Texas Legislative Analysis May 14, 2007
By Cathie Adams

The Texas legislative session ends on May 28. With only two weeks remaining, it is encouraging to assess accomplishments, as well as to focus on bills that need to finish strong for Texas families.

Thanks to the overwhelming response from Texas families, legislators moved quickly to rescind Gov. Perry’s Executive Order that would have mandated that every little girl receive the HPV vaccine before entering the sixth grade. Texas parents were not willing to abdicate their responsibility to make health care decisions for their children and they let their representatives know it. The other factor working in parents’ favor was the question of WHO decides within the political process: the executive branch unilaterally or the legislative branch. In the end, Gov. Perry decided to let the bill become law without his signature.

The Trans Texas Corridor, TTC, continues to be a hot button issue. Legislators are convinced that the 2003 bill that created the TTC would sell the crown jewels of Texas. Both chambers passed a two-year moratorium to give them time to assess Texas’ indisputable need for new roads and the role of the Texas Department of Transportation, TxDOT. It seems TxDOT has been too willing to sell Texas infrastructure to the highest bidder, regardless it being a bad investment for Texas taxpayers. “Non-competeâ€