Search found 14 matches

by Douva
Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:05 am
Forum: 2009 Texas Legislative Session
Topic: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!
Replies: 172
Views: 50169

Re: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!

jorge wrote:There's always more applicants than openings so they must be paying enough.
I read in an article yesterday that members of the Texas House make $600 a month, which is about what I thought they made. The way I figure it, over a two-year period they make less than $14.50/hour for the time they spend in-session (assuming they work 10 hours/day, 100 days out of the 140-day session). And that doesn't factor in interim studies, special sessions, meeting with constituents, campaigning, etc.
by Douva
Wed May 13, 2009 10:14 am
Forum: 2009 Texas Legislative Session
Topic: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!
Replies: 172
Views: 50169

Re: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!

boomerang wrote:
scott_dfw wrote:I thought they all were paid a (meager) salary? Sounds like they should work all the long hours they can, until everything is settled. ;-)
They get a per diem in addition to salary so we the taxpayers pay more if they work more days. I also think their per diem is more than their salary.
If I recall correctly, their salaries are definitely next-to-nothing. I'm pretty sure they make well-below minimum wage.
by Douva
Wed May 13, 2009 12:49 am
Forum: 2009 Texas Legislative Session
Topic: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!
Replies: 172
Views: 50169

Re: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!

Douva wrote:
Douva wrote:As for the calendars, I still haven't figured out exactly how they work, but I know that it's not a simple list. I believe the official calendar is actually comprised of multiple calendars. Perhaps Charles or someone with a bit more lobbying experience can explain how the calendars work.
Okay, I figured it out. Everything on the Daily House Calendar that isn't reached before the House adjourns for the day is pushed to the next day's Supplemental House Calendar.

If you look at the Supplemental House Calendar for today (attached) you'll see that HB 1893 is on page 19 of 20. It's 8 PM, and the Legislature is half-way through page 4. I'm afraid I have to agree with Charles--it seems unlikely that HB 1893 is going to make it to the floor before time runs out at Midnight Thursday.

The smart play at this point is to focus on SB 1164. Everyone needs to work to convince their State Senators that SB 1164 deserves a floor vote.
We're on page 18 of 24 on tomorrow's supplemental calendar.
by Douva
Tue May 12, 2009 8:12 pm
Forum: 2009 Texas Legislative Session
Topic: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!
Replies: 172
Views: 50169

Re: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!

Douva wrote:As for the calendars, I still haven't figured out exactly how they work, but I know that it's not a simple list. I believe the official calendar is actually comprised of multiple calendars. Perhaps Charles or someone with a bit more lobbying experience can explain how the calendars work.
Okay, I figured it out. Everything on the Daily House Calendar that isn't reached before the House adjourns for the day is pushed to the next day's Supplemental House Calendar.

If you look at the Supplemental House Calendar for today (attached) you'll see that HB 1893 is on page 19 of 20. It's 8 PM, and the Legislature is half-way through page 4. I'm afraid I have to agree with Charles--it seems unlikely that HB 1893 is going to make it to the floor before time runs out at Midnight Thursday.

The smart play at this point is to focus on SB 1164. Everyone needs to work to convince their State Senators that SB 1164 deserves a floor vote.
by Douva
Tue May 12, 2009 3:44 pm
Forum: 2009 Texas Legislative Session
Topic: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!
Replies: 172
Views: 50169

Re: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!

This quote from an Austin American-Statesman blog post is worth noting:
Ronald Thomas, a retired UT-Austin police lieutenant, called to say that not all officers agree. Thomas favors allowing concealed handguns on campus because, he said, an armed person could prevent or cut short a tragedy well before campus police arrive at the scene.
It's nice to see someone refuting the assertion that HB 1893 and SB 1164 are universally opposed by campus police officers (most of whom have little or no experience dealing with CHL holders, spend their days dealing with the worst of the college community, and--most significantly--work for regents who vehemently oppose the bills).
by Douva
Mon May 11, 2009 10:34 pm
Forum: 2009 Texas Legislative Session
Topic: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!
Replies: 172
Views: 50169

Re: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!

T3hK1w1 wrote:That gives the anti's another entire year to yell, whine, and persuade the general public to neuter or repeal the law before it has a chance to prove itself.
***Edit* It also means that college students like myself go another year unarmed, simply because Sen. Duncan doesn't like us to be self-reliant***

By the way, what's going on in the House at the moment? They are discussing bills that are not on today's calendar, and are also discussing Senate bills.
The Texas Legislature won't meet again (unless the Governor calls a special session) until 2011, so the antis most likely won't have a chance to repeal the law before it goes into effect.

