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Kolamer wrote:

ELB wrote:

Kolamer wrote:What is the break down of Republicans and Democrats on the calendar committee? It seemed like in the Senate that it was all republicans on board and all democrats against. Is it possible we will see the same thing with this committee?

All the committees of the House are right here: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Committe ... ?Chamber=H" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Click on a committee and it will show you the members, without affiliation. You will have to do your own homework to find out the breakdown. :)

More importantly than just the R/D breakdown is that that the committee chair and members are assigned by the Speaker, and because of the importance of this committee (it is the bottleneck through which all legislation must pass), you can be sure that the Speaker makes sure he appoints very loyal (to him) people. I.e. people that will vote how he wants when they are considering which bills will go to the floor.

Very cool. Thanks for that link! I am sad to say that I am 32 years old and have never followed anything like this before. This whole process has really opened my eyes to how it all comes together and works.

So with what you said above about Speaker Joe Straus, what is his stance on open carry? If he appoints people who are loyal to him and will vote his way, do supporters of open carry have a need to worry?

Short answer, yes. He does provide need to worry. If it passes it will be in spite of his efforts, not because of them.

G23WAX wrote:Given the high profile that has been placed on OC, assuming it does get deadlocked in the calendars committee, how does everyone feel about the chances of Abbott calling a special session to see it get a vote? Or is that something that can be done?

That's a very good question. Abbott has been tweeting & FB posting on OC regularly, and posted about 'getting his pen warmed up' to sign it, and immediately posted the minute is passed the third reading in the Senate this am.

I interpret this as his trying to nudge the House (ie, Strauss) into allowing it to the floor for a vote. If they sit on it, then IMO the odds of it going to a special session would be pretty strong.

Kolamer wrote:Very cool. Thanks for that link! I am sad to say that I am 32 years old and have never followed anything like this before. This whole process has really opened my eyes to how it all comes together and works.

So with what you said above about Speaker Joe Straus, what is his stance on open carry? If he appoints people who are loyal to him and will vote his way, do supporters of open carry have a need to worry?

Good topics on Speaker Straus, to learn:

viewtopic.php?f=133&t=75973" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

viewtopic.php?f=133&t=74643" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

RHenriksen wrote:That's a very good question. Abbott has been tweeting & FB posting on OC regularly, and posted about 'getting his pen warmed up' to sign it, and immediately posted the minute is passed the third reading in the Senate this am.

I interpret this as his trying to nudge the House (ie, Strauss) into allowing it to the floor for a vote. If they sit on it, then IMO the odds of it going to a special session would be pretty strong.

Definitely seems like Abbott is sending a strong "don't block me on this or I will block you on stuff you want" signal.

RHenriksen wrote:

G23WAX wrote:Given the high profile that has been placed on OC, assuming it does get deadlocked in the calendars committee, how does everyone feel about the chances of Abbott calling a special session to see it get a vote? Or is that something that can be done?

That's a very good question. Abbott has been tweeting & FB posting on OC regularly, and posted about 'getting his pen warmed up' to sign it, and immediately posted the minute is passed the third reading in the Senate this am.

I interpret this as his trying to nudge the House (ie, Strauss) into allowing it to the floor for a vote. If they sit on it, then IMO the odds of it going to a special session would be pretty strong.

Thats kind of what I figured. Abbott seems to have given it so much attention that if those involved dont heed his call in letting it go to the floor, he is almost compelled to act. That wouldnt be the first time ive been wrong though!

ELB wrote:

Kolamer wrote:[...
What is the calendars committee and why would they prove to be troublesome?

I, and many others, believe the Speaker killed it because he is cozy with the Texas academic establishment, particularly UT, and they wanted it squelched.

A similar fate may await OC.

Doubtful, not with all the publicity that OC is getting this time around, IMO. If it doesn't come up for a vote, it will be very known who did it.

locke_n_load wrote:

ELB wrote:

Kolamer wrote:[...
What is the calendars committee and why would they prove to be troublesome?

I, and many others, believe the Speaker killed it because he is cozy with the Texas academic establishment, particularly UT, and they wanted it squelched.

A similar fate may await OC.

Doubtful, not with all the publicity that OC is getting this time around, IMO. If it doesn't come up for a vote, it will be very known who did it.

And thank goodness for the open record vote on speaker this term!

locke_n_load wrote:

ELB wrote:

Kolamer wrote:[...
What is the calendars committee and why would they prove to be troublesome?

