Monday, May 16, 2005
Minority Shutout is no Secret to Pro-Tem
Diversity was not the theme when House Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland) named the conference committee appointees for HB 2 and HB 3 on Friday. Now the fate of the school finance plan will rest partially in the hands of nine white males and a single white female; all Republicans.
The limited scope of these committees has not gone unnoticed by many, including Speaker Pro Tempore, Sylvester Turner (D-Houston).
The Speaker Pro-Tem noted Texas’ rapidly increasing minority population as an important reason minority representation in these committees is needed. “[It] can’t be all one party or the other…and exclude minorities. Not in 2005 it can’t,” said Turner.
The Senate conference committee appointees for HB 2 and HB 3 were named today, displaying some much needed bipartisan representation. Though the House and the Senate committees will work in conjunction on these bills to develop a reasonable solution for Texas, one must wonder how the sway to the right will affect yet another piece of legislation.
The limited scope of these committees has not gone unnoticed by many, including Speaker Pro Tempore, Sylvester Turner (D-Houston).
“I’m disappointed there aren’t any minorities, especially when a largeThe repercussions of this partisan representation are not hard to imagine, even for the House’s second in command. “[We] can’t look for any support of African-Americans, Hispanics, or Democrats,” said Turner.
percentage of public schools are made up of Hispanics, African-Americans, and
Asians,” said Turner.
The Speaker Pro-Tem noted Texas’ rapidly increasing minority population as an important reason minority representation in these committees is needed. “[It] can’t be all one party or the other…and exclude minorities. Not in 2005 it can’t,” said Turner.
The Senate conference committee appointees for HB 2 and HB 3 were named today, displaying some much needed bipartisan representation. Though the House and the Senate committees will work in conjunction on these bills to develop a reasonable solution for Texas, one must wonder how the sway to the right will affect yet another piece of legislation.