HB 2833 Update

Richard, That was what I was told by everyone I talked to in Austin. The bill in the form it was filled had zero chance of passing. A committee substitute was going to be needed if it got to committee. It got to committee and a substitute was offered with some changes, the substitute was withdrawn because it also had some problems. Now there is another committee substitute with changed language that may or may not be able to get out of committee, and make it through calendars to the floor. Then the whole process again in the Senate, the Senate is tougher than the House. You (we) ran out of time because the language was not proper to begin with.

I hope y'all see why I was so concerned with the language being as perfect as it could be early on, before it was even sponsored by Mr. White. Bills with language problems like this get hung up and can't move fast, or can't move at all. Everyone in Austin has expected the Capitol to lock down about now, they have been telling me that was going to happen the first week of the session. So it not a surprise. That is why the push to get it right the first time.

I was concerned that many were sitting on their hands regarding calling about other legislation because they thought 2833 was as good as law and would save us from the bad bills.

Being a supporter to me means making the calls in support of a bill and voicing opinions on the language and possible pit falls that the bill might face. I voiced my concerns to Lance and JLS early on in private, it seams as if my warnings fell on deaf ears.

It seams that some are mad at me for bringing up the problems with wording and the warning that these problems would keep 2833 from getting out of committee in time. What I was afraid would happen has happened. I just wish the language would have been fixed early and we might now be working this bill through the Senate.

Don't shoot the messenger for trying to talk straight and to the point. I thought the goal was to get this bill passed.