I, and many others, believe the Speaker killed it because he is cozy with the Texas academic establishment, particularly UT, and they wanted it squelched.

A similar fate may await OC.

Doubtful, not with all the publicity that OC is getting this time around, IMO. If it doesn't come up for a vote, it will be very known who did it.

That was the jist of a thread earlier this year surrounding a recorded vote for Speaker of the House. Unlike past sessions, there is a recorded vote for or against Strauss this session. OC was fast-tracked through the Senate, so if it stalls in the House all fingers will be pointing at the Speaker and those that renewed his term. I'm cautiously optimistic because the House committee chairs are shaded a bit more toward the conservative than in years past.

locke_n_load wrote:

ELB wrote:

Kolamer wrote:[...
What is the calendars committee and why would they prove to be troublesome?

I, and many others, believe the Speaker killed it because he is cozy with the Texas academic establishment, particularly UT, and they wanted it squelched.

A similar fate may await OC.

Doubtful, not with all the publicity that OC is getting this time around, IMO. If it doesn't come up for a vote, it will be very known who did it.

We know who did it last time, too. And he still got elected speaker again.

Kolamer wrote: ...

Very cool. Thanks for that link! I am sad to say that I am 32 years old and have never followed anything like this before. This whole process has really opened my eyes to how it all comes together and works.
...

You are most welcome. Prowl around that site http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Home.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and you will figure out how to check on bills, see who is on what committee, etc. Also there links on that site to the current Texas Constitution and Statutes

Someone on this forum published a link to a handbook that describes the legislative process in detail, it is a very worthwhile read. Unfortunately I don't have it bookmarked here on my work computer, just at home. If I find it I will update the post.

ELB wrote:

Kolamer wrote: ...

Very cool. Thanks for that link! I am sad to say that I am 32 years old and have never followed anything like this before. This whole process has really opened my eyes to how it all comes together and works.
...

You are most welcome. Prowl around that site http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Home.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and you will figure out how to check on bills, see who is on what committee, etc. Also there links on that site to the current Texas Constitution and Statutes

Someone on this forum published a link to a handbook that describes the legislative process in detail, it is a very worthwhile read. Unfortunately I don't have it bookmarked here on my work computer, just at home. If I find it I will update the post.

http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/pubslegref/gtli.pdf#page=1 It's a 73 page pdf file.

ELB wrote:

Kolamer wrote:What is the break down of Republicans and Democrats on the calendar committee? It seemed like in the Senate that it was all republicans on board and all democrats against. Is it possible we will see the same thing with this committee?

All the committees of the House are right here: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Committe ... ?Chamber=H" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Click on a committee and it will show you the members, without affiliation. You will have to do your own homework to find out the breakdown. :)

More importantly than just the R/D breakdown is that that the committee chair and members are assigned by the Speaker, and because of the importance of this committee (it is the bottleneck through which all legislation must pass), you can be sure that the Speaker makes sure he appoints very loyal (to him) people. I.e. people that will vote how he wants when they are considering which bills will go to the floor.

Here, I did the work for you:

Position——————Member
Chair:———————Rep. Todd Hunter — Republican, District 32, Corpus Christi
Vice Chair:—————Rep. Eddie Lucio III — Democrat, District 38, Brownsville
Members:
Rep. Roberto R. Alonzo — Democrat, District 104, Dallas
Rep. Byron Cook — Republican, District 8, Corsicana
Rep. Sarah Davis — Republican, District 134, Houston
Rep. Charlie Geren — Republican, District 99, River Oaks
Rep. Helen Giddings — Democrat, District 109, Desoto
Rep. Patricia Harless — Republican, District 126, Spring
Rep. Dan Huberty — Republican, District 127, Kingwood
Rep. Eric Johnson — Democrat, District 100, Dallas
Rep. Ken King — Republican, District 88, Canadian
Rep. Lyle Larson — Republican, District 122, San Antonio
Rep. Four Price — Republican, District 87, Amarillo
Rep. Debbie Riddle — Republican, District 150, Spring
Rep. Eddie Rodriguez — Democrat, District 51, Austin

Totals:
Republicans: 10
Democrats: 5

So if we have problems in Calendars, it won't be with democrats, it will be with republicans.

TAM, can't the chair of the calendar committee just sit on the OC bill, and never bring it to a vote in the calendar committee? Wouldn't matter how many Rs there are if that happens.

I hope we don't have a problem in calendars like last session. IIRC, this was kept at the back of the pile last time. Maybe Gov. Abbott can persuade this bill get out for a vote.