but Gattis is widely rumored to be considering a bid for the Texas Senate, should incumbent Sen. Steve Ogden (R-College Station) decide to retire. A Rister spokesperson confirmed that Rister is only considering a bid in the event that the seat becomes open.
We reprint the release below:
Milton Rister, today, announced he will form a committee to explore the opportunity to run for state representative for House District 20. He filed his paperwork and is beginning the process of meeting with people to discuss his goals for the district.
“Williamson County is one of the fastest growing areas in the state and concerns about taxes, transportation and voter fraud are all issues at the forefront of people’s minds here,” Rister said.
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By William Lutz on
6/8/2009 3:47 PM
 Speaker Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) has announced that he has collected 106 pledges for his re-election campaign.
"I am humbled and honored to have received this overwhelming support," Straus said. "This is a clear indication that members of both parties can set aside their differences to work together to find solutions to critical issues facing our state. I look forward to building on this foundation and working with all of the members during the legislative interim."
We post the pledges below:
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By William Lutz on
6/5/2009 4:14 PM
Another Democrat has announced for the Texas House of Representatives seat currently held by Rep. Terri Hodge (D-Dallas). Eric "EJ " Johnson announced for the seat today. Hodge is currently under federal indictment relating to bribery and is slated to go to trial soon.
I was, frankly, surprised that Hodge avoided an opponent in both the primary and general elections. Indictment usually guarantees opposition. But politics in some parts of Dallas are played by a unique set of rules.
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By William Lutz on
6/5/2009 12:05 PM
Texas Monthly magazine announced its biennial Ten Best and Ten Worst Legislators list. Some might wonder why I am posting about this list. For one thing, it has become as much a part of the culture of a legislative session as the governor’s State of the State address. For another, I’ve had GOP political consultants tell me that being named to the worst list makes it more difficult for an incumbent to get re-elected and requires spending more money than is usual for an incumbent.
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By William Lutz on
6/1/2009 9:26 PM
Here is our final status report during the 81st Legislature. Both the TWIA and school finance bills passed. But the Sunset safety net bill has failed. During the next few days we'll know more about the results of this session and how the governor will react to it.
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By William Lutz on
6/1/2009 9:25 PM
Four Democratic Senators – caucus chair Leticia Van de Putte (San Antonio), Eliot Shapleigh (El Paso), Judith Zaffirini (Laredo), and Mario Gallegos (Galena Park) – held a news conference after adjournment to blast their Republican colleagues .
“We have had a complete and total failure of leadership,” said Van de Putte, noting inaction on insurance and the environment.
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By William Lutz on
6/1/2009 6:50 PM
In political discussions, how come so-called leaders are always the ones raising taxes and spending money. Leadership isn’t about spending other people’s money; it’s about how to provide good value to the taxpayers. Raising taxes isn’t leadership. It’s a cop-out.
Want to see leadership? Look at the 2003 session of the Texas Legislature. $10 billion shortfall and no tax increase. A great welfare reform bill. And no, the sky didn’t fall. In fact, Texas prospered.
The last few days the word “leadership” has been thrown around a lot. Supporters of the local option tax increase have alleged that a lack of leadership killed their plan. Again, leadership – in the eyes of some – means pandering to the whims of taxpayer funded lobbyists who desire higher taxes and new government programs.
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By William Lutz on
6/1/2009 8:22 AM
Here's where we stand on key bills at 9 am just before both houses convene on the regular session's last day.
TWIA (Windstorm bill that was the subject of a special session threat) – a conference report to HB 4409 has been adopted in the House. Awaits action in Senate.
Key Sunset bills:
Safety net bill: HB 1959. Conference report adopted in the Senate. Whether report comes up in the House depends on suspension of rules vote this morning. (Could force special session if vote fails).
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By William Lutz on
5/31/2009 5:23 PM
We now have six hours to go for the House to take up conference reports. The good news is the budget has already been approved in both chambers. Here’s where we stand on the key bills as of 6 p.m. Sunday:
TWIA(Windstorm bill that was the subject of a special session threat) – a conference report to HB 4409 has been filed in both Houses. It is eligible in the House at 11:59 pm today. (The senate has suspended deadlines).
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By William Lutz on
5/31/2009 3:10 PM
The Sunset Safety Net bill will keep lawmakers very, very, very busy in 2011. The conference report to HB 1959 is posted and available online. The biggest change is that a full review of the Texas Education Agency is now scheduled for 2011. The Texas Department of Insurance goes back to 2011. The Texas Department of Transportation is included in the bill and will be reviewed in 2013 (not 2011) if no sunset bill passes. The Texas Railroad Commission and the Texas Council on Environmental Quality are both up for review in 2011. The Department of Public Safety is also included, if its sunset conference report doesn’t make it.
