Setbacks in Legislature for East Texan Simpson

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – Republican State Representative David Simpson of Longview has received a couple of setbacks in legislative activity. A bill that would prohibit federal agents from intrusive searches during airport security pat downs is likely dead in the Texas Senate after a threat from federal officials to close airports if the measure passed. Simpson introduced the bill in the House. The Senate bill sponsor blamed Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst for turning senators against his bill Tuesday night. Republican Sen. Dan Patrick said he lost votes to bring the bill to the floor for a debate because Dewhurst caved to pressure from the federal government.

The measure, already approved by the House, would make it illegal for anyone conducting searches to touch private parts under or through clothing. It also prohibits searches “that would be offensive to a reasonable person.” Patrick said he doesn’t have the support to bring the bill up again for a vote.

Meanwhile, a bill outlawing Salvia divinorum, a hallucinogenic known as Diviner’s Sage, has passed the Texas House – despite Simpson’s effort to kill it. The measure would place Salvia under Penalty Group 3 along with peyote, codeine and steroids, punishable as a state jail felony. Simpson said Wednesday he would speak on the bill for 10 minutes, a move that knocked it off the list of bills without opposition. That looked like the bill’s demise. However, the bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson, attached a modified version to separate legislation on controlled substances. His amendment passed 142-2. The full bill then passed the House. It now heads back to the Senate for reconsideration with the new amendment.