High Absenteeism Forces Texas House To Adjourn
AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM) - Despite needing to pass several important bills during the Special Legislative Session, dozens of state lawmakers decided to start their weekend early. Faced with a high number of absentee members the Texas House adjourned without doing any business Friday.
There are 100 House members needed to have a quorum.
With the lost workday, House Speaker Joe Strauss says a lot of work will have to be packed next week. "On Monday, it is the chairs intent to take up all of the bills on items eligible for consideration," said Straus.
That, however, may be easier said than done. A conference committee must still be appointed to deal with the windstorm bill and there still haven't been votes on the TSA 'groping' bill or the sanctuary cities bill.
Straus still has high expectations for work on Monday. "If there's legislation on the house calendar the chair intends to take that up as well," he said.
But with no initial votes on so many bills and tightening time constraints, it's looking like there will be a second special session needed to deal with the issues.
The Special Session ends next Wednesday.
