Tensions surrounding the Texas Legislative special session boiled over Thursday when Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick publicly accused Gov. Greg Abbott of threatening to derail the State Senate’s agenda.
In a tweet, Patrick accused Abbott of threatening to use his veto power on several pieces of property tax legislation to stop the Senate’s tax relief plan.
“In a ploy to apparently get his way, Governor Abbott suggests he is threatening to destroy the work of the entire 88th Legislative Session –- hundreds of thousands of hours by lawmakers doing the work the people sent us to do.
“The Governor’s suggested threat today to veto a large number of Senate bills is an affront to the legislative process and the people of Texas. He has now made his position clear –- he doesn’t want homeowners to get the $100,000 homestead exemption that is the hallmark of the Senate Plan.”
Patrick also targeted Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan in a series of tweets, accusing the House of crafting a property tax plan that benefits big business and the wealthy.
“The Senate and I are committed to delivering real property tax relief to the average Texas homeowner. The House Plan benefits big business and the wealthiest Texans the most.”
He tied the governor’s threats to an effort to force the Senate to compromise with Phelan’s tax plan and blasted the House for recessing while the Senate remained at work passing legislation.
“[Gov. Abbott] threatens to veto bills if there is no agreement on property taxes by Sunday. The Senate has been told Speaker [Dade Phelan] is out of pocket until Sunday. [Abbott] is apparently going to veto Senate bills because the Speaker and the House walked off the job and went on vacation. The Senate has been working.”
Abbott said he has set a hard Sunday deadline to consider and sign the bills.
“My last day to sign or veto bills is this Sunday. As we get closer and closer to this Sunday, all of these bills [that] have yet to be signed face the possibility — if not the probability — that they’re going to be vetoed. I’ve already looked at all of the bills that I will agree to sign so far, and with each passing day, there’ll be more [to] veto, that simply aren’t going to make it to the finish line.”
While the public spat between Abbott and Patrick has raised eyebrows in Austin, Phelan has remained silent. In a sign that Phelan and Abbott are cooperating behind the scenes, Phelan has embraced Abbott’s school voucher plan just weeks after Abbott backed Phelan’s property tax plan.
