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Straus Loses Control

GOP holding key legislation hostage and putting Texans last … again
The Texas Legislature opened in January with Democrats agreeing to put partisanship aside and aligning with a small band of Republicans to elect Joe Straus as House Speaker. Straus had one major duty – avoid needless partisanship and tackle substantive issues. Democrats trusted Straus to stand strong when it counted most.

Well, so much for that idea. New Republican Speaker Joe Straus has turned out to be a dud, who can’t, or won’t, control the partisan extremists in his party.

House Paralyzed by Republican Partisanship

This weekend, the Texas House has been paralyzed by the insistence of harshly partisan Republicans to bring up a highly divisive, wholly unnecessary bill to restrict access to the election ballot BEFORE debating and voting on key legislation that directly affects the lives of millions of Texans – most notably Insurance Reform legislation that could lower the highest homeowner’s insurance rates in the country. Time and again, Democrats have offered motions to bring up key bills only to have the Republicans vote the measures down in order to protect the big insurance companies by insisting that a restrictive Voter ID bill is more important.

No “Mighty Joe” – Just “Straus the Mouse”

Joe Straus had an excellent opportunity and a responsibility to step in and provide the leadership needed to pull the partisan Voter Photo ID bill and put the House back on course to deal with the issues most important to Texans. Instead, Straus spent most of the weekend hiding in the Speaker’s chambers and refusing to rule on even basic questions of procedure. Any dead bills and hard feelings lie at his feet.

Craddick now calling the shots

Rather than demonstrate bipartisan leadership, Speaker Straus has allowed the most partisan and divisive Republican Members of the House to set the agenda. While Straus was looking for cover, Tom Craddick stepped into the breach. The famously partisan, mean-spirited former Speaker argued successfully to hold fast to the partisan Republican game plan to hold key legislation hostage to consideration of the Voter Photo ID bill.

Democrats worked for reasonable compromise, but were rejected by Republican Leadership

  • Democrats offered to provide votes to take up Insurance Reform, Tax Reform for Veterans and Windstorm Insurance
    House rules allow only 2/3 of the body (100 members) to vote to “leap frog” controversial bills and move to more important legislation. Democrats were prepared to provide 74 votes to meet the needed threshold. The first try failed when Republicans withheld votes, and the measure did not receive the 2/3rds support needed to pass. Second and third attempts were blocked when Republicans presented lists of over 56 Republican members stating opposition to the bills, which made reaching the 2/3rds threshold impossible. The next test facing Straus and the Republican obstructionists come tomorrow, when these bills could still be considered with 100 votes after the deadline for their Voter ID hostage- taking has passed.

Quorum Report – May 23, 2009 11:32 AM
DUNNAM OFFERS TO SUSPEND RULES AND TAKE UP MAJOR BILLS
Requires 2/3s but 56 Republicans reject offer 

Quorum Report – May 23, 2009 12:42 PM
HOUSE DECLINES TO TAKE UP WINDSTORM BILL OUT OF ORDER
Sixty-two Republicans had signed list opposing any move to take bills out of order; the stalemate continues.

  • Democrats were willing to move Voter Photo ID and Homeowner’s Insurance debate to Tuesday’s calendar.  Republicans said “no.”
  • Democrats identified legitimate rules violations that should have disqualified consideration of Voter Photo ID
    While Speaker Straus agrees that Democrats pointed to valid rules violations, he will not agree to rule to sustain if asked.
  • Democrats have offered reasonable alternatives to the partisan Republican Voter Photo ID bill
    On Friday, May 22, State Rep. Rafael Anchia submitted a full floor substitute, which keeps the requirement that a voter must produce a photo ID or two forms of non-photo ID. It adds provisions that would increase access to photo IDs for those without one, create a statewide education program to help inform voters of the voter ID requirement and add safeguards against voter fraud. To date, neither Speaker Straus nor any other Republican has offered a response to Rep. Anchia’s alternative approach.

GOP Leadership has Slow Walked Key Issues Since January

  • Late committee assignments: During the 80th Legislative Session, committee assignments were announced on January 26, 2007. In 2009, committee assignments were not announced until February 12.
  • Late considering legislation: The first day bills were considered in 2007 was February 28th. This year, bills were not considered on the floor until March 25th.
  • Leadership held major issues until the very end: Key issues like Ad Valorem tax relief for disabled veterans, TWIA, electric co-op reform and TDI legislation were scheduled with just a few days left to debate the measures.
  • Some key issues never made it on the House Calendar: The key college tuition relief bill, SB 1443, never made it on to a House calendar.
  • Budget not debated in House until April 17, 2009: In 2005, the last time the budget originated in the Senate, the House had approved the bill on second reading by April 7, 2009.
  • Leadership gave Members Mondays off: The House did not meet for more than an hour on a Monday afternoon until February 23, when they met for 1 hour 44 minutes.
  • Committee Dinners More Important than Legislative Deadlines: Early in May, the leadership said the House would be in session every Saturday, except for the day before Mother’s Day. They didn’t mean it. On Saturday May 2, the House only met for 4 hours and 45 minutes, adjourning at 1:45pm and the House was not in session on Saturday, May 16. During the week of May 18th, the House adjourned at 6:47pm on Monday, 7:36pm on Tuesday, 6:42pm on Wednesday, and at 7:40pm on Thursday, in order for members to attend committee dinners.

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