TALES...LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP

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May 15, 2001

TALES FROM THE WEST TEXAS DUST 5/15/2001

LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP

[LIVE ON-SCENE REPORT:]

The Texas House of Representatives in Session

{Additional information compiled from the Austin American-Statesman, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, AND the Houston Chronicle!]

AUSTIN--WHO'S HOT AND WHO'S NOT? WHO'S UP, WHO'S DOWN, AND WHO'S ALL AROUND? WHAT ARE THOSE RASCALS HERE IN AUSTIN DOING? Well, for this edition, I thought I'd go to the capital myself for YOUR benefit and find out for myself! And what I found out for you happens to be quite interesting indeed...So we give this edition to you LIVE from the capitol itself what's now going on here in the 77th Texas Legislature!

I. LATEST NEWS:...This first one was heard FIRSTHAND from a reliable source here--it IS likely AND apparent that the Leg MAY go into extra innings as far as redistricting is concerned. That means (no surprize for politicians or the public, of course) a SPECIAL SESSION in June after the regular session ends. In a way (to this reporter, at least), this shouldn't strike you or me as odd. After all, Rep. Delwin Jones's (R--Lubbock) plan ain't sitting too well--ESPECIALLY with the more militant GOPers. (Jones has always been a bit closer with Laney and the old Dem establishment anyway than with Susan Weddington and the new TX GOP crowd.) The Jones/Laney plan aims to try to minimize the impact of the loss of seats on West Texas.

But that doesn't sit too well, though, with the GOPers. The main problem with the 2000 Census here in TX is that the primary growth throughout the state has been more noticeable in the larger cities--especially the more GOP-dominated suburbs in Dallas, Houston, etc. The extra seats will unfortunately come at the expense, though, of the Panhandle/South Plains region. For example, Rep. Carl Isett's (R-Lubbock) District 84 seat may possibly wind up "paired" with that of Rep. Gary Walker (R-Plains) if one of the plans passes both houses and finds its way to the Governor's desk.

But don't expect the new GOPers to go whole hog for the Laney/Jones plan. Even before leaving here, I already saw the fermentings of a House GOP revolt and even the objections of Gov. Perry to the plan. And plus, Craddock (R-Midland) may even try to use this as a way to fulfill his long-awaited quest to take Laney's place as Speaker should the militant GOPers have their way. (The GOP, BTW, HAS made it known that if they do finally get the majority next time that the Speaker next session WILL be a GOP one. And Laney's days may unfortunately be numbered indeed.)