With Sunset Legislation Out Of The Way, The Senate Moves On To Conservative ‘Red Meat’ Issues

This week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune.

By Rhonda FanningJuly 21, 2017 1:31 pm,

Time for the week that was in Texas politics with Emily Ramshaw, editor-in-chief of the Texas Tribune.

Within the first two days of the legislature’s special session this week,the Senate passed the first of the sunset bills that are needed to keep several state agencies open for business. The House has yet to act on the bills, but the Senate’s action frees the chamber to begin work on the rest of Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda items. The vote took place at a minute past midnight on Thursday, Ramshaw says.

“The Senate wanted to send a message – a message to the public, and a message to Abbot,” Ramshaw says. “‘We are moving as fast as possible. We want to get to other issues, so Abbott, we’re going to do exactly what you tell us.'”

On the House side, bills are not moving with lightning speed. Ramshaw says the House is less interested in the hot-button issues that animate the  Senate, and feels no need to rush.

An abortion rights group has filed suit against the state, claiming that Senate Bill 8, a law that bans the most common form of second-trimester abortion procedure, is unconstitutional.

Listen to the full interview in the audio player above.