A testy exchange rippled through the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee this morning. Chair Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, was passed a note (yes, some times Senate is just like grade school) while discussing Senate Bill 1929, the massive omnibus transport bill. Carona noticeably bristled, crushed the paper, and tossed it at the desk. He then turned to fellow GOPer Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, turned his mic off, and could be heard to snarl, “Don’t do that.”
Why the lack of party love? Carona has slaved over the bill, and (pardon the pun) the steam train that is the end of the session is bearing down and bearing down fast – he needs to get the bill out of the committee, or nothing will get done about Texas roads. The current transport-planning situation, unacceptable to seemingly all parties, would continue. Williams, middebate on one of the year’s most important and pervasive Lege decisions, had wanted to know why he hadn’t received the fiscal note and bill analysis on one of his bills. The committee chair rather testily got his staff to explain to Williams that, due to the complexity of his bill and the amendments therein, the staff was still working on it. Carona also noted two of his own bills were still waiting on the same documentation. Williams, by now a deep red (either through embarrassment or anger), sank back into his chair.
This article appears in April 20 • 2007.
