Lawmakers file 318 bills on Lege's first filing day
Ed Sterling
A AUSTIN - Early filing of legislation for the 80th regular session of the Texas

Legislature has begun.

Some of the 181 members of the Texas Legislature (150 in the House and 31 in the Senate) got right to it, filing 318 pieces of legislation on Nov. 13, the first day they could put a bill in the hopper.

Lawmakers file about 10,000 bills in a regular, 140-day legislative session. It isn't a race to see who can file the most bills, but a few lawmakers are off to a quick start.

Sen. Jane Nelson, RGrapevine, led the pack on day one by filing 29 bills. Then came Sen. Judith Zaffirini, DLaredo, with 21. In the House, big filers were State Reps. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, and Richard Raymond, D-Laredo, with 17 bills each.

A sampling of subjects among the 318 early-filed bills:

 health care, prisons, crime, taxes;

 education, campaign contribution limits, raising the minimum wage;

 defibrillator, seatbelts, road signs and neck wear.

That's right: neck wear. Rep. Armando "Mando" Martinez, D-Weslaco, filed a resolution designating the bolo tie as the official State Tie of Texas.

Nelson, Branch, Sens. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-Laredo, Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, and Rep. Hubert Vo, DHouston, each filed bills requiring schools to have an automated external defibrillator ready to use in case anyone goes into cardiac arrest at extra-curricular athletic events.

Republicans and Democrats apparently agree on the need for defibrillators, but the chronic tension between the two parties is as strong as ever.

Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, is seeking another term to preside over the Texas House. While he has dissenters, Craddick claims to have pledges for more than the 76 votes he will need to remain as speaker. Sixty-nine of the 150 members of the House are Democrats.

An effort is brewing to back someone other than Craddick for the high post. Supposing Democrats hold together, it would take at least seven sympathetic Republicans to bring on another speaker.

The legislative session opens Tuesday, Jan. 9, and the bill-filing deadline is 60 days later.

Writers call for end to lobby team

With Democrats coming into Congressional power in January and a "lame-duck" session in progress, Gov. Rick Perry's tax dollar-funded GOP lobbyists won't have the punch they once enjoyed at the U.S. Capitol under Republican control.

The Austin American-Statesman and other newspapers have called for an end to funding for those lobbyists, some of whom were associates or employees of criminally convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and indicted former U.S. Rep. and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

Official says utility bills too high

Jim Scogin, director of the Texas Council on Competitive Government, says the state's $200 million a year utility bill is too high.

The council has contracted with LPB Energy of Dallas to audit state agencies' energy-use and bookkeeping related to it, to look for ways to conserve energy use and to shop for better rates.

The goal is to cut the state's energy bill by 25 percent.

Senator to file smoking ban bill

Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, said he plans to file legislation to create a "Texas Smoke-free Workplace Law" banning smoking at all work sites and in all public places. Ellis made the announcement in conjunction with the 30th annual Great American Smokeout on Nov. 17.

Landmark bridge to be renamed

The Austin City Council voted to rename Congress Avenue Bridge the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge in honor of the late governor who died Sept. 13.

The city placed a plaque on the bridge Nov. 16 and the official christening will take place later.

Hurricane aid near $1 billion

Texas residents who suffered damage from Hurricane Rita in September 2005 have been approved to receive more than $984 million in disaster assistance, including grants from FEMA and low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Ed Sterling is director of member services for the Texas Press Association.