February 23, 2017      4:28 PM

SB: On bathrooms, Patrick speaks for Abbott because Abbott lets him

Filling a void left by Abbott’s silence, Patrick said "of your state leaders, only the speaker has not said he's in favor”; Patrick takes the liberty of presuming Abbott’s silence equals support

There was much chuckling and chatter at the Texas Capitol following the release of Texas Monthly’s cover story featuring Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick holding the gavel standing over the words “In Charge.”

One recurring reaction went something like this: “Maybe the magazine should have done a vote count on Patrick’s priority bills before making that assertion.”

So far, it does not seem Patrick has sufficient support in the Texas Senate to bring school vouchers or the “bathroom bill” to the floor. Of course, there’s plenty of time in the session for Patrick to work the senators and get enough of them on board for either or both of those key pieces of legislation.

But the question of whether Patrick can round up the votes for those bills isn’t what determines his dominance at the Capitol. No, instead it’s the fact that Abbott leaves a void Patrick is more than happy to fill.

By Scott Braddock

Copyright February 23, 2017, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved