Texplainer: What is the Blocker Bill?
Hey, Texplainer: What is the blocker bill, and what does role does it play in the Senate?
For "nearly half a century," according to the Legislative Reference Library, the Texas Senate has routinely placed what is called a blocker bill at the very beginning of its daily calendar. The bill is introduced and passed through committee as quickly as possible, putting it at the top of the Senate's calendar, where it sits for the rest of the session.
No other bill can be passed unless at least two-thirds of the senators agree to "suspend the regular order of business ...
Comments (5)
Dave Rausch
I have seen the blocker bill also referred to as "the Rosebush bill." Why rosebush?
gypsy314 ne
If democrats can change rules then republicans should do the same thing and refer to the US senate rules change. I think also America dreams and hopes will come down to a revolution or civil war and yes this means blood shed. Think about it bot scouts of America is under attack and now looks like it will became gay scouts of America. But not with my love ones NOT one single brain washing method will be imposed on my love ones all my support is now gone for gay scouts of America. Folks Obama is attacking us every were and will not stop until we are all disarm and slaves to the new socialist world government folks most democrats support this so prepare for the worst. I want peace but as we all know peace does not come cheap. We will have to do what needs to be done.
Christine Lund
When are the people going to give Dan Patrick the boot? This should be a priority. He needs his own country to rule. Let's take up a hat and see if we can help him on his way. His contributions to society seem to be small enough to fit in a mouse glue trap. And his divisiveness has not been good for Texans. I find myself being considered too Emily Post. But, this man sticks his nose in everyone else's business and gets nothing done. His negativity is catching. I know I get mad every time he opens his big mouth. What we need is people that can draw other people together. His negativity is not what we need and is in fact, the last thing we need. His own Party laughs behind his back, no, guffaws behind his back.
While all you rich and wealthy people are able to go home at night and relax and eat and sleep through the night, that is something that many people in Texas cannot do. Many have no home (no furniture), no bathroom and shower, little food and bed is where ever you can find a spot. Last month, a homeless man was killed while sleeping behind a building, for whatever reason, just blocks away. DON'T THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO WITH THEIR TIME? You can't have morals if you don't recognize your responsibility to prioritize the needs of the people. Pushing his own kind of 'moral behavior' on others is not his responsibility.
Christine Lund
You can't have it both ways, boys. Just wait until women dominate politics. Will you men be whining that it's not fair? This blocker bill may not be perfect but they need to come up with a better bill. You can't have your way for years and then whine when it's used against you. Waa-Waa
Pickles Sorrell
There's some nimrod from Harris County who proclaims himself an expert on the Blocker Bill. He is the one who gets all the far right wingers to call it that. But no one is Austin have ever called it that, even when I worked at the Capitol in the late 1960's before I was married, nobody ever called it Rosebush.
So when Senate offices now see the term "Rosebush" in correspondence or email they know they are dealing with a winger or Tea Party nut.