The Great Recession has affected everyone's budget. From the federal government to the millions of Americans unemployed, budgets across the nation have been affected by the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. State budgets have been also hit hard by the recession. A recently released survey by the National Governors Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers found that states currently face a combined $41 billion in budget shortfalls for fiscal year 2012. According a report by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, state tax revenues were 8.4% lower in the 2009 fiscal year than in 2008, and an additional 3.1% lower in 2010, while the need for state-funded services did not decline.
Already during the last fiscal year those states dramatically cut their budgets, raised taxes, and relieved heavily on the $43 billion in federal Recovery Act funds to close those budget gaps. Over the past three fiscal years, states have closed $230 billion in budget gaps, and they done it by making significant budget cuts in education, social services and public safety, the state workforces and reduced aid to local governments. These cuts are having a disproportionate affect on the working and middle class, as services that they depend on are being either cut altogether or dramatically scaled back.
Despite the rhetoric of Texas Governor Rick Perry describing Texas as being relatively unaffected by the Great Recession, the state is facing a significant fiscal crisis. There is a debate about the actual size of the budget shortfall, and the numbers vary from anywhere between $15 billion and $30 billion depending on who is making the estimate. Governor Perry is touting the estimates of State Senator Steve Ogden (R-Bryan) which predict a budget gap of $15 billion or less.
The Legislative Budget Board has adopted a plan to cap the growth in the discretionary spending in the state budget at 8.92% in the budget that will be written in the next legislative session. Cuts of 5% from state agencies produced about $1.2 billion in savings in the 2010-11 budgets, although certain agencies were exempt. It appears that agencies will be expected to cut their budgets by another 2-3%. Reportedly approved cuts from earlier this year, together with the agencies' proposals to reduce spending by 10 percent in the next budget, would produce an estimated $4.2 billion in savings in the 2012-13 budgets.
While Texans are opposed to raising revenues through new taxes and want lawmakers to cut the budget to address the shortfall, a Texas Tribune poll also finds that Texans do not want lawmakers to cut the budgets of popular programs. Texans want to protect public and higher education, health care services for children and elderly, and the prison system from budget cuts. However, in all likelihood at least two out of three of those programs are going to face massive budget cuts. This seems to be consistent with the current American political character: we want to keep popular government programs but we don't want to have to pay for them.
While the most important issue facing the 82nd Texas Legislature is the budget, which is projected to have a shortfall of about $25 billion, but the one issue that may create the largest debate is immigration. During the campaign immigration was an issue that many Republican candidates campaigned on in Texas, and a new wave of conservative Republican legislators will be bringing those campaign issues to the Capitol. Many veteran Republican lawmakers in the Texas Legislature will also have the opportunity to address pieces of legislation that Democrats were able to block during the 81st Texas Legislature.
According to a recent Gallup poll, only 7% of the country believe that immigration or illegal aliens is the "most important problem facing the country," although 11% self-identified Republicans felt that it was the most important problem. The economy and unemployment were the top two most important problems facing the country among those surveyed, and that represented 58% of the responses. However, in Texas voters seem more focused on the border than their paychecks. According to a Texas Tribune poll, the economy was named by only 14% of those surveyed as the most important problem facing Texas. Among those surveyed 21% said that border security was the most important issue, and 19% said that immigration was the most important issue.
To date there has been 487 pieces of legislation pre-filed in the Texas Legislature, and over twenty different bills and resolutions have been pre-filed that are either directly or indirectly associated with immigration policy. Due to the number of pieces of legislation I will be looking at them in two parts, one part a look at the legislation pre-filed in the Texas House of Representatives and another part a look at the legislation pre-filed in the Texas Senate. I will also be looking at the pieces of legislation based on different categories, and high lightening bills within those different categories.
Lloyd Doggett: the man many Austinites proudly call their U.S. Congressman, the man others wrongly think represent them, and the man who won't lose. In 2003, Texas Republicans tried to get rid of him. He had to move, but he still managed to hold a seat in Congress. Even this year, in the Republican wave of Republican waves, he managed to hold on. Even when the map-drawers split Austin, there will be at least one Democratic seat in the area -- and Doggett's going to get it.
But as much as I love Representative Doggett (and as much as I wish I could call HIM my Congressman instead of one Lamar Smith), it's not about him. It's about us, the people of Austin, receiving the right representation.
