Tuesday, January 12, 1999 HOUSE JOURNAL — 1st Day 1 HOUSE JOURNAL SEVENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, REGULAR SESSION PROCEEDINGS FIRST DAY — TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1999 In accordance with the laws and Constitution of the State of Texas, the members-elect of the House of Representatives assembled this day in the hall of the house of representatives in the city of Austin at 12 noon. The Honorable Elton Bomer, secretary of state of the State of Texas, called the House of Representatives of the Seventy-Sixth Legislature of the State of Texas to order. The invocation was offered by Dr. Wallace Davis, President, Wayland Baptist University, as follows: May we pray. Our most gracious Heavenly Father, on this historic day we acknowledge with grateful hearts those manifold blessings you have so graciously showered upon our state. In both good times and bad, you’ve blessed our land, you’ve preserved its people. Dear Father, as this legislative body now convenes, we pray your continued blessings on its members, on its leadership, and on those families willing to accept personal hardships so these men and women can serve a grateful state. And we pray your blessings on a people. A people who ask only that those who sit in this body protect with word and deed both the rights and responsibilities of the free people of Texas. In your holy word it is written that where there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But with honest, sensible leaders, there is stability. Sadly we have witnessed the painful truth of your words. So today we pray that, as you have blessed Texas in her past, you will bless her in her future. You will bless her by helping these who have sought a place of service to realize that your truth, coupled with these members’ own personal integrity, continue to be the only foundation strong enough to support the twin towers of liberty and justice. In the days of this session, we pray that you will invest these men and women with stately wisdom, uncommon courage, and personal virtue, so that our Texas can truly serve as a beacon for all who honestly seek after truth and freedom, goodness and mercy. We ask these things in the name of the Father, the giver of all great gifts. Amen. ADDRESS BY THE HONORABLE ELTON BOMER The Honorable Elton Bomer, secretary of state, addressed the house, speaking as follows: Members-elect, families, friends, distinguished guests, welcome. If I were to deliver a prayer to you today, it would be as follows: Dear God: We’ll be here for 140 days. Hope you will be too. Amen. As Pete Laney has said before, I’m house broke. I know your anticipations, fears, and desires. 2 76th LEGISLATURE — REGULAR SESSION Every secretary of state should first have to stand at the front microphone and lay out his first bill with Steve Wolens anxiously standing at the back microphone just waiting to utter those six dreaded words: “Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield.” One hundred years ago, there had not yet been the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk. This nation had less than 75 miles of paved highways outside the cities. The vast majority of Texans lived on farms and had no phone, electricity, or plumbing. In the twinkling of an eye we will begin the journey of the 21st century. We will venture into a world of cyberspace, the Internet, instant global communications, machines that think, or react as if they think. Access to global markets will come to us at the speed of light. Technology that perhaps will save us, we can only hope won’t enslave us. Change—constant change—is now woven into every fabric of society. I first served in this body 18 years ago. I, along with you, have witnessed the world change before our eyes. Yet since the days of Genesis and God breathing life into man, some things are constant and eternal: love of God; love of country; love of family and friends. These things must always exist for us to exist: the need for honor; the need for integrity; and the need for courage never changes. Texas needs—Texas demands—leaders of such a mold. I proudly serve a governor who embodies those three virtues and I’m proud of his candor, I’m proud of the fairness in his demeanor, I’m proud of his sincere desire to do the right thing. I proudly serve a state that bears witness to so many who not only believed, but lived those three words: honor, integrity, courage. I want to publicly thank Governor Bush for giving me the opportunity to serve the people of Texas as the 101st secretary of state. I salute you, the victorious. I salute the leadership of your entity of honor. But, most of all, I salute this fine institution. