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May 23, 2013 4:44 PM HOUSE WILL NOT CONCUR WITH SENATE VERSION OF HB 1025 Conference committee will be requested on this key component of the overall budget deal...
Copyright May 23, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 23, 2013 3:04 PM PIPELINES: IT ISN’T OVER ‘TIL IT’S OVER Property rights proponents worry an amendment in play in HB500 conference could immunize pipelines from civil and criminal causes of action in eminent domain cases In one of the most intense but under reported property rights battles of the session, private pipelines have sought to weaken the protections and recourse available to landowners in condemnation and eminent domain claims. There was little appetite for the battle in the Legislature and *State Affairs* Chairman Robert Duncan even told our sister publication, Texas Energy Report that he could find little consensus in either his committee or the Senate. Now, a seemingly innocuous amendment is apparently in play in an HB500 conference committee that has set off alarms for those supporting the current protections for property owners. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Harvey Kronberg
Copyright May 23, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 23, 2013 1:16 PM SYLVESTER TURNER SOURS ON STRINGS ADDED TO HB 1025 DEAL Objects to Sen. Tommy Williams making HB 1025 contingent on passage of HB 7 -- which contains a $631 million rebate from the System Benefit Fund -- in addition to SJR 1 The House Democrats' sole representative on the budget conference committee, state Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston), says today he has soured on the deal that linked HB 1025 and SJR 1 to the passage of the main budget. At issue, Turner said, is the decision by *Senate Finance* Chairman Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands) to make HB 1025 -- which contains $200 million for public education in a concession to Democrats -- also contingent on passage of HB 7. HB 7 contains the provision rebating $631 million from the *System Benefit Fund*, of which Turner has been a perennial advocate. The rest of the story, subscribers only By John Reynolds
Copyright May 23, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 23, 2013 11:11 AM LOOK OUT!!! THE LOCO AND DISSENT CALENDAR IS COMING Long time tradition of frequently tasteless parody lives on For as long as this observer can recall, an anonymously written spoof of the *Local and Consent Calendar* has been distributed in the final days of the legislative session. Frequently tasteless and over the top but always funny for insiders that have endured the session, the *Loco and Dissent Calendar* is the only true tell that there is a light at the end of the 140 day ordeal. This year, our anonymous friends are taking the spoof one step further by sending us a copy of their Motion to meet "while the House is adjourned and getting lit at various watering holes around town in order to set a Loco and Dissent Calendar for Sunday, May 26, 2013." We here at *Buzz Central* can confirm that there was no objection so we will be glued to our computer screen/transom on Sunday to bring you the last important Calendar of the session. A copy of the formal document can be found here.
Copyright May 23, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 23, 2013 10:55 AM AGENDWISE BOARD ANNOUNCES THAT GREER TAKES LEAVE OF ABSENCE Announcement posted to the website The posting can be found here.
Copyright May 23, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 22, 2013 11:56 PM HK: WHAT DO AGENDAWISE DIRECTORS MICHAEL QUINN SULLIVAN, TIM DUNN AND LUCY GRAVES INTEND TO DO ABOUT DANIEL GREER? Anti-TLR gadfly and former SREC member Mark McCaig posts an open letter challenging Greer's employers Former *SREC* member and *Mostyn Law Firm* associate Mark McCaig has built a cottage industry of towel-popping *Texans for Lawsuit Reform* and its principals as faux Republicans and profiteers. He has nearly 100,000 *Facebook* followers. But in the process of building an anti-TLR constituency, McCaig has also built himself a platform upon which to opine on other issues. A couple of days ago, he sent an open letter to the board of directors of the now notorious *AgendaWise* about their support of so-called journalist Daniel Greer that is well worth sharing. QR readers will recall that Mr. Greer has been running sexual smear campaigns about political figure on Twitter under both his name and a fake alias as well as …. Shall we say … taking liberties with the truth on AgendaWise. According to public records, the board of directors of AgendaWise is comprised of *Texans for Fiscal Responsibility’s Michael Quinn Sullivan, Texas Public Policy Foundation* Vice Chairman Tim Dunn and Lucy Graves. McCaig sent them an open letter asking what they intended to do about their employee Daniel Greer and posted a story about Greer’s adventures on his *StopTLR* website. His open letter follows: The rest of the story, subscribers only By Harvey Kronberg
Copyright May 22, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 22, 2013 9:29 PM SENATE FINALLY PASSES HB 1025, 28-3 No votes were: Patrick, Campbell and Paxton... By Scott Braddock
Copyright May 22, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 22, 2013 8:53 PM HOUSE PASSES SJR 1 ON VOTE OF 130-16 Easily surpasses two-thirds' threshold to send measure to voters... sets stage for final passage of HB 1025 in Senate The House executed its portion of the budget deal tonight, passing the Senate constitutional amendment setting up the mechanism for implementing the long range water plan intended to meet the state’s needs for the next 50 years. The vote on SJR 1 was 130-16, meeting the two-thirds majority threshold to send the measure to the voters. The action capped a week full of back and forth between the chambers on how to proceed on the complicated parliamentary maneuver intended to satisfy leadership in the House and Senate. The rest of the story, subscribers only By John Reynolds