At 10 AM today, the voyaging House Redistricting Committee will finally gather in the state's capital. I hope our city shows up, too. From the advisory:
The House Committee on Redistricting, the House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence will be holding a series of joint public hearings at various locations around the state this year. The purpose of these hearings is to allow citizens interested in the redistricting process to offer public comment and communicate directly with legislators.
The Austin redistricting hearing will be held on Wednesday, November 17, 2010 in E1.030 the Appropriations Room in the State Capitol. The hearing will begin at 10am.
Anyone who lives in this city will confirm that Austin has a character of its own. Hell, anyone who comes here just for a year or two will tell you that, too; even if they're one of the odd folk who don't like this city. Austin's more of a coherent community than most other cities, and it would be only right and fitting to return to coherent representation.
Austin's a weird and progressive city. There's no reason we shouldn't have a Congressman to embody the ways our weirdness turns into liberal policy choices. As anyone can see with Congressman Doggett, we'll get our man whether the mapmaker wants us to or not. And there's no reason to burden rural Texas with the Austin boy, either.
Public Citizen, Environmental Defense Fund Call for Independent State Agency to Coordinate State's Energy Efficiency Efforts
AUSTIN - In response to the Public Utility Commission's (PUC) planned adoption of new energy efficiency goals, Public Citizen and Environmental Defense Fund today called for sweeping changes to the way Texas runs its energy efficiency programs. The groups said that a single independent state agency would better serve Texas because it could coordinate programs currently regulated by multiple agencies and reduce agency overlap.
"We have no confidence in the Public Utility Commission process," said David Power, deputy director of Public Citizen's Texas office. "The time has come to change the way Texas saves energy because the current setup is ineffective. It is time for the Legislature to take control and create a new state agency that can put consumers first and save more money."
The groups plan to send a letter to state Sen. Troy Fraser, chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, and state Reps. Jim Keffer and Burt Solomons, chairs of the House Energy Resources and State Affairs Committees, asking them to support legislation in the upcoming session to create an independent efficiency agency.
Under current law, the PUC, the agency in charge of regulating most of the state's "poles and wires" companies, is supposed to review and approve the energy efficiency programs of the utilities. But other state agencies oversee efficiency programs too, including the Department of Housing and Community Affairs and State Energy Conservation Office. Housing the coordination of these efforts under one roof would help streamline state regulation and create more savings potential for Texans, the groups said.
"Several agencies either run or oversee similar programs," said Kate Robertson, energy efficiency specialist with Environmental Defense Fund. "In some instances, like market outreach, a single state agency could coordinate the activities of all efficiency programs instead of multiple people doing the same thing for their own programs."
The groups also criticized the PUC's negative attitude toward energy efficiency. Over the past year and a half, agency staff had been developing plans to increase the state's goal for energy efficiency. On Friday, however, the three commissioners appointed by Gov. Rick Perry slashed the proposal dramatically, ostensibly for cost reasons, reducing the efficiency goal from 1 percent of peak demand by 2014 to a third of the growth in demand by 2013 - a much smaller increase. The PUC even has proposed curtailing the amount utilities can spend on efficiency measures.
"It is baffling to us that the commission thinks energy efficiency is not worth the cost," said Matthew Johnson, a policy analyst with Public Citizen's Texas office. "Ratepayers' utility bills pay primarily for fuel like natural gas and coal, power plants and the grid infrastructure. Energy efficiency costs around a dollar per month on a typical $100 electric bill and it pays for itself by reducing the need for new, costly power plants."
Energy efficiency has had a long track record of success since the Legislature passed the first statewide goal as part of the massive 1999 electric deregulation bill. In recent years, several independent and internal reports on energy efficiency potential and cost effectiveness have been published for the PUC. None of them, however, appear to have persuaded the commission to pursue energy efficiency as a consumer-friendly energy resource.
"There are at least four internal PUC and independent reports done in the last four years that show Texas can achieve higher energy efficiency goals" said Robertson. "Every one of them shows that efficiency saves consumers money and has a payback of 2 or 3 to 1. An independent agency's primary focus would be on achieving these goals and saving Texans money on their energy bills."
Agencies that manage non-electric efficiency programs, like the Water Development Board and potentially the Railroad Commission for natural gas, the groups note, also could be incorporated into the new efficiency agency. This would enhance the state's ability to increase program participation by creating a "one-stop shop" for consumer information on electric, water and gas efficiency programs.
