A Step Back -- and Forward -- For UNT Law School
Dallas lawmakers got quite a scare this morning when they learned some staffers in Gov. Rick Perry's office were actively opposing a measure to create a University of North Texas law school in downtown Dallas.
Lawmakers said at least one of the governor's staffers was circulating, trying to find someone to raise a point of order on an eminent domain bill that has the law school tacked on as an amendment. Another staffer apparently called Rep. Dan Branch's office and told his staff the governor didn't support the law school because "Texas doesn't need another law school," Mr. Branch said.
Dallas lawmakers had mini panic attacks -- they surmised the governor had been begged by Texas Tech or A&M not to give Dallas a law school. By mid afternoon, UNT Chancellor Lee Jackson had raced down from Dallas. He just got out of a meeting with Gov. Perry, and Robert Black, the governor's spokesman, said everything is back on track.
"Something like this isn't a small step. You don't just create a law school out of thin air," Mr. Black said. "But the governor supports the law school for North Texas."
The bill the law school is tacked onto comes up for a vote in the House this evening -- and will most likely go to conference committee to get the details worked out.
Comments
Whoever called Rep. Branch's office is right. Texas doesn't need another law school. I would consider Texas Wesleyan a more likely source of a panicky call than Tech or A&M anyway.
--Yet Another Lawyer In the Metroplex
Posted by: Paul | May 25, 2007 5:07 PM
Texas doesn't need another PRIVATE law school, but Texas--especially North Texas, who seems to be the whipping boy this (and last, and prior to that, and just before those two) session--needs another PUBLIC law school. Even with the massive, painful tuition increases in public institutions (which I pay, since I'm still in college), public law school tuition still doesn't come anywhere near approaching Texas Wesleyan University (the *other* TWU) or Southern Mydaddypaidforthis University.
Posted by: wes m | May 25, 2007 9:56 PM
Question... Could someone give me feedback on the final vote on the Law School proposal? Which member of the Dallas delegation voted against the bill?
Posted by: Carol King | May 29, 2007 11:34 AM