Austin - With the 81st Legislature a scant 42 days away, incoming freshman House members are undergoing a cram course in the art of legislating.
The 22 about-to-be lawmakers - evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats - got off to an early start with a 7 a.m. breakfast and will spend the rest of the week in the State Capitol attending briefings and panel discussions. Tarrant County's two newly elected House members - Republican Mark Shelton and Democrat Chris Turner - are both attending.
The curriculum includes a media relations panel (this one doesn't always take) and instructions from senior lawmakers and state administrators on the budget, revenue, taxes, education and other priority topics. Not the kind of material you'd find on Spike TV, but extremely important to the Texas citizenry with the approach of the 140-day biennial session.
Internal House politics and the bruising race for House speaker - though not on the program - are sure to be the subject of hallway chatter. House Speaker Tom Craddick, battling to fend off challenges to his leadership and eager for potential votes from the incoming new members, will join his wife Nadine Craddick in hosting a final-night dinner at Austin's Headliners Club on Friday.
-- Dave Montgomery
Umm... it's actually CHRIS Turner
Posted by: soso | December 02, 2008 at 02:57 PM
Democrat Craig Turner??? first name is Chris not Craig
Posted by: Kyle Dubberke | December 03, 2008 at 09:22 AM
Is there a particular reason why a similar blog wasn't written for Wendy Davis and her freshman orientation for the senate? Since the FWST can't get enough of her, I would like an update about her experience or did she not show up for it and you don't want to report it?
Posted by: Beowulf | December 04, 2008 at 11:20 AM