 "Photo: AP")
After only its first week, the Texas House of Representatives has already voted on lobbyists, passed a smoking ban and put God on the House marquee.
House rules adopted during the 80th Legislative Session made voting records public on passed legislation and banned cigarettes from the House restrooms and lounge. A rule to prevent lobbyists from non-public areas while members vote did not pass. Rep. Donna Howard, D-Travis County, cast one of two opposing votes about placing "In God We Trust" on the electronic message board above the House floor.
On Jan. 13, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced assignments to the Senate standing committees. Kirk Watson, freshman senator and former mayor of Austin, was named vice-chair of the Transportation and Homeland Security Committee. Watson was also named to business, emerging technology, jurisprudence and nominations committees.
Immigration
If Gov. Rick Perry keeps to his campaign promises, Texas will continue to fund border security measures, but he is less supportive of bills targeting the estimated 1 million illegal immigrants already living in Texas. Four bills seek to remove resident status from children of illegal immigrants that graduated from Texas high schools. Perry signed the law granting resident status to such children in 2001. House Bill 28, proposed by Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, seeks to deny state funds and benefits to children born in Texas to illegal immigrants. The bill is controversial, because children born in the U.S. are legal citizens.
Coal Power
Texas utility companies plan to build 17 coal-fired power plants over the next four years to meet the demand for more affordable power. Perry has fast-tracked the construction, citing economic demand, but citizens and mayors of Central Texas cities where the plants would be built have already filed complaints and lawsuits to prevent further damage to air quality. The new plants would add to several coal plants that were exempted from stringent pollution regulations that help make the state known for its poor air pollution record. Travis County Rep. Donna Howard seeks to hold off plans while alternatives are considered.
Prison System
The results for November elections called for additional prisons to house thousands of more prisoners. Some seek to reform the parole process, which would allow nonviolent inmates to enter substance abuse treatment programs or therapy programs, freeing up thousands of prison beds.
Abortion
Freshman Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, a former talk show host, campaigned on a promise for a pre-emptive ban on abortion in case the U.S. Supreme Court reverses its 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. The bill comes in anticipation of retirements and changes to the Supreme Court, which could overturn the ruling and return abortion regulation to states. An identical bill was put before the House by Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa. Similar trigger bills to ban abortion have been proposed in Oklahoma and Georgia.
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