Senate Democrats Read Up on Rules
The Senate has yet to convene, but Democrats are huddling on the floor poring over their Senate rule books to see if Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and the Republicans have an opening to trot out the controversial voter ID that divided the chamber on Tuesday. There have been rumors that because Wednesday is normally a day to take up House bills under procedural rules, the Republians may try to exploit a potential loophole and say the long-standing two-thirds rule of the Senate does not apply to the voter ID measure, which is a House bill. The rule requires a two-thirds vote to debate any bill.
Although veterans say they cannot remember the Senate ever having set aside the two-thirds rule in a regular session - except for some redistricting bills - Democrats are on edge that Republicans may try an end-around to get the bill on the floor. Democrats on Tuesday used their 11 votes to block consideration off the bill and are hoping to prevent its passage before the session ends in less than two weeks. After Mr. Dewhurst and Republican senators nearly got the bill approved Tuesday when one Democrat was sick in bed - he was rushed to the Capitol to preserve the blockade - the Democrats are high alert today.