Dan Patrick Denies Senate Democrats a Seat in Texas Budget Talks

AUSTIN -- Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Wednesday named five Republican senators, and no Democrats, to the House-Senate panel that will hash out the two chamber's differences on the two-year state budget.Patrick's move appeared to be a rebuke of Senate Finance Committee Vice Chairman Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa. The McAllen Democrat served on the budget conference committee in all five sessions between 2009 and 2017.Earlier this week, Hinojosa voted against Patrick's top priority for this year, Senate Bill 2. It would impose tighter triggers for rollback elections for school districts, cities, counties and other entities that levy property taxes. To raise more money than a percentage growth cap specified in the bill, the taxing units would have to win approval from voters.  Continue reading...