Watson Wire
To Your Health
Sunday, July 26, 2009
On Saturday, there was a big rally for health care in Austin. I attended and expressed an opinion or two. I’m told there were similar events around the country, and ours was the biggest.
Here’s Looking at You
Sunday, July 19, 2009
The state, and the Governor, should stop looking for people to blame. Just fix the problems, serve Texans, and quit thinking about elections. Let’s keep our eye on the ball. Every single time.
Happy Fourth
Sunday, July 05, 2009
I went home right after we adjourned. I told Liz we were done. In her typical “cut to the chase” approach to politics, she glanced up and said, “So why you couldn’t get that done in the regular session?”
Back to Work
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Texas’ Constitution allows the Governor to call the legislature into session at any time it isn’t meeting regularly. During these special sessions, he has total control over the agenda. This year, his main goal seems to get the band on and off the stage as fast as possible.
Veto Day
Sunday, June 21, 2009
As legislative watchers know, checks and balances go out the window for three weeks after every legislative session. During this “veto period,” the Governor can reject whatever legislation he wants – no matter how popular it is among those folks elected to legislate – and we don’t have the ability to come back into session and override his veto. It can be a dispiriting and irritating time ...
Extra Innings
Sunday, June 14, 2009
I feel like there’s still a lot of unfinished business and missed opportunities that Texans would like to see taken care of. And if we’re potentially going to get another shot at all of this, I think we should take it.
Freedom’s Just Another Word for ... Sine Die
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Beneath all the conflict and chaos, we passed bills that will help a lot of people. Personally, I’m going to remember this as a very successful session.
To the Lifeboats
Sunday, May 24, 2009
With the House looking more and more tied up – and with a massive deadline (emphasis on “dead”) coming up to pass any new bills at all – the Senate is pouring time and energy into amendments for bills that have already been through the House.
Sunny Persistence
Sunday, May 17, 2009
When you combine a very pretty girl with the romantic madness of a 14-year-old, you wind up with a formative experience. And the fact that Liz did, eventually, agree to date me remains a helpful lesson in patience and persistence. Lord knows it paid off last week, when the Senate passed my RPS bill.