Senate clears most Abbott priorities, shifting attention to House
After deliberating until almost 2 a.m. Wednesday, then returning to work eight hours later, the Texas Senate cleared most of its calendar, sending 18 bills to the House that are favored by Gov. Greg Abbott, including legislation on transgender bathroom use, abortion regulations and limits on the authority of cities.
Events may have moved slower than expected, requiring 16 hours of nonstop work starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday and a session last week that began minutes after midnight, but the Senate was able to largely meet Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s goal of passing Abbott’s priorities by midweek.
Senate Republicans took a quick victory lap, celebrating a list of conservative priorities that they had laid upon the House’s doorstep.
“I know not everybody agreed on every bill, but no Senate in history has ever passed 18 bills in seven days — with weekend-long hearings, hundreds of witnesses, hours of debate on the floor,” said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate. “You couldn’t have worked any harder or any longer.”
Read more: http://www.mystatesman.com/news/senate-clears-most-abbott-priorities-shifting-attention-house/eMqOzNqL32wBJ3rjHBjRIM/
