Legislative Update
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OFFICES OF DAN SHELLEY OCTOBER 2011 phcc Legislative Update Perry and Dewhurst Move Forward with Campaigns for President and US Senate State Leadership Has Federal Ambitions Governor Rick Perry Others Republicans officially announced his seeking to replace Senator intentions to be the Republican Hutchison include former Texas CONTENTS Party’s presidential nominee at Solicitor General Ted Cruz, P.1 an appearance in South former Dallas Mayor Tom PERRY & DEWHURST AIM TO MOVE ON Carolina August in mid-August. Leppert and Railroad State Leadership Seeks Higher His announcement was Commission Chairman Office preceded by Lieutenant Elizabeth Ames Jones. Governor David The election of one or P.2 RETIREMENT NEWS IN Dewhurst’s announcement both, Perry and Dewhurst, THE HOUSE that he is seeking to replace would result in significant Twenty-one Members Not Senator Kay Bailey change in leadership at the top Returning Hutchison in 2012 when her of state government. The seat is up for election. Senator election of Governor Perry P.3 HOUSE AND SENATE Hutchison previously would result in the elevation of START INTERIM announced her retirement the Lt. Governor to the COMMITTEE WORK Interim Charges Released following the end of her position of Governor. The current term. Senate would then choose a P.3 Governor Perry joins a new leader to preside over the REPUBLICAN EXODUS IN field including former Senate until the following SENATE Four Chairmen Retire Massachussetts Governor Mitt general election for Lt. Romney, businesman Herman Governor. Potentially, the Cain, Minnesota Senate could be in the position Congresswoman Michele of choosing the Governor and Bachmann and others seeking Lt. Governor, depending on the the Republican Party outcome of elections. nomination. 2011 CAPITOL ORNAMENT The sixteenth ornament in the series features a replica of the ornate chandeliers that hang in the House and Senate chambers. It can be purchased from the Capitol Gift Shop in person or online. Gov. Rick Perry Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst 1 OFFICES OF DAN SHELLEY OCTOBER 2011 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ELECTION NOVEMBER 8TH The 2011 Constitutional Amendment Election includes 10 propositions. The explanatory statements for each of the propositions can be found at the following link from the Secretary of State’s office: http://www.votexas.org/ exp-statements-2011.html Early voting commences Monday, October 24th and ends Friday, November 4th with Election Day the following Tuesday. Retirement News from the Capitol He followed through with his or who are speculated to not file List of Retiring House resignation a few days later. for re-election follows below. Members is Growing There will be a special election The 82nd Texas Legislature coinciding with the November Jose Aliseda (R-Beeville) saw thirty-eight new members Constitutional Amendment Rodney Anderson (R-Plano) when it convened last January Election to determine his Fred Brown (R-Bryan) including thirty-two Republicans, successor for the remainder of Warren Chisum (R-Pampa) many of whom replaced the unexpired term. The seat will Joe Driver (R-Garland) Democrats. The result was a 101 also be up for election in 2012 Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) Rick Hardcastle (R-Vernon) - 49 split among Republicans and along with all 181 members of Will Hartnett (R-Dallas) Democrats in the House. the Texas Legislature because it Charlie Howard (R-Sugar Land) Late into the session, a few follows a redistricting session. Jim Jackson (R-Carrollton) Longtime Representative long-time legislators began to Lanham Lyne (R-Wichita Falls) (R-Pampa) announce retirement intentions Warren Chisum Ken Paxton (R-McKinney) thereby opening seats up to even also announced his intentions to Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown) more fresh faced members when give up his House seat and seek a Mark Shelton (R-Fort Worth) the Legislature is scheduled to statewide elected position on the Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood) convene again in 2013. One Texas Railroad Commission. Mr. Randy Weber (R-Pearland) member resigned in June and Chisum’s decision eliminated a Beverly Woolley (Houston) another announced intentions to redistricting pairing between Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio) retire from the House and seek himself and West Texas Pete Gallego (D-Alpine) Barbara Mallory Caraway (D-Dallas) statewide office. Representative Jim Landtroop Chente Quintanilla (D-El Paso) Veteran lawmaker Fred (R-Plainview). Brown (R-Bryan) announced his Several other House retirement from the House of members have also made Representatives at the end of the retirement announcements or special session following twelve plans to seek a different elected and a half years of representing office. The full list of members Brazos County in the Legislature. who have made announcements 2 2 OFFICES OF DAN SHELLEY OCTOBER 2011 Harris, Jackson, Ogden and Shapiro Not Seeking Re-election to the Senate Texas Senate Will Have At Least Four New Members in 2013 Along with retirement announcements in the House, the Senate will experience an unusual, high turnover in 2013. Four Republican Senators, with over sixty combined years of service in the Texas HOUSE AND SENATE Senate, have announced retirement plans. Each of the four senators COMMITTEES START also holds a key chairman position in the Senate. INTERIM WORK Senator Chris Harris (R-Arlington), Chairman of the Jurisprudence Committee, has served in the Texas Senate since 1991. Lt. Governor Dewhurst He also served three terms in the Texas House prior to his election issued interim charges for six to the Senate. He announced his plans to retire in late September. senate committees with a focus Senator Mike Jackson (R-La Porte) announced his plans in on the ongoing drought and mid-August to leave the Senate at the end of his term to seek a seat wildfires. The Natural in Congress. Senator Jackson, Chairman of the Economic Resources, Agriculture and Development Committee, served in the House from 1989 through Rural Affairs, Economic 1999 when he joined the Senate. Development, Intergovernmental Senator Steve Ogden (R-Bryan) also announced retirement Relations, Flooding & plans in September. Senator Ogden, Chairman of the Finance Evacuations, Business & Committee, previously announced retirement plans in 2009, but Commerce and Transportation changed his mind and returned in 2011. He has served in the Texas & Homeland Security Legislature since 1991 beginning in the House and then moving to committees have each been the Senate in 1997. assigned issues to review related Senator Florence Shapiro (R-Plano), Chairman of Education, to the extreme drought and who has served in the Texas Senate since 1993, is also retiring. destructive wildfires. Additional Senator Shapiro is one of six females currently in the Texas Senate. Senate interim charges will be Each of these four seats is expected to remain with Republicans released later in the fall. These in 2013. Several candidates have already announced intentions to select charges can be accessed replace them in the Senate. here. Meanwhile, Speaker Straus also released interim committee charges to the House. These may be found here. Chris Harris Mike Jackson Steve Ogden Florence Shaprio.