In these final days of the Texas legislative session, talk of a special session looms as members of the House and Senate disagree on which issues must pass before Monday.
special sessions
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: A test of negotiating skills for the state’s top three leaders
Texans will get a close look at the state’s top leaders over the next three days — the end of the regular legislative session — as they try to unknot their differences over regulating restroom use and limiting local property tax increases.
Posted in
Politics
Texas Senate looks to resurrect bathroom, property tax bills
The Texas Senate, hoping to resurrect its versions of bathroom and property tax proposals dear to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, grafted both of them onto unrelated county affairs legislation early Wednesday morning.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: A legislative session ending on the lieutenant governor’s terms
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has put the clock to his advantage. With a week to go in the regular legislative session, his threat of pushing lawmakers into overtime if he doesn’t get his way on pet issues is paying off.
Posted inState Government
Interactive: Third Called Session Bill Tracker
The 83rd Legislature’s third special session is underway, and Gov. Rick Perry has only added transportation funding to the call. But that hasn’t stopped lawmakers from filing bills on other subjects. You can keep tabs on all of them with our bill tracker.
Posted in
Transportation
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda
Texas legislators might eventually get the transportation funding bill the governor asked them for, but it’s not the stuff parades are made of: They’ve already blown two chances.
Posted in
Transportation
Route to Deal on Cash for Roads Remains Hazy
Lawmakers hoping to find a viable transportation funding measure in the third special session, which started this week, are looking closely at a plan that failed in the first two special sessions.
Posted in
Transportation
Transportation Funding Bill Fails in House
A compromise transportation funding plan failed 84-40 in the House on Monday afternoon amid bipartisan opposition. Gov. Rick Perry quickly criticized those who voted against the measure but did not say if he would call a third special session.
Posted in
Transportation
With Time Running Short, Lawmakers Scramble on Road Plan
With less than a week left in the current special session and lawmakers anxious to go home, negotiators reached an impasse over transportation funding, prompting the governor to threaten to call a third session if more time is needed.
Posted in
Politics
Finally, a Political Starting Gun
The Legislature has overstayed its time in Austin and the governor delayed his announcement. But the first is almost over and the governor has done his thing: It’s time for politics.
