1,400 Bills Prefiled For 80th Already
Vince Leibowitz | Nov 12, 2006 | Comments 2
It’s barely a week since the election, and already rumors are swirling around that the members of the Lege have sent down a whopping 1,400 bills to the Texas Legislative Council to be drafted for ‘pre-filing,’ which I believe starts sometime in December. (via Grits)
It’s interesting that the Texas Legislative Council actually drafts all the legislation. Most people in Texas probably have the common misconception that every legislator writes every word of every bill. Of course, if that was the case, some of the bills would probably look like they were written by semi-literate second graders.
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Filed Under: Texas Legislature
“Pre-filing” started yesterday, not some time in December. And Lege Council doesn’t draft all legislation, they are there to help with writing when asked. Members do write their own legislation, and oftentimes a lobbyist will show up with a predrafted piece for the member to file.
You’ll even see hand-written amendments sometimes on the floor, something Lege Council would never do.
You’re right, Joe. My bad. I was thinking it started in December.
And thanks for the clarification. I am well aware of the handwritten amendments and was under the impression (until I read elsewhere otherwise) that the Lege Council only drafted *some* legislation…but, elsewhere, it was listed as *all*. So, I stand re-corrected.
Thanks for your comment!