As the Texas Legislature’s session ended today amidst citizen protests and a death threat by one legislator, one of Dan Patrick’s weird obsessions, the so-called “bathroom bill,” died an unlamented death as the Lt Governor and House Speaker Joe Straus were unable to find common ground.
Despite being able to rally his fellow Christian fanatics in the Senate to pass his bill legalizing oppression of transgendered Texans, Patrick was unable to prevail against Straus’ opposition.
The state House did pass a bill of sorts, but restricted its scope to elementary and high schools and provided a number of loopholes for school districts. Patrick would accept no compromises, and Straus refused to back down despite Patrick’s holding important legislation hostage.
That legislation included a bill needed to allow the state board in charge of licensing medical professionals to keep operating. Because of that bill’s failure to pass, Governor Greg Abbott will call a special legislative session. A special session was one of Lt Gov Patrick’s goals, but in Texas the governor determines what the legislature may consider during a special session. As of right now, Gov Abbott has not said whether the bathroom bill will be on the agenda; he has expressed a desire for a very quick session, which would be unlikely with a contentious debate on this legislation.
The governor has been supportive of anti-LGBTQ legislation, but may be willing to let this issue die. The Texas business community is almost universally opposed to it, and Patrick has probably not helped himself by acting as if the special session agenda was his to decide. Like most Texas governors, Abbott has been frustrated by how little power he actually has, and may be looking for a way to flex his political muscles.
The legislature did manage to enact some pretty bad laws, but the worst—new abortion restrictions, an Arizona-style “show your papers” bill, and so-called “religious freedom” legislation for adoption agencies—are all headed to probable defeat in the courts.
All of this may be a sign of the state GOP’s self-destruction as Texas continues to evolve and the party’s lunatic fringe battles the lunatic mainstream. It will take a while, but better days may be ahead for the Lone Star State.
Tuesday, May 30, 2017 · 12:48:47 PM +00:00
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oldhippiedude
UPDATE: It looks increasingly unlikely that the bathroom bill will be taken up by a special session, according to KXAN TV:
The House blames the Senate, claiming the higher chamber held the sunset bill hostage in an attempt to get the House to approve its bathroom and property tax reform bills. Since the two sides remain far from agreement on those two issues, Democrats and Republicans in the House are skeptical those items will be on the governor’s agenda, if Abbott calls a special session.
“It will be exclusively limited to one issue, sunset,” said State Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas.
It looks like the Texas legislature is stepping back from the precipice on this issue.