GOP Ready As Texas Legislature Returns
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AUSTIN (AP) - The Texas Legislature is rumbling back to life with re-galvanized Republicans set to tackle tax cuts, gun rights, education and immigration, all while watching collapsing oil prices that may threaten the state's economy.
State lawmakers return to work Tuesday, after Texas' largest political shake-up in a generation last November changed the names in power, but not the party. Republicans still control every statewide office, from governor through the state appeals courts, and enjoy strong majorities in the House and Senate.
And they plan to use it. Energized by landslide wins for top posts, Republicans have vowed to keep pushing an already conservative state even further right over the next 140 days.
"It's clear the people of Texas know what they want the Legislature to do, the issues they care about," Lt. Gov-elect Dan Patrick said last week.
That sort of muscle-flexing will likely renew debates over beefing up border security, expanding where and how Texans can carry guns and whether to allow parents to use state money for private school vouchers.
Central to it all will be the two-year state budget, the Legislature's only must-pass bill. Lawmakers will have $7.5 billion left unspent from the current budget for their 2016-2017 spending plan, a figure Republicans will likely use to push for tax cuts.
But the economy is also a source of some budget anxiety. Oil recently dipped before below $50 a barrel for the first time since 2009, and new state Comptroller Glen Hegar warned oil production and regulation tax revenues could drop by up to 14 percent.
"I am confident that we'll be able to craft a budget that prioritizes education, border security, jobs and transportation funding," and still cut taxes, Gov.-elect Greg Abbott said.
Tuesday's return will be mostly ceremonial but could also feature some political maneuvering.
In the House, tea party Republicans have tried to rally support for replacing Speaker Joe Straus, a San Antonio Republican who they criticize as too moderate. That effort looks unlikely to prevail, however, with Straus expected to win his fifth term as speaker.
Gun rights advocates have already announced an open-carry rally outside the Capitol, with one group pledging to bring a machine that will make a key component to an assault rifle.
Gov. Rick Perry's 14-year tenure ends Jan. 20, when Abbott, the former state attorney general, is sworn in as the state's 48th chief executive. Perry had a well-established conservative policy track record and made it clear when he'd wield his biggest weapon, the veto pen.
Abbott has mostly stuck to broad policy issues such as boosting early education, transportation funding, border security and tax cuts. He only recently hinted at pushing the state to curtail local ordinances on such things as bans on tree cutting on private property and the use of plastic bags by retailers.
Abbott's relationship with Patrick and Straus will be closely watched to see who will become the dominant figure among Texas Republicans.
Patrick is a long-time leader of the party's right wing. He's pledged an ultra-conservative agenda on issues such as immigration and school vouchers.
Patrick could also lead an effort to grab even more power for Senate Republicans. The lieutenant governor-elect has said he wants the Senate to lower the traditional threshold for passing bills in that chamber from two-thirds to 60 percent. That would effectively marginalize Senate Democrats, whose 11 members had given them just enough votes to block especially hot-button bills from coming up.
(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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