GOP again forces Texas Senate change increasing its power

The Republican-controlled Texas Senate has voted for the second straight session to break with 70-plus years of past tradition.

The Republican majority in the State Senate voted to suspend a rule making it easier for Democrats to block hot-button legislation along party lines.

“The ‘two-thirds rule’ is a Senate tradition that served us well for many decades, and I’m disappointed that we were unable to restore it. This was a tradition that forced us to work together, fostering compromise, consensus, and bipartisanship,” El Paso State Senator Jose Rodríguez said.

The GOP holds a 20-11 Senate majority. The old “two-thirds” rule left them one vote short of bringing up controversial bills for debate without at least one Democrat.

Republicans used a simple majority vote Wednesday to keep the rule suspended. It had dated back more than seven decades, prior to being nullified last session in 2015. By reducing the number to 19, the GOP maintains controlling majority over nearly every major upcoming vote this session.

The move means Democrats remain largely powerless to block bills allowing school vouchers, restricting abortion and cutting state spending.

“By keeping the percentage of members whose support is required for a bill to be heard on the floor at three-fifths, we have effectively denied the minority any meaningful opportunity to provide input as legislation is crafted and passed, controversial or not. Texas is better for everyone when we work together,” State Sen. Rodríguez said.