Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Texas GOP Works to Remove Senate's Two-Thirds Rule

by Ben Philpott
November 10, 2010
10 Comments

Republicans hold a 99-51 edge in the Texas House — enough of a majority for them to pass almost anything without needing support from Democrats. It's an edge that many in the GOP, including state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, see as a specific mandate to advance conservative legislative priorities.

"Obviously there are more votes on the conservative side of the ledger," Patrick says. "And so issues, particularly dealing with immigration, may finally move forward."

Patrick believes the House should also easily pass long-stalled a bill requiring a picture ID to vote and make redistricting go more smoothly. Those debates will ...

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Comments (10)

November 10, 2010 @ 7:21 a.m.

Joe Rodgers via Texas Tribune on Facebook

At least we still have a shot at keeping the Republicans from screwing us any more than they already do!!!!
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November 10, 2010 @ 7:49 a.m.

Andy Wilson via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Well, they changed the rule last session to bring up voter ID-- why not change it outright for everything?
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November 10, 2010 @ 8:59 a.m.

Scott Chase via Texas Tribune on Facebook

But I bet he likes the 60 vote rule in the US Senate.
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November 10, 2010 @ 9:09 a.m.

Paul M Farrar via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Minority Rule: Don't ya just love it?
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November 10, 2010 @ 9:59 a.m.

Ross Smith via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Query: Does it take a simple majority or 2/3s vote to amend or drop the rule?
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November 10, 2010 @ 11:22 a.m.

namoyer

Always pleazed to see GNOP acting like Attila the Hun and his mongrel hordes. So long as TX continues with dumbass straight party voting ("Gee, I only haf to push one button, and I'm outta here!), then there should continue to be a modicum of bipartisanship needed to move legislation thru the process. DPatrick thinks the GNOP deserved giving all y'all a rightwing high colonic, but all there would be is s**t all over. He stinks, too.
November 10, 2010 @ 11:23 a.m.

Patrick Fortner via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I love these segments, but I don't always have time to listen to them. Transcripts would be much appreciated.
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November 10, 2010 @ 1:04 p.m.

Marc Lippincott via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I call it the most popular fraction...
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November 10, 2010 @ 1:26 p.m.

Shaun Swegman via Texas Tribune on Facebook

In other words, Sen. Patrick doesn't want Texas Dems to do what the GOP did on the national level for the last two years.
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November 11, 2010 @ 5:59 a.m.

Ben Philpott via Texas Tribune on Facebook

It only takes a simple majority to change Senate rules at the start of the session. 16 votes.
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