June 6, 2017      5:02 PM

HK: First blush reaction to Abbott's special session plan

Get the “must do” done first and then bloody up the House in preparation for primaries

Governor Greg Abbott’s announcement today that he would call a special to pass the Sunset Safety Net bill first and then add nineteen issues to the call is strange to say the least.  Why put Sunset first and then add the poisonous issues afterward?  At the very least, keeping the conflict alive takes some of the narrative off Trump who is an increasing distraction to national Republicans who are trying to stay afloat.

Clearly property taxes and maybe bathrooms are among Abbott’s magic nineteen. We here at Buzz Central are willing to bet that revisiting Huberty’s school finance plan won’t make the cut of truly significant special session issues. After all, that legislation actually moves toward solving a problem.  

If this was anything other than political stuntsmanship, he would pre-announce his intentions in order to allow members and stakeholders to have ongoing conversations and negotiations. A responsible Governor would lay out some position papers or bill drafts and hearings could begin even before the call.

By Harvey Kronberg

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