Copyright May 22, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 22, 2013 8:46 PM THE SENATE PASSES HB 1025 TO THIRD READING Williams hesitates to move final passage because there’s “an amber alert out” for SJR 1 The Senate tentatively ponied up its part of the budget deal Wednesday evening: An altered version of HB 1025 that includes money for water as well as education, but largely leaves transportation infrastructure unaddressed. The Senate passed the supplemental to third reading, but Sen. Tommy Williams stopped right there while the House continued to debate SJR 1. Williams said there was an “amber alert” out for the constitutional amendment, making a reference to Harold Cook’s parody of the budget standoff on his *Letters From Texas* blog. In laying out his re-written version, Williams said that the money in it for water is, naturally, contingent on whether SJR 1 is passed in the House and later passed this fall by voters. The Woodlands Republican and *Senate Finance* Chairman said that under what’s being done for public education in the budget, the vast majority of school districts will see increases of anywhere from about $85 to over $400 per student. The only districts that won’t see increases are what Williams called “outlier” districts that have high property values and few students. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Scott Braddock
Copyright May 22, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 22, 2013 7:53 PM PITTS LAYS OUT SJR 1 IN HOUSE One clarifying amendment, per Pitts
Copyright May 22, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 22, 2013 7:40 PM CRAIG EILAND TELLS HOUSE COLLEAGUES IN A PERSONAL PRIVILEGE SPEECH THAT HE'S NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION In an emotional address, the Galveston Democrat thanks his wife and children for their sacrifice to allow him to serve ... says he wants to focus now on being a good husband, father and lawyer
Copyright May 22, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 22, 2013 7:34 PM HOUSE DEMOCRATS EMERGE FROM CAUCUS, WILL SUPPORT SJR 1 TONIGHT Rep. Craig Eiland confirms the caucus position, resolving key piece of the day's budget maneuvering...
Copyright May 22, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 22, 2013 6:28 PM REVAMPED HB 1025 IS IN THE HANDS OF SENATORS New version has money for water and education. As the standoff continues between the House and Senate over the budget, *Finance* Chairman Tommy Williams announced on the floor that he'll be spending the early part of this evening explaining his new version of HB 1025. Williams was indeed working the floor Wednesday evening, giving members the lowdown on what's in the revamped HB 1025. The Woodlands Republican also said that a caucus might be necessary before bringing up the vote to suspend. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Scott Braddock
Copyright May 22, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 22, 2013 6:13 PM A COPY OF THE CSHB 1025 BREAKDOWN Story to follow The breakdown of the Senate version of HB1025 can be found here.
Copyright May 22, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 22, 2013 5:48 PM SENATE TAKING UP HB1025 AS HOUSE HITS SJR 1 ON CALENDAR Update: HB1025 distributed to senators, SJR1 next on calendar
Copyright May 22, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 22, 2013 4:03 PM COULD IMMEDIATE REDISTRICTING SPECIAL SESSION LEAD TO MORE PROLONGED LITIGATION? Abbott argues interim maps judicially approved; minority plaintiffs say process confirms intentional discrimination It is an increasingly common article of faith that Governor Perry will call the Legislature back into a redistricting special session on May 29, two days after sine die. Any number of other issues could be added to the call but Attorney General Greg Abbott’s clear message for months has been that the Legislature needs to endorse the interim maps, preferably before the Supreme Court rules on the *Shelby* case (expected in late June) which could determine whether or not Section 5 of the *Voting Rights Act* survives. May 29 also happens to be the day the three judge federal panel in San Antonio has ordered a status hearing on Texas redistricting maps in order to prepare for the 2014 elections. They have instructed lawyers to be prepared to argue whether or not evidence from the DC case should be admitted into evidence in the San Antonio case and whether the record should be supplemented with more current demographic and election data. The three judge panel in DC unanimously concluded that Texas had intentionally discriminated against minorities in drawing the 2011 maps. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Harvey Kronberg
Copyright May 22, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 22, 2013 12:15 PM DEBBIE RIDDLE TARGETS BILLS BY SEN. BIRDWELL ON HOUSE'S FINAL LOCAL AND CONSENT CALENDAR Among the bills knocked off is legislation creating a specialty license plate for Operation Enduring Freedom veterans UPDATE: Rep. Riddle has allowed all of Sen. Birdwell's local bills today to proceed in what she said was "a good faith effort" that she hoped would be recognized in conference on the Housing and Community Affairs sunset bill. State Rep. Debbie Riddle (R-Tomball) promised fireworks to constituents visiting in the House gallery earlier in the day and her meaning became clear when consideration of the *Local and Consent Calendar* began. According to a post by conservative blogger David Jennings on the *Houston Chronicle's* website, Riddle is miffed at Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) for changes made to sunset legislation for the *Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs*. Specifically, she's not happy that Birdwell would remove lawmakers' input on the approval of low income housing projects. On the floor, she said Birdwell's actions harmed Harris County. The rest of the story, subscribers only By John Reynolds
