House committee assignments were released today and El Paso’s five state representatives all claimed they were satisfied.
“I think El Paso came out stellar,” said state Rep. Norma Chavez.
“I think it was a slam dunk,” said new Transportation Committee Chair Joe Pickett, who became El Paso’s second chair appointee since former District 78 Rep.
Pat Haggerty was put in charge of Corrections 10 years ago. Chavez chaired Border and International Affairs. [Editor's note: This article was corrected at 4:20 p.m. Feb. 12, 2009 to note Chavez's turn on Border and International Affiars. The article initially stated that Pickett was the first El Paso committee chair since Haggerty.]
“It’s a huge honor and a tremendous responsibility. It goes beyond just the Chair of Transportation - - just to be a part of that leadership team is a big deal,” said Pickett. When asked about his priorities as Transportation Chair, Pickett said, “Probably expanding the understanding of how TexDOT works, both in finance policy and statute, (and) looking for better accountability and openness.”
Pickett has been openly critical of TexDOT, whose board includes fellow El Pasoan Ted Houghton. Will Pickett be gunning for TexDOT this session?
“Gunning is too strong of a word. I’ve asked a lot of questions, I’ve been involved in it for a long time and I just want to have the opportunity to not only hold them accountable but make the wishes of the body priorities within that agency. I’ve felt the last couple of sessions that there has been a struggle on the House side to get their attention … (But) I don’t believe in throwing everything out and starting from scratch. There are great people that work for that agency. I want to build on that,” replied Pickett, who was also keen to alleviate concerns Central Texans may have over his appointment.
“I know some areas of the state are a little bit concerned because there has never been a Chairmen of this magnitude from an area like El Paso.
It’s kind of a first. I imagine I’ll spend a lot my time visiting with people from the Dallas, Houston and San Antonio areas addressing their anxieties,” said Pickett.
Overall, the House Committee map appears evenly split.
The chairs comprise 18 Republicans and 16 Democrats. Of the 18 Republicans, over half of them are from the original “Anyone But Craddick” group who teamed up with 64 Democrats -- including the five El Paso legislators -- to back Straus during the Speaker’s race.
John Smithee, who challenged Straus for the Speaker’s gavel after former Speaker Tom Craddick withdrew from the race, was made Chair of the Insurance Committee, (presumably for bowing out gracefully a week before the session begun.)
There were also some big-hitting former Craddick loyalists (Chisum, Hartnett, Gattis to name a few) who appeared to be casualties of Straus' new order. When asked, Pickett declined to speculate about who was in the proverbial penalty box.
“The penalty box includes for some people going above and beyond (committee assignments) and not allowing them to be able to pass their legislation. And that’s too early to be told. But I don’t believe that is going to be the case. I think the Speaker did a good job of spreading around talent,” said Pickett.
Chavez also said she thought the assignments were fair, despite having lost the Vice-Chairmanship of the Calendars Committee.
“I was Vice-Chair under a different Speaker. There was always going to be a shuffling of the deck. I knew that. I really fought to remain on Calendars, so absolutely no hard feeling whatsoever,” said Chavez, who remains on Calendars and was keen to stress its importance.
“I am grateful to once again be on Appropriations, and Calenders, which is a very important committee too. All house bills go through that committee. Those committees will help El Paso’s agenda,” said Chavez.
Chavez and Pickett aside, the rest of El Paso’s assignments were a mixed bag. But with two rookies in the delegation, replacing two former state representatives with 60 years of seniority in the House between them, a mixed bag was hardly the worst case scenario. New representatives are always at the bottom of the food chain when it comes to committee assignments.
State Rep. Marisa Marquez ended up on three committees -- Rules and Resolutions, County Affairs and Corrections. Marquez said she was “excited” and would maybe put in the odd call to former Chair Pat Haggerty when it came to her work on Corrections. County Affairs appears to be her most promising assignment.
“That’s a very good committee especially for El Paso (when you consider) the issues we have outside the city limits. It’s going to be very important we have El Paso representation on that committee,” said Marquez who thought as a whole the delegation did “did extremely well.”
Indeed state Rep. Joe Moody, a lawyer by trade, landed on his feet, getting a place on Criminal Jurisprudence.
“Given my background as a prosecutor and working in criminal law, I think that experience will lend itself to learning and working well on that committee,” said Moody, who also got a seat on Border and International Affairs.
“Being on Border and International Affairs is a key thing for El Paso. We need a strong voice on that committee and so I’m looking forward to working with other people on issues that affect our border,” said Moody.
Finally, state Rep. Chente Quintanilla, got one surprise and one plum, unexpectedly landing on Business and Industry, while retaining his place on Licensing & Administrative Procedures.
“Business and Industry is one I didn’t expect to be on, but I think it is a big committee to deal with the problems across the state,” said Quintanilla. But the District 75 representative is well placed to forward the goals of one particular item on the El Paso agenda: Tigua gambling.
“I’m very happy to return back to Licensing & Administrative Procedures...a committee I’ve served on before and I know a lot about…I’m happy because we will be able to deal with gambling bills…unless they go to Business and Industry so I’m sitting in a good position,” said Quintanilla.
With a chairmanship, seats on the biggies, (Appropriations and Calendars) and ones with local significance (Licensing and Borders), El Paso did better than expected.
“We’ve got all the bases covered now,” said Quintanilla.
But Pickett preferred basketball to baseball as the metaphor of choice: “It’s a slam dunk. I got the ‘three pointer’ at the buzzer … ut that’s for everybody. My job is to represent El Paso and that means helping the other members of our delegation.”
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Click on the links below this article for a list of committee assignments by member, and a list of members by committee.
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BACKGROUND
One thing to look out for with the El Paso delegation was how seniority would play out. With the loss of Moreno and Haggerty, the El Paso delegation lacked this rather important commodity. (Moreno had been around for 40 years and Haggerty for 20.)
Pickett has served for 14 years, which makes him the joint 25th most senior member of the House. Chavez has served for 12 years, Quintanilla for 6, while Marquez and Moody are both newcomers (which means they’ll get what their given.)
Seniority aside, it is worth noting that all five members of the delegation were part of the original 76 members who supported Straus against Craddick for the Speaker’s gavel. In a pretty evenly divided chamber, with all the talk being of bi-partisanship, that may tip things back in the delegation’s favor.
Below is a list of Committee assignments from the last session.
Chavez
Appropriations (Sp)
S/C: General Government
Calendars (VC)
Financial institutions (CBO)
Pickett
Border and International Affairs (Sp)
Land and resource management (Sr.)
Haggerty
Corrections (Sp.)
Transportation(Sr.)
Moreno
Criminal jurisprudence (Sp.)
Defense Affairs and State federal relations (Sp.)
Quintanilla
Licensing and administrative procedures (Sp.)
Local government ways and means (Sr.)
Sr=Seniority pick Sp=Speaker pic
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