Texas Senate 2017

We already have 2 Senators who will not be returning for the 85th Legislative Session: Kevin Eltife & Troy Fraser.

Who knows, we may end up seeing a few more retirements.  Either by a Senator's own choosing, or by the voters choosing.

One of the factors when it comes to retirements is age. Of the 14 Senators still running for re-election in 2016, 7 are over the age of 60.

69 - Judith Zaffirini (D), Eddie Lucio (D), Juan Hinojosa (D)
67 - Jose Rodriguez (D)
64 - Sylvia Garcia (D)
63 - Jane Nelson (R)
61 - Rodney Ellis (D)
55 - Larry Taylor (R)
53 - Brian Birdwell (R), Charles Perry (R)
51 - Carlos Uresti (D)
50 - Lois Kolkhorst (R)
46 - Jose Menendez (D)
44 - Brandon Creighton (R)

Another factor to consider is Seniority.  Even though Democrats haven't been in the majority for a long time, Democratic Senators have stuck around for a while. You have to wonder though, with Lite Gov. Dan Patrick trying to relegate Democrats to an afterthought, how much longer some Democrats will want to stick around.  In any case, in terms of Seniority this is how it breaks down (Senators up for re-election in 2016 colored):

1. John Whitmire (D)
2. Judith Zaffirini (D)
3. Rodney Ellis (D)
4. Eddie Lucio (D)
5. Jane Nelson (R)
6. Royce West (D)
7. Troy Fraser (R)
8. Craig Estes (R)
9. Juan Hinojosa (D)
10. Kevin Eltife (R)
11. Kel Seliger (R)
12. Carlos Uresti (D)
13. Robert Nichols (R)
14. Kirk Watson (D)
15. Joan Huffman (R)
16. Brian Birdwell (R)
17. Jose Rodriguez (D)
18. Donna Campbell (R)
19. Kelly Hancock (R)
20. Larry Taylor (R)
21. Charles Schwertner (R)
22. Sylvia Garcia (D)
23. Brandon Creighton (R)
24. Charles Perry (R)
25. Lois Kolkhorst (R)
26. Don Huffines (R)
27. Van Taylor (R)
28. Bob Hall (R)
29. Paul Bettencourt (R)
30. Konni Burton (R)
31. Jose Menendez (D)

Who'll be the next Senator to pull the rip cord? It's anyone's guess.

Texas State Senate: Higher Education Committee

The map above shows the districts of the Senators who are on the Senate Higher Education Committee.  The dark red is the district of the Committee Chair.  The lighter reds and blues are the districts of the committee members.

Out of curiosity, which higher ed institutions did the committee members graduate from?

Chair, Kel Seliger - Dartmouth College
Vice Chair, Royce West - UT-Arlington, University of Houston
Paul Bettencourt - Texas A&M
Konni Burton - UNT
Charles Perry - Texas Tech
Leticia Van de Putte - UT-Austin
Kirk Watson - Baylor

How Much did Senate Railroading Cost?

The abortion-outlawing legislation passed and all the hoopla is over.

Believe it or not, we can actually put a price on the railroading that took place in the State Senate.

We've previously spotlighted the Senate Parliamentarian, Karina Davis, here and here.  Thanks to the fact that she is a public employee her salary is available for us.

According to the state, Karina Davis' annual salary is $122,592.12.

Of course, I'm sure the benefits of shredding Senate rules go even farther.  Not only does Davis get $122,000 annually, she has given herself tenure.  How can Senate Republican justify firing her after she ?

Women on Women Action in the Texas Legislature

Who would've ever thought you'd see women on women action taking place in a legislative body?  Let alone the Texas Legislature.

Yet that's what any observer has been treated to.  These are the Republican women in the Texas Legislature who have said that abortion by coat hanger in Texas is just fine.  These are the Republican women who have said that abortion can only happen if you can afford it...which will primarily be rich white women.

 These abortion clinics do more than provide abortions.  Let's take Planned Parenthood, since that seems to be the constant fly in the ointment for Republicans.

According to Planned Parenthood's website, they offer the following at their various clinics across the state: Abortion Referral, Abortion Services, Birth Control, General Health Care, HIV Testing, LGBT Services, Men's Health Care, Morning-After Pill, Pregnancy Testing & Services; STD Testing, Treatment & Vaccines, Women's Health Care.

Of the 58 clinics Planned Parenthood lists on their website, 14 provide Abortion Services or 24%.  52 provide Men's Health Care.  51 provide Birth Control, Morning-After Pill, Pregnancy Testing & Services, STD Testing, Treatment & Vaccines, and Women's Health Care.  50 provide HIV testing.  46 provide General Health Care. 36 provide LGBT Services. 2 provide Abortion Referral.

With the passage of SB 5, the women pictured above have essentially said goodbye to all these available services.

But they've said more than that.  They have essentially given the green light for women to have their epitaphs read, "Dead from regulation."

So tell me, how does closing these clinics and these services protect and improve womens' health?

Texas Legislature Gavels In - Live

Little after noon, Secretary of State John Steen gavels the House to order.

12:05 - Preacher doing the invocation for the House gets political.  Talks about life at moment of conception.

12:08 - Rep. Kenneth Sheets (R-Dallas) leads House in Pledge of Allegiance.  Rep. Helen Giddings (D-Dallas) leads House in Texas Pledge.

12:10 - Steen delivers a message to the House.

12:11 - Asks that Dean of the House, Tom Craddick (R-Midland), stand.

12:13 - Perry political ad from Steen? Says Texas is top place for business, leader in exports, home to more Fortune 1000 companies.

12:18 - Mouseketeer roll call.  Taking attendance.

12:25 - Over at the Texas Senate, they're getting things underway.  Gov. Oops is speaking.
 
12:27 - Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) is in the State Senate Chamber.

12:28 - Mousketeer roll call finishes.  Quorum is present and members can officially be sworn in.

12:28 - SC: Perry speech gets interrupted.  Someone gets sick during his speech.  Not kidding.