East Texans Prepare for Second Special Session

TYLER — East Texas lawmakers react as a second special session of the Texas Legislature prepares to begin Monday. According to KETK, Governor Perry says too many important issues were left on the table. This comes after Texas Republicans failed to pass a restrictive abortion bill overnight due to a Democratic filibuster. East Texas lawmakers say at least three important bills didn’t make it for a vote Tuesday night because of Democrats’ procedural tactics. Those bills were on redistricting, transportation funding, and criminal justice.

Representative Matt Schaefer (pictured) of Tyler had a hand in an amendment to a bill that revised sentencing guidelines for 17-year-olds convicted of murder. “But at the end of the day,” he says, “this legislation was too important to allow it to come up to a midnight deadline. I believe it has to be handled more deliberately, more carefully.” Schaefer says the whole special session was poorly managed.