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AUSTIN (Nexstar) – Less than a month away from the legislative session, bills that have not been accepted by a committee are in danger of disappearing.
The ultimate strategy for many lawmakers is to attach these bills as amendments to another bill that is sure to be pbaded.
That was the strategy used by Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) with HB 672, the "Beer to Go" bill. This measure allows Texas brewers to sell six packages to people who visit their breweries and want to bring beer back home.
"Well, he was referred to the committee and never had an audience," Rodriguez said. "I asked for an audience, I never had one."
Rodriguez therefore proposed an amendment to the bill governing the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. This is a bill that lawmakers must adopt to keep the TABC in business. The bill was debated Thursday night.
"When you develop amendments, you have to feel comfortable and somehow feel the room," Rodriguez said. "I could just feel that there was some momentum to make some changes to this bill … so I let myself go a little when I had the impression that the room was ready for that. "
Opponents first voted to block the amendment, winning it by a vote. But a recount revealed that several members marked as having voted yes were not present. These votes not having counted, the amendment was approved.
The bill now moves to a Senate committee. This committee could withdraw the amendment from the final version of the bill before sending it back to the entire Senate for a vote. Rodriguez is optimistic: he will remain and will be approved.
"The craft breweries generate about $ 4.5 billion for the Texas economy," Rodriguez said. "I think it will just make it bigger."
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