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by Loren Miller

THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE. by Loren Miller. Texas Misconceptions. We are all wealthy . . . . Texas Misconceptions. Texas Misconceptions. We ride horses to school . . . . If we don’t ride horses, then we have gun racks on the back of our pickups.

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by Loren Miller

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  1. THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE by Loren Miller

  2. Texas Misconceptions • We are all wealthy . . . .

  3. Texas Misconceptions

  4. Texas Misconceptions • We ride horses to school . . . . • If we don’t ride horses, then we have gun racks on the back of our pickups. • All the women look like Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders. • We mangle the language (e.g., George W. Bush). Gaffs • We are all dumb. • We’re rude and crude (e.g., Lyndon Johnson).

  5. LBJ

  6. Points to Ponder . . . . • In 1965, a member of the Texas House submitted a resolution commending Albert DeSalvo for his efforts in population control. No one checked to see who Mr. DeSalvo was. It passed. • The next day, the New York Times informed the world that the Texas Legislature had just commended the “Boston Strangler.” • In 1969, a newly elected member of the Texas House was in Austin for new member orientation. That night he went out on 6th street, got drunk and when a bouncer tried to escort him out of the establishment, he pulled a gun and informed the patrons that “I’m a member of the legislature, and you can’t do this to me.” • This also made the New York Times.

  7. Points to Ponder . . . . • In the early 90’s, a member of the legislature introduced a resolution to create a committee to recommend to the next session of the legislature the “official color of the official state condom.” It passed. • In the mid 90’s, during a debate on an open container law, a member of the legislature stated that “Bubba, after a hard day’s work at the factory or on the farm, deserves to swig a few on the way home.” • “If you took all the fools out of the Legislature, it wouldn’t be a representative body anymore.” Carl Parker former State Senator

  8. Points to Ponder . . . . • In early 1997, Senator Drew Nixon (R-Carthage) was arrested in South Austin with an unlicensed handgun in his automobile after he was taped and filmed bargaining for sex from an undercover policewoman. He pled guilty to a Class B misdemeanor and served a 6-month sentence on weekends while continuing in office. • His election campaign focused on “family values.” • In 1999, a 20-year-old Brazosport College student working for Senator J.E. Brown (R-Lake Jackson) complained that he had fondled and attempted to kiss her while giving her a golf lesson in his law office. Although Brown publicly gave his former employee a letter of apology, he continued in office.

  9. Bring in the Clowns . . . .

  10. Texas Legislature Over Time House Senate

  11. The Rise of the Republicans1970-2000 Texas Democrats are more conservative than Democratic. Democratic presidential candidates have been viewed by many Texans as being “too liberal.” Bedroom communities of major Texas cities have attracted white collar industries whose workers tend to be Republican. Blacks and Hispanics, who tend to be Democrats, do not turn out to vote to the same extent as Anglos. Impact of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

  12. Rise of the Republican South% Republican Seats

  13. The Fall of the Republicans??2020+ The labor force today is 64 percent Anglo and 22 percent Hispanic. By 2030 it will be 45 percent Hispanic and 37 percent Anglo. The average household income for 2000 was $45,736. In 2030 it will be $42,620.

  14. Mitt Romney’s Stance on Hispanic Issues: He vowed to veto the DREAM Act which would make non-citizens who serve in the military eligible for citizenship. He favored a system of self-deportation, a policy that involves making economic conditions so difficult for undocumented workers that they choose to leave the country. If they want to return, they would then get in the “back of the line.”

  15. Arizona Immigration Law: Requires that state law enforcement officials attempt to determine an individual’s immigration status during a “lawful stop, detention, or arrest” or during a “lawful contact” not specific to any activity. Sotomayor Vote Latino Vote: 44% for Bush (2004) 31% for McCain (2008) 27% for Romney (2012

  16. The Fall of the Republicans??2020+ % Texas

  17. Problems for the Democrats in TexasLatino Voter Turnout Bureau of the Census, 2011

  18. The Fall of the Republicans??2020+ Non-Hispanic, White Hispanic Asian Other Black 2000 2020 2050 National Totals

  19. IF THE LEGISLATURE WAS A REPRESENTATIVE BODY

  20. “The future of Texas is tied to its minority populations. How well they do is how well Texas will do.” Steve Murdock, demographer, Texas A&M University

  21. Texas Legislature Over Time House Senate

  22. “Along with bar rooms and bordellos, there has not been a more male-dominated institution . . . than the Texas legislature. These three worlds have a lot in common, such as liquor, tobacco, money, fist fights, and, of course, politics. They are also arenas of male dominion and social bonding.” Nancy Baker Jones, historian

  23. Texas Legislature Over Time House Senate

  24. LIMITED SESSION Early January Early June 140 Day Session Odd Numbered Years (only 4 states have biennial sessions)

  25. LIMITED SESSION If a disputed bill passes at all, when will it pass? Early January Early June Role of Lobbyists 80% of the votes come in the last two weeks 140 Day Session Odd Numbered Years Voting

  26. If you ask the question, “Whose bill is it?” what you mean is, which lobby wrote it. If you want to know which legislator is sponsoring the bill, you ask, “Who’s carrying the bill? Shows the influence of Lobbyists

  27. “If you meet only occasionally, get paid little, and have weak staffs, you are at the disposal of the lobby because you have to go to them for information.” Cal Jillson, political scientist

  28. Who Gives and Who Receives? (millions) 2009

  29. Where Does Texas Rank??

  30. Where Does Texas Rank??

  31. Where Does Texas Rank??

  32. TEXAS MAJOR STATE AND LOCAL TAXES AS A PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME Texas State Comptroller, 2007

  33. Who Would Run?? • Someone who is independently wealthy • Per diem pushes the compensation to approximately $30,000/yr • Someone who is self-employed • Someone who would benefit from added name recognition • Such as a lawyer or a realtor • Someone who wants to use this office as a stepping-stone to another office • Someone who wants to become a lobbyist

  34. Legislative Salaries in the Ten Most Populous States 2010

  35. Legislatures Staffed with Professionals(full-time, well-staffed, well-paid)

  36. WHAT’S IT COST TO RUN? 2006 OFFICE INCUMBENT CHALLENGER HOUSE $267,300 $91,400 SENATE $835,000 $235,200

  37. TURNOVER (1971-2010) Texas House ranged from 7% to 51% (23% in 2010) Texas Senate ranged from 3% to 45% (7% in 2010) Compare to Congress

  38. AVERAGE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE 2009 HOUSE 8 SENATE 13 With high turnover the new members are learning the rules and finding their way. The allows the few “old timers” to control the legislative process.

  39. PRESIDING OFFICERS Speaker Lieutenant Governor • Appoint all committee chairs and vice chairs • Appoint one-half of the members of all substantive committees • Appoint all members of conference committees • Recognize (or not) members who wish to speak on the floor • Break a tie vote

  40. GETTING BILLS TO THE FLOOR • House Calendars Committee • Controlled by the Speaker • Similar to the Rules Committee in the U.S. House

  41. GETTING BILLS TO THE FLOOR • Senate, Suspension of the Rules • Bills require a 2/3’s vote to be considered on the floor** • “The two-thirds rule protects the conservatives from wacky liberal bills, and it protects the liberals from wacky conservative bills.” • “It imposes adult behavior on people who might be otherwise inclined.” Jeff Wentworth, State Senator R., San Antonio KelSeliger, State Senator, R., Amarillo

  42. “For state government to work, three people have to work together, and they have to work well together—the governor, the lieutenant governor and the speaker.” Pete Gallego, state representative, D., Alpine Power of Lt. Governor

  43. “A speaker who uses the office fully can virtually determine what does and what does not become law in Texas.” Ben Barnes, former speaker of the Texas House

  44. “No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.” Texas proverb

  45. It’s now time for your second exam. Study hard!

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