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By William Lutz on
5/31/2009 2:28 PM
 Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas) has stated he will filibuster HB 300, the Texas Department of Transportation sunset bill over the conference committee’s decision not to include the local option tax increase provision. The local option allows local governments to request voter permission to raise taxes to build rail and other transportation improvements. The death of HB 300 will not necessarily kill TxDOT, because Sen. Glenn Hegar (R-Katy) has included TxDOT in HB 1959 – the so-called sunset “safety net” bill. Carona would have to talk until midnight Monday to kill the bill because the Senate has already voted to suspend the rule that conference reports must be adopted by midnight today.
We reprint Carona’s statement below:
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By William Lutz on
5/30/2009 2:10 PM
Last night on the House floor, Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) succeeded in stopping HB 1243 by Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Alpine) from going to the governor or conference. As filed, the bill is a simple net metering bill that allows customers to deduct from their electric bill any electricity generated on site. It is sought by solar power advocates who want to encourage more homeowners to install solar panels on their homes.
But several key electric bills died as a result of the filibuster that occurred on the House floor last week. Therefore, in the Senate, HB 1243 became a Christmas tree for several energy-related bills, most notably SB 921 by Sen. Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) and Rep. Patrick Rose (D-Dripping Springs).
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By William Lutz on
5/29/2009 10:22 PM
Despite a fair amount of debate, the House voted to go to conference on the sunset safety net bill (HB 1959) ... Leibowitz then made a motion to instruct the conferees not to add TDI to the safety net bill.
After Leibowitz made his motion, Rep. John Otto (R-Dayton) gave Leibowitz a lesson in how to debate bills on the House floor.
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By William Lutz on
5/27/2009 11:26 PM
Sen. Mike Jackson (R-LaPorte) told Senate colleagues avoiding a special session over the state’s windstorm insurance cooperative, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association is a “long-shot.”
TWIA is out of money because of Hurricane Ike and a 2009 hurricane would likely result in assessments to insurance carriers – offset by tax credits. In other words, a 2009 hurricane would blow a hole in the state budget without a TWIA fix.
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By William Lutz on
5/27/2009 10:16 PM
Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston) has passed HB 4765, which raises the exemption for businesses from the state franchise tax from $300,000 to $600,000 in gross receipts. The Patrick version provides permanent tax relief, whereas the House version of the bill provides temporary relief from the franchise tax (two years only), but with a $1 million exemption. The bill now goes to the House for further consideration.
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By William Lutz on
5/27/2009 10:15 PM
The Senate is streaming through bills at an auctioneer’s pace right now. With the carnage that occurred on the House floor the past five days, Senators are finding vehicles for bills on the House calendar that died because of last week’s filibuster.
Some major bills – such as Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst’s health care bill – has been split up and hitched a ride on several bills. Just about every bill is being amended with other bills that passed the Senate and were pending on the House calendar.
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By William Lutz on
5/26/2009 9:33 PM
The Texas Senate passed HB 3646, the omnibus school finance bill, today unanimously. The bill allocates $1.9 billion to public schools. Senators repeatedly called the bill a “Christmas tree” as several bills floundering in the house got attached to the bill. The bill now goes to the House for further consideration (concurrence or conference committee).
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By William Lutz on
5/26/2009 12:26 PM
For all the work UT had to do to get relief from the Top 10 percent rule, it’s amazing how little relief they’re getting.
Rep. Dan Branch’s (R-Dallas) bill to put a cap on the percentage of students admitted automatically (SB 175) appears to be one of the few major initiatives to survive the Democratic filibuster occurring on the House floor right now.
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By William Lutz on
5/25/2009 5:24 PM
 Should the governor's veto power be unlimited or should legislators get to grade the governor's papers? The issue of the governor's veto powers has heated up the past three years, with high-profile debates between the executive and legislative branches over eminent domain, community college funding, and the Texas Department of Transportation.
Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) sent a letter to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst Sat. May 22 asking Dewhurst for recognition on HJR 29 by Rep. Gary Elkins (R-Houston) and Wentworth. He also blasted Gov. Rick Perry for taking the amendment personally and trying to kill it.
"This is not a piddling little resolution," states the letter. "It is a significant proposal on which the people of Texas have a right to vote to bring about a needed check and balance on the powers of the legislative and executive branches of state government."
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By William Lutz on
5/25/2009 1:20 PM
Speaker Joe Straus is new. So we thought it might be helpful to remind him and the Capitol at large that the House rules have a provision specifically designed to deal with stalling the calendar. It's called a motion for the previous question. And it can be found in Rule 7, Sect. 21 et. seq.
