80th Legislature: A Close Look At Speaker Craddick’s Committee Assignments

I’ve finally had the chance to fully digest the entire 58 page documet that is Speaker Craddick’s Commitee Assignments.
A couple of important notes: the makeup of the Elections Committee is a complete and total train wreck (more on that in another post); Democrat Allan Vaught got the best assignment of any freshman with his Vice Chairmanship; and Jim Pitts was unceremoniously dumped from Appropriations, even though he asked to be chairman again.
I’ve also decided the best way to look at this is committee-by-committee, so let’s roll with that. For reference, the assignments from the 79th are here.

Agriculture & Livestock: The perfect place to back-bench your enemies. However, I really don’t see a lot of “back benching” going on here. I’m surprised with Betty Brown (R-Terrell) being named CBO for the committee, but her district does have agricultural interests, so it is an appointment that makes sense. Though as her area is becoming very exurban, I’m a bit surprised with the appointment. I first looked at Joe Heflin on the committee and thought “backbenched!” and then realized his massive district is quite agricultural in nature, so it is a good fit. The most prime example of back-benching on this committee, though, could be Juan Garcia (D-Corpus Christi), unless he asked for the assignment. Given the importance of the coast to Garcia’s district and that he’s a naval aviator, I think other assignments would have been far more fitting for him (and he did get one more appropriate assignment…read on). Of course, Garcia had two massive strikes going into this: (1) he defeated Gene Seaman, a Craddickat to the core and (2) he voted against Craddick for speaker.

Appropriations: Oh, where to begin! First off, Jim Pitts is nowhere to be seen on the roster though he chaired last session (and, then…ran for Speaker—enough said). Freshman Eddie Lucio, III is on there, though. It’s a very, very plum appointment for a freshman House member, too. No doubt he benefitted from his support of Craddick, as did Ryan Guillen who was named vice chair of the committee. Of course, given that’s how Craddick works with these committee assignments, it’s not hard to see why people would support him if it meant landing such a great assignment basically from day one of your legislative career (in the case of Lucio). Predictably, a few other Democrats who supported Craddick ended up on the list: Norma Chaves (D-El Paso), Dawanna Dukes (D-Austin), and Ruth Jones McClendon (D-San Antonio). Again, as much as many in the Netroots complained about their pro-Craddick votes, these reps are in prime positions for their districts. Not to mention that having these Dems on the committee beats having Republicans in their place any day of the week and twice on Sunday. I’m also surprised to see Kirk England on the Committee, who is technically a “freshman and a half,” given that he came into the lege last fall in a special election. In terms of regional balance, I’m actually quite surprised that the committee seems to have a decent regional balance.

Border & International Affairs: I’m surprised someone with a Latino surname isn’t chairing this committee since, after all, it’s the Mexico border we’re talking about, and not the one with Arkansas. Norma Chavez (D-El Paso) was at the helm last time. I’m also surprised that Stephen Frost (D-Atlanta) is its vice chair given that his district is closer to the Louisiana border than the Mexico border, and that Tommy Merritt (R-Longview) has both more overall seniority and committee seniority. Of course, Merritt opposed a record vote for Speaker and was a target of Leininger, so it’s expected he wouldn’t get the VC spot.

Business & Industry: Not a lot of earth-shattering stuff here.

Calendars: No real surprises to me, at least. Dukes, Guillen and Chavez as Vice Chair were expected to get assignments like this . It’s good to have a D as vice chair of this committee, although I have heard that most Democrats would have preferred Dukes to have the vice-chairmanship since that position is the one Democrats will be lobbying in order to get their bills “to the gate.”

Civil Practices: Mark Strama (D-Austin) as vice chair surprised me. He’s replacing Patrick Rose (D-Dripping Springs) who has moved on to much greener pastures.

Corrections: I looked at this one and wondered why Terri Hodge (D-Dallas) was nowhere to be seen on the roster, as she’s a major advocate for those housed in the correctional facilities. Hochberg as Vice Chair is a good choice, although probably not the choice I would have made if I was picking a Democrat. Of course, given the serious issues that will be facing Corrections this term, I can see that the appointment makes sense because of his experience. And, while this committee may see some serious action this cycle due to the prison situation, I would view Dunnam on the committe as him being “back benched.”

County Affairs: It seems that Craddick combined low-seniority Democrats with Democrats he didn’t want to give any plums to for these appointments. While County Affairs does good work, it’s not exactly what most members would consider an “A List” committee.

Criminal Jurisprudence: An excellent choice in pairing Aaron Pena (D-Edinburg) with freshman Allen Vaught (D-Dallas) as chair and vice chair. Pena, who came to the Lege to work on this type of issues, will bring a great face to this committee if he can get past being hammered by some Democrats for the fact that his support of Craddick helped facilitate the appointment. Vaught’s VC position is probably the single-best appointment given to a Freshman this session, including the fact that Lucio III wound up on Appropriations. This committee will see tremendous action this session and this appointment is an interesting place for the Iraq War vet and attorney. Two other freshman on the committee are Democrats Paula Hightower Pierson and Barbara Mallory Caraway. Between those two ladies, Vaught and Terri Hodge (D-Dallas), a significant makeup of this committee is from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

Culture, Recreation & Tourism: This is where the newest member of the Texas House, Mike O’Day from HD 29, ended up. Donna Dukes and Donna Howard, both Austin Democrats, give the committee an Austin-tilt.

