Last week, we tallied the legislative accomplishments of three members of
the Austin delegation. This week, we’ll look at Reps. Sherri Greenberg and
Dawnna Dukes, and Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos.
According to figures provided by the legislators, Greenberg passed 29
bills, Dukes passed nine, and Barrientos 52. As noted last week, the computer
list provided by the Legislative Council provides a lower total for each
member, since it lists only the bills’ primary author; it shows Greenberg with
14 bills, Dukes with three, and Barrientos with 35.
Greenberg was involved in several important bills this session, including
HB 44, which provides criminal penalties for adults whose guns are allowed to
get into the hands of children. The law becomes effective September 1. She
passed legislation on adoption, domestic violence, and a bill to assure that
county political conventions do not conflict with religious holidays. Greenberg
also was a sponsor of SB 94, which regulates contributions and expenditures for
judicial candidates.
Dukes was able to get HB 2994 – which provides for creation of a statue of
Martin Luther King, Jr., on the University of Texas campus – attached to
another bill which is now on the governor’s desk.
Barrientos, the tennis-shoe-wearing filibusterer, gained note for his
efforts to scuttle HB 3193, the Lege’s gift to Gary Bradley. Barrientos
didn’t kill the Bradleyville bill, but he did pass several important
measures. He tacked on an amendment to SB 1, the state education bill, which
allows schools to expel disruptive students. He also resurrected another
education-related bill, HB 1214, in the final days of the session. It creates a
prepaid higher education tuition program, a tax-free investment plan for
parents who want to save for their children’s education. Barrientos also had a
hand in working an annexation compromise with the Harris Branch and Maple Run
MUDs. – R.B.
This article appears in June 16 • 1995 and June 16 • 1995 (Cover).