Legislative Update

The throat cutting begins in earnest. We received word that Rep Mark Homer would introduce his mandatory Rider Training Bill as an amendment to HB 264. We worked with them on that Bill as recently as yesterday and were assured that the Bill was dead and we helped word a Bill for next session to do the job they were seeking to accomplish.

One of the governor's staff came down to the House Floor yesterday and said the governor opposes the Bill. It would appear that we were caught up again in Rick Perry's tentacles of dislike.

We decided to go ahead and push for a Senate hearing on HB 1310, the companion Bill and see what happens. Stopped in Wentworth's office to see again if he was going to come around on the Bill. They called the Transportation Committee and told them to give us a hearing but he was voting NO. We had meetings scheduled today with two members of the Transportation Committee and one other senator. All three cancelled the appointments. Had a meeting scheduled for early tomorrow morning with another committee member and they just called and cancelled the meeting while I am writing this.

We happened to meet the governor coming into the capitol with his guards all flanked out around him. We walked thru them and he stopped to shake hands with his usual "how ya doing." We asked why he was opposing HB 264 without even giving us a meeting to lay it out for him. He said we are having a meeting now. We quickly stated our case and he said "I'm not opposing that Bill."
All I can tell you for certain is that this is the most taxing and time consuming session since '93. The Senate Transportation members we know will support this Bill come what may are Shapiro, Barrientos and Shapleigh. We know Wentworth is a No. We need two more votes to come out of committee.

Start calling the other members and ask for their support. Those of you in Houston especially bombard Jon Lindsay and Rodney Ellis. They both cancelled appointments to discus SB 1310. Especially those in San Antonio hit Frank Madla's phone line. In Ft. Worth pound Kim Brimer. Get anyone you know to call everyone on the committee except those three listed above as definite supporters. It wouldn't hurt to call them and say thanks.