The groups urged citizens and businesses to contact their state representatives, who convene again in January, to call for an independent efficiency agency.
With the recent release of campaign finance reports, it is a good time to take a look at how some of the incumbent House Democrats likely to be targeted by the Republicans faired in fundraising.
There are many months ahead, but here is the current financial outlook for 10 incumbent House Democrats likely to face comeptitive races next year.
House District 2
Mark Homer raised $4,699 and ended the reporting period with $5,982 on hand. His campaign spent $20,676 during that time.
House District 11
Chuck Hopson raised only $5,750 but has an impressive $66,563 on hand, with expenditures of slightly over $22,900 for the reporting period.
House District 47
Valinda Bolton reported raising $14,800 and ended with $23,532 on hand. Two years ago at this time, Bolton had $13,704 on hand, so the two-term incumbent has almost $10k more than she did at this same point last election cycle.
House District 52
Diana Maldonado raised $18,950 and ended the reporting period with $35,817 in the bank. The Williamson County Democrat and TexBlog PAC endorsed candidate spent a little over $18,000 during that time.
House District 78
Joe Moody of El Paso reported raising $16,950 to end the reporting period with $27,955.82 on hand. Moody, a TexBlog PAC endorsed candidate, won by just over 3200 votes in 2008.
House District 96
Chris Turner reported raising $45,251.24 and had slightly over $102,000 on hand. Great to see huge numbers from a TexBlog PAC endorsed candidate.
House District 101
Robert Miklos, a freshman House member from Mesquite and another TexBlog PAC endorsed candidate, raised $18,340 and has $20,656 on hand.
House District 102
Carol Kent, who defeated incumbent Tony Goolsby in 2008, raised $32,170 and ended the filing period with just over $51,000 on hand.
House District 107
Although he raised only $1,157 during the reporting period and spent more than $60,000, incumbent Democrat Allen Vaught has more than $86,000 currently on hand.
House District 133
Kristi Thibaut, who defeated Republican incumbent Jim Murphy by 497 votes in 2008, has $45,655 on hand. At this point two years ago, as she prepared for a rematch with Murphy after losing in 2006, Thibaut only had $6,851 on hand.
Key Question: Just two days after publishing an accurately critical quote by Republican Senator Jeff Wentworth about Republican Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, why did the Statesman publish an entire fluff piece on Dewhurst on the front page of its paper that not only ignored the original story, but was co-written by Dewhurst himself?
Is this what a wink and a nod between failed elected officials and yellow newspaper editors looks like in the 21st century?
Here's what happened:
Monday, June 29: The Statesman reports that Republican Senator Jeff Wentworth says that the Senate is "not going to put up with" Dewhurst trampling the will of the Senate for his own partisan favors for Governor Rick Perry any longer.
And I'm not joking about Dewhurst writing 1/3 of the front page story. Mike Ward's love letter to David Dewhurst that appeared on the front page of the Austin American-Statesman on Wednesday July 1 was disgusting. The reportstoryprofile promotional flyer -- titled, "Dewhurst: Senate could conclude business in two days" -- was written largely by the Republican official that was the subject of the story.
Don't believe me? Let's look at some facts:
804 words are in the story, total
270 words are direct quotes of David Dewhurst
0 words are quotes from anyone other than Dewhurst
0 words challenge anything Dewhurst says
Dewhurst claims the session was a huge success -- and there is not a single word to challenge that. Not one.
Really, Statesman?
No one who works for the Statesman thought that it might be responsible journalism to follow up with Dewhurst about the fact that a leading Republican State Senator from Central Texas, -- the area the Statesman covers -- declared, "We're not going to put up with this any longer" about Dewhurst? Dewhurst was the sole subject of the entire article -- and you couldn't ask him one question about the remarks you'd reported only two days before?
[Republican State Senator Jeff Wentworth] added, “We’re not going to put up with this any longer. There are a number of senators that I’ve already spoken to that agree with me. It only takes 16 senators to adopt rules.”
Wentworth said Dewhurst told him that Gov. Rick Perry talked to him 20 times about stopping the legislation. And he said former Sen. Ken Armbrister, who works for Perry, “cajoled and threatened” six senators into opposing the measure, giving Dewhurst the cover he needed to not bring up the bill. (Asked about all this, Dewhurst spokesman Rich Parsons said only that the bill did not have the votes necessary to be called up).
