Written for The Texas Observer legislative blog "Floor Pass."
Although it was eventually defeated, some lawmakers were blindsided by a surprise effort to strip out a key part of an uncontroversial “sunset” bill reauthorizing the Public Utility Commission.
Angry debate erupted after the bill’s author, Rep. Byron Cook (R-Corsicana), allowed an amendment that would’ve gutted a previously-uncontested portion of the legislation. The amendment, courtesy of Republican freshman Rep. Matt Krause of Fort Worth, removed a provision that allowed PUC to issue emergency cease-and-desist order to utility companies creating public safety hazards or threatening the reliability of the power grid.
Rep. Rafael Anchía (D-Dallas) pointed out that up until this point the provision had encountered little resistance. Read more.