What makes special sessions so special?
Ken Herman says when it comes down to it, what happens this session could determine political futures of our legislative leaders.
AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott was out in public Wednesday and, unlike when he was out in public last week, he didn’t joke about turning his weapons on anyone. So that’s good.
On the down side, he also didn’t offer any hints about when and if he’ll to pull the trigger on a special legislative session that could turn into a circular firing squad for his Republican Party.
“It’s premature to say what, if anything, will be on a special session call. As soon as I make that decision, I will let you know. Thank y’all very much,” the gov said, ending a bill-signing ceremony for laws concerning child protective services.
The 140-day regular legislative session ended Monday amid unfinished business and death threats between lawmakers. More than 4,600 measures got through the House and Senate this year. OK, most of them were congratulatory or memorial or otherwise-important-to-only-some measures.
But more than 1,200 were actual pieces of legislation that will become law when Abbott signs them or lets them become law without his signature. In America, we live under a justice system in which ignorance — though bliss in some circumstances (like that out-of-sight piercing your kid just got) — is not a defense in a court of law. So please take some time to learn and live each and every new law.
I know it sounds like there’s a lot of new laws to learn. But some legislative leaders think the regular session ended a few new laws short of what we need. Included is one about laws of the state and one about laws of nature.
Abbott is being pushed by some to call a special session to deal with property tax reform and transgender folks’ use of bathrooms and locker rooms in government buildings. Some folks see the latter topic as an intrusive waste of time. But everybody seems to agree a special session is needed to pass a bill for the continued operation of a state agency that tells us who’s a doctor and who isn’t. That’s good information to know.
The regular session ended without approval of the bill needed to keep the Texas Medical Board and a few other state agencies in business. There also seems to be agreement that task can be handled in a few days and wouldn’t require the full 30 days for which a session would be called.
In Texas, governors have the sole authority to call special sessions and set the agenda of what topics can be addressed.
When and if the special session convenes, it would do so under domestic relations that are strained at Your State Capitol. I haven’t seen things this bollixed up since Democratic lawmakers decided to flee the state. It says something when you’re more influential by being absent than being present.
So here’s an attempt at a flow chart on the current state of things under the pink granite dome:
The House hates the Senate, even more than usual. The Senate hates the House, even more than usual. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the Senate’s presiding officer, blames everything on Speaker Joe Straus, the House’s presiding officer, by name. Straus blames everything on Patrick, though not by name.
In the westernmost chamber, the House is recovering after a couple of members threatened each other during the waning hours of the regular session.
The Senate was more serene on closing day, though it had to deal with the fact that one of its own — Sen. Carlos Uresti (sort of rhymes with arrestee) — was indicted by the feds during the session.
By seniority, the San Antonio Democrat was in line for the honorary position as senate president pro tempore, traditionally elected on closing day. Uresti wisely dropped out so as to not put his colleagues through the pain of standing up and saying nice things about him.
“I have decided to voluntarily withdraw my name from consideration at this time and I look forward to serving at a future time,” Uresti said in a statement.
Serving at a future time probably becomes less likely if it comes after he serves time.
So instead of Uresti, Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, next in line seniority-wise, was elected Senate president pro tempore. He’s not currently under indictment.
One other thing to keep on your legislative radar as we move toward a probable special session: I’m told that next year is 2018.
Abbott’s up for re-election in 2018. As of now, he looks like a shoo-in for four more years. There’s no credible Republican on the horizon to challenge him in the GOP primary. And, last time I checked, all Democrats who might be contenders are hampered by the fact that they’re Democrats.
But the topics Abbott chooses for the special session could change the chemistry on the GOP side. Patrick really, really wants the transgender and property tax issues on the special session agenda. Abbott, at least in public, is noncommittal.
Patrick has said he’ll seek reelection as lite gov next year and forcefully pushed back against speculation earlier this year that he might challenge Abbott for the top spot.
Might that change if Patrick doesn’t get his way on bathrooms and property taxes?
This, friends, is why special sessions are called special.