How an Interim Charge Becomes a Law

For political ruminators and prognosticators, the recently released, tersely worded lists of interim House committee charges sent out by Speaker Tom Craddick are a mystery, to be pondered over like tea leaves or chicken entrails. However, one would expect the intent behind the charges to be clear at least to the committees in question. Take, for example, charge eight for House Transportation, to "review the current requirements for driver's license and identification card holders in Texas" (our emphasis.) While this seems a peculiarly specific task, and it's hard to see the intention or the final aim, the committee knows what they're being asked to do. Right?

Eh, not so much. According to Laurie McAnally, chief clerk at Transportation, she received the list in the same opaque fashion that everyone else got it. Like everyone else, her committee is now trying to guess the legislative intent. Sensibly, she contacted Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations, who share charge eight, and they think (stress, think) it may be something to do with the Federal Real ID program, but they're still not sure.

Not knowing the intent of every charge is sort of the deal. While every committee has its own wish-list, mostly unfinished business from last session, the bulk come from Craddick's own plans, other reps and even (gasp!) lobbyists. "Two, maybe three we asked for," said McAnally, "and we got 10."