MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS
Wednesday, February 17, 1999
1:00 p.m.
Capitol Building, Room 2E.20
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Nominations
was held on Wednesday, February 17, 1999, in the Capitol
Building, Room 2E.20, Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chairman None
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr., Vice Chairman
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator David Bernsen
Senator J.E. Brown
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Mike Jackson
*****
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m. There
being a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
Senator Gallegos moved that the Minutes from the previous
meeting be approved. There being no objection, the Minutes
were adopted.
Chairman Wentworth announced that consideration of Alberto R.
Gonzales, nominee for Justice of the Texas Supreme Court,
would be postponed one week, due to his being out of town on
state business and unable to return in time for his scheduled
appearance.
The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Member of
the Texas State Board of Education, District 6 (Chair).
Senator Ellis introduced the nominee, Chase Untermeyer.
Mr. Untermeyer made an opening statement and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 2:07 p.m., Senator Barrientos moved to recommend to the
full Senate that Chase Untermeyer be confirmed as Member of
the Texas State Board of Education, District 6 (Chair).
Senators Gallegos and Bernsen seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Commissioner
of Education.
Chairman Wentworth introduced the nominee, Dr. Michael A.
Moses.
Dr. Moses made an opening statement and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 2:35 p.m., Chairman Wentworth welcomed Senator Bivins to
the Committee.
At 3:09 p.m., Senator Bernsen moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Dr. Michael A. Moses be confirmed as Commissioner
of Education.
The motion carried with a vote of 7ayes and 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Commissioner
of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.
Senator Barrientos introduced the nominee, Robert Huston.
Mr. Huston made an opening statement and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 3:33 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Robert Huston be confirmed as Commissioner of the
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Commissioner
of the Texas Public Safety Commission.
Senator Truan introduced the nominee, M. Colleen McHugh.
Ms. McHugh made an opening statement and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 3:52 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full
Senate that M. Colleen McHugh be confirmed as Commissioner of
the Texas Public Safety Commission.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Executive
Director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community
Development.
Chairman Wentworth introduced the nominee, Daisy A. Stiner.
Ms. Stiner made an opening statement and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
The Committee heard testimony in favor of Daisy A. Stiner's
confirmation from Rowan Smith of Houston, Texas.
At 4:11 p.m., Senator Brown moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Daisy A. Stiner be confirmed as Executive Director
of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
Senator Barrientos seconded the motion.
The motion passed with a vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays.
The Chairman laid out the name of the nominee for Judge of the
Third District Court of Appeals.
Senator Barrientos introduced the nominee, Earl L. Yeakel,
III.
Judge Yeakel made an opening statement and then responded to
questions by members of the Committee.
At 4:16 p.m., Senator Barrientos moved to recommend to the
full Senate that Earl L. Yeakel, III, be confirmed as Judge of
the Third District Court of Appeals.
The motion carried with a vote of 6 ayes and 0 nays.
There being no further business, at 4:20 p.m. Senator Brown
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the Chairman. Without objection it was so ordered.
Senator Jeff Wentworth, Chairman
Jennifer Ahrens, Clerk