COVERITLIVE.COM

12:47

Jason Sickles/Editor - Thanks for joining us. Ryan, Christy and Wayne will be along shortly. In the meantime, please feel free to submit advanced questions.

12:56

Ryan J. Rusak - Hello everyone, welcome to our chat on the 2009 session of the Texas Legislature. We'll get rolling in just a few minutes.

12:59

Ryan J. Rusak - We'll be happy to answer your questions on the session in general, the meltdown at the end that imperils several state agencies, and of course, the politiical season ahead. Fire away.

1:00	[Comment From Chuck] What was the meltdown you are referring to?

1:01

Ryan J. Rusak - Chuck, the meltdown was the Senate's failure to pass a resolution that continues the life of several state agencies, including the tranpsortation and insurance departments. Without new legislation, those agencies will have to begin shutting down next fall.

1:02

Ryan J. Rusak/Editor - Here's our story from Monday on what went wrong: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/060209dntexsenateadjourns.3f6a73d.html

1:04	[Comment From Guest] Will the Govenor call a special session? He seems to be playing this card close to his vest.

1:06

Wayne Slater/Reporter - The governor has not said if and when he would call a special session. Perry told us yesterday that he will be reviewing several options. One option, presumably, is, to call lawmakers back soon to pass the measures necessary to keep several state agencies in business -- including the departments of transportation and insurance. That could come anytime -- or next year, possibly after the March Republican primary in which Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchison will face each other for the GOP nomination. Or the governor might not call them back at all, theoretically. Maybe there's a way to keep the agencies in operation without a special session. But, if there is such a way, we haven't heard it -- and my impression from the governor yesterday was that he's still looking at options.

1:07	Ryan J. Rusak/Editor - And of course, the politics of voter ID hangs over all of this. Democrats fear that Perry would add voter ID to any "call" for a special session. He alone controls what issues lawmakers can consider in a special.

1:08	[Comment From Chuck] What will be the impact of the new school finance bill?

1:09

Wayne Slater/Reporter -

The incomplete nature of the session -- that there's still unfinished business -- was a problem for Gov. Perry because traditionally, the governor's news conference the day after a session is all about his/her accomplishments. That didn't happen on Tuesday. Perry spent much of his time in defense, talking about what wasn't done -- not what was. And that, politically, plays right into Hutchison's hands.

1:10	Ryan J. Rusak/Editor - Chuck, school finance is a perennial issue for Texas. The bill that passed will give teachers a little pay boost, and for Dallas and Houston, keep them out of Robin Hood status -- meaning they won't be considered property-rich districts that send money to the state.

1:10	Christy Hoppe/Reporter - Schools get a 3 percent increase in general funding. There is no new scholol finance system, per se. Although small businesses, which fuel the taxes that fuel the property tax reductions, are getting a break -- it amounts to about $2,200 on average.

1:10	[Comment From mike] Would these state agencies really begin to shut down or is this just rhetoric?

1:10	Christy Hoppe/Reporter - Under law, they would shut down. But no one's going to let that happen.

1:11

Wayne Slater/Reporter - Mike, As for these agencies shutting down -- I think there is virtually no possibility of that. Gov. Perry made a point Tuesday of saying that he won't let that happen. So the only question is how to solve this legislative/logistical problem. But guaranteed -- roads will continue to be built, insurance will continue to be regulated by the state.

1:12	[Comment From Gadfly] Who is to blame for this mess?

1:13

Christy Hoppe/Reporter - Gadfly, There's plenty of blame to go around. The Republicans for changing the rules in the Senat to take up the partisan issue of voter ID. The Democrats for gumming up the works in the House over voter ID. And a curious lack of adult leadership from the big 3 on averting the mess.

1:14	[Comment From hlss] the agencies are all budgeted, and in any case will continue with NO action till November(end of FY), is that correct?

1:14

Wayne Slater/Reporter - Who's to blame? What you see depends on where you stand, I guess. Republicans in the Senate started by changing the rules to take up the partisan issue of voter ID, which poisoned the atmosphere. Democrats in the House effecitvely filibustered for five days to kill the bill. There's a new speaker learning the ropes. The governor admitted yesterday he was surprised the Senate on the final day would melt down. Lots of blame to go around, I think. Call it bad dealing, confusion, frustration, fatigue and no small measure of mistrust between House/Senate and Republicans/Democrats/.

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