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Turning environmental values into priorities for Texas
House Rules: No consolidation for Environmental Regulations
Quorum Report just sent an email saying that the Texas House has proposed rules to consider for its operations this session. Included in the rules is information about the committee structure - including names of committees, consolidation of some committees into others, and the size of each committee. QR also uploaded the text of a memo detailing the changes, here.
According to the memo, the Environmental Regulations Committee is proposed to increase in size from 7 members to 9. Notably, it wasn't consolidated, nor were any committees consolidated into it. Most conservation bills live or die by their reception at this important House committee, chaired most recently by Rep. Dennis Bonnen.
No changes proposed to Land and Resource Management Committee. Public Health Committee and Transportation Committee each go from 7 to 9 members.
Natural Resources Committee gets a new issue to work with - "jurisdiction over the impact of electric generation on state water resources."
Still no word on committee chairmanships and membership.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009According to the memo, the Environmental Regulations Committee is proposed to increase in size from 7 members to 9. Notably, it wasn't consolidated, nor were any committees consolidated into it. Most conservation bills live or die by their reception at this important House committee, chaired most recently by Rep. Dennis Bonnen.
No changes proposed to Land and Resource Management Committee. Public Health Committee and Transportation Committee each go from 7 to 9 members.
Natural Resources Committee gets a new issue to work with - "jurisdiction over the impact of electric generation on state water resources."
Still no word on committee chairmanships and membership.
Labels: committee rules, environmental regulations committee, Texas House, Texas House Committees
Speaker Joe Straus III
The League was at the Capitol today. I watched the House of Representatives convene, get blessed by the new Cardinal, and take the oath of office administered by Secretary of State Hope Andrade.
Then I saw members elect Rep. Joe Straus as Speaker of the House by acclamation - 150 to 0.
In his remarks, Speaker Straus touched a bit on the important work before the House this session [emphasis added]:
"We must work to provide quality education -- at all levels -- for our children... We must continue to improve access to healthcare; we must improve our transportation system... We must be better stewards of our natural resources and protect our environment."
"Let us reach across the aisle, then reach across the rotunda, to build a better future for Texas."
Thank you, Speaker Straus. The environmental and conservation communities are ready to work with you and all members of the House to advance a common sense agenda for the renewable energy programs that will strengthen Texas' economy while protecting our important natural heritage, our air, our land and our precious water.
It's a new day in Texas, and the Legislature is in Session. Keep a regular eye on this blog for more news and updates from the Capitol.
Next up: who's going to chair the Environmental Regulations Committee?
Then I saw members elect Rep. Joe Straus as Speaker of the House by acclamation - 150 to 0.
In his remarks, Speaker Straus touched a bit on the important work before the House this session [emphasis added]:
"We must work to provide quality education -- at all levels -- for our children... We must continue to improve access to healthcare; we must improve our transportation system... We must be better stewards of our natural resources and protect our environment."
"Let us reach across the aisle, then reach across the rotunda, to build a better future for Texas."
Thank you, Speaker Straus. The environmental and conservation communities are ready to work with you and all members of the House to advance a common sense agenda for the renewable energy programs that will strengthen Texas' economy while protecting our important natural heritage, our air, our land and our precious water.
It's a new day in Texas, and the Legislature is in Session. Keep a regular eye on this blog for more news and updates from the Capitol.
Next up: who's going to chair the Environmental Regulations Committee?
Labels: 81st Texas Legislature, environmental regulations committee, speaker straus
