Senators Draw for Beans

On Wednesday, the Senate met to draw to determine who will serve two-year terms and who will serve four-year terms before their next election.  The practice of drawing for terms takes place in the first session after the Legislature redraws the State Senate districts.  During the process, Senators proceed to the front of the chamber and draw an envelope that contains a number, (formerly a bean).  Senators who draw an even number will serve a two-year term, while Senators who draw an odd number serve a four-year term.  Up until recently, Senators would draw a bean.  A black bean equaled a two-year term while a white bean equaled a four-year term.

Legend has it that “drawing for beans” began in late 1842. A large force of Texans left San Antonio to punish the Mexican army for crossing the border and raiding numerous towns in Texas.  As the Texans approached the border they were unaware that there were 3,000 Mexican troops in the area, although the Texans inflicted heavy casualties on the Mexican army (650 killed, 200 wounded), the Texans were forced to surrender.  Approximately 243 Texans were taken prisoners and began a march to Mexico City for their punishment.

During the march, 181 of the Texans escaped, but the lack of water and food in the mountainous Mexican terrain forced 176 to surrender or be recaptured.  When Santa Anna heard of the escaping prisoners he was outraged and ordered the execution of all the prisoners.  The commander of the 3000 Mexican troops, Colonel Diego Huerta refused.   Santa Anna eventually compromised and agreed that only one in ten would be executed.

To help determine who would die, Colonel Huerta had 159 white beans and 17 black beans placed in a pot.  In what became known as the Black Bean Episode or the Bean Lottery, the Texans were blindfolded and ordered to draw beans.  The Officers were the first to draw beans, followed by the enlisted men in alphabetical order.  The seventeen who drew black beans were allowed to write letters home and then were executed by firing squad.   On March 25, 1843 the Texans were shot in two groups, one of nine men and one of eight.  According to legend, Colonel Huerta placed the black beans in the pot last and had the officers pick first, so they would make up the majority of those executed.

83rd Legislative Session Senate Drawing of Terms

Black Bean (two-year term), Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels; Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas; Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth; Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville; Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls; Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills; Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Southside Place; Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville; Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston; Sen. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney; Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown; Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo; Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin; Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas; Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston.

White Bean(four-year term), Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury; Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock; Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston; Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler; Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay; Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy; Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen; Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville; Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound; Sen. José Rodríguez, D-El Paso; Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood; Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio; Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio; Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands; Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo. The winner of the special election in Senate District 6 will also serve for four years.

Why such a slow start?

There are numerous reasons as to why the session begins slowly.   Every session has its own pace, the rules do, however, prohibit the Legislature from doing much in terms of passing legislation with the first 60 days, with the exception of emergency matters.

The Legislature can organize each chamber by adopting rules, filing bills, naming committee memberships and even have committee hearings, but they can’t pass bills out of one chamber to the next until the 60th day of the session (March 8th this session).

The Senate has already appointed committees and is off to its usual quick pace, this week the Senate Finance committee has been meeting daily working on their version of the Appropriations bill (SB 1), each day for the next two to three weeks they will take up different articles of the Appropriations bill and have every state agency testify before the committee to justify the budget request to the Legislature.

The House is also off to its usual pace, that being a slow one.  The have however passed a few congratulatory resolutions, and have recognized several groups sitting in the gallery.  They have yet to name committee chairs and committee memberships, these assignments will probably be named either next week or the first week of February. So stay tuned.

Contributed by Mike French, mfrench0028@yahoo.com