Senator Eliot Shapleigh - El Paso, Texas

The state of Texas is now likely to legislate that restaurants will only be allowed to fry food provided the oil that they fry it in contains no Trans fat. The senate bill numbered SB 204 which is being introduced by Senator Eliot Shapleigh sets out rules which would allow the big fast food restaurant chains until September 1, 2010 to change their cooking methods to something which is healthier. Other restaurants which have less than fifteen establishments would have until September 1st 2011.

With all of the El Paso area's solar potential, El Paso Electric is going to build a solar thermal plant near Deming, with all of the power generated there going to Southern New Mexico. Our neighboring state is requiring the utility to produce 20 percent of its power through solar energy.

Basic infrastructure is the key to a competitive economy—without the ability to move people and products, manufacturers and others will go to states and countries that can. In El Paso, we need to support a proven model that has worked to provide that infrastructure to our city, and give it the every tool and resource available to bring more projects to El Paso. Let’s all support a strong RMA and TXDOT to make that happen.

Voter ID became the signature symbolic issue at the Lege session kickoff – firing passions and tying up the Senate for days – and at the moment it appears House GOP hard-liners are more interested in forwarding an uncompromising bill than in winning moderate votes, perhaps under the theory that a headline defeat to those evil, liberal Democrats is in some ways easier to flog on the primary trail than would be a limited victory.

Below, I'd like to outline the following 10 legislative issues El Pasoans should be watching for the rest of the 81st Legislative Session. The session ends in 18 days, with Sine Die on June 1, 2009.

Here is our Top Ten:

Which state programs are most worthy of taxpayer dollars? Should they cap college tuition? How will they regulate the insurance industry? Can college students legally carry guns on campus?

Four bills filed in the Senate that would work to restrict short-term lending practices were left pending in committee this week, leaving them little chance of making it through the legislative process before session ends, its author said Thursday.

A high-profile bill that would expand goals for renewable energy by encouraging the development of solar energy plants to generate electricity was passed Tuesday by the Texas Senate.

Daring to tinker with the hallowed formula for chicken fried steak and french fries, the Texas Senate voted Friday to ban the use of most trans fats in restaurants.

Shapleigh got the Texas Water Development Board to hold an El Paso conference last summer to talk about how unpredicted changes in the environment could affect the Rio Grande. Here's the part of that conference's report the rest of us should think about:

With the clock ticking, several lawmakers made a last-ditch effort Monday to heat up interest in legislation to extend children's Medicaid coverage from a six-month enrollment period to 12 months.

In a telephone interview, Perkins expressed disappointment but said she would be willing to serve in another post. The Senate’s action would send her appointment back to the Senate nominations committee to leave the door open for Perry to appoint her to another position.

El Paso to Chávez and Pickett ... El Paso to Chávez and Pickett. Yoo hoo, we're over here.

In a rare public rebuke to Gov. Rick Perry, the Texas Senate on Wednesday blocked his nomination of unemployed Burleson banker Shanda Perkins to become a member of the state Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Texans would still be able to order chicken-fried steaks, French fries and pecan pies at their favorite restaurants, but those delectable dishes would have to be made without trans fats under a bill the state Senate approved Friday.

Even during the current economic crisis these companies are racking up record profits and opening new storefronts at record rates, from 1,513 storefronts in 2005 to more than 2,800 today. Texans took out $2.5 billion in loans from the payday companies last year.

Someone call the grownups in the state Capitol. Members of the House have made a mess, and it looks like they've left it to the Senate to clean up.

El Paso officials said they are working New Mexico and Texas officials to help bring the commuter train which connects the New Mexican cities of Belen and Santa Fe to the El Paso and Las Cruces area.

Shapleigh, D-El Paso, has shepherded two other bills through the Senate to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables among lower income Texans and to get kids outside.

State Rep. Veronica Gonzales is attempting to launch a bureau of economic development for the border region but the bill to establish it originally came with a hefty price tag. The legislation was given new life recently after some changes that make the idea more financially feasible.