May 17, 2017      4:59 PM

Updated: As Abbott errs against special session, Patrick and Straus trade barbs in closing days

Asked about the last time he and Patrick spoke, Straus says , “I’ll see him again soon.”

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Wednesday that he’s prepared to go to a special session over “bathroom bill” legislation and property tax reform.

“If property tax relief and privacy do not pass in the special, they are blocked again, I will ask the governor to call us back again and again and again,” Patrick said.

The announcement comes after Speaker Joe Straus sent Patrick a letter asking that a session be avoided by passing the budget and sunset scheduling bill.  At the presser, Patrick held that this is “not a personal battle between the speaker and myself.” Sources tell Quorum Report that after receiving the letter, Patrick sent Straus a list of must-pass bills.

 Patrick previously said such negotiations would not be made through the media, but after less than a day he was doing just that. Patrick touted that after today when a bill hailstorm lawsuit reform passes out of the Senate, all 30 of his priority items will have passed out of the upper chamber.
“The leadership in the Texas House has taken a different approach on big agenda issues, holding them down to the last few weeks,” Patrick said. “That puts us on the precipice of a special session.”

By Eleanor Dearman

Copyright May 17, 2017, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved