Institutional Affiliate of American Congress on Surveying - CLSA

away. A last minute assessment <strong>of</strong>
the odds showed TSA's bill had
just better than a 50-50 chance. It
was a horse race. John Poerner,
the Railroad Commissioner, a Registered
Surveyor and former representative
joined with TSA and
talked to a number <strong>of</strong> representatives
on the House floor. It helped.
TSA's bill was brought to the
floor and amendments were tossed
about. It was through the efforts
<strong>of</strong> Rep. Milton Fox, Fred Agnich
and Lance Lalor and their speaking
against the engineers' exemption
that the bill was passed by a
vote <strong>of</strong> 115 for and 14 against. But
unfortunately it was slightly different
to the Senate version. So
back to the Senate!
EarUer it was mentioned that
the Texas Legislature was, among
many things, unpredictable. At
that point in time the Senate was
debating the pros and cons <strong>of</strong>
holding a presidential primary in
Texas. Some 11 senators were intent
upon having their way and
even threatened to walk out, leaving
the Senate without a quorum.
Because <strong>of</strong> their ability to shut
down the Senate's activities, the
media dubbed them the "Killer
Bees."
The clock was ticking that Friday
and Mr. Hooser raced back to
the Senate to get their concurrence.
The end <strong>of</strong> the road was in
sight! The surveyors were just
minutes away from success — but
that Friday morning the "Killer
Bees" had walked out <strong>of</strong> the
Senate just before Mr. Hooser got
there! The Senate was dead!
Days passed and the Lt. Governor
sent the highway patrol out to
find the absent senators, but they
couldn't be found!
However, the story ends happily,
for the "Bees" finally returned
and the following Wednesday,
May 23, the Senate voted to accept
the House amendments to
the surveyors bill. Any casual
observer may well wonder, "Why
all the rush and frustration? The
legislature still had seven more
days before it adjourned."
"The Bill was signed by the Governor
and became effective June
16, 1979.
CONCLUSION
The law now combines the
Licensed State Land Surveyor and
Registered Public Surveyor
Page 32 The California Surveyor — Spring 1982
Boards into one Texas Board <strong>of</strong>
Land Surveying. The new Board
consists <strong>of</strong> the Commissioner <strong>of</strong>
the General Land Office, two
Licensed State Land Surveyors,
four Registered Public Surveyors
and three members from the
general public.
The surveyors in TSA mopped
their brows and reflected on the
many lessons that were learned
the hard way:
1. Stay active in your legislature;
know your legislators.
2. Retain a well qualified lobbyist
and attorney.
3. Develop and maintain a Political
Action Committee.
4. Maintain a good organization
for coordination <strong>of</strong> activities.
5. Delegate responsibility only
to a few reliable people.
6. Have one spokesman.
7. Plan the operation meticulously,
timing can be critical. ^^
8. Spare no expense, but spen(^^^
wisely.
^ ^
9. Communicate, communicate,
communicate.
10. What is legislated can be unlegislated.
11. Pray a lot.
There is a great doubt that the
Texas Surveyors can maintain the
intense interest that was generated
during 1977, '78 and '79 but
never again will they allow themselves
to be caught so unprepared
— unless they forget that sunset
will come around again in 1991.
•