Even before the deadline, it became known among close followers that the legislation had been "tagged," and thus was doomed to failure, in any event
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Editor's Note: Sounds like Rep. Rose will stay in the game to the last inning to save his bill, somehow extracting it from Calendars or attaching it in amendment form to another bill on the floor. They say anything's possible in the "Texas House of Mirrors." Don't hold your breath. Too bad our state representative is not also bringing his fighting spirit to the aid of the watered down Chapter 36 groundwater district bill (HB 4796), which he personally killed a little more than a week ago. Score that: Zero for groundwater protection and much needed county development controls – Grand slam for developer interests in Hays County.
By Bob Ochoa
RoundUp Editor
A piece of legislation sponsored by State Rep. Patrick Rose (D-Dripping Springs) that would have assisted counties with new oversight of development in unincorporated areas has died a quiet death in the Texas House of Representatives.
Tuesday May 12 was the deadline for moving bills out of the House Calendars Committee to the floor for debate and a full vote of House members. Rose's HB 3265 (bill analysis), which among other things would have given counties the authority to regulate development density and help reduce groundwater consumption, remained lodged in the committee as the deadline passed.
Even before the deadline, it became known among close followers that the legislation had been "tagged," and thus was likely doomed to failure, in any event. Tagged is legislative jargon for a privilege enjoyed only by Calendars Committee members to hold back a bill "for further study."
Who on the committee decided to tag Rose's HB 3265 and why may never be known. "I can't disclose any of that information that I get from members of the committee," said a young committee clerk. "We don't ask any of those questions."
Unconfirmed rumors were circulating that the culprit, or hero, depending on one's view, was Calendars Committee member Rep. Edmund Kuempel (R-Seguin), a 26-year veteran of the House. (Rep. Kuempel, very unfortunately, suffered a heart attack earlier this week and was in critical condition, according to his Capitol office. We wish him a speedy recovery.)
Hays County Judge Liz Sumter said the bill's demise is a big disappointment, especially since a coalition of 15 Hill Country counties, including Hays, had worked hard the past 21 months to agree on legislation they could rally behind in the current session of the legislature.
"I imagine the coalition is feeling like the two-year-old with candy dangling in front of him and then not getting the candy," Sumter said.
"What it means for us in Hays County right now is another two years where an unwelcome or obnoxious land user will be able to go in to unincoporated areas without any regulation," Sumter said. "Developers don't have to contribute to the stress on infrastructure they cause and that will continue to be paid by the taxpayers of the county."
Sumter said she had yet to be contacted by Rose personally about the bad news.
Rose's office released this statement to the RoundUp: "I have been fighting the developer, builder and realtor lobbyists for over four months and I won't stop. Giving Hill Country counties the authority they need to protect our water and better plan for the future continues to be a priority for my office. This isn't over until June and we are going to keep working to pass HB 3265."
8 comments:
My observations of Rep. Rose is that he gets other legislators to do his dirty work...like anonymously "tagging" a bill for which Rose is "fighting," but really doesn't want to pass.
Rose says, "I have been fighting the developer, builder and realtor lobbyists for over four months..."
Who doesn't believe that Rose fought all those developer, builder and realtor lobbyists who contributed tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions? Patrick's parents are realtors! I'm sure they told Patrick, "Yes son, fight all those developer, builder and realtor lobbyists and get that bill passed." Oh yeah.
Who is Rose trying to kid! It's insulting...and sneaky.
So much for Patrick Rose caring about the private property rights of his constituents.
Giving county authorities control over private property in unincorporated areas? Why the hell do you think we move into unincorporated areas in the first place? If we want the government's opinion on what we do with our land, we'll ask for it.
This is an idea that only Hugo Chavez and the residual Sandanistas could love...Oh yeah, and the environmentalists and government control freaks now trying to impose their will on central Texans.
Throw the liberal bastards out. Starting with Patrick Rose.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOh!! Sounds abit like there might be some concerns about folks in unincorporated areas becoming VERY aware of the sneaky snakes and what they are attempting to do in our neighborhoods. Yup, throw out Patrick Rose and his ilk and bring in those who will truly WORK FOR the constituency. And working for the constituency means for the betterment of ALL not just the few who wish to use their monies to hijack votes and pay off corrupt
legislators. Developers, realtors and builders and greedy landowners all have a hand in stealing water,
advocating unregulated development.
"Unregulated development"? Development is quite regulated thank you very much. The question is how much regulation is enough regulation. Enough to protect the buyer's rights to make sure that they are buying a house that won't fall apart within a couple of years through imposing a warranty requirement, or for requiring building permits and inspections?
Assuring that the new buyers of homes in the Hill Country are aware of the water situation, and then letting them make their own decision as to whether or not to buy? Also, letting them be aware that greater then average of the new homes in Hays County in rural parts are on septic and not sewer, and what that means for them?
A little regulation is what keeps everyone honest - developers, builders, realtors, etc. A little bit of self-responsibility by all would be better, and it would mean that the environmental nut jobs who give environmentalism and conservatism a bad name would be out of a job.
Given enough information, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the developer & real estate crowd are way ahead in this game, with Rose as their high paid star pitcher in Austin. Rose's constituents, the average guy and gal whose main interests are merely to work, live and let live, better start wising up quick before they wake up one morning with dry wells and the shopping malls and retail clone stores next door that stole their water. It's happening all over Hays County. This rape and pillage by Rose and his developer-backed ball club will continue playing by their own rules as long as the public remains ignorant, apathetic and uninformed of the truth. I've always believed there's a special interest crook and a scorpion under every rock in our county. It's totally true. Sites like this are starting to turn over the rocks. Glad to see it. Thanks.
This article is just more piling-on by the anti-Rose factions. Rep. Rose being a Democrat will always be somewhat unpopular with Republicans and now the Democrats have seen fit to devour one of their rising stars. Maybe you haven’t noticed but County Judge Liz Sumter is positioning herself to become the hero of the down-trodden and make a run for the House or Senate.
Water is a weapon in Hays and other counties just to slam developers and forward political aspirations. No one would deny that water management is needed especially in Central Texas but this political wrangling is doing no good in solving this critical issue.
He's a rising star awright, for the developer wingnuts! You my friend need to remove your blinders and see the light. This is not a situation in which Dems and Rethugs must continue to just fall in line, the old fashioned way. Who's gonna deliver us from the greedy special interests and save our water is the central question we should all be asking and throw our support to. Don't know about Liz Sumter "positioning herself." Every politician around here is always in some kind of positioning mode, including those scalawags Barton and Conley. Lord God help us with those two. Agree that "political wrangling" isn't going to solve the critical water and development issues. So you got any ideas what will? Certainly the above cast of yahoos aren't advancing any bright ideas of their own, except those being pushed by big money developers and real estate types.
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