January 7, 2000

In searching for a topic for this week’s column, we thumbed through a couple of files of interesting legislative tidbits.

We found several nuggets of information.

It’s always good to have a few of these facts in your back pocket. We thought we would share some of these with you today.

You might consider this information under the title, "Hmmm, I didn’t know that".

The annual, mail-in survey of lobbyists, trade association executives, lawmakers and Capitol Hill staff again placed the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) at the top of the list, followed by the National Rifle Association (NRA), which jumped from the fourth ranking to second. The largest slide came from the Christian Coalition, which dropped from number seven to number 35. Labor unions grabbed five of the top 25 slots for the first time since the survey began in 1997.

Lobbyists in Washington, D.C. outnumber members of Congress 27-to-1.

Here in Texas, there are nearly nine lobbyists for every member of the Texas House and Senate (1,579 registered lobbyists). Among the lobby corps, there are 110 former legislators, including three former House speakers, 13 former state agency heads, six former legislative officers and too many former legislative staffers and agency employees to count.

The Lord’s Prayer is 66 words, the Gettysburg Address is 286 words, there are 1,322 words in the Declaration of Independence, but federal government regulations on the sale of cabbage total 26, 911 words.

Texas Senate: 31 members

• Average Age: 49; Oldest: 64; Youngest: 39.

There is one Senate member between 30 and 39 years of age; there are 13 Senate members between 40 and 49; 13 Senate members are between 50 and 59; and four Senate members are between 60 and 69.

• The average number of years of legislative experience is 11 years, with legislative service ranging from newly-elected to 30 years.

• Four members of the Senate have military experience.

• The Senate is composed of 27 men and four women, and 16 Republicans and 15 Democrats.

Texas House: 150 members

• Composed of 121 men and 28 women (one House seat currently vacant).

• Ethnic Classification: 108 Anglo, 27 Hispanic, and 14 African American.

• Occupation: 49, attorney; 32, business; 14, farmer/rancher; 11, insurance; 9, real estate; 7, education; 6, government/public service; 5, retired; 5, accounting/financial services; 4, consulting; 2, medical/health services; 2, manufacturing; 2, oil and gas production; 2, construction; 2, chiropractor; 1, veterinary medicine; 1, minister.

The Texas Capitol covers three acres of ground with approximately 18 acres of floor space. It is the largest of all state capitol buildings and is second in total size only to the National Capitol in Washington, D.C. In fact, like several other state Capitol buildings, the Texas Capitol surpasses the National Capitol in height, rising seven feet above its Washington counterpart.