By Andy Hogue on
5/30/2009 4:41 PM
Yep, it's dead.
A Dallas Morning News blog reported today that Rep. Vicki Truitt, author of the House version of Sen. Carona's bill to give local entities power to call elections to raise motor fuels taxes and certain fees, declared the Local Option Transportation Plan dead in the TxDOT Sunset Bill Conference Committee.
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By Andy Hogue on
5/30/2009 3:35 PM
Is the Local Options Transportation Plan dead in the TxDOT Sunset Bill?
That's what Rep. Gary Elkins and Sen. Dan Patrick have said on Twitter, a social networking site.
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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 Andy Hogue on
5/30/2009 1:40 PM
In a statement issued Saturday morning about progress in the HB 300 (TxDOT Sunset Bill) conference committee, Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas) claimed there are 77 House members ready to vote "yay" on a sunset bill that includes his Local Option Transportation Plan.
But LSR wonders why, if a majority of votes are already there, is Carona calling for more?
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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 Mark Lavergne on
5/29/2009 6:48 PM
The House today appointed conferees for HJR 14, from Rep. Frank Corte (R-San Antonio), a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at strengthened property rights protections by reforming eminent domain. The conferees are: Corte as chair, Harvey Hilderbran (R-Kerrville), Dennis Bonnen (R-Angleton), Aaron Pena (D-Edinburg) and Kino Flores (D-Mission).
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By Mark Lavergne on
5/29/2009 4:41 PM
The House conference committee members were named today for House Bill 4409, a disaster preparedness bill that now serves as a lifeboat for reform of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. They are: Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood) as chair; John Smithee (R-Lubbock), Craig Eiland (D-Galveston), Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi), and Ryan Guillen (D-Rio Grande City).
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By Andy Hogue on
5/29/2009 4:39 PM
The chairman of the House Transportation Committee said Friday night that he's supicious of a petition being circulated by HillCo Partners, a lobbying firm.
The petition, according to Rep. Joe Pickett (D-El Paso), asked members whether they would support the Local Option Transportation Plan. Pickett said the petition is presented in an open folder for the members to sign, and it's unlikely that a copy is available for that reason.
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By Andy Hogue on
5/29/2009 2:55 PM
Neatly printed signs reading "Don't kill Texas businesses with traffic congestion" and "Support Local Control" met with hand- drawn signs reading "Texas Not Taxes" and "No Diversions!" at a press conference and rally at the South Steps of the Texas Capitol Friday afternoon.
Legislators in favor of the Local Option Transportation Plan -- an effort to give local entities the power to raise the motor fuels tax and assorted fees via an election -- joined with representatives from major Texas cities for a press conference hosted by supporters, flanked by protestors.
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By Andy Hogue on
5/28/2009 3:18 PM
The House and Senate named its conferees to the TxDOT Sunset Bill (HB 300) conference committee to hammer out differences between the versions of the bill over the weekend.
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