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family for their love, support, and encouragement: my wife, Ginny; my son, Cliff and his wife, Michelle; my daughter, Elayne and her husband, Glen; and my grandsons, Adam and Chase. It is my great honor to join Governor Bush and you as we now move on into tomorrow. I pray God’s blessing for us all. APPOINTMENT OF TEMPORARY OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES The Honorable Elton Bomer recognized the chief clerk, who announced the temporary officers and employees for the House of Representatives of the Seventy-Sixth Legislature. Chief Clerk and Assistant Parliamentarian ................................. Sharon Carter Parliamentarian ..............................................................................Robert I. Kelly Journal Clerk................................................................................. Elena Castaldi Sergeant-at-Arms ................................................................................. Rod Welsh Assistant Chief Clerk ..................................................................... Robert Haney Chaplain ................................................................................. Dr. Wallace Davis Tuesday, January 12, 1999 HOUSE JOURNAL — 1st Day 3 Doorkeeper .......................................................................................Pete Peterson Honorary Pages ........................................................................... Jared B. Freeze, A. Graham Gonzales, Gabriel Q. Gonzales, Adam Rust, Chase Rust, Ashley Stokes, Matthew Lane Bradley, Shannon Jean Bradley, Ashley Cameron Lane, Tiffany Anne Lane, Sarah Beth Barry, Owen James Carver, Tanner Scott Clark, Payton Elise Harrell, Tyler Michael Hull, Tatum Margaret Lowe, Trysten Lynn Lowrey, Destry Lanea' Morgan, Drayton Lane Morgan, Dalton Lee Nichols, Benjamin John Osgood, Mary Elizabeth Ross, McKenna Nicole Shelton, Allye Margaret Tankersly, Avrey Kate Tankersly, Brant Michael Walker, John Ronan Wenmohs, Sydney Morgan Kane, Lee Madison Cardwell, and Baylee Ann Bonham. ROLL OF MEMBERS-ELECT SHOWING DISTRICTS REPRESENTED The Honorable Elton Bomer directed the chief clerk to call the roll of members-elect of the House of Representatives of the State of Texas of the Seventy-Sixth Legislature, according to representative districts. The roll was called as follows: DISTRICT NAME District 1 Barry B. Telford District 2 Tom Ramsay District 3 Mark Homer District 4 Betty Brown District 5 Bob D. Glaze District 6 Leo Berman District 7 Tommy Merritt District 8 Paul Sadler District 9 Wayne Christian District 10 Jim Pitts District 11 Todd Staples District 12 Clyde Alexander District 13 Charles B. Jones District 14 Fred Brown District 15 Thomas "Tommy" Williams District 16 Ruben Hope District 17 Jim McReynolds District 18 Dan Ellis District 19 Ron E. Lewis District 20 Zeb Zbranek District 21 Allan Ritter District 22 Joe Deshotel District 23 Patricia Gray District 24 Craig Eiland District 25 Dennis Bonnen District 26 Charlie Howard District 27 Dora Olivo District 28 Robert L. "Robby" Cook 4 76th LEGISLATURE — REGULAR SESSION District 29 D. R. "Tom" Uher District 30 Geanie W. Morrison District 31 Judy Hawley District 32 Gene Seaman District 33 Vilma Luna District 34 Jaime L. Capelo, Jr. District 35 Irma Rangel District 36 Kino Flores District 37 Rene O. Oliveira District 38 Jim Solis District 39 Miguel "Mike" Wise District 40 Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa District 41 Roberto Gutierrez District 42 Henry Cuellar District 43 Tracy O. King District 44 Ignacio Salinas, Jr. District 45 Edmund Kuempel District 46 Rick Green District 47 Terry Keel District 48 Sherri Greenberg District 49 Elliott Naishtat District 50 Dawnna Dukes District 51 Glen Maxey District 52 Mike Krusee District 53 Harvey Hilderbran District 54 Suzanna Gratia Hupp District 55 Dianne White Delisi District 56 Kip Averitt District 57 Jim Dunnam District 58 Arlene Wohlgemuth District 59 David Lengefeld District 60 Jim Keffer District 61 Phil King District 62 Ron Clark District 63 Mary Denny District 64 Ronny Crownover District 65 Burt R. Solomons District 66 Brian McCall District 67 Jerry Madden District 68 Rick Hardcastle District 69 David Farabee District 70 David Counts District 71 Bob Hunter District 72 Robert Junell District 73 Robert "Bob" Turner District 74 Pete P. Gallego District 75 Manny Najera District 76 Norma Chavez District 77 Paul C. Moreno Tuesday, January 12, 1999 HOUSE JOURNAL — 1st Day 5 District 78 Pat Haggerty District 79 Joe C. Pickett District 80 Gary L. Walker District 81 G. E. "Buddy" West District 82 Tom Craddick District 83 Delwin Jones District 84 Carl H. Isett District 85 James E. "Pete" Laney District 86 John T. Smithee District 87 David Swinford District 88 Warren Chisum District 89 Sue Palmer District 90 Lon Burnam District 91 Bill G. Carter District 92 Todd Smith District 93 Toby Goodman District 94 Kent Grusendorf (Absent) District 95 Glenn Lewis District 96 Kenneth "Kim" Brimer District 97 Anna Mowery District 98 Vicki Truitt District 99 Kenny Marchant District 100 Terri Hodge District 101 Elvira Reyna District 102 Tony Goolsby District 103 Steven D. Wolens District 104 Domingo Garcia District 105 Dale B. Tillery District 106 Ray Allen District 107 Harryette B. Ehrhardt District 108 Kenn George District 109 Helen Giddings District 110 Jesse W. Jones District 111 Yvonne Davis District 112 Fred Hill (Absent) District 113 Joe Driver District 114 Will Hartnett District 115 Leticia Van de Putte District 116 Leo Alvarado, Jr.