Lege Gets To Work In Fourth Special Session
The Texas Legislature, conceived as a parttime body to meet every other year for 140 days, is now in its record fifth session (counting the regular session). When the impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is included, legislators have been in Austin pretty much the entire year, as the Texas Tribune noted. While legislators are paid just $7,200 a year in salary, per-diem payments – meant to cover their expenses while in Austin – have mounted. If the fourth special session goes a full 30 days, taxpayers will have spent $ 4.8 million keeping lawmakers in Austin. The Senate quickly passed measures last week allocating $1.54 billion for segments of a border wall, a school finance bill that increases perstudent funding, teacher retention bonuses for teachers and vouchers to parents who elect to send their children to private schools, the Austin American- Statesman reported. Once again, the onus is on the House, which has been reluctant to pass a school choice bill. The measure, being strongly pushed by Gov. Greg Abbott, is largely opposed by Democratic members and rural Republican legislators. On Friday, the latest plan was approved by the House Select Committee.
VOTER TURNOUT IN AMENDMENT ELECTION WAS 14.4%
