Austin Sen. Kirk Watson had high hopes for his Senate Bill 541, which would have raised the state’s renewable energy goals to include more than just wind power and also would have created incentives to use Texas-made renewable generation equipment. But like so many bills, it was crushed by the chubfest House Democrats used to kill voter ID on Tuesday.
Senators are busy tonight trying to save Senate bills killed in the House. To do so, they must (as an amendment) add the language of their dead bills onto House bills still alive in the Senate. The catch: Their amendments must be “germane” to the bill to which they’re attached, also known as the “vehicle” bill. (Supposedly the deadline is midnight, but it can be overridden.)
Watson thought he had found a vehicle for 541, but it turned out to not have the support needed to bring it to the floor (two-thirds of senators must approve).
In other words, his vehicle was up on blocks in the front yard.
“I think 541 became the victim of House politics,” Watson told me minutes ago on the Senate floor. “It was on the major state calendar. In another session, I believe it would become law.”
UPDATE: On the upside, Watson’s “no regrets” bill – SB 184, requiring the state to study programs that not only reduce greenhouse gases but also, in the long run, save businesses and consumers money – just passed the House.
This article appears in May 22 • 2009.