MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS

Friday, May 11, 2007

10:00 a.m.

Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Nominations was held on Friday, May 11, 2007, in the Betty King Committee Hearing Room, 2E.20, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Mike Jackson Senator Kevin Eltife Senator Glenn Hegar Senator Jane Nelson Senator Robert Nichols Senator Eliot Shapleigh Senator Kirk Watson		None

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:20 a.m.  There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted: 

 

The following members arrived after the roll was called: Senator Eltife and Senator Nelson.

 

Chairman Jackson called Colleen McHugh, nominee to the University of Texas System Board of Regents, to the table.  Senator Hinojosa introduced McHugh to the committee.  McHugh addressed the committee with opening comments.

 

Senator Nelson expressed her confidence in McHugh and recommended her for confirmation by the committee.  Senator Watson expressed his support for McHugh.  Senator Nichols thanked McHugh for her service and highly recommended her for confirmation.

 

Chairman Jackson recognized Senator Shapleigh.  Senator Shapleigh and McHugh discussed rising tuition costs.

 

Senator Nelson moved that the nomination of Colleen McHugh be confirmed by the committee.  At 10:30 a.m., by a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays, the committee voted to recommend McHugh to the full Senate for confirmation.

 

Chairman Jackson called Ida Louise Steen, nominee to the A&M University System Board of Regents, to the table.  Senator Wentworth introduced Steen to the committee.  Chairman Jackson recognized Steen for opening comments.

 

Chairman Jackson and Steen discussed rising tuition costs in Texas schools. 

 

Chairman Jackson recognized Senator Shapleigh.  Senator Shapleigh and Steen discussed student loan issues that arose in Indiana. 

 

Senator Eltife moved that the nomination of Ida Louise Steen be confirmed by the committee.  At 10:38 a.m., by a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays, the committee voted to recommend Ida Louise Steen to the full Senate for confirmation.

 

Chairman Jackson called The Honorable Glenn Lewis, E. Javier Loya, and Richard Salwen, nominees to the Texas Southern University Board of Regents, to the table.  The chair announced that Gary Bledsoe and Richard Holland were unable to attend the hearing.

 

Senator Brimer introduced The Honorable Glenn Lewis to the committee.  Senator Watson introduced Richard Salwen to the committee.  Chairman Jackson read an introduction for E. Javier Loya written by Senator Whitmire.  Senator Gallegos expressed his support for Javier Loya. 

 

Chairman Jackson recognized the nominees for opening comments. 

 

Chairman Jackson recognized Senator Shapleigh.  Senator Shapleigh and Salwen discussed the controls on disclosure of information at Texas Southern University.  Salwen said that he would commit a substantial amount of time to his position.

 

Chairman Jackson recognized Senator Ellis.  Senator Ellis and the nominees discussed the current problems at Texas Southern University.  Senator Ellis and the nominees also discussed the role of the Governor and his staff in the appointment process.  Senator West addressed the nominees with his concerns regarding the disclosure of information at Texas Southern University.

 

The committee members discussed the confirmation of the 2 absent nominees.  Senator Watson expressed his support for Gary Bledsoe, nominee to the board who was unable to attend the hearing.  Senator Shapiro expressed her support for Richard Holland who was also unable to attend.  Both nominees came highly recommended for confirmation. 

 

Senator Ellis and Javier Loya discussed diversity within the Texas Southern University board of regents.

 

Senator Watson moved that the nominations of Gary Bledsoe, Richard Holland, The Honorable Glenn Lewis, E. Javier Loya, and Richard Salwen be confirmed by the committee.  At 11:26 a.m., by a vote of 7 ayes and 0 nays, the committee voted to recommend the nominees to the full Senate for confirmation. 

 

 

There being no further business, at 11:27 a.m. Senator Jackson moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Mike Jackson, Chair

 

 

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Katherine Chapman, Clerk