It's rarely recognized, and that's appropriate. In fact, it generally is used only in situations like the one we're dealing with right now. House Speakers correctly err on the side of full debate and discussion and maximum ability to offer amendments. But that privilege exists on the understanding that it won't be abused. We reprint the rule below.
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By William Lutz on
5/25/2009 11:11 AM
There's one ironic aspect to the slow-talking of the local calendar that the press corps is missing -- it may help the Republicans politically.
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By William Lutz on
5/25/2009 10:34 AM
One has to hand it to Rep. Jim Dunnam (D-Waco). He's good at obscuring issues.
Two years ago, Dunnam called a point of order on the conference report to the electric consumer protection bill (SB 482), effectively killing it. TXU was just about the only entity that benefitted from Dunnam's action, but he tried to justify it by claiming that the bill wasn't tough enough. Help the big guy while pretending to help the little guy.
Now he and a few of the other Democrats on the floor are slow-talking the local calendar, causing a calendar that normally takes about three hours or so to take several days. The obvious intent of this action is an attempt to prevent the voter ID bill from being reached by midnight Tuesday (the deadline to pass general calendar bills on second reading).
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By William Lutz on
5/23/2009 1:09 PM
Jason Moore, a State Republican Executive Committee member from Odessa, has sent a letter to Republican legislators calling on them to honor the Republican platform and stand up to the comptuer lobby's efforts to take textbook selection authority away from the elected State Board of Education. Basically, the computer lobby looks at the state's textbook budget and sees dollar signs. Computer companies want that money for themselves and are pushing bills allowing school districts to buy laptops with that money. But many computer lobby bills (including HB 4294 as it left the House) take textbook selection authority away from the elected State Board of Education and gives it to the appointed Commissioner of Education. The Republican plaform, by contrast, opposes replacing textbooks with laptops and supports keeping textbook selection with the elected State Board of Education. We reprint Moore's letter below:
"I, as a grassroots Republican, am deeply concerned with the content and effect that House Bill 4294 would have on Texas schoolchildren. I urge you to modify or reject this bill. Our Republican platform states "We oppose the replacement of textbooks by laptops" and "The SBOE must have sole authority over textbook content and state adoption, and this process must include public hearings." HB 4294 clearly and directly violates both of these provisions."
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By William Lutz on
5/23/2009 1:04 PM
Few emotions in civilized politics are more powerful than moral outrage. It motivates voters and creates great quotes for journalists.
Democrats understand this. Remember all the press conferences in 1999 and 2001 when hate crimes was created. Democrats used a horrible crime – the race-based murder of James Byrd – to pass a major and very controversial change in Texas law (where crimes based on race or sexual preference get higher penalties than other crimes).
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By William Lutz on
5/23/2009 12:46 PM
Former Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth must be enjoying this.
In 1997, Wohlgemuth called a point of order on one Democratic bill in retaliation for Democratic procedural games that prevented a very popular bill that required parental notification prior to a girl getting an abortion. Speaker Pete Laney interpreted her point of order as one against the entire calendar and killed a whole slate of bills. Democrats then went on the warpath, calling it the “Memorial Day Massacre.” The Capitol Press Corps went on the warpath. Wohlgemuth got on Texas Monthly’s list of Ten Worst Legislators, not once but twice.
Now, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
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By William Lutz on
5/19/2009 4:52 PM
Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) and Rep. Myra Crownover (R-Denton) declared the statewide smoking ban dead for this session but declared they'll be back in 2011.
"We are disappointed today because we missed an opportunity for a healthier Texas," said Crownover. "Next session starts right now. We will work hard ... I think this is an interesting issue because it's an education issue ... Second-hand smoke isn't an annoyance ... it literally kills people."
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By William Lutz on
5/18/2009 5:30 PM
The Conference Committee on the state budget voted to restore 85 percent of the funding for Proclamation 2010. It also removed the rider directing the elected State Board of Education not to issue proclamation 2011 and 2012. What this means is the English Language Arts and Reading curriculum based on the new standards will likely enter Texas classrooms. It also means science books can be ordered that comply with the new standards.
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By William Lutz on
5/18/2009 4:59 PM
The House-Senate conference committee voted yesterday to guarantee at least a four percent increase in general revenue funding to state general academic institutions. One of the many myths surrounding the so-called “tuition deregulation” bill passed in 2003 was the claim that the legislature cut funding to institutions in exchange for money from tuition. In fact, the University of Texas at Austin has received more state tax dollars from Austin in every single budget, including the 2003 budget where the state had to close a $10 billion shortfall.
