House Reconvenes to Complete Discussion on CSHB 1

It is 9:10 p.m. on Sunday, April 3, and the House is nearing completion on CSHB 1.  They are down to Article 11 which is the last section to be considered.  Article 11 is a compilation of amendments which are "wish lists' from Representatives.  They are not funded.  They will not a part of HB 1 unless they get picked up, passed and funded in the process as the bill goes through the Senate and the probable conference committee.  This is a process which is not completely understood by the Representative, even those who have been there for several sessions.  


In the next few days hopefully we will see some analysis of what is still in the bill and what has been changed.  This is the second reading of CSHB 1.  So it will have to be passed after a third reading.  The Senate will then have their say so we are long way from having a budget.  It may not be done until even a special called session.


Rep. Sylvester Turner seems to be the expert on the Article 11 process.  He is speaking to the body and explaining and answering questions about how this all works.  The House is getting ready to vote on all the amendments in Article 11 at once.  They voted by not objecting to the motion to pass Article 11. They have until Tuesday to register opposition to any of the amendments in writing.  


It is now 9:45 p.m.and the Democrats are making their final speeches against CSHB 1.  These are speeches you might want to listen to some time.  They are archived on the House website.  The vote will come after the speeches are completed.

House Debate on CSHB 1 Continues

House debate on CSHB 1  (committee substitute for HB 1) came to a temporary end at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday morning.  They will reconvene on Sunday at 4 p.m.  Any political nerds or information junkies can listen to the archived video of the session by going online to http://www.house.state.tx.us/
There are over 400 pages of amendments to complete. You can see the text of these amendments on the Texas Tribue website -- http://www.texastribune.org/.   Many of the amendments on Friday dealt with moving money from one fund to another.   Many of those were moving money from family planning to other human service areas.  The Democrats found this frustrating as both area considered were of great need and value but they were being forced to choose.  Many felt this was a political maneuver--raiding family planning (which is interpreted as "abortion" to many) to give to other area.  All the while many were also complaining of too many abortions.  It was pointed out that taking away family planning money would lead to more unplanned pregnancies and to potential for more abortions.  All amendments passed which took money from family planning.

You can also follow the debate when it begins again on Sunday through twitter.com.  The hashtag for this discussion is #txlege.  Use that to search for what is being said as the debate moves along.

Keeping Up With Those Legislators in Austin

Voter ID SB14 bill has been approved by the House.  Since it was amended it will be sent back to the Senate and they will either approved as amended or send it to a conference committe of both houses.  So we have not heard the last of this bill.

The House has also passed HB 1, the Budget Bill.  It is actually CSHB1 (committee substitute for HB1).  It added back some of the money the original bill took out but I don't think it is enough to get excited about.  There are graphs of both versions on http://www.cppp.org/.  Check it out if you want to see more about where the legislature is in the process.

Public Education and The Budget Topic of Monthly Meeting

       Kathy and Eldridge Moak presented a great program to the Cherokee Democrats at their monthly meeting on March 24.  The Moaks attended the recent rally in Austin that centered on Public Education and concerns about budget cuts.  Given the difficult situation the state (and nation) are in financially, we wondered what can we do?
      Suggestion 1:  Write, call, fax or email Representative Chuck Hopson and Senator Robert Nichols and let them know that education is your top priority and you want it to be their top priority also.
                           Rep. Hopson,  PO Box 2910, Austin, 78768-2910; 866.233.5100, Fax 512.463.8792
                           chuck.hopson@house.state.tx.us
                           Senator Nichols, PO Box 12068, Austin, 78711; 800.959.8633, Fax 512.463.1526
                           robert.nichols@senate.state.tx.us

    Suggestion 2:  Contact Hopson and Nichols and asked them to sponsor a local forum on education during the session.  We are concerned/scared about what will happen to our schools and we need to hear from them with ideas on what they are doing to help repair the problems with public education.

     Suggestion 3:  Write to local newspapers with your concerns.  Let's get our letters in the newspaper.

Cherokee County Democratic Meeting Thursday, March 24

The Cherokee County Democrats

will meet next

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Lupe’s restaurant in Jacksonville, the private room

6:30 p.m. – TDW

7:00 – 8:00 p.m. – Cherokee County Democrats

As always, dinner will be available before or during the meeting.

Kathy & Eldridge Moak will lead a discussion of the state of public education in Texas (budget cuts, manipulation of the curriculum, etc.). Whether or not you have school age children or grandchildren, how the Legislature addresses the current crisis will affect all Texans for years to come.

Keeping Up With The Legislature

Did you know:  Leo Berman has filed almost 2000 anti-immigration bills this session?

That Rep. Lyle Larson has filed House Bill 684 that would allow counties to house prisoners in tents?

That Texas may allow firearms on college campuses?

That Texas ranks first in children withous health insurance?

That Texas ranks third in the highest teen birth rate?

That Texas has the 5th most regressive tax system?

That Texas ranks 6th in the most children in poverty?

But we are 40th in college degrees and 49th in mental health spending.  (from Texas Observer)

So much to be proud of. 

Cherokee County Demeocratic Club Meeting -- Thursday, February 24

This Thursday the Club will meet at 7 p.m. at Lupe's Restaurant.  The Women's group will meet at 6:30 p.m. Come anytime after 6 p.m. if you wish to eat.  The meeting will be information concerning the pipeline that is scheduled to come through the county.

In preparation for the 7:00 program and discussion, Mary Decker sends along the following information about the TransCanada pipeline.


The following URL links to a report just released today on risks associated with tar sands pipelines, co-authored by Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, and most key, the independent group Pipeline Safety Report.

http://www.sierraclub.org/dirtyfuels/downloads/2011-02-safety.pdf

A local news story about the proposed pipeline - http://www.blogger.com/goog_1657905538