Watson Wire
The Beginning of the End?
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
We're in the home stretch of this first very "special" session of the Texas Legislature.
There are a lot of big bills being haggled over, and a lot of moving pieces in them.
It’s Too Hot for This
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Summer’s started with a vengeance. It feels like August in June. It’s too hot to run pretty much as soon as the sun comes up (that's my story and I'm sticking to it)....But in the Capitol, it still feels like springtime. The climate's controlled. Folks who were working in the mild days of spring still are. And the agenda – running from unwise anti-immigrant bills to short-sighted budget bills to downright bizarre Congressional redistricting maps – seems straight out of a time when highs were just in the double-digits.
Nobody Panic
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Cooper Kyle Watson is our younger son. He's, uh, well, the baby.
He's 15, turning 16 on the Fourth of July. Last Thursday, the child said adios to his parents and went on a trip with 22 other Austin High kids (and two teachers) to Europe. He'll be gone another three days.
Summer Reading
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Last Friday, the Austin American-Statesman ran an editorial I wrote laying out some of my thoughts about how those in control of the state budget have mishandled it and the negative impact it's going to have on Texans....But I'm still worried about you and feel compelled to provide some life-changing advice so that you don't miss such things in the future.
Isn’t That Special?
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sine Die is the term they use in the Capitol for the final adjournment on the last day of a legislative session.
As it turns out, it’s Latin for, “See you tomorrow.”
We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Rules
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
As folks in the Capitol know, the Senate has a ... let’s say, on-again, off-again relationship with rules.
Rules aren't so much made to be broken; they're made to be ignored. Days are filled with motions to suspend "all necessary rules," "the Senate's regular order of business" or "the constitutional rule" that does this or that.
As I (Didn’t) Walk Out on the Streets of Laredo
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
My exercise program is falling apart. There's just no good way to keep up my running efforts at this point in the legislative session.
The days start too early, I end up working too late, and I'm generally tired enough that any excuse to avoid physical activity is now acceptable.
It’ll Feel Better When It Stops Hurting
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
I’ve done enough half-marathons and legislative sessions at this point to be able to speak at least somewhat intelligently on both of them. So trust me when I say that, in a lot of ways, they're pretty similar.
Good News for People who Need Good News
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
It's been a great week. So first and foremost, let's praise our soldiers, military leaders, President Obama and all of the others who worked to bring Osama bin Laden to justice and continue to work to keep this nation safe.
Yesterday, there was a wonderful, moving tribute to these actions – and to those who lost their lives and loved ones on 9/11 – on the Senate Floor. A particularly poignant moment was when State Senator Brian Birdwell, who was badly hurt in the attacks 10 years ago while working at the Pentagon, led the chamber in the Pledge of Allegiance. It was a unique, emotional moment.
Doctor My Eyes
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Let’s play doctor.
Say there’s an ailing patient – we’ll call her Mrs. Schools.
First she goes to a doctor – call him Dr. House (no, not that Dr. House; he's just on TV) – to find out how she can get better.
The doctor correctly diagnoses her and listens to folks who describe how to make her better. But then he decides it’s easier for everyone involved – certainly him – to ignore all that sound judgment would dictate and not really treat her problems.