Bills Bills Bills

Today was a busy day in the House of Representatives. We debated and HB 469 which established incentives by the state for the implementation of certain projects to capture and sequester in carbon dioxide that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere. HB 4765 was also passed out of the House which temporarily raises the total revenue exemption from $300,000 to $1,000,000 for tax reports due in 2010 and 2011. After that period, the total revenue exemption returns to $300,000.


Another important bill was HB 1303 entitles an eligible survivor of certain law enforcement officers, fire fighters, or other public servants killed in the line of duty to obtain continued health insurance coverage from the officer's employer at the rate paid by current employees of the employing entity.

Swine Flu Bugaboo

The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert level in response to the outbreak of swine flu. This move indicates that the WHO has determined the virus is capable of significant human-to-human transmission. Seventy-three cases of swine flu have been confirmed worldwide. Hundreds more cases are suspected, especially in Mexico, where deaths thought to have been caused by the virus are rising. The symptoms are similar to the common flu and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Time magazine has an interesting article regarding the swine flu outbreak. The Department of State Health Services website is a valuable informational asset.

Border War Czar

Alan Bersin has been named "Border Czar" by Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. Mr. Bersin will be overseeing America's effort to keep drugs and illegal immigrants form flowing in from Mexico. Mr. Bersin was a federal prosecutor in the Clinton administration and headed up a border crackdown in San Diego. Now we have another Czar, lets all hope for the best.

Legislative Update

So far this session I have been able to pass seven bills out of House of Representatives: H.B. 963, H.B. 2374, H.C.R. 79, H.B. 2330, H.B. 2055, H.B. 1178 and H.B.962.

I also have 24 bills out of committee and on their way to the House Floor; H.B.69, H.J.R. 17, H.B.70, H.B. 72, H.B.423, H.B. 635, H.B. 636, H.B.637, H.J.R. 40, H.B. 1177, H.B. 1397, H.B. 1399, H.B. 1423, H.B. 1656, H.B. H.B.2186, H.B. 2328, H.B. 2577, H.B. 2804, H.B. 2813, H.B. 3869, H.B. 4180, H.B. 4607, H.B. 4185 and H.C.R. 125.

If you would like more information on these bill please check the Texas Legislature Online.

Nuclear Nut Jobs

On Tuesday, North Korea asked inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to leave the country. North Korea said that it will withdrawal from talks aimed at disarming its nuclear weapons. This news comes the day after the United Nations' Security Council declared condemnation of the recent rocket launch. Now that North Korea's foreign minister has said that the country intends to strengthen its nuclear capabilities, President Obama has one more potential crisis on his hands.

Arrrgh you kidding me?

Today pirates seized two freighters in the Gulf of Aden, just two days after the US Navy's daring rescue of Captain Richard Phillips. The high seas standoff grabbed headlines this weekend when three Navy SEAL snipers simultaneously shot and killed each of the three pirates with a single bullet to the head. This heroic rescue demonstrated the amazing ability of our United States Special Forces. Apparently the pirates didn't learn their lesson.

Got ID? part 2

Democrats and Republicans in the House Elections Committee laid out their opposing arguments on voter ID legislation Monday as the panel heard from expert witnesses. The bill passed by the Senate would require Texans to show either a photo ID such as a driver's license or two non-photo IDs such as a utility bill and a voter registration card. This debate went well into the night and will no doubt end up as a long debate on the floor in the future.