#TXLEGE: Rodriguez might be least bad realistic possibility in SD-14

"Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10

Hmm....

Proud to share that a diverse group of elected officials, community leaders, advocates, activists & business people have formed an exploratory committee on my behalf for the upcoming #SD14 special election, to be co-chaired by @DonnaHowardTX, @CeliaIsrael & @GinaForAustin #txlege pic.twitter.com/i7jIZVrWBz

— Eddie Rodriguez (@EddieforTexas) February 27, 2020

Wasn't expecting that.

For those who aren't aware, this author has been a constituent of Eddie Rodriguez's for most of the past decade.  As such, we've had the opportunity to interact with him (and his staff) on a number of occasions.  We've always found them to be professional and respectful.  Not to damn him with faint praise, but that's more than we can say for about half the legislature.

That's not to say we agree with him on many issues.  We don't.  Furthermore, as we already said, we think it's worth it for someone with whom we agree to take a shot .  That being said, the shot in question would be a very long one.

FWIW, Eddie Rodriguez sometimes tailgates next to this author's friends at UT football games.  That doesn't mean much.  But...well...what else do we have to go on?!?

Bottom Line: We could certainly do worse.

#TXLEGE: Big 3 look serious on Property Taxes (while Democrats could be worse)

"But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God."
Nehemiah 5:15

[Note: We're having formatting issues putting them on this website, but both press conferences can be viewed via the Trib.]

This morning, the Governor, Lite Guv, and Speaker held a press conference to announce their joint property tax proposal.  The most important takeaway is that the House and Senate are beginning with identical bills.  That'll dramatically simplify negotiations down the line.

The unity means local governments will no longer be able to to play off the House vs. the Senate.  Speaker Bonnen specifically said, "those days are over."  Locals can engage productively, but they can no longer derail the process.  While nobody said it out loud, the contrast with the previous speaker is obvious.

The bill would require voter approval for all tax hikes over a 2.5% threshold alongside transparency enhancements.  Obviously, it's not everything we'd have liked.  But it's a gigantic step in the right direction and should be treated as such.  Nothing from today's press conference precludes using school finance reform to produce further property tax relief.

Another interesting nugget: Speaker Bonnen suggested appraisal reform was "easily deliverable to the Governor's desk."  He expected such reforms to pass with "overwhelming bipartisan support."  Good Deal.

Following the Big 3 press conference, Trey Martinez Fischer and Eddie Rodriguez held one for the Democrats.  Representative Fischer promised to ask "tough questions" about revenues.  He also stated his willingness to "agree to disagree" with the Speaker's starting position.  Coming from Trey Martinez Fischer, that could have been a lot worse.

Representative Rodriguez said he "wants to know how it will impact school finance" before committing to the Governor's plan.  That's not unreasonable.  Representative Rodriguez also announced that he was working on his own bill.  As a constituent, we're eager to see Representative Rodriguez's counteroffer for the property tax relief East Austin desperately needs.

Bottom Line: A lot of work remains to be done, but today's signs are encouraging.

#TXLEGE: So it's Bonnen....

"Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old."
Isaiah 43:18

This afternoon, Dennis Bonnen announced he has the votes to be the next speaker:

Dennis Bonnen speaker pledges by on Scribd

It's tough to know what to make of this (besides, obviously, the fact that there's NOTHING anyone can do about it).

On the one hand, Bonnen was the least bad person with a realistic chance.  He's on the record supporting the Governor's property tax plan.  He's known at the Capitol for having a good relationship with the Governor.  As Empower Texas points out, someone with an inconsistent record might be better than someone who's consistently bad.

On the other hand, he's Dennis Bonnen.

One interesting tidbit: Neither Donna Howard nor Celia Israel were on Bonnen's list.  Neither were any of the Hays/Travis/WillCo D's who flipped seats last Tuesday.  That might create an interesting dynamic on local bills.  (Note: Eddie Rodriguez and Sheryl Cole were on Bonnen's list.)

Bottom Line: Regardless of the speaker's identity, this is going to be a very challenging session....

#TXLEGE: Trib's "Austin & the Legislature" event illustrates Workman's irrelevance

"And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit."
Ezekiel 16:50

Trib this morning:

Join us in person or on our livestream for the first installment of this series: a conversation about public education, immigration, health care, spending, taxes and other consequential matters with Austin-area state Reps. Gina Hinojosa, Donna Howard and Eddie Rodriguez. Tribune co-founder and CEO Evan Smith will moderate.

LOL, they didn't even include Paul Workman.

This shouldn't surprise anyone: As long as the current Democrat/liberal Republican coalition rules the House, the Democrats will always be the most important members of the Travis County delegation.

While Workman filed some good bills to rein in the city of Austin during the 85th, those bills went nowhere (because of the afore mentioned Democrat/liberal Republican coalition).

And that's why we can no longer afford Paul Workman.

Bottom Line: It's nothing we didn't previously know, but it's still funny that they're this blatant about it.

Meet the Super Liberal Education Bill that Passed Straus' House

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them."
Ephesians 5:11

"Community schools" are a euphemism for all in one social service centers that cover the cradle component of 'cradle to grave.'  We attended a government school lobby event early in the 84th session where they were discussed extensively.  Our own (Democrat) state rep, Eddie Rodriguez, was carrying the bill.

The idea sounded so far-fetched that, to be honest, we forgot about it.  Earlier today, on a whim, we decided to see which bills Eddie Rodrigez managed to pass.  What we discovered was shocking.

The Texas House, under Joe Straus' leadership, actually passed the community schools bill (HB 1891); making matters worse, Jimmie Don Aycock (Straus handpicked education committee chairman) was a co-author on the bill.

How the vote went down:

HB 1891 ON THIRD READING
(by E. Rodriguez, Farney, S. Turner, VanDeaver, and Aycock)
HB 1891, A bill to be entitled An Act relating to Texas community schools.
HB 1891 was passed by (Record 1151): 69 Yeas, 52 Nays, 3 Present, not voting.

Yeas — Allen; Alonzo; Alvarado; Anderson, C.; Aycock; Bernal; Blanco; Canales; Coleman; Collier; Cyrier; Darby; Davis, S.; Davis, Y.; Deshotel; Dutton; Faircloth; Farias; Farney; Farrar; Frank; Giddings; Gonzales; Gonzalez; Guerra; Guillen; Gutierrez; Harless; Hernandez; Howard; Huberty; Isaac; Israel; Johnson; King, S.; King, T.; Klick; Lozano; Lucio; Martinez; Martinez Fischer; McClendon; Minjarez; Moody; Morrison; Mun˜oz; Naishtat; Neva´rez; Oliveira; Pen˜a; Pickett; Raymond; Rodriguez, E.; Rodriguez, J.; Romero; Rose; Schofield; Sheets; Sheffield; Stephenson; Thompson, S.; Turner, C.; Turner, S.; VanDeaver; Vo; White, J.; Workman; Wu; Zerwas.

Nays — Anderson, R.; Bell; Bohac; Bonnen, D.; Bonnen, G.; Burns; Burrows; Button; Capriglione; Craddick; Dale; Elkins; Fletcher; Flynn; Galindo; Geren; Goldman; Kacal; Keffer; Keough; Koop; Krause; Landgraf; Larson; Leach; Metcalf; Meyer; Miller, D.; Miller, R.; Murphy; Murr; Paul; Phelan; Phillips; Price; Riddle; Rinaldi; Sanford; Schaefer; Shaheen; Simmons; Simpson; Smith; Spitzer; Springer; Stickland; Tinderholt; Turner, E.S.; Villalba; White, M.; Wray; Zedler.

Present, not voting — Mr. Speaker; Clardy; Kuempel(C).

Absent, Excused — Anchia; Cook; Dukes; Fallon; Frullo; Herrero; King, K.; King, P.; Laubenberg; Longoria; Ma´rquez; Miles; Otto; Raney; Reynolds; Smithee; Thompson, E.; Walle.

Absent — Ashby; Burkett; Crownover; Hughes; Hunter; Paddie; Parker;Schubert.

[Author's Note: Emphasis added to highlight how Republican members in close proximity to Travis County voted.]

Even Charlie Geren voted against this flaming bag of junk.

Bottom Line: The Senate rightfully killed this bill, but for a 'community schools' bill to pass the Texas House in the first place tells you everything you need to know about Texas House leadership.