Bills must be approved by both houses of the Legislature, so the House hears Senate bills, and the Senate hears House bills. As for the calendars, I still haven't figured out exactly how they work, but I know that it's not a simple list. I believe the official calendar is actually comprised of multiple calendars. Perhaps Charles or someone with a bit more lobbying experience can explain how the calendars work.
by Douva
Mon May 11, 2009 6:37 pm
Forum: 2009 Texas Legislative Session
Topic: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!
Replies: 172
Views: 50169

Re: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!

T3hK1w1 wrote:The House has adjourned for the day. HB 1893 was not addressed.
They're only adjourned until 7 PM. They broke for dinner.
by Douva
Mon May 11, 2009 6:13 pm
Forum: 2009 Texas Legislative Session
Topic: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!
Replies: 172
Views: 50169

Re: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!

As the old saying goes, "Laws are like sausages--you don't want to see how they're made."

There is a reason I'm listening from home instead of sitting in the House gallery at the Capitol.

The committee meetings are bad enough, but sitting through a whole day of floor debate might have melted my brain.

At least at home I can mute the computer when they start recognize birthdays and wedding anniversaries or honoring little league teams.
by Douva
Sun May 10, 2009 11:09 pm
Forum: 2009 Texas Legislative Session
Topic: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!
Replies: 172
Views: 50169

Re: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!

Russell wrote:What time is the debate, and what is the address to watch it?
The debate will be sometime between 10 AM and whenever the House adjourns for the day.

The link to the live video stream can be found here: http://www.house.state.tx.us/media/welcome.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It looks like our opponents will be there lobbying until the last minute:

http://aichaqandisha.blogspot.com/2009/ ... ality.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Sunday, May 10, 2009

Guns in Our Schools Coser to Reality

House bill 1893, which would allow concealed handgun licensees (CHL) to carry concealed guns into classrooms and buildings at our state's colleges and universities, will go to a vote Monday in the Texas House of Representatives. If it passes there it will go to the Senate for a vote and then on to Governor Perry, who has vowed to sign it into law.

If you care, please come down on Monday and make your voice heard. We'll be going door to door educating House members about issues not considered under this sweeping legislation. What about the elementary school on our campus (and undoubtedly others)? What about the child care facility in my department's building? What about chemical labs, where you are not even allowed to bring your mobile phone for fear of causing a spark? There is a bar on our campus, will the existing ban on concealed weapons in a bar apply or not? What about the dorms? How will a resident in a dorm store their gun? Will visitors be allowed to keep their gun on them or have to turn it in at the desk? Will residence hall advisers, students who live in the dorm and oversee students, be trained on how to deal with gun issues?

We'll also be sitting in on the House session in the gallery, wearing our school colors, to hopefully remind the Reps. that it will be students, and the currently-gagged faculty and staff, who will be affected by this bill. If you are studying for finals, come study in the gallery with us. Please come down to the Capitol and join us!

This is bad policy at its worst.
Call your Representatives - find their contact info at the Texas Leg website - and let them know that guns do not belong in our schools. Tell them NO on HB 1893.

Salaam.
by Douva
Wed May 06, 2009 5:03 pm
Forum: 2009 Texas Legislative Session
Topic: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!
Replies: 172
Views: 50169

Re: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!

TexasComputerDude wrote:I think I will wait for charles or someone more in the know to respond, I was doing it but then thought its something more for those directly involved with campus carry and the nra to do or authorize me to do. I wouldn't want to hurt the cause lol.
I'm about as involved as you can get (example 1, example 2, example 3, example 4, example 5), and Charles did say, "Please respond to this request ASAP and ask your friends and family to do so as well," but do what you like. I've got a feeling the legislators are already getting as many calls as they can handle. More calls supporting our side might help, assuming the calls come from Texas voters, but then again, if individuals outside of Texas start calling, the legislators will probably start dismissing the calls as SPAM from gun nuts.

--W. Scott Lewis
by Douva
Wed May 06, 2009 4:42 pm
Forum: 2009 Texas Legislative Session
Topic: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!
Replies: 172
Views: 50169

Re: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!

TexasComputerDude wrote:May I post these numbers on another forum? I think a post to freerepublic could get us a few more callers. Would this be a good idea?
YES! Post the version that includes the fax numbers. Make sure people understand that only calls from Texans will be heeded.

