Texas House Democrats Fold on Threat to Block Constitutional Amendments
AUSTIN — House Democrats appeared to fold over a threat to block all proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution.
By Monday afternoon, at least six such amendments passed — including funneling money to dementia research and a nuclear power incentive fund.
Background on the Amendments
Leaders of the minority party in the House threatened to lock arms to block any amendments requiring a two-thirds majority to be placed before Texas voters on a ballot.
They hinted at such a move to force compromise on the vote over education savings accounts. However, Republicans refused to put the issue on a statewide ballot as well and punted other proposed compromises on the bill now heading to the governor’s desk.
How Amendments Work in Texas
Amendments need 100 votes to pass the House, which would require support from at least 12 of the 62 Democrat members of the House.
Democrats showed some resistance early Monday, blocking the full passage of one amendment that would add a provision to the state Constitution blocking estate taxes.
That resistance soon crumbled, however, as large majorities passed six other amendments. They included $3 billion in dementia research funding and a $2 billion nuclear power incentive fund.
Proposed Amendments
Several amendments were held up for weeks in the Texas House after it became clear that they lacked the votes needed to pass and be placed on November’s ballot.
Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, authored a proposed amendment that extends property tax exemptions to the spouses of veterans who died from medical conditions associated with military service. Turner’s proposal passed Monday with wide bipartisan support.
Turner said he knew it had wide bipartisan support and that the House Democratic Caucus may still work to block other amendments with less support.
“For Democratic members, there are always some that we would oppose on the merits and some we would support,” he said.
Future of the Amendments
As for whether the caucus might block less popular proposed amendments, “Those discussions are ongoing,” he said.
House Democratic Caucus chair Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, did not comment when asked about the votes.
Other amendments likely to come before the House include increases to homestead exemptions for property taxes and tax cuts for businesses, bail law reform to make it harder for people accused of violent crimes to be released and funding for water projects.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, the Texas House Democrats appeared to fold on their threat to block all proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. Several amendments passed, including funding for dementia research and a nuclear power incentive fund. The future of other proposed amendments remains uncertain, with discussions ongoing among the House Democratic Caucus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the process for passing amendments in the Texas House?
A: Amendments need 100 votes to pass the House, which would require support from at least 12 of the 62 Democrat members of the House.
Q: What amendments have been proposed in the Texas House?
A: Proposed amendments include funding for dementia research, a nuclear power incentive fund, increases to homestead exemptions for property taxes, tax cuts for businesses, bail law reform, and funding for water projects.
Q: What is the role of the House Democratic Caucus in the amendment process?
A: The House Democratic Caucus plays a crucial role in the amendment process, as they can choose to support or block proposed amendments. Discussions are ongoing among the caucus regarding which amendments to support or block.
