GOP Texas Lawmakers Get In Each Other's Faces Over Tax Bill

AUSTIN (AP) - A small group of Texas House Republicans have gotten in each other's faces during a brief but intense exchange after the chamber passed a contentious property tax bill.

The House voted Monday to require local governments to hold elections if property taxes increase by 6 percent, letting voters possibly "rollback" such increases. The state Senate has already approved elections for property tax increases of at least 4 percent.

Afterward, about five Republicans gathered and exchanged words on the House floor, arguing the bill's conservative merits.

The incident wasn't as chaotic as in May, when a House floor scuffle followed an immigration protest. Then, a Republican lawmaker accused one Democrat of assaulting him and said he told another he would defend himself with a gun after that lawmaker allegedly threatened him.

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