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Morning Roundup: Obama, Dan Patrick in the news

By Josh Berthume

Tue, 01/16/2007 - 9:43am

Barack Obama officially announced this morning that he's forming an exploratory committee, which amounts to an official Presidential proclamation.

New State Senator Dan Patrick (R - Houston) believes his experience as a talk radio host has prepared him to deal with the heady topics likely to come his way during his tenure on the International Relations and Trade committee. This committee is important because of the influence it has on immigration policy, which Patrick focused on during his campaign.

Senator Patrick also received appointments to Education, Health and Human Services, and the subcommittee on Higher Education. As the Chron story points out, many in state government assumed Patrick would receive insignificant appointments because he has a habit of going after Republican officials for not being conservative enough. And Dan Patrick, ladies and gentlemen, is conservative.

On a section of his campaign website called "Faith Foundation," is the following:

Dan has used his significant voice on the airways as a strong proponent of getting out the vote for Proposition 2, guaranteeing marriage in Texas would be between a man and a woman only.

His conservative credentials are solid, and he spends most of his time hollering about property taxes and curbing illegal immigration. He is too conservative for most of the people you've considered to be the flamethrowers for the right, and now his committee assignments offer him an even larger megaphone than his radio stations have provided.

Tounge in cheek, right?

By kappy

Wed, 01/17/2007 - 4:22pm

John,
I enjoy your posts but I'm assuming you intended your comments about State Senator Patrick's assignment to the International Relations and Trade Committee to be somewhat tongue in cheek. This is an important Committee, but of the 25 bills it reported out in the last (2005) legislative session not one I could find dealt with immigration policy.

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IRT Committee

By Josh Berthume

Wed, 01/17/2007 - 4:33pm

It may not report out much on immigration, but that's more of a statement on the committeemen than the Committee's mandate and function. The interim charges of the IRT Committee from its website details what it could do, were the members so inclined:
The Senate International Relations and Trade Committee is charged with conducting a thorough and detailed study of the following issues, including state and federal requirements, and preparing recommendations to address problems or issues that are identified.
   1. Study the activities of the U.S.-Mexico Border Environmental Program: Border 2012, particularly in reference to the grant program. The Committee shall also monitor the distribution of funds from the North American Development Bank and the Border Environmental Cooperative Commission, as well as monitoring the activities of the International Boundary and Water Commission. The Committee should make recommendations for efficient use, tracking, and leverage of funds and for effective coordination of state policies relating to the border region.

   2. Study the implementation of HB 109 and make recommendations for improvement of the import/export and certification system and for maximization of the tax dollars collected.

   3. Study trends and issues concerning trade, immigration, and employment along the Border, including the impact of ten years of NAFTA, and make recommendations to enhance economic development and growth. Examine the impact of the US-VISIT program and the Trade Adjustment Act of 2002, and the current transition of oversight of the Border to the to the Department of Homeland Security and make recommendations for improvement in state law, as necessary.

   4. Study and make recommendations for improving colonias infrastructure, including water services, wastewater services and transportation infrastructure. All recommendations should include an analysis of cost effective alternatives for achieving results and an assessment of current efforts to improve infrastructure.
So, it is not entirely concerned with immigration and / or border security, but its in the portfolio. Having said that, I did double check, as I am certainly not infallible.
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