The Session has Ended

The elected Representatives will be returning to their home districts ..
From the sources in Austin, this was the most contentious and non-productive
session in memory.. The governor is running around over the state declaring
that he just might call another special Session in the next few weeks.. What
else ?

Many important issues were on the plate for this Session and the majority of
those representatives were terrified that they'd be called on the floor to
debate and vote on those issues.. Most of them will be facing an election
during 2006..

TMRA II, ABATE and the independents supported and introduced some very
contentious Bills during this Session.. They opposed a couple of Bills that
needed to be squashed.. The opposition to the Bills were made up of the
financiers who have been bankrolling those elected Representatives, for
years.. Insurance company lobbyists filled that Capitol almost every day the
legislative session worked.. Utility and telephone company lobbyists were
there in numbers..Oil and Water lobbyists were discreetly visiting the
offices of our elected ones, daily.. The Public Utilities Commission was
being petitioned for rate increases while the Session was in progress.. even
while complaints from consumers grew in volume, those lobbyists clamored for
more severe collection measures while they demanded increases in rates..

In January.. motorcyclists from all over Texas gathered in Austin on the
opening week of this Session.. The spectacle of the thousands of Bikers who
rode their rumbling machines down Congress Av. to the very entrance to our
State Capitol, left the city in awe and wonder .. Our Capitol was completely
surrounded by those thousands of motorcycles parked around it.. The parking
garages were full of them.. Those legislators felt that presence when all
those men and women marched to the Capitol building and dominated the
gallery of our State Legislature when it opened.. Each representative was
individually visited by his own constituents.. in his office..

As our Bills were supported or opposed, during the Committees assigned to
hear them, it became obvious to those elected Representatives, those Bills
would surely become legislation if they were introduced on the floor..Only
the veto of the governor would stand in their way.. Insurance, Oil,
Utilities and the corporate lobbyists held their breaths, while they visited
the Calendars Committee to try and undo any possiblity of debate and floor
votes.. There is the key.. no matter how urgent or critical the Bill.. if it
isn't read on the Floor, it passes into archive history.. We overlooked that
Calendar Committee and we have paid the price.. We represented our Bills
before the respective Committees that heard them.. we won before those
Committees overwhelmningly. Our people spoke out loud and clear..

Alright.. the elected ones will be back home.. For the ones who could not
make the many trips to our State Capitol, the opportunity to visit that
representative that you voted for or against is convenient to you.. Go see
him/her..make your voice heard.. Texas Motorcyclists have the opportunity to
influence the direction of our government in a positive way.. Thanks to the
massive presence of dedicated men and women from all over our State, last
January.. those representatives know that we are a determining factor in
their political careers.. Use what was handed to you and follow through ..
Regards..

Your Friend in Irving
Bill Walker