Texas Rep. Dennis Bonnen, chair of the House Environmental Regulations Committee, has said he won't hear any air toxics bills in his committee unless they pass the Senate, according to an article in the Brazoria County Facts.

"If the Senate passes the bill and sends them to me, I will grant a hearing," Bonnen said.

Bonnen argues that there are 11 air toxics bills, and he intends to wait until the Senate reaches a compromise until he lets them be heard in committee. In his count, he includes identical bills, and also says there are only "two issues," when there are actually five. Yet Bonnen refuses to hear any of them.

By the way, to date, just two air toxics bills have been heard in the Senate Natural Resources Committee and only one, SB 1924, has been sent to the full Senate. Pro-industry folks seem to find it the least "objectionable," because it simply requires the state to report on its efforts to clean up toxic air pollution, and doesn't actually strengthen air quality requirements.

Though it's good that Bonnen will be receptive to hearing the Senate bills if they're passed, the House versions deserve a hearing, said Laurie Haffelfinger, communications director for GHASP. We still think it's important the companion bills should be heard, she said. We would like the House to hear our bills regardless of what happens in the Senate.

Bonnen's decision essentially prevents the House from taking its own action and making its own decisions regarding the pending air toxics legislation. It also entirely blocks one means of getting legislation passed, which would be for the House to pass a bill and then have it heard by the Senate.

Bonnen is corrupting the process and making these bills meet a higher standard (being passed already by the Senate) than other bills must meet. To be fair, then, he should just refuse to hear any bills unless they have first passed muster in the Senate.

But that, even Bonnen would probably agree, is ridiculous.