Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas
At the beginning of the Session I had breakfast with the Governor Lt. Governor & Speaker and they were concerned there were some issues where there had not been transparency and that we had not made sure the public was aware of what was (being spent and) available to them on line. So we filed three bills" said State Representative Dan Flynn Co-Chairman of the House Transparency in State Agency Operations Committee.
You know we found that one of our universities gave away a $500000 loan and yet it was not reported. Now we know thats stopped.
As you bring these things to the attention of taxpayers and various entities were finding you know what? Had that been transparent in the past it wouldnt have happened. Now in the future well have some changes being made Flynn tells Insiders Jim Cardle.
It seems like almost every bill that comes before the House somebodys mentioning the word transparency" said State Representative Dan Flynn Co-Chair of the House Transparency in State Agency Operations Committee.
Weve got a great Committee Im the Co-Chair and Carol Alvarado (D-Houston) is the Co-Chair and its been interesting. Shes a Democrat and Im a Republican and as I told the Speaker yesterday it been kind of interesting because we have 4-and-4 (Republicans & Democrats) yet weve agreed on everything weve done on this committee. And its been substantial said Flynn. Every Session is different and legislation has its own special process to go through. And many have said along the way that it seems like were going so slow or we (the House) are not at the same level that weve been in past Sessions. But Ive talked with our House Parliamentarian and were within about 15 or 20 bills passing of where we were this time last Session" Flynn said.
If your bill is not moving then things are not as congenial as youd like for it to be. But I think overall its been a Session where weve had a lot of bi-partisan support yet conservatives are continuing to push for the issues important to us.
But as we go through the process and when the Budget Bill comes back from the Senate youll see a lot of amendments and thats where peoples personalities start coming out said Flynn.
