MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS
Tuesday, April 10, 2001
1:30 p.m. or upon adjournment
Capitol Extension, Room E1.016
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Nominations
was held on Tuesday, April 10, 2001, in the Capitol Extension,
Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson
Senator Leticia Van de Putte
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Jeff Wentworth
*****
The Chair reconvened the meeting at 1:38 p.m. and the following
business was transacted.
The Chair recognized Senator Lucio to introduce his three
constituents.
Senator Lucio introduced Adrian A. Arriaga, nominee to the Texas
Board of Criminal Justice; James R. Langabeer, nominee to the
Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation; and Jorge D. Perez,
nominee to the Texas Military Facilities Commission.
The Chair laid out the nominees to the Governing Board of the
Texas School for the Deaf.
The Chair recognized Senator Truan to introduce Lesa Von Thomas.
The Chair recognized Senator Shapiro to introduce Charles C.
Estes.
The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to
questions by the members of the Committee.
At 2:07 p.m., Senator Wentworth moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Charles C. Estes and Lesa Von Thomas be confirmed to
the Governing Board of the Texas School for the Deaf.
Senator Gallegos seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Haywood, Lindsay, and Van de Putte asked to be shown as voting
aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
The Chair laid out the nominee for Justice of the Supreme Court
of Texas.
The Chair recognized Senator Wentworth to introduce Wallace B.
Jefferson.
The nominee made opening remarks.
The Chair called Michael J. Black who testified in favor of
Wallace B. Jefferson.
The nominee responded to questions by the members of the
Committee.
At 2:52 p.m., Senator Wentworth moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Wallace B. Jefferson be confirmed as Justice of the
Supreme Court of Texas.
Senator Barrientos seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Haywood and Van de Putte asked to be shown as voting aye.
Without objection, the notion carried.
Senator Lindsay moved that the minutes from the previous meeting
be approved. Without objection, the motion carried.
The Chair laid out the nominees to the nominees to the Texas
Board of Criminal Justice.
The Chair recognized Senator Gallegos to introduce Judge Mary
Bacon.
The Chair recognized Senator Wentworth to introduce Pierce
Miller.
The Chair introduced Christina M. Crain.
Senator Wentworth asked unanimous consent voting with the Chair
on all remaining nominees before the Committee. Without
objection, the motion carried.
The Chair recognized Senator Carona to make remarks on behalf of
Christina M. Crain.
The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to
questions by the members of the Committee.
The Chair announced that the consideration of these nominees
would be left pending awaiting the arrival of a quorum.
The Chair laid out the nominees to the Texas Military Facilities
Commission.
The Chair introduced Sandra Paret.
Senator Lucio introduced Jorge Perry earlier in the hearing.
The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to
questions by the members of the Committee.
The Chair announced that the consideration of these nominees
would be left pending awaiting the arrival of a quorum.
The Chair laid out the nominees to the Interagency Council on
Early Childhood Intervention.
The Chair introduced Marcia D. Garcia and Michael Fuhrman.
The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to
questions by the members of the Committee.
At 3:45, Senator Van de Putte moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Michael Fuhrman and Marcia D. Garcia be confirmed to
the Interagency Council on Early Childhood Intervention.
Senator Lindsay seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Haywood, Gallegos, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting
aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
Senator Lindsay moved to recommend to the full Senate that
Pierce Miller, Mary Bacon, Adrian A. Arriaga, and Christina M.
Crain be confirmed to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice.
Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Haywood, Gallegos, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting
aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
Senator Barrientos moved to recommend to the full Senate that
Sandra Paret and Jorge D. Perez be confirmed to the Texas
Military Facilities Commission.
Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Haywood, Gallegos, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting
aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
At 3:47 p.m., Senator Van de Putte moved to recommend to the
full Senate that the nominees with waived appearances listed on
the attached agenda be confirmed to their respective boards.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Haywood, Gallegos, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting
aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
The Chair laid out the nominee to the Board of Protective and
Regulatory Services.
The Chair introduced Christina O. Strauch.
The nominee made opening remarks and then responded to questions
by members of the Committee.
At 3:55 p.m., Senator Van de Putte assumed the Chair.
The Chair announced that the consideration of these nominees
would be left pending awaiting the arrival of a quorum.
The Chair laid out the nominees to the Texas Guaranteed Student
Loan Corporation.
The Chair announced that the appearance of Jennifer Esterline
and Albon Head, Jr., nominees to this board, would be waived.
The Chair recognized Senator Bivins to introduce Jerry Don
Miller.
Senator Lucio introduced James R. Langabeer earlier in the
hearing.
The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to
questions by Senator Barrientos.
The Chair announced that the consideration of these nominees
would be left pending awaiting the arrival of a quorum.
The Chair laid out the nominees to the State Board for Educator
Certification and introduced John J. Beck, Jr.
The Chair announced that the nomination of Mary C. Border would
be left pending.
The nominee made opening remarks and responded to questions by
the members of the Committee.
The Chair announced that the consideration of this nominee would
be left pending awaiting the arrival of a quorum.
The Chair laid out the nominee for Commissioner of Education.
The Chair recognized Senator Barrientos to introduce James E.
Nelson.
At 4:34 p.m., Senator Nelson resumed the Chair.
The Chair recognized Senator Bivins to make remarks on behalf of
James E. Nelson.
The nominee made opening remarks and then responded to questions
by the members of the Committee.
At 5:43 p.m., Senator Lindsay moved to recommend to the full
Senate that James E. Nelson be confirmed as Commissioner of
Education.
Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Barrientos, Haywood, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting
aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
Senator Van de Putte moved to recommend to the full Senate that
John J. Beck, Jr. be confirmed to the State Board for Educator
Certification.
Senator Gallegos seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Barrientos, Haywood, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting
aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
Senator Lindsay moved to recommend to the full Senate that
Jennifer M. Esterline, Albon O. Head, Jr., James R. Langabeer,
and Jerry D. Miller be confirmed to the Texas Guaranteed Student
Loan Corporation.
Senator Gallegos seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Barrientos, Haywood, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting
aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
Senator Gallegos moved to recommend to the full Senate that
Christina O. Strauch be confirmed to the Board of Protective and
Regulatory Services.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Barrientos, Haywood, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting
aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
There being no further business, at 5:46 p.m. Senator Van de
Putte moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the
call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair
______________________
Cheri Huddleston, Clerk