Copyright May 22, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 21, 2013 10:10 PM FRANCHISE TAX REFORM PASSES THE SENATE Patrick’s amendment to raise the exemption from $1 million to $2 million fails The Senate voted late Tuesday night to approve a greatly-altered HB 500 – the franchise tax cut. Before it came to the Senate floor, the Senate sponsor essentially re-wrote the bill from the way it came out of the House. Sen. Glenn Hegar (R-Katy) kept the centerpiece of making permanent the $1 million small business exemption, but he changed everything else about it. The House version of HB 500 gave tax relief to specific industries. Hegar's version, instead, replaced all those provisions with an across the board 5 percent cut in the franchise tax rate for all those companies that are still required to pay the tax after the exemption. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Scott Braddock
Copyright May 21, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 21, 2013 7:32 PM HOUSE SUSPENDS RULES, WILL CONSIDER SJR 1 TOMORROW The motion presented by Appropriations Chair Jim Pitts prevails on a 148-1 vote ... Rep. David Simpson is the lone nay vote
Copyright May 21, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 21, 2013 7:17 PM SYLVESTER TURNER CONFIRMS HOUSE DEMOCRATS ON BOARD WITH RULES SUSPENSION ON SJR 1 They are key to getting the 2/3 majority necessary to push consideration of the constitutional amendment to tomorrow...
Copyright May 21, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 21, 2013 6:12 PM SPEAKER JOE STRAUS ANNOUNCES INTENT TO DO 2ND READING ON SJR 1 TOMORROW AND 3RD READING IF NECESSARY ON THURSDAY Suspending the rules tonight to execute this parliamentary maneuver would take 100 votes and serve as a test vote... it would require, though, 120 votes to do the 2nd and 3rd readings on the same day The day in the House has been consumed with talk on how to manage passage of SJR 1 while ensuring that the Senate does its work on HB 1025 tomorrow. Earlier, the thinking was to try for a 2nd reading vote tonight but to keep the ayes below 100 in order to make the vote on 3rd reading a requisite for authorizing the constitutional amendment. The rest of the story, subscribers only By John Reynolds
Copyright May 21, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 21, 2013 3:44 PM DEWHURST AND WILLIAMS CONFIRM THAT HB1025 WILL INCLUDE ALL OF THE ELEMENTS DETAILED IN FRIDAY CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Williams acknowledges House angst about $200M for education but confirms it is in the bill In a brief interview with QR a few minutes ago, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst and Senate Finance Chairman Tommy Williams again committed in the strongest possible terms that HB1025 would contain all of the elements discussed at the Friday budget conference committee meeting. Williams said that drafting was still taking place because the supplemental had to true up with ongoing spending but that it would contain all of the elements to which the conference had agreed, including the $200 million for education. Williams said, “I know there is angst about the money but I tell you that it is in the bill” The rest of the story, subscribers only By Harvey Kronberg
Copyright May 21, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 21, 2013 1:24 PM SENATE NOMINATIONS VOTES UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE PERRY'S UT SYSTEM NOMINEES Watson says he's comfortable with all three especially after assurances they'll defer to the system chancellor on the firing of university presidents.
Copyright May 21, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 21, 2013 11:20 AM DESPITE PROMISE TO PULL IT DOWN, CSCOPE BILL MOVES FORWARD IN THE HOUSE Aycock felt left out of the talks Sen. Patrick had with CSCOPE, House was “blindsided” by Patrick. After Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, said Monday morning he would pull down the bill on CSCOPE, many couldn’t help but notice that SB 1406 was passed to third reading in the House later in the day. Rep. Toth gave the impression that he was misled by Senate Education Chairman Dan Patrick leading up to the press conference where the announcement was made that the CSCOPE bill would be pulled. Toth said he was told that CSCOPE was being eliminated, but the deal brokered by Sen. Patrick was that CSCOPE would be restructured and will stop creating lesson plans. “I said away, completely away?” The rest of the story, subscribers only By Scott Braddock
Copyright May 21, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 20, 2013 7:22 PM GEREN SUCCESSFULLY ADDS 501(C)4 DONOR DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS TO ETHICS COMMISSION SUNSET BILL Language also added to put personal financial statements online and to add a cooling off period for lawmakers turned lobbyists using their unused campaign funds... State Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) took out an insurance policy this evening on language that would require non-profit 501(c)4’s to disclose their donors if they spend heavily on campaigns. Geren added an amendment to today’s Sunset legislation extending the life of the *Texas Ethics Commission* more or less conserving SB 346, which was passed out of the House last week. The House gave tentative approval to the Ethics Commission Sunset bill on a 133-14 vote. The rest of the story, subscribers only By John Reynolds
Copyright May 20, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 20, 2013 2:44 PM PITTS OPTIMISTIC HE HAS THE 100 VOTES TO PASS KEY COMPONENT OF BUDGET DEAL TODAY The House's budget writer tells his GOP caucus passing SJR 1 today is priority No. 1, afterward saying, "If we don’t have that, we might as well go home." *House Appropriations* Chairman Jim Pitts (R-Waxahachie) huddled with his fellow House Republicans after lunch. He emerged confident that he has the 100 votes necessary to pass SJR 1, the constitutional amendment that comprises one of the key pieces in the budget deal struck last week. SJR 1 sets up the two funds inside the state treasury but outside general revenue that will implement the state’s long range water plan. Separate legislation sitting in the Senate right now would tap the $2 billion from the *Rainy Day Fund* to provide those funds’ investment capital. The rest of the story, subscribers only By John Reynolds
