CAPITOL LETTERS

The House Education Chairman is famous for his puns. The man is a reporter's dream.

So he's got this bill creating a fine for owners who don't keep their dogs from barking incessantly day and night.

Here was his opener: "It's the tail end of the session... This bill is germaine to sheperds."

But then his colleagues finally got him back. Barking so loud in the chamber that you almost couldnt' hear him, they lined up at the back mic.

Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth: "I'd like to call a pointer of order."
Eissler: "Would that make it a dog p.o.o.?"

Rep. Byron Cook in the speaker's chair: "Members, could we have a little more noise in the chamber, please?"

Rep. Dianne Delisi, R-Temple: “What does the small dog say when this bill passes? Yippee!"

Rep. Scott Hochberg, D-Houston (after asking him to demonstrate a barking dog) : "What's the fine in this bill?"

Eissler: "It's $50 for humans ... how much is that in dog money?"