Legislators return to the Capitol in what is in many ways a time of uncertainty…but Texans can take comfort in the rhythms and routines that guide our legislative processes. By the end of the week, the House and Senate will adopt rules that will govern their work this session. The Senate is caucusing today to discuss the rules they will likely bring to floor tomorrow, and the House will file their rules resolution today, which they will take up on the floor on Thursday.
Texas Impact hopes the rules and procedures established by both chambers adequately protect legislators, staff, lobby, and the public from COVID 19; avert domestic terrorism; and establish a level playing field for public participation in the legislative process. Specifically, we hope both chambers will use available technology to allow remote public testimony in all committees, so that no Texan must risk their health and safety to make their voice heard. Finally, we hope the Senate will preserve its historic commitment to requiring consensus before bringing bills to the floor.
Once the chambers are organized at the end of this week, there will be no legal reason the state’s leadership should put legislators or staff in danger by meeting in the Capitol while the COVID crisis rages. The only constitutional requirements the Legislature must meet are passing a budget and adopting a redistricting plan. Due to the federal government’s delay in providing census data needed for redistricting, lawmakers are guaranteed a special session later in the year. The most prudent course of action would be to postpone further legislative activity for the next 60 days; enact rules that allow for virtual committee hearings; and reconvene when the vaccine has been more widely distributed.
While the Legislature met in Austin, the President of the United States was in the Rio Grande Valley promoting the border wall. On behalf of Texas Impact, I signed a letter from Texas faith leaders calling on our state’s leadership to ask the President to cancel this trip.
The juxtaposition of the Legislative opening and the President’s visit to the Valley highlights the divisions that exist in our state. It’s not just an issue of political polarization: most Texans simply are unaware of the particular concerns and crises impacting their siblings in other parts of the state.