Wentworth said there is an unwritten understanding between senators and the lieutenant governor that if 21 senators are willing to debate a bill, Dewhurst will recognize the appropriate senator to bring it up.
“The lieutenant governor should not abuse that power that we give him,” Wentworth said. “He should not have given his word to Perry that he would kill that bill.”
Pretty heavy accusations from one of Central Texas' State Senators. But was there any follow-up about that in the front page story on Wednesday? Nope. Instead, David Dewhurst got an 804-word direct mail piece sent to the door of thousands upon thousands of Texans, bought and paid for by the Austin American-Statesman.
His denials notwithstanding, most in the Capitol now believe that Dewhurst conspired with Sen. Tommy Williams to trick the other senators on the first day of the session. Williams surprised his colleagues by proposing a new rule mandating the Senate take up voter ID, a bill that Democrats otherwise had the votes to block.
The Williams play ultimately led to a session-killing filibuster in the House, by a handful of Democrats. But if Dewhurst was blindsided by Williams as he said, why did he reward him with one of the most important chairmanships at his disposal – Senate Administration?
Perhaps it was because of his upcoming wedding in June and the preparations were distracting. But Dewhurst's erraticism, lack of concentration and inability to keep a schedule were the talk of almost every senator. He was rarely in the chair. By most reports, he was inconsistent and dismissive in his dealings with Speaker Joe Straus.
Dewhurst told reporters Wednesday afternoon that he was “looking for a vehicle” for CHIP expansion, he received some help.
Journalist Harvey Kronberg, whose online “Quorum Report” is must reading in the capital, quickly posted an item pointing out, as he had earlier in the day, that Coleman’s bill was available in the Finance Committee.
Thursday afternoon Dewhurst said Coleman’s criticism was “premature.” Dewhurst said Thursday evening the bill could be revived, but he was exaggerating.
Was it a deliberate charade or callous stupidity?
Does it matter, since Gov. Rick Perry appeared ready to veto the bill anyway?
Yes, it matters. It was a test of either character or competence. Dewhurst and Ogden flunked.
Sounds like a lot of controversy surrounding Dewhurst's role in the last session, doesn't it?
Yet does Mike Ward or the editors at the Statesman bring any of that into context? Not even a little. Instead, this talking point from Dewhurst is published unchallenged on the front page of the Austin American-Statesman:
As for the regular session, Dewhurst insisted that despite a last-minute partisan fight in the House that killed hundreds of bills and left the legislative process in chaos at the end, it was successful for the upper chamber.
"For the Senate and myself, this was almost a textbook perfect session," he said. "We addressed all of our important legislation early, got it passed — even though some Democrats filibustered and killed 200-plus of our Senate bills."
804 words are in the story, total
270 words are direct quotes of David Dewhurst
0 words are quotes from anyone other than Dewhurst
0 words challenge anything Dewhurst says
Oh, and by the way -- this just puts the icing on the cake.
Statesman writer Mike Ward, following the fluff piece that ran Wednesday morning, followed it up with not one, but two blog posts about Dewhurst's wedding the previous weekend. Even Ward, thinking it was cute and recognizing his fan-boy obsession with Dewhurst, closes his final love letter to The Dew with the following:
You asked Statesman.com for more details. We asked Dewhurst.
“What are you, TMZ?” quipped a staffer standing nearby.
Don't flatter yourself, Mike. TMZ would be a welcome change of professionalism.
In less than a week, state legislators will be back in their chambers as Gov. Perry has issues a July 1 start day for a special session. That begins the 30 day countdown during which legislators will be dealing with a limited call relating largely to state continuance and funding issues.
The session has only three allowed topics, the main one being allowing the continued existence of the five state agencies in danger of shutting down because of critical legislation that wasn't passed during the regular session. The other two topics relate to allowing TXDOT to continue using different types of financing to keep funding road projects.
While the session is valid for 30 days, if work finishes the session could last a week or even days, depending on how fast legislators want to get back to July 4th plans.
This is Perry's 8th called special session since being in office.
“Texans demanded results, and the Republican leadership was unwilling or unable to deliver. Our citizens deserve better than this.”
The quote above comes from the statement released from Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Senate Democratic Caucus Chair, and Representative Jim Dunnam, House Democratic Leader. You can read the rest of their statement below the fold -- I wanted, instead, to take a look at exactly what did -- and did not happen -- during what is being referred to as the Session of Missed Opportunities.
