Lawmakers Getting ‘Petty, Personal’ As Session Winds Down

This week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune.

By Rhonda FanningMay 12, 2017 3:40 pm, , ,

It’s time for a look at the week that was in Texas politics, with Texas Tribune editor-in-chief, Emily Ramshaw.

As the legislative session moves closer to its May 29 end date, Ramshaw says many bills that made headlines in February and March have failed to pass.

“The story line is that a lot of the bills that got attention early on are on life support – clinging to life, and probably going to die,” Ramshaw says. “We’re tangled in this partisan, petty, personal politics mess that always happens at the end of the session.”

Ramshaw says ultra-conservative lawmakers, angry that their own bills have not passed, are doing their best to kill other legislation.

On big issues where there’s more urgency and bipartisan interest, Ramshaw says there will likely be progress.

“I think there’s going to be a fix for Child Protective Services,” she says. “I think there may be some kind of fix for school finance.”

Listen to the full interview in the audio player above.