Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is urging Speaker Dade Phelan and House Republicans to adopt his legislative agenda after the Senate approved nearly all of it weeks before the session ends.
Patrick prioritizes raising the homestead exemption and funding private school tuition. Phelan disagrees with Patrick on property tax reduction, and most House members oppose Senate school choice.
Phelan’s plan conflicts with the Senate’s approval of 29 of Patrick’s 30 legislative initiatives.
This week, Patrick said that all of his priority bills were on pace for passage. I hope the Texas House passes these measures quickly so Texas can remain America’s juggernaut for ages.
Patrick can utilize the Senate’s work to get Phelan to approve the Senate’s program. He’ll urge Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session if lawmakers run out of time to examine unfinished bills. He’s used it before. Abbott has his own priorities, too.
This session is crucial for legislators and Texas residents. Despite many other recommendations, lawmakers must pass a budget.
A $33 billion budget surplus allows Republican leaders to offer property tax relief.
The House and Senate disagree on property tax relief. They disagree on school choice and how to strengthen the state’s electric grid, which grabbed national headlines in 2021 after a winter storm left millions of Texans without power and water.
Patrick wants to reduce school district and business taxes for homeowners and seniors. Phelan’s tax plan lowers property appraisal restrictions and puts all House tax relief money into school tax rate reductions.
Last week’s sideline taunting from the lieutenant governor have continued.
Last week on Spectrum News 1′s Capital Tonight, he called Phelan “California Dade” and said his tax plan is based on “bad math.” He waved $100 bills to show homeowners’ annual savings under his proposal.
“California Dade wants a California or New Jersey tax plan,” he stated.
Beaumont-born Phelan. He declined to comment on Patrick’s comments or the lieutenant governor’s priorities last week through a spokesperson.
