Abbott Got Most Wishes

Abbott got most wishes; Governor gives his list of legislative wins. (From the newspaper Sunday City Edition)

A pretty well-balanced accounting of the 140 day Texas legislative session spread out over 2 1/2 pages of today's Caller-Times.

"We learned something very important, which is part of the message I'll convey across the country," Abbott said. "And that is, conservatives can lead. They can achieve meaningful legislation that will improve the lives of people in this state."

On Abbott's list of legislative wins: changes to increase the quality of pre-K; an increase in money for higher education research; more than $800 million for Texas-Mexico border security; billions of dollars for road funding, and ethics reform measures requiring more contract disclosures.

The GOP has controlled the Capitol for more than two decades, and its new leadership team of Abbott, House Speaker Joe Strauss and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick ended the session with personal wins while avoiding the kind of special-interest political drama that made past sessions memorable.

Patrick, did however make a major change in how the Senate operated. He orchestrated a move to change a special rule regarding the number of votes needed to get a bill on the Senate floor for debate. He lowered the number from 21 to 19 to take advantage of GOP numbers in the chamber. Austin government affairs lobbyist Bill Miller agreed that the difference was huge. "It really reduced the Democrats to complete and total irrelevance," Miller said.

It's GOOD to be a TEXAN even if only an adopted one. So this is what wielding political power means. Now, if Governor Abbott and Lt. Gov. Patrick would just pay a visit to Mssrs. Boehner and McConnell for a woodshed talk.

Sure it is, as long as bury your head to rampant corruption, broken criminal justice system, and you enjoy toll roads.

I agree that the criminal justice system is broken. We should be killing death row inmates at a much faster pace! 23 yrs is much too long to be housing and feeding them. Don’t you agree?

3 posted on 06/07/2015 2:13:05 PM PDT by CARTOUCHE (Professionally trained and licensed BS detector. References on demand.)

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Day 68.
Let's Git-R-Done!

4 posted on 06/07/2015 2:17:55 PM PDT by RedMDer (Keep Free Republic Alive with YOUR Donations!)

As for tollroads. Only a glutton for punishment would drive I-35 between San Antonio and Georgetown. Now back to your regularly scheduled drink Sage.

5 posted on 06/07/2015 2:19:04 PM PDT by CARTOUCHE (Professionally trained and licensed BS detector. References on demand.)

As a Texan, I agree that we have some problems, but they pale in comparison to those in California, Illinois, and most of the North East.

6 posted on 06/07/2015 2:31:48 PM PDT by piytar (Good will be called evil and Evil will be called good.)

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