Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got off the phone with the Calendar Committee Clerk. They just got this bill yesterday and have NOT yet considered it in committee.

IMHO we have two options at this point:
1) Amend the bill to exclude herps. This is risky because if the amendment fails, the bill could then pass as is.
2) Stall the bill in this committee and let it die. This will NOT prevent the bill from being reintroduced next session. When pushing this option, we should stress that we would like to work with the Houes and TPWD to introduce better legislation in the next session.

Proposed Actions:
1) Contact Woolley and committee members. Request that they make a motion that HB 2414 NOT be heard at this time. Otherwise request that the bill be amended. You could mention that with the session drawing to a close, their time would be better spent on more important (it's important to us and herps, but not most Texans) and better written legislation.
2) Contact Reps that are not on the committee. Request that they contact Woolley and/or committee members.
3) Follow-up with any responsive Reps to propose language for an acceptable amendment. I know Gallego's office was working on an amendment, but I burned by bridge there and don't know the status.

What happened, or better yet what can we expect and not expect from his office now?

I burned MY bridge. Not OUR bridge. To the best of my knowledge, Gallego is still firmly in our camp. I'm just not the best person to be contacting them right NOW.

I stupidly posted some details and names that I shouldn't have and offended one of the key staffers and my best contact. Now I'm not sure how open they are to sharing info and ideas with ME. I'm waiting for the right opportunity to offer an olive branch and rebuild the trust I blew.

As a general caution, always ask staffers before posting their names our specific comments on a public forum.

Daryl Eby

And I have to say I would not have known any better at the time either...

I am sure a little time, and your remorse will go a long way to making that olive branch.

Lance

I think that a thank you note addressed directly to the staffer, with an apology would probably go along way to smoothing that over.

Troy

as soon as possible.

........a sincere apology, and a brief note explaining what you did to remedy the situation will go a long way to smooth it over.

I would even go as far as to write this one out by hand and fax it in this person not to be named again...

An email is a little to distant and impersonal for an apology sometimes, I am not sure how a phone call will go over as an ice breaker, but that is another way to make the apology personal....

Lance

All's good! Thanks for all the helpful comments.