Mowery Heads Out To Pasture

After 19 years representing my part of Fort Worth in the Texas House, right-wing fossil Anna Mowery announced her resignation Tuesday. I say good riddance. As the S-T put it, "Mowery became known in recent years in part for her unflinching support of House Speaker Tom Craddick."

More than 10 other candidates have signaled in recent months that they are considering a run for Mowery's seat, including, among Republicans, Fort Worth school board member Chris Hatch, former Fort Worth Councilman Clyde Picht and Fort Worth lawyer Robert Higgins, who unsuccessfully challenged Mowery in the 2006 primary. Democrat Dan Barrett, a Fort Worth lawyer who opposed Mowery in the general election in 2006, has said he is considering pursuing the seat again.

Mowery's resignation will likely mean that a special election for her seat will be added to the Nov. 6 ballot, but it could be called earlier if Slick Rick Perry so decrees.

Good News / Bad News

Scott at Grits for Breakfast reports that Fort Worth's own Lon Burnham successfully used his point of order (discussed here) to negotiate the expansion of phone surveillance out of Senate Bill 11 - the House and Senate authors both agreed to a deal to cut out the entire wiretapping section. (See coverage from the Texas Observer and the Startlegram.) But Burnam did not get Chairman Corte to remove the provisions making emergency plans and "security audits" secret. Thanks, Scott, for keeping tabs on this and thanks to Lon for derailing this infringement on the civil liberties of Texans!

Don't Give Barney Fife Another Bullet

Scott at Grits for Breakfast says it so much better than I can:

I don't get it. How did we get past the post-9/11 session in 2003 without expanding wiretap authority (at the time David Dewhurst declined to pursue it saying he wanted to respect civil liberties), but NOW in 2007 it's urgent Texas do so?

I don't know if it is too late, but contact your House member immediately and let them know WE DON'T NEED THIS BILL PASSED! Fort Worth's own Rep. Lon Burnam called a point of order on the bill because the bill addresses more than one topic. SB 11 was pulled down and postponed until Monday morning, which may mean the POO is sustainable (I'd hope so, it's entirely valid - the bill's a hodge podge). Please contact your House member and let them know how you feel about SB 11 today.

It's Almost Over

The Texas Legislature is wrapping up it's session this week, which means there's all kinds of nonsense going on. If you are interested in reading more about that kind of thing, please refer to one of my new favorite blogs, Grits for Breakfast where Scott Henson has a great roundup on the status of criminal justice related bills.