MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS
Tuesday, March 20, 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, March 20, 2001, in the Capitol Extension,
Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Jane Nelson, Chair
Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Vice Chair
Senator Tom Haywood
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos
Senator Jeff Wentworth
Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr.
*****
The Chair reconvened the meeting at 2:17 p.m. and the following
business was transacted.
The Chair laid out the nominees to the State Board of Medical
Examiners.
The Chair recognized Senator Truan to introduce Joyce A. Roberts
and Paulette B. Southard.
The Chair recognized Senator Bivins to introduce Nancy M.
Seliger.
The Chair recognized Senator Zaffirini to introduce David E.
Garza.
The Chair recognized Senator Van de Putte to introduce Jose M.
Benavides and Elvira G. Pascua-Lim.
The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to
questions by the members of the Committee.
At 2:46 p.m., Senator Lindsay moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Jose M. Benavides, David E. Garza, Elvira G.
Pascua-Lim, Joyce A. Roberts, Nancy M. Seliger, and Paulette B.
Southard be confirmed to the State Board of Medical Examiners.
Senator Van de Putte seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Barrientos, Gallegos, and Wentworth asked to be shown as voting
aye.
The Chair laid out the nominees to the Texas Growth Fund Board
of Trustees.
The Chair recognized Senator Shapiro to introduce Alan W.
Steelman.
The Chair recognized Senator Truan to introduce Patsy W.
Nichols.
The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to
questions by the members of the Committee.
The Chair announced that the consideration of these nominations
would be left pending awaiting the arrival of a quorum.
The Chair laid out the nominees to the Finance Commission of
Texas.
The Chair introduced Vernon W. Bryant and Jacqueline G.
Humphrey.
The Chair recognized Senator Staples to introduce John L.
Snider.
The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to
questions by the members of the Committee.
At 3:13 p.m., Senator Barrientos moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Vernon W. Bryant, Jacqueline G. Humphrey, and John
L. Snider be confirmed to the Finance Commission of Texas.
Senator Wentworth seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Gallegos, Lindsay, and Van de Putte asked to be shown as voting
aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
At 3:13 p.m., Senator Haywood, Barrientos, Gallegos and
Wentworth asked unanimous consent to be shown as voting aye on
the nominees coming before the committee today. Without
objection, the motion carried.
At 3:14 p.m., Senator Wentworth moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Patsy W. Nichols and Alan W. Steelman be confirmed
to the Texas Growth Fund Board of Trustees.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senator
Gallegos, Lindsay, and Van de Putte asked to be shown as voting
aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
The Chair laid out the nominees to the North Texas Tollway
Authority Board of Directors, Municipal Retirement System Board
of Directors, Texas Commission on Private Security, Board of
Trustees of the Texas County and District Retirement System,
Motor Vehicle Board of the Texas Department of Transportation,
and the Texas Council of Purchasing from People with
Disabilities in which all were listed as nominees with waived
appearances.
At 3:14 p.m., Senator Haywood moved to recommend that the
nominees with waived appearances be recommended to the full
Senate for confirmation to their respective boards as listed on
the attached agenda.
Senator Wentworth seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Gallegos, Lindsay, and Van de Putte asked to be shown as voting
aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
The Chair laid out the nominees to the Texas Workers'
Compensation Insurance Fund Board of Directors.
The Chair recognized Senator Truan to introduce Marion L. Brem.
The Chair introduced Richard A. Cooper and George Wesch, Jr.
The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to
questions by Senator Barrientos.
At 3:34 p.m., Senator Lindsay moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Marion L. Brem, Richard A. Cooper, and George Wesch,
Jr. be confirmed to the Texas Workers' Compensation Insurance
Fund Board of Directors.
Senator Barrientos seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Haywood, Gallegos, Wentworth, and Van de Putte asked to be shown
as voting aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
The nominees laid out the nominees to the State Employee
Charitable Campaign Policy Committee.
The Chair recognized Senator Jackson to introduce Robert K.
Skaggs.
The Chair recognized Senator Ogden to introduce Mary S.
Goldwater and David W. Standlee, Sr.
The Chair recognized Senator Lucio to introduce Maria (Mary) L.
Banda.
The nominees made opening remarks and then responded to
questions by the members of the Committee.
The Chair laid out the nominee to the Texas Transportation
Commission and introduced Richard (Ric) F. Williamson.
The nominee made opening remarks and then responded to questions
by the members of the Committee.
The Chair recognized Senator Sibley to make remarks on behalf of
Ric Williamson.
The Chair recognized that Frank W. Calhoun of Austin and Dennis
Kearns of Austin registered in support of the nomination of Ric
Williamson, both of which did not wish to testify.
At 4:49 p.m., Senator Lindsay moved to recommend to the full
Senate that Richard (Ric) F. Williamson be confirmed to the
Texas Transportation Commission.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Barrientos, Haywood, Gallegos, and Wentworth asked to be shown
as voting aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
At 5:00 p.m., Senator Van de Putte moved to recommend to the
full Senate that Maria (Mary) L. Banda, Mary S. Goldwater,
Robert K. Skaggs, and David W. Standlee, Sr. be confirmed to the
State Employee Charitable Campaign Policy Committee.
Senator Lindsay seconded the motion.
The motion carried with a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays. Senators
Barrientos, Haywood, Gallegos, and Wentworth asked to be shown
voting as aye. Without objection, the motion carried.
At 5:01 p.m., Senator Lindsay moved that the minutes from the
previous meeting be approved. There being no objections, the
minutes were adopted.
There being no further business, at 5:02 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