CHIP bill being torpedoed?
Rep. Robert "Torpedo Bob" Talton, R-Pasadena, has just raised a point of order -- or at least appeared to do so -- on the bill to partially undo cuts made four years ago to the Children's Health Insurance Program.
Mr. Talton said he found a "transition provision" in the conference report that was in neither chamber's version.
"I was under the impression that if you had something new in the bill, that you had to have a privileged resolution [to OK the change], is that not correct?" he said.
Replied Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown, who's now presiding: "That principle is correct."
Big huddle to the south of the speaker's dais right now .... This could be a heart-breaker for CHIP advocates because the bill was finally approved by the Senate an hour or so ago and was only one hurdle away from going to the governor's desk.