CHIP - Bipartisan legislation that would have created a buy-in program for children from working families died because of political gamesmanship on both sides of the rotunda. This valuable legislation is a priority for Texans and it would have provided health insurance to 80,000 Texas children.
Unemployment Insurance - Over $500 million in federal dollars were left on the table that would have provided a safety net for unemployed Texans in these tough economic times. The result will be an increase in taxes on Texas businesses - a poor policy decision during a recession.
Tuition relief - Since deregulation in 2003, tuition rates at Texas universities have skyrocketed. Middle income families bear the brunt of these costs, as they are forced to take out private student loans, graduating thousands of students into the workforce burdened by mountains of debt. Positive steps were taken to expand TEXAS Grants, but no cap was placed on tuition rates.
Eliminating the Trans Texas Corridor - Since the passage of legislation creating the Trans Texas Corridor in 2003, the detrimental effects of this poor public policy have become clear to millions of Texans. However, the Legislature failed to pass meaningful changes in state transportation policy this session.
Insurance Reform (TDI Sunset) - Voters favor meaningful insurance reform in Texas to lower the highest homeowner's premiums in the country, but the Legislature failed to act.
Utility Rates - While small steps were taken this session to reform and lower utility rates, large scale, meaningful legislation fell victim to the process and was never addressed. This is especially disappointing as Texas heads into the hot summer months.
Medicaid Reforms (12 Month Applications) - Annual Medicaid applications would have simplified the process for Texas families and would have given a quarter million children the opportunity to see a doctor.
Health care. The economy. Higher education. Transportation. Homeowners insurance. Utility rates. Medicaid reforms. All issues of supreme importance, and all are areas where the Republican Governor and Republican-controlled Legislature failed to show any leadership, choosing instead to be co-opted by the hardcore conservatives in the Republican Party.
Yet, thanks to hard fights and strong leadership from Democrats -- action taken while still in the minority party -- there were some impressive accomplishments we can hang our hats on. The LSG spells out the following achievements:
Accomplishments of the 81st Legislature
Tier One Universities and Top Ten Percent - Much was made this session of the Top Ten Percent law, and the perceived strain on the University of Texas at Austin. Top Ten Percent has resulted in greater diversity at Texas' institutions of higher education, along with students that have higher GPAs and graduate at higher rates than their peers. The problem is not with the Top Ten Percent law - it is with the lack of slots for excellence in Texas universities.
To that end, the Legislature passed a compromise to tweak to the Top Ten Percent law only at UT-Austin, along with groundbreaking legislation that would pave the way for seven new top tier universities in Texas. HB 51 and SJR 14 are excellent bills that will keep Texas competitive on the national and global scale.
Expanded TEXAS Grants - With leadership from Representatives Villarreal and Hochberg and the Appropriations subcommittee on Education, the TEXAS Grants program will receive an infusion of much needed funds. More work is left to be done, but this was an important step in providing tuition relief to qualifying families.
School Finance Reform - Guided by Rep. Hochberg, the Legislature was able to use federal stimulus dollars to pass the best possible school finance legislation that could be fashioned with limited funding, making changes that will improve the way schools in Texas are funded and provide Texas teachers with a minimum $800 pay raise.
TWIA - While not perfect, the Legislature was able to pass legislation at the 11th hour that will ensure the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association has enough funding (through bonds and other mechanisms) so that residents in 14 Gulf Coast counties will have protection heading into hurricane season.
Hurricane Relief - Important legislation passed due to the work of Speaker Pro Tem Craig Eiland, Speaker Pro Tem Sylvester Turner, and members of the Hurricane Ike committee, to help ensure that Galveston is rebuilt and restored to its former glory.
Budget - The 81st Legislature faced a $9.1 billion shortfall coming in to session and a Rainy Day Fund projected to contain $9 billion in the upcoming biennium. On February 17, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) passed through the federal government and sent $15.2 billion to Texas for relief, education, and economic development. With the help of the ARRA, that state ended up with a $182.3 billion budget that had no major cuts for state agencies, increased funding to many health and human services and education programs, and according to Sen. Ogden and Rep. Pitts "has a little something for everyone".
SB 1 increased funding for Texas GRANTS, community mental health centers, CPS workers, and business incentives to attract filmmakers and environmentally friendly business to Texas. It provided funds for textbooks for public schools, correctional officer pay raises, $2 billion in bonds for roads and highways, and a one-time $500 payment to retired teachers and state employees. All of this was able to be funded without using the Rainy Day Fund, which will continue to be available to aid future shortfalls in the state.
