Abbott V. Patrick: Who's On First In Determining Special Sessions

DALLAS, TX —We're used to seeing political squabbles, but rarely in Texas on the same side of the aisle.

Today in Fort Worth, Gov. Greg Abbott laid into Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to remind him who's boss. "That's pretty goofy," the governor said at a press conference Thursday, "because everybody knows there's only one person with the authority to call a special session, and that's the governor. "Only I have that ability, and only I will execute that authority."

Patrick has already said that he considers the session work incomplete without addressing taxpayer funded lobbying, transgendered athletes in school sports and social media regulating appropriate political discourse.

Picking up on the governor's condescending tone, Patrick clapped back.

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"It's not goofy to ask the governor for a special session," he said. "On Tuesday, in the House those bills were dead. They can't be revived, so the only way we can pass them is a special session. I don't think it's goofy to request a special session."

Abbott isn't budging. "Not only am I the only one with the authority to call a special session. I get to decide when, and I get to decide what will be on that special session."

Chances are very good there will be a special session. But as to who's idea it was to call one? That will depend on who you ask.

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