Texas Senate Considers Trimming Regents' Power

The Texas Senate is considering rolling back the voting powers of university regents and require they receive ethics training as well.

The Senate Committee on Higher Education is scheduled Wednesday to consider a bill that prohibits governor-appointed regents from voting on personnel and budget matters until they have been confirmed by the Senate.

Committee chairman Kel Seliger, an Amarillo Republican, filed the bill after some lawmakers complained that University of Texas regents were micro-managing the flagship campus in Austin.

UT-Austin President Bill Powers is believed to be fighting for his job with regents appointed by Gov. Rick Perry. The Senate Legislature recently passed resolutions supporting Powers as a good leader.

Perry has appointed two new regents and reappointed a third who have not yet been confirmed by the Senate.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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