TexasCHLforum.com

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

Captain Matt wrote:

ScottDLS wrote: I would assume the NRA ratings are based on actual votes or legislation sponsored, not just surveys.

Maybe so but (1) they don't seem to be based on results and (2) gun rights bills do get killed behind the scenes and I can't recall anybody getting downgraded for it. Either way the lack of transparency in grading results in a lack of usefulness for myself and others. Which is fine if that's what they're shooting for.

As ScottDLS noted, grades are based on votes, not questionnaires unless the person is a freshman with no voting record. You act as though we don't pass pro-gun bills and that complete garbage. Gun bills die in the House based upon the Speaker and in the Senate based upon the Lt. Governor. Yet you want to blast all Republicans you call RINOs and the NRA for its rating system. You clearly don't know how the Legislature works.

Chas.

Absolutely true. The power that is concentrated in the Speaker position in the House is difficult to explain. I remember back in school, we had a bonus essay question n this topic for one of our exams.

In my answer, I explained how the Speaker assigns all committees, and all committee chairs. Committee assignments are important to the legislators for a multitude of reasons, to include prestige, re-election positioning, and (of course) maintaining the primary focus of the right lobbyi$t$. You don't want to get kicked off of a 'good' committee if you are in the Texas Lege.

When a bill comes across that the speaker has strong feelings for, then it SHALL be handled by the chairs in the manner as the speaker directs. This can include rushing a bill through, pigeonholing it forever, etc.

If I recall correctly, the closing point to my essay question was to state that, "Failure to do exactly as the Speaker directs can land you on the Lady Bird Johnson Quiltmaking Committee". The prof gave me 'bonus' bonus points for stating it like that.

The parallel to the Speaker's power in the House is the LTG's power in the Senate. That power (coupled with the limits on power assigned to the Gov.) leads many to say that the LTG is more powerful in Texas than is the Governor.