Defense Affairs & State-Federal Relations: Juan Garcia is on this comittee, and it is one where Craddick should have faced major heat had he not put him on it, given that his district includes the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station.

Economic Development: I thought for sure Kolkhorst would be chairing this one, but she’s the CBO instead.

Elections: The makeup of this committee is an unmitigated disaster and represents Craddick’s worst appointments of the entire list. He has anti-immigrant hard-right Republicans as chair, vice chair and CBO in Leo Berman (R-Tyler), Dwayne Bohac (R-Houston) and Kirk England (R-Grand Prairie). Plus, Charlie Howard (R-Sugar Land) is another hard-right member on the committee. The only Democrats on the committee are Lon Burnam (D-Fort Worth), Rafael Anchia and Joe Farias (D-San Antonio). This committee is a huge mess. While Anchia, Farias and Burnam will do their darndest to stop the Republican nonsense, they’re out matched in numbers 4-3. Expect a lot of very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very bad legislation to come out of this committee. Berman, as you’ll recall, has proposed the vast majority of the most hateful anti-immigrant legislation that has been filed this session. He’d love nothing more than for voters to have to show up at the polls with 35 forms of ID, an affidavit from their birth parents and a DNA sample just to be able to vote a provisional ballot (maybe). Craddick has all but guaranteed a major floor-battle over voter ID legislation this session.

Energy Resources: Nothing spectacular here, other than Warren Chisum as a “speaker appointment.”

Environmental Regulation: Here is where Lucio III got his appropriations seat, as CBO of this committee. Now you see why I say Vaught’s Criminal Jurisprudence VC is more plum of an assignment.

Financial Institutions: A combo of back-benching and good spots for Craddick supporters. Brian McCall ended up here, and it’s how Norma Chavez got her Appropriations Seat (by being CBO). I’m glad to see Dan Flynn (R-Van) as vice chair of Financial Institutions, though. As much as I disagree with his politics, he has an excellent knowledge base in this industry and will be tough on predatory lending.

General Investigating & Ethics: No major shocks here.

Government Reform: This was the finger in the face to Jim Pitts. He wanted to chair this committee. Instead, he’s the Vice Chair to Bill Callegari, who has far less name recognition. Freshman Borris Miles, a Craddick opponent, ended up here, too.

Higher Education: Though he got a less than plum assignment we mentioned earlier, I was quite shocked to see Brian McCall as vice chair of Higher Ed. Diane Patrick, who defeated Grusendorf, ended up here as expected. Geanie Morrison retained her chairmanship here, too.

House Administration: Donna Howard and Hubert Vo got seats on this one.

Human Services: Patrick Rose (D-Dripping Springs) is the chairman. I nearly fell out of my chair over this one, though it was rumored to be so. Hopefully, he’ll rule the committee like other Democrats would if given the chance. The rumor de jour, however, is that Rose got this assignment on the condition he’d switch parties before the next cycle. I simply don’t believe that, though. Anyway, conservatives were still welcome in the Democratic Party, last time I checked.

Insurance: Nothing to make me fall out of my chair.

Judiciary: I was surprised to see Mark Homer (D-Paris) as Vice Chair of this one. He replaces Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola). Chuck Hopson was CBO in the 79th and continues in that position for the 80th.

Juvenile Justice & Family Issues: Dutton continues as chair, Craig Eiland comes on the committee as vice chair.

Land & Resource Management: No big surprises.

Law Enforcement: No big surprises.

Licensing & Administrative Procedures: Kino Flores and Charlie Geren keep their chairmanship and vice chairmanship respectively.

Local & Consent Calendars: Charlie Howard replaces Elvira Reyna, who lost her primary in ‘06.

Local Government Ways & Means: Hill remains as chair; no surprises.

Natural Resources: Puente remains as chair.

Pensions & Investments: Eiland dumped out of the chairmanship, replaced by Vicki Truitt. Mike Villarreal replaces Dan Flynn as VC as Flynn moved up to VC of Financial Institutions. McClendon stays as CBO.

Public Education: Eissler as Chairman, Zedler as Vice Chairman. Dine Patrick is a surprise on this one, given that she defeated Grusendorf. One would think she wouldn’t have received a seat here in spite of her experience because of that.

Public Health: No major surprises. Delisi remains in the chair.

Redistricting: No surprises.

Regulated Industries: King remains in the chair with right-winger Wayne Christian in the vice-chairmanship.

Rules & Resolutions: Ruth Jones McClendon replaces Al “Sexy Cheerleader” Edwards. Lots of low-seniority people all over this committee, too: Bolton, Cohen, England, Hancock, Hernandez and Ortiz. But, Nathan Macias got the vice chairmanship for his defeat of Carter Casteel (I guess…).

State Affairs: No surprises; Swinford remains in the chair.

Transportation: Krusee remains in the chair, almost assuring he’ll be defeated next go-around. Macias also landed an assignment here, the only Freshman to do so. And, don’t think it’s because Casteel had a spot here. It’s because he’s a Craddick ally.

Urban Affairs: Talton out of the chair, VC Wong got defeated, they are replaced by Bailey and Murphy, neither of whom are household names.

Ways & Means: Keffer keeps his chair, Villarreal swaps his for one on P&I and is replaced by Allan Ritter. Jim Pitts is on here, too.

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