July 23, 2021      8:23 PM

As special session stalemate drags on, Lt. Gov. Patrick makes overtures for compromise with House Democrats who have no reason to trust him

Just a mess: Patrick sounds worried about a Senate quorum break in a second special session; House Democrats in DC say they’d rather talk with Abbott, who has said the GOP shouldn’t negotiate with Democrats

The Texas House Democrats might be losing leverage – it’s hard to tell from day to day – but it does appear the group has dug in and is ready to reject any overture from Texas Senate Republicans who insist they have a nicer, gentler bill they are willing to adjust on elections.

The Senate’s “voter integrity” bill clearly is better than the House version, supporters argue. Beyond that, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and sponsor Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, have insisted the maneuvers of House Democrats are acts of desperation. Patrick and Hughes also say members of the minority party would be better off returning to negotiate with the Senate.

“You can always tell the side that's losing because it’s the side speaking the loudest and most emotional. And I think that’s what's happened since some Democrats went to Washington,” Patrick said during a Texas Capitol news conference Wednesday.

Patrick insists the tide is shifting.

By Kimberly Reeves

Copyright July 23, 2021, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved