Capitol Roundup
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Saturday, May 26, 2007
SPEAKER'S RACE
Thompson renews her candidacy
Democratic Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, declared herself a renewed candidate for House speaker Friday as a crack opened among GOP critics of Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick of Midland.
Thompson, a lawyer who sought the speakership last year, filed her latest declaration to win election from colleagues at the start of the 2009 session. Four Republicans also have declared their candidacies.
The crack in the anti-Craddick ranks emerged via Rep. Robert Talton, R-Pasadena, who said he won't vote for a motion to remove Craddick as speaker from the House floor before the session ends Monday.
He said he would vote "present, not voting," if such a motion is brought up.
YOUTH COMMISSION
Agency overhaul bill goes to Perry
The House on Friday accepted the final version of Senate Bill 103, the sweeping package of changes for the scandal-racked Texas Youth Commission.
The Senate had already agreed to the latest version of the plan, which was hammered out by members of both chambers.
The measure now goes to Gov. Rick Perry, who is expected to sign it into law.
The legislation would mandate independent investigations and new accountability measures, and restructure the agency's management and operations, to guard against any future scandals of sex abuse and official cover-ups.
TOLL ROADS
Senate OKs transportation plan
The Senate signed off on a compromise transportation bill Friday that includes a two-year moratorium on most new privately financed toll road projects yet averts the risk of Gov. Rick Perry calling a special session.
The bill still needs approval of the House before it can be sent to Perry.
COMPUTERS
Recycling measure approved
Computer makers would have to provide consumers with convenient and free recycling of their laptops, desktops and monitors, under a proposal that got a stamp of approval from the Legislature on Friday.
The bill, carried by Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, and Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, calls for the state environmental agency to administer a recycling plan requiring manufacturers who sell computers in Texas to label their equipment with pickup and recycling information, or risk fines.
Computers include components built of lead, mercury and other harmful materials.
Environmentalists say burying computers in landfills or burning them in incinerators is an unsafe way of disposing of the materials.