Copyright May 20, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 20, 2013 11:23 AM PATRICK: CSCOPE AGREES TO END CREATING LESSON PLANS TFN calls the ending of lesson plans the “result of a witch hunt.” *Senate Education* Chairman Dan Patrick announced what he called a victory Monday morning: “The era of *CSCOPE* lesson plans has come to an end,” the Houston Republican said. Flanked by the most conservative of conservative lawmakers like Rep. Steve Toth (R-The Woodlands) and Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels), Patrick trumpeted a letter from CSCOPE, signed by 20 members of their board, that they will cease creating lesson plans for the nearly 900 school districts that use them. “This is the best move forward for the regional service centers,” Patrick said. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Scott Braddock
Copyright May 20, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 20, 2013 9:25 AM UT REGENT NOMINEES GRILLED ABOUT UT AUSTIN PRESIDENT Nominees give assurances they’ll defer to the System Chancellor on firing of university presidents. Governor Perry’s nominees to the *University of Texas Board of Regents* were grilled by the *Senate Nominations Committee* Monday morning about how they would approach the ongoing controversy surrounding *UT Austin* President Bill Powers. Sen. Kirk Watson, whose district includes UT Austin, took center stage for much of the morning’s proceedings, lobbing most of his pointed questions at Regent Paul Foster. Foster, who has been reappointed by the governor and has been mentioned as a potential board chairman, said the controversy surrounding Powers is “probably unhealthy.” He said he wished the whole thing could be put in the UT System’s rearview mirror. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Scott Braddock
Copyright May 20, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 19, 2013 9:25 AM CORRECTION: McCLENDON TARGETS ONLY ONE SENATOR FOR HOLDING UP TIMOTHY COLE EXONERATION COMMISSION BILL We had reported on May 17 that she "intended to kill all Senate local Bills as a result of Senators' actions Representative Ruth Jones McClendon sent us the following statement: “I did not say that it was my intent to kill all local Senate Bills; I made myself quite plain on the record that my concerns had to do with a particular Senator and her Bills, considering that she had worked to hold one of my Bills hostage and therefore I would be contesting her Senate Bills on the House Floor. As you may know, this pertains to House Bill 166, which seeks to establish the *Timothy Cole Exoneration Review Commission*. I have no contention with other Senators or their Bills.”
Copyright May 19, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 17, 2013 6:09 PM DRIVER PERMITS FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS GOES DOWN ON A POINT OF ORDER Despite pleas from business groups, the House does not vote on Chairman Cook’s amendment. With the *Texas Association of Business, the Texas Restaurant Association, the Greater Houston Partnership* and multiple other heavy hitters in the business community supporting him, State Affairs Chairman Byron Cook tried to have the House vote up or down on his proposal Friday evening. His amendment to SB 1729, a driver’s license bill, would have required that undocumented immigrants get a new permit if they are going to continue to legally drive in Texas. Until a change in the law in 2011, people did not have to prove they were in compliance with federal immigration laws to get a Texas driver’s license. Now, many who had licenses cannot renew them. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Scott Braddock
Copyright May 17, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 17, 2013 6:06 PM WILLIAMS ON SB 1 … “THIS IS A VERY GOOD BUDGET” In addition to the deal struck on public ed, the SB 1 conference report reduces diversions from Fund 6 and ditches Senate rider language on Medicaid expansion… Budget conferees finished their work on the budget late this afternoon, meaning that the chambers will before long be asked to vote up or down on the document directing the state’s spending priorities for the next two years. *Senate Finance* Chairman Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands) pronounced himself satisfied with the work product. “This is a very good budget,” Williams said. “And I don’t know how any member of the House or Senate could vote against this budget.” The budget as passed is somewhere between $600 million and $800 million under the constitutional spending cap, Williams said, although he wasn’t able to give exact figures on how much General Revenue and how much in all funds is spent in SB 1. Williams said that a big part of the agreement are assurances the *System Benefit Fund* bill in the House gets through with a reduction of $100 million – from $731 million to $631 million. The rest of the story, subscribers only By John Reynolds
Copyright May 17, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 17, 2013 6:03 PM CHECK OUT THE PRESS RELEASE SECTION
Copyright May 17, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 17, 2013 4:46 PM BUDGET CONFEREES CONCLUDE WORK ON CONFERENCE REPORT ON SB 1 The budget is now on its way to the two chambers for approval ... some, meanwhile, mourn final elimination of rider language on negotiating with the feds extension of health coverage to low-income adults
Copyright May 17, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 17, 2013 4:26 PM A FRACTIOUS MOMENT BEFORE BUDGET CONFEREES PUT THEIR STAMP ON A BUDGET DEAL Sen. Tommmy Williams on why he parked the final $200 million for schools in a supplemental spending bill ... "Because I said so" After a week full of brinksmanship across the Capitol, budget conferees were moving toward adopting a report that will now go to each chamber for its approval. The conference report contains $3.93 billion for public education, resolving the final large sticking point in finalizing the spending priorities for the state over the next two years. But the meeting wasn’t without one moment of friction. Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) asked LBB representatives how much extra money is in the budget document for the *Foundation School Program*. The rest of the story, subscribers only By John Reynolds
