The ever evolving Congressman
Montgomery County TX. 2/20/2016
Once Upon A Time
Long time Woodlands Representative Kevin Brady (R) Texas has introduced a bill that would impose four-year terms on House members and tie their compensation to an average school teachers salary. Brady also sought to have Texas switch to annual legislative sessions.
The surprising Term Limits BILL HJR 115 is an old one that the 19 year U.S. Congressman authored as Texas Representative when he served in HD 15 during Texas 73rd Legislature in 1993.
The bill was introduced with the following caption ~
“Proposing a constitutional amendment providing for continuous legislative oversight of state government, annual legislative sessions, four-year terms for house members, the imposition of term limits on members of the legislature, revised legislative compensation, and other legislative matters.”
The bill, that quickly died in the session proposed amending key sections of Article III of the Texas Constitution. In chief Section 4 ~
Sec. 4. (a) The Members of the House of Representatives
1-18 shall be chosen by the qualified electors for the term of four
1-19 years, but a new House of Representatives shall be chosen after
1-20 every apportionment, and the Members elected after each
1-21 apportionment shall be divided by lot into two classes. The
1-22 Members of the first class shall vacate their seats two years after
1-23 the date on which their term of office begins, and the Members of
1-24 the second class shall vacate their seats four years after the date
2-1 on which their term of office begins, so that half of the Members
2-2 will be elected biennially <two years>.
Kevin Brady The Evolutionist
Taking a cue from Congressman Brady’s website we can read about Rep. Kevin Brady’s Evolution on Gun Control yet no mention of Term Limits.
For those who accept evolutionary theory perhaps his Gun Control evolution falls into the “gradualism” category whereas his apparently sudden change in views on Term Limits seems to be an example of “Punctuated equilibrium” i.e. changes over a relatively short amount of time, if you believe that sort of thing.
We do wonder when the 19 year congressman will apply the principles of his HJR 115 to himself.
We welcome comments on this item from all interested parties.
HJR 115 on file with Legislative Reference Library |
