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The Blast - April 22, 2025 [1]
['The Texas Tribune']
Date: 2025-04
24 days for the House to pass legislation that originated in the House 41 days until sine die
THE BLOCKADE PASSES ANOTHER TEST
Today’s batch of joint resolutions got postponed in the Texas House as Democrats continue to flex their muscle.
The House has approved only two proposed constitutional amendments since April 1, the day the House first had a list of bills and joint resolutions to consider on the floor. Democrats have used their numbers to stall the other constitutional amendments — first as an attempt to extract concessions on the voucher program, and now to send a message to Republicans.
You get treated how you let yourself get treated, as one Democrat put it.
The minority caucus and the old leadership team had set aside their differences to put Speaker Dustin Burrows in power and avoid what they believed would be the end of Texas House bipartisanship. Democrats helped when leadership moved to stifle amendments to the House rules in January. Democrats helped block unsavory test votes, and they kept their fussing on budget night to a minimum.
Democrats’ leading priority this session was to shut down the voucher bill. Yet, for all the times they came to leadership’s aid, Burrows publicly endorsed the House plan, and Republicans shut down the once-bipartisan amendment that would have staked Senate Bill 2 on a public vote.
Sometimes people avoid tough conversations to make a relationship work, the Democrat continued. The caucus may be trying to have that conversation now.
“Today, Democrats are killing every constitutional amendment as punishment for Republicans advancing Republican policy,” posted Rep. Tony Tinderholt, a Republican from Arlington who is one of the longest-serving members of the anti-Burrows Republican faction. “The only correct response by leadership is to advance Republican priorities to the floor immediately. Anything less than that is acquiescence.”
As a caucus of 62 members, Democrats can deny the House the votes to approve constitutional amendments, which need two-thirds support to pass. With 150 total House members, Republicans need support from at least 12 Democrats to advance a constitutional amendment.
Democrats on the floor didn’t seem certain their blockade would hold today. But sure enough, the red slips were flying as Republicans postponed all five HJRs that were up for consideration.
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