Copyright May 17, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 17, 2013 4:16 PM HK: DANIEL GREER APOLOGIZES BUT "OUTED" FOR ANONYMOUS TWITTER ACCOUNT SPECIALIZING IN SLURS Greer apologized for slurs on Twitter account in his name, pulled down his "Richard Fiasco" account without acknowledging. Since our story on Daniel Greer this morning we have been bombarded with folks pointing out that he also ran an anonymous *Twitter* site under the pseudonym Richard Fiasco. When the same content appeared on the Greer and Fiasco site simultaneously, what many had long suspected was confirmed. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Harvey Kronberg
Copyright May 17, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 17, 2013 4:13 PM CRAFT BEER BILLS PASS HOUSE ON SECOND READING
Copyright May 17, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 17, 2013 4:08 PM DRONE BILL PASSES THE SENATE With some minor tweaks, the Senate passed the bill that makes it a crime to use drones in certain instances in the skies over Texas. As it passed out of the House, HB 912 by Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Athens, would make it a class C misdemeanor to use an unmanned vehicle or aircraft to capture photos or video of someone on their private property without their consent. It creates criminal and civil penalties. The bill makes specific exemptions for law enforcement, universities using drones for research and for the monitoring of oil and gas pipelines. The Senate changed the bill to exempt unmanned vehicles on the ground used by police agencies. Police chiefs pushed for that change because they feared the robots they use to investigate bomb threats, for example, could be criminalized by the bill.
Copyright May 17, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 17, 2013 4:07 PM NULLIFICATION NULLIFIED IN THE SENATE? Sen. Estes pulls down HB 928, which would prohibit the use of state resources to enforce new federal gun laws.
Copyright May 17, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 17, 2013 3:39 PM AP: LAWMAKERS REACH BUDGET DEAL $3.9B to public schools, $2 B from Rainy Day fund for water The *Associated Press* story can be found here. Housse Democratic leader Yvonne Davis confirms the deal to AP bureau chief Chris Tomlinson.
Copyright May 17, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 17, 2013 2:07 PM IN TEXAS ENERGY REPORT: NEVER-SAY-DIE COMMON CARRIER PIPELINE AMENDMENT SURFACES --Retroactively redefines public use as cutting air pollution, preventing road damage
Copyright May 17, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 17, 2013 11:40 AM YVONNE DAVIS: THERE IS NO DEAL AT THIS POINT The House Democratic leader says she has not seen details of the Senate budget proposal, dismisses yesterday's offer from the Speaker as "a sham of a proposal." House Democratic Leader Yvonne Davis (D-Dallas) told reporters after a morning meeting of her caucus that a deal has not been reached on a budget and that her party is in the process of preparing a counteroffer. Echoing remarks by her colleague Sylvester Turner from earlier in the day, Davis also was dismissive of a budget proposal from the Speaker's Office from yesterday that was represented to have $3.87 billion for education. The rest of the story, subscribers only By John Reynolds
Copyright May 17, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 17, 2013 11:16 AM MAJOR CONFLICT ERUPTS ON TODAY'S HOUSE & LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR Consideration of the normally sleepy L&C calendar delayed for two hours amid accusations that the Senate is killing House bills... Consideration of today's Local & Consent Calendar in the House has been delayed a couple of hours after a pair of Democrats accused Senators this morning of killing their bills. Reps. Harold Dutton (D-Houston) and Ruth Jones McClendon (D-San Antonio) both said they intended to kill all Senate local bills as a result of Senators' actions. The rest of the story, subscribers only By John Reynolds
Copyright May 17, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 17, 2013 9:46 AM DON'T PUT A BOW ON THAT BUDGET DEAL YET... As House budget writers move to get the two-part deal on water started, a key Democrat says the Senate's latest proposed deal to break the budget impasse still needs to be scrutinized The House’s budget writers kicked off what could be a significant day in the budget endgame by voting out the constitutional amendment that provides for the funding mechanism to implement the state’s long term water plan. SJR 1, now shorn of any dollars for water as well as any mention of transportation and education, passed on a 17-0 vote with six Democrats on *House Appropriations* registering as present but not voting. The other piece of the puzzle is HB 1025, now sitting in the Senate, that would make the appropriation from the *Rainy Day Fund* to seed the water investment bank. Appropriations Vice Chairman Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) said the action by the six Democrats should not be interpreted to mean that they are walking away from the table at this stage of negotiations. Rather, he said, “present not voting is simply an indication that Democrats, we want to do water, but there’s still a divide … This is not a vote against water. This was simply saying that this is a work in progress and we are not there yet.” The rest of the story, subscribers only By John Reynolds
Copyright May 17, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 17, 2013 9:25 AM AGENDAWISE'S DANIEL GREER BIZARRE TWEET GOES VIRAL Mostyn says both he and LGBT community due apology *AgendaWise* Executive Director Daniel Greer specializes in inflammatory stories. A judge declared his story in a defamation lawsuit filed by Canadien’s Salem Abraham about events at a Jim Landtroop campaign event to be untrue. Last night, the *Twitterverse* went wild when Greer posted a bizarre tweet that said, “After claiming he was off to enjoy his “Thursday” (whatever the f that is) fag tweeted about his lover Steve Mostyn” The Tweet was subsequently pulled but not before it had gone viral. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Harvey Kronberg
Copyright May 17, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 17, 2013 8:52 AM HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS MOVES SJR 1, FIRST COMPONENT OF DEVELOPING BUDGET PACKAGE DEAL Six Democrats register as present not voting with budget conferee Sylvester Turner telling reporters afterward that he plans to scrutinized closely how the $4B for education is reckoned... Details to follow
Copyright May 17, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 16, 2013 7:21 PM INSURANCE COMMISSIONER ELEANOR KITZMAN NOT ON MONDAY'S LIST OF NOMINEES FOR SENATE NOMINATIONS Could be the end of the road for the controversial Perry appointee... Monday is the panel's final meeting of the session The list of nominees to be considered.
Copyright May 16, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 16, 2013 5:31 PM IN TEXAS ENERGY REPORT: DEWHURST SEEKS TO SLASH WIND INDUSTRY TAX BREAKS Wind supplies more than nine percent of Texas electric power, $24 billion in investments
Copyright May 16, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 16, 2013 5:12 PM HOUSE PASSES SB 2 TO THIRD READING Despite heated debates over delaying implementation and nepotism, charter school expansion is tentatively approved After making several small changes to what came out of the Senate, the House tentatively approved the biggest overhaul of charter schools in decades. It passed 105-43. The House has previously blocked expansion of charter schools. “This is, as you know, a highly controversial issue but I think this bill moves it the right direction,” said House Public Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen. "Charter schools are public schools,” he said. Aycock said the point of the bill is to foster more high-performing charters while shutting down those that don’t make the grade. “It makes it easier to close down the poor performing schools,” he said. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Scott Braddock
Copyright May 16, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 16, 2013 3:15 PM PERRY: CREATING CONFLICT AT END OF SESSION IS NOT PRODUCTIVE On the latest round of brinksmanship in current budget talks, the Governor said, “I’m sure there are folks who would like to blow up the session just to see the pieces of the machinery blow up through the air.” Asked about reports that he’s been advising Republican lawmakers to not back the budget because it spends too much on education, Gov. Rick Perry said this afternoon that he’s proud of the dollars spent on education over the past decade and that lawmakers would continue to fund that portion of the budget “appropriately and fairly.” He also had a message for those “trying to create conflict here at the end of the legislative session” that “pitting article against another article is not particularly productive.” The rest of the story, subscribers only By John Reynolds
Copyright May 16, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 16, 2013 12:47 PM DEMOCRATS VOW TO PUSH ON FOR $3.9B FOR EDUCATION Budget conferee Sylvester Turner claims that it's the Republicans moving the goal posts and not Democratic intransigence that's to blame for budget impasse The House Democrats’ sole member on the budget conference committee discounted accusations that his party bears the blame for any breakdown in negotiations on a final form of the biennial state budget. State Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) was responding to reports – including one in these pages –that the Democrats were scuttling a final budget agreement by insisting on $4 billion in restored funding for public education instead of $3.5 billion offered by the House leadership. Turner said that the Democrats were operating under a proposed agreement struck late last week that would dedicate the $2.5 billion in GR in the House version of SB 1 for education as well as the $1.4 billion generated from enhanced property values that would stay with local school districts. He told reporters that it was Republicans who have come back and tried to claw back provisions of the bill. He said the $3.2 billion in additional funding for education reported earlier this week as part of a provisional budget agreement halved the proceeds from enhanced property values. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Harvey Kronberg and John Reynolds
Copyright May 16, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 16, 2013 11:42 AM TURNER: DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT WALKED AWAY FROM BUDGET DEAL Says that Democrats are unified and committed to the deal represented late last week to the Senate...
Copyright May 16, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 16, 2013 9:42 AM HERE IS WHAT WE THINK WE KNOW: DEMOCRATIC LOCKDOWN MAY COST THEM MORE THAN JUST EDUCATION FUNDING Still time but not much Here is what we think we know. With eleven days left to the session it appears that the war could be lost over a half billion dollars. Sources close to the negotiations tell us “the train has left the station. The question is whether or not it is too late to catch it.” Apparently, funding for education in negotiations had reached the $3.5 billion mark but Democrats insisted on full restoration of $4 billion. Democratic votes are needed to both pass the constitutional amendment and to access the rainy day fund. Our sources suggest that the lock down appears to be Democratic caucuses in both chambers. The rest of the story, subscribers only By Harvey Kronberg and John Reynolds
Copyright May 16, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved


May 16, 2013 9:31 AM BUDGET DEAL ON LIFE SUPPORT: $3.5B FOR EDUCATION, DEMS LOCKED DOWN FOR $4B DETAILS TO FOLLOW
Copyright May 16, 2013, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved

HOUSE WILL NOT CONCUR WITH SENATE VERSION OF HB 1025

Conference committee will be requested on this key component of the overall budget deal...

PIPELINES: IT ISN’T OVER ‘TIL IT’S OVER

SYLVESTER TURNER SOURS ON STRINGS ADDED TO HB 1025 DEAL

LOOK OUT!!! THE LOCO AND DISSENT CALENDAR IS COMING

AGENDWISE BOARD ANNOUNCES THAT GREER TAKES LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Announcement posted to the website The posting can be found here.

HK: WHAT DO AGENDAWISE DIRECTORS MICHAEL QUINN SULLIVAN, TIM DUNN AND LUCY GRAVES INTEND TO DO ABOUT DANIEL GREER?

SENATE FINALLY PASSES HB 1025, 28-3

No votes were: Patrick, Campbell and Paxton... By Scott Braddock

HOUSE PASSES SJR 1 ON VOTE OF 130-16

THE SENATE PASSES HB 1025 TO THIRD READING

PITTS LAYS OUT SJR 1 IN HOUSE

One clarifying amendment, per Pitts

CRAIG EILAND TELLS HOUSE COLLEAGUES IN A PERSONAL PRIVILEGE SPEECH THAT HE'S NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION

In an emotional address, the Galveston Democrat thanks his wife and children for their sacrifice to allow him to serve ... says he wants to focus now on being a good husband, father and lawyer

HOUSE DEMOCRATS EMERGE FROM CAUCUS, WILL SUPPORT SJR 1 TONIGHT

Rep. Craig Eiland confirms the caucus position, resolving key piece of the day's budget maneuvering...

REVAMPED HB 1025 IS IN THE HANDS OF SENATORS

A COPY OF THE CSHB 1025 BREAKDOWN

Story to follow The breakdown of the Senate version of HB1025 can be found here.

SENATE TAKING UP HB1025 AS HOUSE HITS SJR 1 ON CALENDAR

Update: HB1025 distributed to senators, SJR1 next on calendar

COULD IMMEDIATE REDISTRICTING SPECIAL SESSION LEAD TO MORE PROLONGED LITIGATION?

DEBBIE RIDDLE TARGETS BILLS BY SEN. BIRDWELL ON HOUSE'S FINAL LOCAL AND CONSENT CALENDAR

FRANCHISE TAX REFORM PASSES THE SENATE

HOUSE SUSPENDS RULES, WILL CONSIDER SJR 1 TOMORROW

The motion presented by Appropriations Chair Jim Pitts prevails on a 148-1 vote ... Rep. David Simpson is the lone nay vote

SYLVESTER TURNER CONFIRMS HOUSE DEMOCRATS ON BOARD WITH RULES SUSPENSION ON SJR 1

They are key to getting the 2/3 majority necessary to push consideration of the constitutional amendment to tomorrow...

SPEAKER JOE STRAUS ANNOUNCES INTENT TO DO 2ND READING ON SJR 1 TOMORROW AND 3RD READING IF NECESSARY ON THURSDAY

DEWHURST AND WILLIAMS CONFIRM THAT HB1025 WILL INCLUDE ALL OF THE ELEMENTS DETAILED IN FRIDAY CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

SENATE NOMINATIONS VOTES UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE PERRY'S UT SYSTEM NOMINEES

Watson says he's comfortable with all three especially after assurances they'll defer to the system chancellor on the firing of university presidents.

