By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com
Austin, TX –
"I don't think there's ever been a war won waving a white flag." - Gov. Rick Perry, upon hearing that House Speaker Tom Craddick has proposed that the Second Called Session of the 79th Legislature end sine die.
And there's never been an Alaskan sockeye salmon caught without waving a fishing line.
Whether you believe that Craddick wants the session to end because there truly is no possibility of compromise between the House and Senate on any bill that has been floated regarding public school reform or property tax relief, or if you believe he wants to end the session so he can go on his previously-scheduled Alaskan fishing trip next week...it really doesn't matter.
The Senate can do what it wants to...file new education bills, pass them, send them to the House.
What matters is that, like it or not, the bill will eventually come to the House - El Rancho Tom-O. And unless you can maneuver through the barbed-wire fence he's put around his territory, you need not be trying to slip a Senate-bred bill into his pasture or it's probably Boot Hill-bound.
A "speechless" Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) was astounded when told Thursday evening about Craddick's saying that continuing the session would be a waste of both time and money. She had just spent five hours debating amendments to, and then passing out her SB 8, the latest "savior" for school reform.
With Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst adamant that the "show must go on," a trickle of statements from House members (Craddick lieutenants) began to appear supporting Craddick's proposal to sine die.
Last night it was Speaker Pro Tem Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) who rode shotgun with Craddick, noting House members are tired, frustrated and "at an impasse." He suggested, as did Craddick, that the legislature wait until the Supreme Court ruling in the fall to decide what the next step might be.
Today, Rep. Kent Grusendorf (R-Arlington), chair of the Public Education Committee and author of HB 2 (the failed school reform bill), joined the Craddick posse.
He called Craddick's comments regarding ending the Second Called Session "right on target."
"We are not making progress, so we should do what is necessary through budget execution to ensure that funding for textbooks is in place for students this fall."
However, Grusendorf said that if the legislature remains in session, he and Rep. Jim Pitts (R-Waxahachie), chair of the Appropriations Committee, are preparing to introduce a bill Monday that will fund both textbooks and instructional technology, "two items that were agreed to in Conference Committee at the end of the First Called Special in June."
And Shapiro has a "last gasp" bill that she filed last night as well. Her SB 38 would provide for the immediate funding of textbooks for Texas students.
Earlier in the day, Sens. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) and Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) filed SB 37, which would provide funding for teacher pay raises, resume the pass-through for teachers and school employees to use to help pay for health insurance, and pay for previously ordered textbooks.
Seems as though most are preparing contingency plans.
With apologies to Craddick and his upcoming trip to Alaska - it's time to fish or cut bait.