Tell anyone who's not familiar with the issue to visit http://www.StudentsForConcealedCarryOnCampus.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.
by Douva
Wed May 06, 2009 2:45 pm
Forum: 2009 Texas Legislative Session
Topic: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!
Replies: 172
Views: 50169

Re: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!

tfrazier wrote:
Douva wrote:Charles, can you explain the process of "tagging" a bill. The only reference I found to tagging in the "Rules and Precedents of the Texas House" is on page 49, where it says, "motions to tag a bill, table a bill, postpone consideration of it indefinitely, and to postpone consideration of it beyond the time allowed are all out of order and should be ruled out by the chairman."
I know you were asking Charles, but as I was wanting the definition myself and being the impatient person I am, I found a description as follows:
The Pigeonhole
Another important function of committees is to bury some bills. The term pigeonhole refers to the practice of a bill not being considered by a committee. A related procedure in the Texas Senate is “tagging,” which allows any senator to require a forty-eight-hour advance notice before a committee holds hearings on a bill.[/b] With a short legislative session, this allows a single senator to kill a bill late in the session. - found at http://www.accd.edu/sac/gov/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; emphasis added by tfrazier


But based on the quote I found, shouldn't tagging a bill in order to prevent it from being heard in time be ruled "out of order?"
by Douva
Wed May 06, 2009 1:49 pm
Forum: 2009 Texas Legislative Session
Topic: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!
Replies: 172
Views: 50169

Re: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!

Charles, can you explain the process of "tagging" a bill. The only reference I found to tagging in the "Rules and Precedents of the Texas House" is on page 49, where it says, "motions to tag a bill, table a bill, postpone consideration of it indefinitely, and to postpone consideration of it beyond the time allowed are all out of order and should be ruled out by the chairman."
by Douva
Wed May 06, 2009 1:25 pm
Forum: 2009 Texas Legislative Session
Topic: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!
Replies: 172
Views: 50169

Re: Campus-Carry Bills are dying!!!

According to the 2007-2008 Texas Legislative Handbook, these are the email addresses for two of Representative Garnet Coleman's staffers:

Phillip Martin - phillip.martin@house.state.tx.us
Edwin Lowe - edwin.lowe@house.state.tx.us

Also, I've added the legislators' fax numbers to the list of phone numbers:

House Calendars Committee

Chair: Rep. Brian McCall (512) 463-0594 Voice, (512) 474-7512 Fax
Vice Chair: Rep. Eddie Lucio III (512) 463-0606 Voice, (512) 463-0660 Fax

Members:
Rep. Norma Chavez (512) 463-0622 Voice, (512) 478-6755 Fax
Rep. Garnet Coleman (512) 463-0524 Voice, (512) 463-1260 Fax
Rep. Byron Cook (512) 463-0730 Voice, (512) 463-2506 Fax
Rep. Brandon Creighton (512) 463-0726 Voice, (512) 463-8428 Fax
Rep. Charlie Geren (512) 463-0610 Voice, (512) 463-8310 Fax
Rep. Jim Keffer (512) 463-0656 Voice, (512) 478-8805 Fax
Rep. Lois W. Kolkhorst (512) 463-0600 Voice, (512) 463-5240 Fax
Rep. Edmund Kuempel (512) 463-0602 Voice, (512) 480-0391 Fax
Rep. Jim McReynolds (512) 463-0490 Voice, (512) 463-9059 Fax
Rep. Allan Ritter (512) 463-0706 Voice, (512) 463-1861 Fax
Rep. Burt R. Solomons (512) 463-0478 Voice, (512) 463-2089 Fax

Senate State Affairs Committee

Chair: Sen. Robert Duncan (512) 463-0128 Voice, (512) 463-2424 Fax
Vice Chair: Sen. Bob Deuell (512) 463-0102 Voice, (512) 463-7202 Fax (Just tell Sen Deuell THANKS for his strong support!)

Members:
Sen. John Carona (512) 463-0116 Voice, (512) 463-3135 Fax
Sen. Rodney Ellis (512) 463-0113 Voice, (512) 463-0006 Fax
Sen. Troy Fraser (512) 463-0124 Voice, (512) 475-3732 Fax
Sen. Chris Harris (512) 463-0109 Voice, (512) 463-7003 Fax
Sen. Mike Jackson (512) 463-0111 Voice, (512) 475-3727 Fax
Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. (512) 463-0127 Voice, (512) 463-0061 Fax
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (512) 463-0126 Voice, (512) 463-2114 Fax

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