From the Tribune:
While the Texas House began working through 267 amendments on the proposed budget Thursday morning, Democratic and Republican House members confirmed that potentially divisive amendments related to funding for women’s health are being withdrawn as part of a bipartisan truce.
“Both sides are standing down,” said state Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola.
Several of the amendments filed last week focused on the level of funding spent on women’s health services and “alternatives to abortion.” Several such amendments from state Reps. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, and an amendment by Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston, were among those being pulled down, members confirmed.
"We're trying to prevent women's health from continuing to be a political football," Farrar said of the truce.
But this is just what's happening in the House. The entire process is far from over. Again, from the Tribune:
Even with those amendments pulled down, there’s plenty left to debate. And plenty of action around the floor. Clumps of lawmakers could be seen meeting to go over debate strategy, which amendments to support, which to kill.
But there’s also plenty of action going on outside the chamber, in the lobby. From the landing between the second and third floors of the Capitol, you can see lobbyists having conversations with lawmakers.
With hundreds of amendments up for debate, there are advocates from almost every special interest you can think of. They’re here to advocate for more money, or protect money already in the budget — or push lawmakers to follow a specific ideological agenda.
And their work won’t end now that the House has finally passes the budget and sent it back to the Senate. Lawmakers there are expected to reject the bill and ask for a conference committee to hammer out differences with the House.
It’s in those meetings, behind closed doors, with five senators and five House members, where the state’s next two-year spending roadmap really gets finalized.
