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Visit texasimpact.org for video from the Capitol and special features

Click here to see Joe Straus take the oath of office.

Texas Impact brings you footage from the House floor of Joseph Straus' unanimous approval and swearing in as Speaker of the House for the 2009 legislative session.. Stay tuned throughout the session for clips from hearings, key floor speeches and more special features.

We hear a lot about gasoline prices nowadays, and about America’s dependence on foreign oil. We also hear about coal-powered electricity-generation, and of the devastating mountain top removal practices associated with the extraction of coal from the earth. We know already that we need to free ourselves from these energy sources.

Oil and coal are most often discussed as economic issues, ignoring the health problems that result from use of the fossil fuels. “Gotta have energy,” say defenders of twentieth century technologies, talking as though they spoke a singular truth. But what about life itself? Don’t we “gotta have life?” Shouldn’t the fossil fuel energy issues be discussed in the context of health?

On Thursday, July 17, the Texas Public Utility Commission approved a plan to install new transmission lines to bring wind power from West Texas to the metro areas in the eastern half of the state. Texas Impact members were among more than 5,000 Texans to sign an online petition started by Representative Mike Villareal of San Antonio urging the PUC to "go big" on wind.

THANK THE PUC

Hey Guys, my name is Leighton Copley and I am a new Intern here at Texas Impact. I just started about 3 weeks ago, and since then I have been working on sworn testimony and its importance in the committee process.

Currently any person wishing to speak before a committee in either the Senate or House are only required to fill out a testimonial card with basic information provided on it. Persons testifying are not sworn

In mid-December the Senate passed its version of the farm bill. This legislation must now be reconciled with the House version through a conference. Bread for the World will continue to campaign for reform as the House, Senate and administration negotiate the final version of the farm bill next year.

On December 14, the Senate passed a problematic farm bill that:

• fails to make farm support programs fairer
• proposes increases in trade-distorting commodity programs

These programs have a negative impact on prices and earning opportunities for poor farmers in the developing world. Savings from much-needed reforms to these programs could be better used to fund nutrition and conservation programs and help U.S. farm and rural families of modest means.

This just in from the New York Times.

WASHINGTON — Republicans were able to stall a broad energy bill in the Senate on Thursday morning, prompting Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic majority leader, to excise controversial parts of the measure in hopes of moving the legislation forward quickly.

The unsuccessful move to advance the bill failed by one vote. Supporters managed to get 59 “yes” votes, but 60 were needed to invoke cloture, or move to consideration of the bill itself. Forty senators voted “no.”

After many delays and false starts, the full Senate is likely to begin voting on specific amendments to the farm bill on Tuesday, December 11. Even if you've called before, please take the time to call again.

The first global warming bill taken up by Congress in more than 20 years passed out of committee yesterday with a vote of 11 to eight. Bill authors John Warner (R-VA) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-CA) staved off attempts by opponents to weaken the historic legislation during a committee mark up session Wednesday. More than 150 amendments were offered in an effort to protect both the environment and the economy.