But regularly since 2003, universities have raised tuition and blamed the legislature, claiming lawmakers created the need for more tuition increases, when – in reality – university administrators just wanted to spend more money.
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By William Lutz on
5/18/2009 12:47 PM
 Last week, Texas Association of Business President Bill Hammond held a news conference to call on legislators to preserve real accountability measures in the omnibus school accountability bill (HB 3). The bill is likely headed to conference today. “For too long, we’ve had a broken public education system that relies upon numbers games and rewarded mediocrity,” said TAB President Bill Hammond. “HB 3 was a tremendous first step toward true public school accountability, but SB 3 does more to ensure student success. It increases financial openness and, most importantly, holds schools accountable for the decisions they make relating to social promotion.”
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By William Lutz on
5/16/2009 8:40 PM
LSR Managing Editor William Lutz will deliver a commentary on government-funded lobbying on WFAA's Inside Texas Politics with Brad Watson. The show airs at 9 am Sunday on Channel 8 in North Texas. The show is also usually archived at wfaa.com. Just search for "Inside Politics."
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By William Lutz on
5/15/2009 10:22 AM
Twenty members of the State Republican Executive Committee have signed a statement to lawmakers taking issue with cutting off funding for State Board of Education-approved textbooks and otherwise taking authority away from the elected State Board of Education. We reprint in full below:
The undersigned members of the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) are shocked and dismayed that our elected officials would stealthily attempt to undermine our elected State Board of Education (SBOE) through Budget conference committee amendments and defunding mechanisms which covertly dismantles the authority of the SBOE. As statewide Republican leaders elected by the grassroots of the party, we have been entrusted with the responsibility of protecting and defending our state party platform and its ideals. In addition the Texas Constitution establishes the SBOE for specific purposes, such as the administration and oversight of the Permanent School Fund (PSF) which we believe also deserve to be protected and defended by all Texans.
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By William Lutz on
5/13/2009 6:43 PM
 Commissioner of Education Robert Scott yesterday sent a very pointed letter to Speaker Joe Straus, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and the budget conferees on the effects of de-funding the English, Language Arts, Reading, Spelling and Handwriting books ordered by the State Board of Education for use in classrooms in 2010.
Scott warns of serious consequences for children and the state's education system if the books are not funded. "We know that early reading instruction lays the foundation for future learning," Scott noted
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By William Lutz on
5/13/2009 10:52 AM
Rep. Edmund Kuempel collapsed yesterday night in a Capitol elevator. After Dr. John Zerwas performed CPR, Kuempel was taken to Brackenridge Hospital. He is in intensive care. According to the Speaker's press office, the family has requested that people not visit the hospital during these critical first few days. For more information, see The Austin American-Statesman's blog. Like the entire Capitol community, we at LSR wish Kuempel a full and speedy recovery.
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By William Lutz on
5/13/2009 10:46 AM
Yesterday, we received a commentary by Texas Workforce Comission Charman Tom Pauken blasting the Obama administration's attempt to raise taxes on energy. The commentary's timing corresponds with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas's report estimating the added cost Texans would pay every month if carbon is limited. We reprint in full below.
by Tom Pauken
President Obama is proposing a wide array of tax hikes on the U.S. energy industry. If enacted, these massive tax increases would be a job-killer for Texas and a huge setback in our overall efforts to lessen our dependence on foreign energy.
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By William Lutz on
5/13/2009 10:37 AM
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) -- the state's electric grid operator -- released a study yesterday on the impact of federal cap-and-trade legislation. The study concludes that cap-and-trade would signficantly increase most Texans' electric bills.
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By William Lutz on
5/11/2009 12:36 AM
Friday, the conference committee on the budget voted to direct the State Board of Education not to issue Proclamation 2011 or 2012. That means the conferees are -- once again -- trying to balance the budget by taking books out of the hands of children.
Here's the kicker: Proclamation 2012 doesn't even affect this biennium's budget and Proclamation 2011 may not. Meanwhile funding for the reading books in Proclamation 2010 is in limbo.
In a nutshell, this is not just about balancing the budget. There's a lot more going on here.
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By William Lutz on
5/10/2009 11:41 PM
Chancellor Renu Khator -- meet KTRK's Wayne Dolcefino.
The new chancellor of the University of Houston system got a crash course in Houston-area politics this week, as one of the best known investigative reporters in the Houston area, KTRK's Wayne Dolcefino did an investigative series on travel and booze spending by U of H administrators. Specifically, Dolcefino documents university funds (including some tuition funds) being used to pay for booze and fancy travel. You can watch the stories in their entirety here. (Since publication of the KTRK story, U of H has changed its policies to ban use of tuition money for booze and business class travel.)
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