Small Business Tax Relief - HB 4765 will provide immediate tax relief for small businesses in Texas. This bill will exempt businesses that earn revenue up to $1 million a year from paying the margins tax until December 31, 2011. Currently, businesses that earn up to $300,000 are exempt from the margins tax. Although this bill will reduce revenue going into the Property Tax Relief Fund and will therefore require additional expenditures for that purpose from General Revenue, this important cut will provide a stimulus to many small Texas businesses.
Voter Photo ID - The House of Representatives killed this legislation, which would have resulted in the disenfranchisement of tens of thousands of low income, minority, elderly and disabled Texas voters. Protecting voting rights in paramount in a democracy, and the death of this legislation was crucial.
School Accountability - Given the public outcry and opposition to "teaching to the test," there was hope that the new accountability bill would make changes to turn away from a high stakes "test and punish" system and enact reforms that would use multiple assessment measures, focus on the diverse needs of students, and assist schools with high concentrations of at risk kids. The House attempted to address these issues, but changes made in the Senate and the Conference Committee led to passage of a complex 187 page bill that includes some good elements, but still relies heavily on testing and punishment. The final version of HB3 eliminates only third grade test in the elementary grades and replaces the high school TAKS exams with 12 standardized end-of-course exams, with a requirement that students pass the English III and Algebra II exams to graduate. Given the opportunity to forge a new path in student accountability, the leadership, at the urging of the Governor, decided to stay the course.
Imagine how much more we would accomplish with a constructive Democrat in charge of the House and behind the Governor's desk.
I think the spam is winning...this diary as a celebration of our sovereignty tonight!
If this makes no sense, you're absolutely right. The six or seven diaries posted right now want us to go to a casino and/or buy cheap pills. Great ideas. I'm going to go to as many casinos as I possibly can. I'm feelin' extremely lucky with my newly-found sense of sovereignty. It feels good. Let freedom ring!
Gardner Selby is reporting that Gov. Rick Perry is suggesting an immediate special session in June should the legislature not pass the most important issue facing Texas. Interestingly, that important issue is not Voter ID or Handguns on Campuses.
Gov. Rick Perry told legislators this afternoon he could call a special session immediately after the regular session ends June 1 to work on a plan patching up the fund that provides windstorm insurance coverage to property-owners in 14 coastal counties and a sliver of Harris County.
Though Perry's office didn't confirm Perry's remarks, Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, said the prospect of an immediate special session was one thrust of Perry's remarks to members of the House and Senate...
Here's some advice to Gov. Perry and the legislature. If you feel that fixing the issues related to windstorm insurance are so important (and brought into clearer need because of Hurricanes last season), then why are you having the legislature waste it's time killing time and bills with debate over bills that solve any actual existing problems from Voter ID and Guns on Campus?
After all, the Voter ID bill that no one wants, is now being faced with threats from House Democrats that it could inspire the return of a quorum bust.
Asked to specify what he meant by "protect," Dunnam didn't elaborate, though there's speculation that members dead-set against the ID proposal could leave the House chamber when it comes up, potentially depriving the 150-member body of the quorum needed to take action. Such a move could prove riotous and endanger other Senate measures, which under House rules must be considered by the House by the end of the day Tuesday to survive.
Come on Rick Perry- lead. Or don't. And this session, for all the praise of change with a new speaker, will be just as much a failure of leadership as it was under Craddick.
Time to prioritize.
Update: Looks like legislators' desire to get the hell out of town and not come back to a special session is strong. From Quorum Report...
Hot on the heels of a gubernatorial promise to call a special session if lawmakers can't pass a windstorm bill this session, the House Insurance Committee passed out a much worked over compromise version of legislation propping up the state's windstorm insurer of last resort.
Coastal and inland interests both said today that they could find many things in the bill that need modification but they agreed that the process needs to move forward. The windstorm bill must somehow find a place on the House Calendar sometime before the Tuesday deadline for Senate bills at the same time that the remaining big pieces of legislation are all getting pushed further and further back toward the weekend.
Let's which bill shoves the others to the back of the line now...
Here's some advice to Gov. Perry and the legislature. If you feel that fixing the issues related to windstorm insurance are so important (and brought into clearer need because of Hurricanes last season), then why are you having the legislature waste it's time killing time and bills with debate over bills that solve any actual existing problems from 