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TAOG Executive Office Karen O'Briant 141 Idlewild Creek Road Sweetwater, Texas 79556 (325) 235-1959 FAX: (325) 235-4687 TOLL FREE (866) 935-1959 TAOG 
E-mail
© Copyright 2001 Texas Association of Obstetricians & Gynecologists All Rights Reserved Photos by PhotoDisc |
| (ongoing) LEGISLATIVE UPDATES: READ MIGNON McGARRY'S LATEST UPDATES FROM THE CAPITAL HERE |
Mignon Memo: This Week in Texas
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Governor Perry appointed Barry Smitherman to the Texas Railroad Commission for a term to expire at the next general election in 2012. He fills the unexpired term of former Commissioner Michael Williams who is running for one of the newly created congressional seats. Smitherman previously served as chairman of the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC).
Bryan entrepreneur Rebecca Boenigk has announced that she will run in the special election contest in House District 14. The winner will replace retiring Rep. Fred Brown (R-Bryan). Other candidates include former Brazos County Tax Assessor-Collector Buddy Winn and Aggieland Bookstore founder John Raney. No Democrats have announced their intent to run for the seat.
Matt Schaefer of Tyler announced that he will run for House District 6, currently represented by Rep. Leo Berman (R-Tyler). Schaefer is a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Reserve and has recently returned from a tour in Afghanistan. He has served as the East Texas Regional Director for U.S. Senator John Cornyn.
U.S. Congressman Ron Paul announced that he will not seek reelection to his Congressional District 14 seat so that he can focus his energies on his campaign for president. Paul will serve out his term through December of 2012.
Mignon Memo: This Week in Texas
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011
The First Called Special Session of the 82nd Legislature concluded today after a somewhat dramatic turn of events on Tuesday. The House and the Senate had each passed several items on the Governor’s list of items to be addressed, including Senate Bill 2 (supplemental appropriations); House Bill 3 (windstorm insurance reform); Senate Bill 4 (Congressional redistricting); Senate Bill 6 (public school instructional materials); Senate Bill 7 (healthcare savings measures) and Senate Bill 8 (flexibility for school district trustees). Legislation on sanctuary cities was not finally passed so it will not become law. The Senate passed Senate Bill 1 (state fiscal matters) and adjourned late Tuesday afternoon. The House, unhappy with the Senate for leaving them with little choice regarding legislation to address the intrusive touching of airline passengers and with concerns regarding certain provisions of the fiscal matters bill, initially voted Senate Bill 1 down. Senate Bill 1 was a must pass bill for this special session since it provides a total of $7.2 billion in either budget savings or new money and is needed to pay for the reduced level of appropriations for public schools. After a short break, the House returned Tuesday evening and reconsidered their vote, this time passing Senate Bill 1 by a slim margin.
The House reconvened this morning and passed House Bill 79 (fiscal matters related to the judiciary). There was an attempt to pass Senate Bill 29 (relating to the intrusive touching of persons seeking access to public buildings and transportation) which had previously been approved by the Senate. However, the vote came up short so it did not pass. Despite his disappointment in the Legislature’s failure to pass legislation to address sanctuary cities, there is no indication at this point that Governor Perry will call another special session this summer.
Rep. Fred Brown (R-Bryan) announced that he will submit his resignation from his House seat tomorrow after the conclusion of session. Rep. Warren Chisum (R-Pampa) has previously announced his intent to run for the Texas Railroad Commission during the next election cycle. There may be more retirements as the summer progresses.
Former Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams announced that he will be a candidate for the newly drawn 33rd Congressional district centered in Arlington. He joins former Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams in this race as both have abandoned their plans to run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. The departure of Roger Williams and Michael Williams leaves Republican contenders Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones, and former Solicitor General Ted Cruz still in the race. In addition, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has indicated he could enter the race.
Senate Democrats elected new leadership prior to the end of the special session. Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) stepped down as Chair of the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus today and was replaced by Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin).
Mignon Memo: This Week in Texas
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011
The First Called Special Session of the 82nd Legislature ends a week from today on June 29. At this point, it is unclear whether all of the items on the session’s agenda will pass. Senate Bill 4, the congressional redistricting bill, has passed both houses and has been sent to Governor Perry but the rest of the bills are at various stages in the process. Speaker Joe Straus has indicated that the House may work through the weekend in order to get legislation passed but no calendars have been set at this point.
Governor Perry added another item to the “call” of this special session. He has directed legislators to consider legislation addressing the intrusive groping of airline passengers.
Former Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams has switched his focus from the race to replace U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison to the race for one of the newly created congressional districts, District 33, in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex.
Mignon Memo: This Week in Texas
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Governor Perry made several appointments last week after the special session concluded. Barbara Cargill of The Woodlands was appointed chair of the State Board of Education for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2013. Cargill replaces Gail Lowe who failed to receive confirmation by the Texas Senate during the recent regular legislative session. Nizam Peerwani of Fort Worth was appointed chair of the Texas Forensic Science Commission which oversees professional conduct in forensic laboratories and facilities in Texas. Peerwani replaces John Bradley who also failed to receive Senate confirmation.
Jay Kimbrough, a former chief of staff to Gov. Rick Perry, was named deputy chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. He will also serve as interim chancellor until a replacement can be found for outgoing chancellor Mike McKinney, whose term ended June 30th.
Capt. Scott O'Grady who was flying an F-16 when he was shot down by Bosnian Serbs in 1995 while enforcing a NATO no-fly zone, announced that he is running as a Republican in House District 33, currently represented by Rep. Jodie Laubenburg (R-Rockwall).
Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs has selected Debra Wanser as commissioner for the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). Wanser, who has more than 30 years of health care administration experience, has been serving as DARS acting commissioner since January 1st.
President Obama has named Democratic Rep. Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas) to serve as a member of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. There, he'll join about 33 other business, labor and political leaders to provide advice for former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, who now serves as the U.S. Trade Representative.
The Center for Reproductive Rights has asked a U.S. court to stop Texas from enforcing the new sonogram law, which takes effect September 1st. The Center has sued Texas to overturn the law, and the group asked U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks to issue a preliminary injunction barring its enforcement while that case proceeds.
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