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The burning question on my mind is, "With the budget problems of Texas and Redistricting on the agenda, what will the legislature actually be able to accomplish beyond those two things?" Will they have time to take up the Parking Lot and Campus Carry bills? What say you, Charles? You have a better handle on the situation than just about anybody I know.

If the Republicans deserve a big majority they will accomplish a lot by cutting waste and being fiscally responsible with the budget, and also have time for laws that protect the civil rights of Texans while letting feel good laws die in committee.

In 2009 they spent weeks wishing people happy birthday and making other off topic proclamations. Imagine what actual work they could have accomplished instead.

Best just pass open carry then. Whee.

two sessions in a row they have let rural water issues drop dead and the private companies keep sticking to us because we live in the sticks
122 a month for 2k gallons of water and sewer pure bull

and we are restricted on wells due to the lake being near

EconDoc wrote:The burning question on my mind is, "With the budget problems of Texas and Redistricting on the agenda, what will the legislature actually be able to accomplish beyond those two things?" Will they have time to take up the Parking Lot and Campus Carry bills? What say you, Charles? You have a better handle on the situation than just about anybody I know.

We have every reason to believe both employer parking lots and campus-carry will get to the House floor for debate and votes. The Senate should be no problem.

However, as you point out, redistricting and budget are going to take up so much time that I don't see us being able to do much more. That's unfortunate because there are some things we need to address that don't have much front page appeal.

Chas.

powerboatr wrote:two sessions in a row they have let rural water issues drop dead and the private companies keep sticking to us because we live in the sticks

Try Riverbend in NE TX, Lord Larry Sullivan, Texarkana city manager, wants his own little personal profit center.

Water isn't a problem here, people trying to use goverment to make special laws for personal gain via water rights is a huge problem. Some day the truth might shake out, but I think the whole Riverbend and Marvin Nichols thing is hugely corrupt. "Public servents" behind it for the "public good", and I betcha if you can connect the hidden dots (good luck), they stand to make out like bandits.

SwimFan85 wrote:In 2009 they spent weeks wishing people happy birthday and making other off topic proclamations. Imagine what actual work they could have accomplished instead.

I got that impression last session, too. Very frustrating. Seemed like there was everything but Barney the purple dinosaur break-dancing on the House floor.

SwimFan85 wrote:In 2009 they spent weeks wishing people happy birthday and making other off topic proclamations. Imagine what actual work they could have accomplished instead.

This is number one on my list of legislative pet peeves. Last session, some legislators actually suggested that the legislature wasted too much time on the campus carry and parking lot bills. But nobody seemed too disturbed by the amount of time they spent recognizing wedding anniversaries, honoring little league teams, wishing people happy birthdays, etc. Most citizens have no idea how much time is wasted on that crap.

Any way of performing an audit? tally up the time spent on such things on the house floor over the course of the 140 days? Nothing like shining a bright light... maybe give an outfit like the Houston Press or Austin Chronicle the idea and let them do the legwork? They like doing exposes, stirring things up.

I understand the frustrations, but at the same time if our US congress would only meet as often as our Texas reps we might not have quite the mess we have to deal with these days.

We may not get it all done at once, but that also means they don't have a ton of time to do extra stupid stuff to us! I try to look on the bright side.

74novaman wrote:We may not get it all done at once, but that also means they don't have a ton of time to do extra stupid stuff to us! I try to look on the bright side.

Darn right!

We'd all be better off if they spent 140 days every two years on birthday and anniversaries and cheering youth sports.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

EconDoc wrote:The burning question on my mind is, "With the budget problems of Texas and Redistricting on the agenda, what will the legislature actually be able to accomplish beyond those two things?" Will they have time to take up the Parking Lot and Campus Carry bills? What say you, Charles? You have a better handle on the situation than just about anybody I know.

We have every reason to believe both employer parking lots and campus-carry will get to the House floor for debate and votes. The Senate should be no problem.

However, as you point out, redistricting and budget are going to take up so much time that I don't see us being able to do much more. That's unfortunate because there are some things we need to address that don't have much front page appeal.

Chas.

Thank you, Charles. Would you be so kind as to give us some hints on what we can do to help get this stuff done most effectively, especially those of us in districts like Donna Howard's, since I suspect that she will jump on the anti bandwagon after Saturday's tragedy? By the way, I also live in Kirk Watson's senate district, so I am not sure that I can count on either one to pay much attention to any letter from me.