NORTH TEXAS (CBSNewsTexas.com) – A second special session is now underway at the Texas Capitol, after lawmakers failed to agree on a property tax relief bill during the first special session. The Texas Attorney General’s Office and the Texas Comptroller’s Office are questioning whether suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton should still be paid after he was fired. And the US Supreme Court has ruled against affirmative action, calling it unconstitutional.
CBS News Texas political reporter Jack Fink covers these stories and more on this week’s episode of Eye on Politics (original air date: June 29).
Each week, CBS News Texas political reporter Jack Fink breaks down some of the biggest political stories grabbing headlines in North Texas and beyond. Watch the latest episode of Eye on Politics in the video player above and catch new episodes live every Thursday and Friday at 7:00 PM on CBS News Texas.
A second special session
The Texas Legislature’s first special session ended Tuesday the same way it began: with no agreement among Republican legislative leaders on how best to offer Texans real relief on their property tax bills.
Gov. Greg Abbott immediately called lawmakers into a second special session. Property tax reduction is the only issue.
He wants to lower property tax rates solely by reducing the school district’s compressed top rate and instead using more state revenue, including sales tax, to pay for schools. He also wants the legislation to put Texas on a path to phase out the maintenance and operations portion of the school property tax bill.
On Wednesday, the first day of the second special session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told senators he will meet with House Speaker Dade Phelan next week to discuss property tax relief, which signals a potential end to their month-long standoff at the Capitol.
“I texted him and told him the best way to solve this is face to face,” Patrick said. “They have responded, awaiting a meeting.”
His remarks came after Texas senators unanimously approved a new property tax relief bill that also includes thousands of dollars in additional payments for teachers over two years.
The bill also provides $18 billion in total property tax relief. Homeowners would see their homestead exemptions increase to $100,000. And it also doubles the business franchise tax exemption to nearly $2.5 million, meaning 67,000 small businesses would not have to pay any business franchise tax.
The Texas House also convened Wednesday, and the House Ways and Means Committee approved a different bill than the Senate.
Lt. Gov. Patrick wants the House to pass the Senate bill. “So we’re reaching out to our friends in the House and asking them to seriously consider the bill.”
CBS News Texas emailed spokesman Phelan’s office for comment, but has not heard back.
If the House also passes the Senate bill and Gov. Abbott signs it, voters would also have to approve it on Election Day in November.
Republican representatives Jack spoke with have differing views on how the Legislature will eventually reach an agreement on how best to give Texans relief on their property tax bills. Watch their full conversations with Rep. Matt Shaheen of Plano and Rep. Tony Tinderholt of Arlington below.
US Supreme Court overturns affirmative action
On Thursday, the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, with the majority ruling that using race to create diverse college campuses is unconstitutional. Jack heard the reaction from people on both sides of the issue.
Michael Williams, former commissioner of the Texas Education Agency, said he feels vindicated after the decision. In December 1990, he said he created an uproar when he announced that it was illegal for the government to consider scholarships based solely on race. At the time he was the assistant secretary for civil rights in the US Department of Education under President George HW Bush.
“We shouldn’t be running to keep our burdens on some people and benefits to others based on their bloodlines,” Williams told Jack during an interview Thursday. “I believed it then, I believe it today.”
But Democratic Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth strongly disagrees and criticized the majority of justices behind the ruling.
“Education, economic progress in this country for black Americans has just been curtailed by this court,” he said. “I think it’s sad and I think it’s really unfortunate.”
Watch the full episode of Eye on Politics at the top of the page to hear more from Williams and Veasey.
Should Accused Attorney General Ken Paxton Get Paid?
There’s a pay dispute between two state agencies over whether indicted Attorney General Ken Paxton should still be paid even though he’s suspended.
The Attorney General’s office and Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s office have different ideas.
After the Texas House impeached Paxton late last month, he was immediately suspended.
On June 1, the Comptroller’s Office sent a letter to John Scott, who was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott as acting attorney general.
He said, “Pursuant to Article 3 of the Texas Constitution, Sections 44 and 51, no salary may be paid to Attorney General Warren Kenneth Paxton while he is under suspension.”
But records show that when the attorney general’s office filed its June payroll, it included Paxton’s $12,800 monthly salary.
The Comptroller’s Office said it briefly suspended payroll for all 4,200 employees of the Office of the Attorney General until Paxton was removed from the pay file.
All employees were paid on time, but Paxton did not receive a check.
Records obtained by CBS News Texas show the attorney general’s office believes Paxton should still be paid.
Late last week, Paxton’s lead attorney, Tony Buzbee, told CBS News Texas in a statement: “Attorney General Paxton has not requested a salary and has not ordered anyone to make any… legality of this kind on his behalf. The attorney general is focused on putting this. a meritless impeachment behind him so he can get back to work on behalf of Texas.”
Paxton’s impeachment trial in the Texas Senate begins on September 5.
Jack Fink