DESPITE PROMISE TO PULL IT DOWN, CSCOPE BILL MOVES FORWARD IN THE HOUSE

GEREN SUCCESSFULLY ADDS 501(C)4 DONOR DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS TO ETHICS COMMISSION SUNSET BILL

PITTS OPTIMISTIC HE HAS THE 100 VOTES TO PASS KEY COMPONENT OF BUDGET DEAL TODAY

PATRICK: CSCOPE AGREES TO END CREATING LESSON PLANS

UT REGENT NOMINEES GRILLED ABOUT UT AUSTIN PRESIDENT

CORRECTION: McCLENDON TARGETS ONLY ONE SENATOR FOR HOLDING UP TIMOTHY COLE EXONERATION COMMISSION BILL

DRIVER PERMITS FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS GOES DOWN ON A POINT OF ORDER

WILLIAMS ON SB 1 … “THIS IS A VERY GOOD BUDGET”

CHECK OUT THE PRESS RELEASE SECTION

BUDGET CONFEREES CONCLUDE WORK ON CONFERENCE REPORT ON SB 1

The budget is now on its way to the two chambers for approval ... some, meanwhile, mourn final elimination of rider language on negotiating with the feds extension of health coverage to low-income adults

A FRACTIOUS MOMENT BEFORE BUDGET CONFEREES PUT THEIR STAMP ON A BUDGET DEAL

HK: DANIEL GREER APOLOGIZES BUT "OUTED" FOR ANONYMOUS TWITTER ACCOUNT SPECIALIZING IN SLURS

CRAFT BEER BILLS PASS HOUSE ON SECOND READING

DRONE BILL PASSES THE SENATE

NULLIFICATION NULLIFIED IN THE SENATE?

Sen. Estes pulls down HB 928, which would prohibit the use of state resources to enforce new federal gun laws.

AP: LAWMAKERS REACH BUDGET DEAL

$3.9B to public schools, $2 B from Rainy Day fund for water The Associated Press story can be found here.Housse Democratic leader Yvonne Davis confirms the deal to AP bureau chief Chris Tomlinson.

IN TEXAS ENERGY REPORT: NEVER-SAY-DIE COMMON CARRIER PIPELINE AMENDMENT SURFACES

--Retroactively redefines public use as cutting air pollution, preventing road damage

YVONNE DAVIS: THERE IS NO DEAL AT THIS POINT

MAJOR CONFLICT ERUPTS ON TODAY'S HOUSE & LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR

DON'T PUT A BOW ON THAT BUDGET DEAL YET...

AGENDAWISE'S DANIEL GREER BIZARRE TWEET GOES VIRAL

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS MOVES SJR 1, FIRST COMPONENT OF DEVELOPING BUDGET PACKAGE DEAL

Six Democrats register as present not voting with budget conferee Sylvester Turner telling reporters afterward that he plans to scrutinized closely how the $4B for education is reckoned... Details to follow

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER ELEANOR KITZMAN NOT ON MONDAY'S LIST OF NOMINEES FOR SENATE NOMINATIONS

Could be the end of the road for the controversial Perry appointee... Monday is the panel's final meeting of the session The list of nominees to be considered.

IN TEXAS ENERGY REPORT: DEWHURST SEEKS TO SLASH WIND INDUSTRY TAX BREAKS

Wind supplies more than nine percent of Texas electric power, $24 billion in investments

HOUSE PASSES SB 2 TO THIRD READING

PERRY: CREATING CONFLICT AT END OF SESSION IS NOT PRODUCTIVE

DEMOCRATS VOW TO PUSH ON FOR $3.9B FOR EDUCATION

TURNER: DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT WALKED AWAY FROM BUDGET DEAL

Says that Democrats are unified and committed to the deal represented late last week to the Senate...

HERE IS WHAT WE THINK WE KNOW: DEMOCRATIC LOCKDOWN MAY COST THEM MORE THAN JUST EDUCATION FUNDING

BUDGET DEAL ON LIFE SUPPORT: $3.5B FOR EDUCATION, DEMS LOCKED DOWN FOR $4B

DETAILS TO FOLLOW

Announcement posted to the website

The posting can be found here.

No votes were: Patrick, Campbell and Paxton...

By Scott Braddock

Story to follow

The breakdown of the Senate version of HB1025 can be found here.

$3.9B to public schools, $2 B from Rainy Day fund for water

The Associated Press story can be found here.
Housse Democratic leader Yvonne Davis confirms the deal to AP bureau chief Chris Tomlinson.

Six Democrats register as present not voting with budget conferee Sylvester Turner telling reporters afterward that he plans to scrutinized closely how the $4B for education is reckoned...

Details to follow

Could be the end of the road for the controversial Perry appointee... Monday is the panel's final meeting of the session

The list of nominees to be considered.