Dallas-area Legislature delegation optimistic about prospects

At first glance, Reps. Dan Branch and Roberto Alonzo, recently chosen to lead the Dallas-area delegation to the Legislature, have some of the best jobs around. The 27-member group is the most diverse in Austin and potentially the most powerful, and its influence could even improve under new House Speaker Joe Straus. But Dallas lawmakers have a history of botching even the best-laid plans – consider the 11th-hour bungle two years ago of a proposed University of North Texas Law School in downtown Dallas. And even when the delegation is in accord, it's often outperformed by its raucous counterpart in Houston. So when this year's session ends in early June, Alonzo and Branch could either be described as ringmasters at the most entertaining circus in Austin or leaders of the most effective delegation in Texas. "It's not necessarily delegation-specific," said Larry Casto, who lobbies for the city of Dallas. "With the election of a new speaker, you may see some special attention given to the problems we're having in urban areas. It's going to be extra important that the delegation is briefed and, hopefully, all on the same page." Most members from the area are excited at the prospect. "I already sense that the communication in the delegation has been better than it was last session," said state Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas. "There is much more of a bipartisan approach. People just enjoy being with each other more than they did in the past." The agenda for the group is regionally oriented. Tops on the lists of most lawmakers are transportation issues, air quality, development of a flagship university in North Texas, college tuition affordability and the UNT Law School. The sheer size of the group, which was expanded several years ago to take advantage of the clout of suburban lawmakers, makes it susceptible to philosophical rifts, though. For instance, some legislators could have a different view over a plan to develop rail in North Texas suburbs. Some cities, particularly smaller towns, don't like the idea of a countywide vote that would force them to participate in and be taxed for the plan. "We've got to balance some of the exburbs and suburbs with the core," said Branch, who is replacing the retired Fred Hill as the Republican co-chairman of the delegation. As with previous sessions, area legislators have met to discuss their agenda and plan several meetings with business people and lobbyists from North Texas. On Tuesday, officials from the Dallas Regional Chamber and others will meet with the area delegation in Austin. And Dallas legislators plan to chat up Tarrant County lawmakers, as soon as their western neighbors choose co-chairs. North Texas officials say speaking with one voice, when possible, will lead to legislative success in Austin. "I've already seen a spirit of cooperation and a willingness to work together," said Jay Barksdale, vice president of governmental relations for the Dallas Regional Chamber. UNT Law School But costly communication gaps persist. In 2007, it appeared that Dallas would score the UNT Law School, to be housed in the old City Hall building downtown. But the bill died when Rep. Yvonne Davis, D-Dallas, felt it was unnecessarily tacked on to eminent domain legislation and cried foul on a violation of legislative rules. The move created a war of words between her and Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, who felt Davis was reckless in killing the proposal on a technicality. Davis has said that she wanted to kill the overall measure on eminent domain and that law school supporters shouldn't have attached their measure to that bill. This time around, area legislators will try to get a separate UNT Law School bill to the governor's desk. "I'm optimistic," Branch said. "I had a good meeting with Davis. Hopefully it won't get caught up in collateral issues again." Branch, a childhood friend of Straus and an early supporter of the San Antonio Republican's speaker bid, is a leading candidate to head the House Higher Education Committee. That would put him in prime position to get the bill passed. "If we have a Dallas chair of Higher Education, we won't have those same challenges," Anchia said. The Straus factor Straus was backed by a number of North Texas legislators in an effort to topple former House Speaker Tom Craddick, including Republicans Jim Pitts of Waxahachie and Brian McCall of Plano. All are in line for key committee posts, which could help the Dallas-area delegation. When Pitts led the powerful Appropriations Committee, which writes the state budget, in 2005, the area reaped many rewards. Many area Democrats, though, sometimes struggled for political traction because they were outspoken critics of Craddick, R-Midland. Some of them should fare better under Straus, or at the least be rid of a convenient excuse for not getting their bills enacted. "A lot of people from our delegation supported the speaker, and that should help us get our voices heard," said Alonzo, who is serving his second stint as the Democratic co-chairman of the delegation. "Now we have to follow up and produce. Sometimes, when you win, it gets harder." Both Branch and Alonzo are hopeful that Straus will be sensitive to the challenges a metro area faces. "We should do well under him because he's an urban guy," Alonzo said. "He gets our issues."