Public Opinion and the #TxLege Agenda for Wednesday, March 8

Some public opinion context for a couple of hearings at the Texas Capitol for Wednesday, March 8.

Chairman Dennis Bonnen is scheduled to convene the House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday to discuss a handful of bills about taxes. The UT/TT poll asked folks what they thought the legislature’s response should be to the tight budget, which we shared Monday. Here are the toplines again, with a couple of different tabs.  #Spoileralert: folks in the suburbs really want some property tax reduction.

Later in the day (after the House adjourns), the House State Affairs committee is scheduled to hear Rep. and Chairman Byron Cook’s fetal remains bill, HB 201, which includes the following provision.

(a) A health care facility in this state that provides health or medical care to a pregnant woman shall dispose of any fetal remains related to that care, regardless of the period of gestation or weight of the fetus,

    by:
          (1)  interment;
          (2)  cremation;
          (3)  incineration followed by interment; or  
          (4)  steam disinfection followed by interment.             

In the February UT/TT poll, asked with deceptive simplicity whether they considered themselves pro-choice or pro-life, the totals were 41 percent and 42 percent, respectively. Expect it to feel that way in the hearing room.

Other Wednesday meetings and links to agenda at the Texas Legislature Online.