Gov. Abbott calls special session on bathrooms, abortion, school finance

[Elderberry]

The Texas Tribune by Patrick Svitek June 6, 2017

Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday called a special session of the Texas Legislature starting July 18. Abbott said that after legislators address a bill to keep some state agencies from shuttering, he'll add another 19 items to the agenda.

Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday called a special session of the Texas Legislature starting July 18 and promised to make it a sweeping one if lawmakers cooperate.

Abbott gave legislators an ambitious 19-item agenda to work on — including a "bathroom bill" — but only after they approve must-pass legislation that they failed to advance during the regular session. An overtime round, Abbott said, was "entirely avoidable."

"Because of their inability or refusal to pass a simple law that would prevent the medical profession from shutting down, I’m announcing a special session to complete that unfinished business," Abbott told reporters. "But if I’m going to ask taxpayers to foot the bill for a special session, I intend to make it count."

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had been pushing Abbott to call a special session on the bathroom issue, as well as property taxes. Abbott also added the latter item to the call, reiterating his support for legislation that would create automatic rollback elections when a city or county wants to raise property taxes above a certain amount.

More: https://www.texastribune.org/2017/06/06/abbott-special-session-announcement/

[Sanguine]

Good.

[EC]

This a rare thing? Don't really know how Texas works, other than the sensible idea of keeping law makers away from making laws for most of their term.

[Wingnut]

This a rare thing? Don't really know how Texas works, other than the sensible idea of keeping law makers away from making laws for most of their term.

It's like a part time job.  They are expected to have real jobs and work for a living.

[Sanguine]

This a rare thing? Don't really know how Texas works, other than the sensible idea of keeping law makers away from making laws for most of their term.

Yes, they only meet every other year, and special sessions are fairly rare.

[Bigun]

This a rare thing? Don't really know how Texas works, other than the sensible idea of keeping law makers away from making laws for most of their term.

Yep!  In this case brought on by a Speaker of the House who runs as a Republican but governs as a democrat and managed to block several pieces of important pieces of legislation in the regular session.

[thackney]

Yes, they only meet every other year, and special sessions are fairly rare.

Of the previous 20 legislative sessions, 12 of them (60%) have been called back for a total of 34 special sessions.

http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/sessions/SpecialSessions/specialsessionYears.cfm

[Sanguine]

Of the previous 20 legislative sessions, 12 of them (60%) have been called back for a total of 34 special sessions.

http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/sessions/SpecialSessions/specialsessionYears.cfm

I knew someone would have the actual numbers!

[txradioguy]

This a rare thing? Don't really know how Texas works, other than the sensible idea of keeping law makers away from making laws for most of their term.

For the most part Texas lawmakers still believe that being a politician shouldn't be their primary job in life.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

For the most part Texas lawmakers still believe that being a politician shouldn't be their primary job in life.

Excellent point.  There are a few exceptions, like Perry or LBJ.