Transpo matters too!

Well, there was obviously quite a bit of hoopla surrounding HB 2. And...well, in some respects it was a well deserved hoopla!

Anyway, abortion was not the only issue on the call for EITHER special session. HB 2 will be signed by Governor Perry tomorrow and while that's wonderful, there were 2 other issues on the call.

One of which -- juvenile justice -- is near and dear to my heart after working the regular session and handling 4 or 5 criminal justice bills.

The other -- transportation -- should be nearer and dearer to ALL of our hearts! This wasn't just some silly transportation bill. This is about funding and infrastructure.

Now, I know transpo doesn't sound nearly as exciting...or inciting...as abortion, but think about it this way:

• During the first called special, the legislature came to an agreement on an...okay way to solve their transpo funding issues. There was a bill, in the form of an amendment to the Texas constitution (meaning it would come to the ballots in November for the voters to ultimately decide on), that would essentially solve their funding issues while leaving a floor for our Economic Stabilization --or rainy day-- fund.
• Meaning: transportation gets funding, but our state's savings account stays at a reasonable level. This is necessary for the exact same reason it's necessary for you to keep a savings account at a reasonable level...emergencies, disasters, etc. 
• Well, despite the fact that both the House and Senate had agreed...this was one of the bills that was ultimately shouted down by the awful display of disrespect in the Senate on the last night of the first called special...
• Now it seems House leadership is banking on the fact that everyone's so incredibly wrapped up in the abortion fight that we've forgotten they're spending OUR tax dollars.
• Essentially the House passed two bills...a constitutional amendment and enabling legislation...on Monday. They put no ESF floor in...an amendment was offered, similar to the one from the last called special, but it did not get added. **Thursday this bill will be read/voted on third reading and HJR 2 (the amendment) will require a hard 100 votes for passage to the ballots this November.**

Now, what possible reason could they have for this? Only thing I can come up with is that they enjoy recklessly spending our money...

It was nice to see certain legislators get just as heated up on the floor about this issue as abortion. A couple in particular, when it came to the discussion of tying water in (despite the fact that we passed water funding legislation that will be brought to the voters) --saying that if transpo didn't pass the vote, neither would water-- AND talk of outside, third-party groups having influence. (ie. lobby groups)

The first being my old boss, Rep. James White of East Texas, while addressing this issue to Rep. Jim Pitts:

"We trusted the people with water...we were told we should leave it to the voters and that's what we did! We trusted the people with water, now I want to trust the people with transportation!"

The next being Rep. Jonathan Stickland --a very promising freshman state rep from the DFW area-- who addressed this issue telling Rep. Pitts that he was "playing the system" to which Rep. Pitts basically replied "so what?!"

WOW.

Now, tell me that's not as exciting and inciting as HB 2...