Virtually all media reports now confirm that the new Speaker of the House will be Rep. Joe Straus III (R-San Antonio). It won't be official until January 13 when the Regular Session convenes, but all potential competition has stepped down and members of the chamber of all persuasions are getting in line to pledge their support.
Most prognosticators are emphasizing a shift toward the center with the end of the Craddick era in the House. Usually these reports forecast a reduction in influence of the so-called social conservatives. Most say the atmosphere will be more moderate.
For community and technical college educators, however, the picture is not as easy to predict.
First, two-year colleges enjoy broad support from members of both parties and all ideologies. There is a college campus or center in most house districts (and in all Senate districts), and members generally also recognize the importance of these schools in the Closing the Gaps initiative. The current financial crisis will complicate matters, but policy makers understand that vibrant two-year schools are essential to the economic future of the state. This shouldn't change with new leadership.
A much more important result will likely involve the speaker's choices for new membership and leadership of the various standing committees (seniority plays a part also under the House Rules of Procedure). TCCTA monitors several panels closely, including the House Committee on Higher Education and the Committee on Pensions and Investments. New chairs and/or personnel changes could determine the fate of many bills potentially affecting educators at community and technical colleges. The Core Curriculum, textbook adoption, and the future of developmental education are just a few items that could be on the agenda, based on bills introduced so far, and proposals by the Coordinating Board. Here is our current "tracking list" of bills.
The two committees named above are somewhat removed from the appropriations process, however. Therefore, the House Committee on Appropriations may be the most important panel to watch—and the one where the new speaker's wishes can be most visibly determined. We'll know more after the session convenes and the rosters are announced.
Finally, it is worth noting that the legislative process also involves institutions that are not directly affected by a new speaker. The Texas Senate must also agree before any bills become law, and the Lieutenant Governor, who presides over the Senate, is elected by the voters of Texas. Also, the governor's office will remain in place. These two important leadership posts are not up for grabs until 2010.
Comments