Changes

In 1981, ''Texas Monthly'' magazine named him "Rookie of the Year." In 1982, he was an advocate of utility regulatory reform, an issue which may have helped the Democrat [[Mark White]], the state attorney general at the time, to oust the Republican [[Governor]] [[Bill Clements]]. In 1983, Caperton was a negotiator for House Bill 72, which sought to upgrade public education and required athletes to pass all course. In 1985, in his second Senate term, Caperton headed the newly created Senate Criminal Justice Committee. In 1987, then Lieutenant Governor  William Pettus "Bill" Hobby named Caperton to the Legislative Budget Board. In 1989, Hobby asked Caperton to lead the fight to increase funding for higher education. He soon headed the Senate Finance Committee, the most powerful chairmanship in Austin. He was a conspicuous advocate of sunshine laws, open meetings, and open records<ref name=houch/> In 1989, Caperton was one of five senators to serve as the President Pro Tempore; others included fellow Democrats Craig Anthony Washington and Hugh Q. Parmer, and Republicans [[J. E. "Buster" Brown]] and Millard Robert "Bob" McFarland (born 1941).

In 1981, ''Texas Monthly'' magazine named him "Rookie of the Year." In 1982, he was an advocate of utility regulatory reform, an issue which may have helped the Democrat [[Mark White]], the state attorney general at the time, to oust the Republican [[Governor]] [[Bill Clements]]. In 1983, Caperton was a negotiator for House Bill 72, which sought to upgrade public education and required athletes to pass all course. In 1985, in his second Senate term, Caperton headed the newly created Senate Criminal Justice Committee. In 1987, then Lieutenant Governor  William Pettus "Bill" Hobby named Caperton to the Legislative Budget Board. In 1989, Hobby asked Caperton to lead the fight to increase funding for higher education. He soon headed the Senate Finance Committee, the most powerful chairmanship in Austin. He was a conspicuous advocate of sunshine laws, open meetings, and open records<ref name=houch/> In 1989, Caperton was one of five senators to serve as the President Pro Tempore; others included fellow Democrats Craig Anthony Washington and Hugh Q. Parmer, and Republicans [[J. E. "Buster" Brown]] and Millard Robert "Bob" McFarland (born 1941).

In confirming his retirement from the Senate, Caperton said that he had not grown tired or weary of his legislative duties but was committed to remaining in office only for ten years. Then Texas Secretary of State George Bayoud told the ''Houston Chronicle'' that Caperton "is the one person in this state who I think made a difference" in legislative matters ... "There's something special about Kent."<ref name=houch/> In reviewing his career, Caperton said that he had sought to "hammer out solutions," rather than engage in "political posturing. It's one thing to sit on the side and harangue and pontificate. But it is equally important to bridge a compromise."<ref name=houch/> In his last regular legislative session in 1989, Caperton was rated No. 1 among 181 total legislators in the House and Senate by ''Texas Monthly'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/magazine/bestworst|title=Best and Worst Legislators (by year)|publisher=texasmonthly.com|accessdate=September 12, 2011}}</ref>​

In confirming his retirement from the Senate, Caperton said that he had not grown tired or weary of his legislative duties but was committed to remaining in office only for ten years. Then Texas Secretary of State George Bayoud told the ''Houston Chronicle'' that Caperton "is the one person in this state who I think made a difference" in legislative matters ... "There's something special about Kent."<ref name=houch/> In reviewing his career, Caperton said that he had sought to "hammer out solutions," rather than engage in "political posturing. It's one thing to sit on the side and harangue and pontificate. But it is equally important to bridge a compromise."<ref name=houch/> In his last regular legislative session in 1989, Caperton was rated No. 1 among 181 total legislators in the House and Senate by ''Texas Monthly'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.texasmonthly.com/magazine/bestworst|title=Best and Worst Legislators (by year)|publisher=texasmonthly.com|accessdate=September 12, 2011; material no longer accessible}}</ref>​

In 1990, Caperton reflected that the outgoing state Comptroller Robert Douglas "Bob" Bullock, Sr. (1929-1999), then running successfully to succeed Hobby as lieutenant governor, had shown political courage regarding long-range economic problems. Caperton called for a revamped tax system, with a state income tax, rather than so much reliance on a regressive system of sales taxes and user fees.<ref name=houch/> Legislators have repeatedly, however, resisted calls for a state income tax, and few candidates have endorsed the issue.​

In 1990, Caperton reflected that the outgoing state Comptroller Robert Douglas "Bob" Bullock, Sr. (1929-1999), then running successfully to succeed Hobby as lieutenant governor, had shown political courage regarding long-range economic problems. Caperton called for a revamped tax system, with a state income tax, rather than so much reliance on a regressive system of sales taxes and user fees.<ref name=houch/> Legislators have repeatedly, however, resisted calls for a state income tax, and few candidates have endorsed the issue.​