By William Lutz on
5/30/2011 5:52 PM
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced that he will not use the two-thirds rule in the upcoming special session. Bills will pass the senate on the regular order of business via majority vote. He made this announcement in a letter to Gov. Rick Perry issued today announcing what bills he'd like to see on the call for a special session.
"As you know, certain Senate procedures – such as the two-thirds tradition – exist to bring Democrats and Republicans together, encouraging Members to work in good faith in order to achieve positive outcomes for the people of Texas," Dewhurst wrote. "Given that a small number of Senate Democrats have demonstrated their unwillingness to find consensus on these important legislative items, I can see no other alternative than to operate under a simple majority vote in the Special Session."
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By William Lutz on
5/30/2011 5:18 PM
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst wrote a letter to Gov. Rick Perry with a list of bills he would like on the call for the special session. Some -- such as Dewhurst's health care compact and reform bills -- are not a surprise.
But he has also requested for the special session call both congressional redistricting and the bill by Rep. David Simpson (R-Longview) to make groping without probable cause by Transportation Security Administration workers a felony. The Simpson bill died in the waning days of the regular session after senators received a letter from the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas threatening to challenge the bill in court and shut down Texas airports if the bill passes. We post the entire text of the Dewhurst letter below:
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By William Lutz on
5/30/2011 4:56 PM
The regular session of the Texas Legislature has adjourned sine die. While Gov. Rick Perry has not yet issued a call for a special session, the leaders of both chambers confirmed that the governor will call one starting tomorrow at 8 am. No deals or action on any bills occurred today other than the usual technical correction resolutions. Any bill not adopted yesterday is now dead. Enjoy the sine die party. See all of you tomorrow.
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By William Lutz on
5/29/2011 11:46 PM
Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) filibustered the fiscal matters bill -- SB 1811 -- tonight arguing that it does not provide sufficient funding for education. Senators may attempt to suspend the rules tomorrow to take up the bill. If the suspension motion fails, the bill dies, forcing a special session.
"I'm personally very disappointed. We put a lot of effort into SB 1811, and the school finance bill is something we worked on all session," said Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. "I hope that Sen. Davis's actions don't result in less funding for our schools. I hope this doesn't get reopened in the House." Dewhurst added that "this puts the budget in a crisis."
"Those in charge have asked us to make irresponsible choices, in allowing special interests to preserve taxpayer-funded loopholes while telling educators, students, and working families that we just can't afford to educate Texans," Davis said. "... Cutting $4 billion in state funding for public education will result in thousands of educator job losses, overcrowded classrooms, and it will put an end toour state-funded pre-kindergarten programs."
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By William Lutz on
5/29/2011 3:26 PM
One of the defining figures of 20th Century Texas Republican politics died today. Former Gov. William P. Clements, Jr. was the first Republican governor elected since reconstruction and served two non-consecutive terms -- 1979-1983 and 1987-1991. Gov. Rick Perry issued the following statement:
"Anita and I are deeply saddened today as our state and nation have lost a true pioneer, and a larger-than-life entrepreneur, public servant and, most of all, a Texan. Gov. Clements was a mentor and someone I admired and respected greatly. As the father of the modern day Texas Republican Party, Gov. Clements is responsible for the growth, success and election of Texas Republicans in every corner of our state. Today, Texans and Americans have lost a leader whose leadership, service and patriotism were unparalleled. Anita and I send our deepest sympathy to Rita Crocker Clements and the Clements family during this difficult time.
Today, I have ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of the life and service of former Texas Governor William P. Clements, Jr."
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By William Lutz on
5/28/2011 8:49 PM
Mark Miner, director of Communications for Gov. Rick Perry, issued the following statement on the death of the windstorm insurance bill:
“The death of the windstorm insurance bill is bad for Texas taxpayers, insurance customers and coastal residents. By undermining negotiations on important legislation to fix TWIA, the Texas trial lawyers, Steve Mostyn and their allies in the Capitol have put personal enrichment ahead of coastal homeowners and Texas taxpayers.”
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By William Lutz on
5/28/2011 7:23 PM
The Texas Senate has adopted the budget (HB 1), 20-11. Several Democratic Senators attacked the budget, while Sens. Steve Ogden (R-Bryan) and Dan Patrick (R-Houston) defended it.
"This budget lives within our means and does not raise taxes," Patrick said in announcing his decision to vote for the budget.
"When we started this process, liberal interest groups were clamoring for a $10 billion increase in spending," said Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. "The Texas budget shows Washington and the other 49 states that it's possible to make government live within its means without raising taxes. This budget makes a historic $15 billion cut from current spending, while still providing ample funding for our good teachers, our school children and our seniors."
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By William Lutz on
5/27/2011 6:25 PM
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano), Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth), Rep. Rob Eissler (R-The Woodlands) and several other legislators told the Capitol press corps a few hours ago that they have reached an agreement in principle on the budget and school finance. The details of the agreement have not yet been released publicly while the leaders share it with their respective chambers, but Shapiro and Dewhurst gave reporters a brief outline.
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By William Lutz on
5/27/2011 3:17 PM
After 15 years of publication, The Lone Star Report will publish its last issue July 1. This blog will continue until Sept. 30. Our subscribers to LSR were sent a letter a few days ago about this change. Below are the relevant parts of that letter:
Thank you for your readership and interest in The Lone Star Report over the years. We appreciate your patronage, and it has been our pleasure to bring you what we hope was a thoughtful and insightful look at Texas politics and government. Due to the economic downturn, The Lone Star Report will cease publishing a weekly issue at the end of June. Your last issue will be transmitted Friday, July 1 ... On behalf of myself and our staff, thank you for your readership, subscription, and your help over the years with the articles we have written and the work we have done at the Lone Star Foundation. I have been asked to remain on staff through Sept. 30, and will continue blogging at www.lonestarreport.org as long as I am on staff ... Sincerely, William Lutz Managing Editor
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By William Lutz on
5/27/2011 3:09 PM
Yesterday, Rep. Senfronia Thompson gave a personal privilege speech over a flyer prepared by staff of the Texas Civil Justice League graphically depicting a mother nursing a baby (the flyer was about an indemnity provision of an insurance bill). The group Texas Impact has placed Thomspon's speech on youtube and we post a link below:
In reaction to Thompson's concerns, the Civil Justice League has suspended President/General Counsel Lee Parsley and Communications Director Cary Roberts, pending an investigation.
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