Perry Calls the Inevitable Special Second

Sour times: Gov. Rick Perry calls the Legislature back for more abortion restrictions (Photo by Richard Whittaker)

No use waiting if you're going to start pandering: As expected, Gov. Rick Perry has called a special session, starting July 1, with the three bills that didn't make it out – abortion, transportation funding and life sentences for 17 year olds – as the objectives.

When the health care and abortion restrictions Senate Bill 5 went down during the extended filibuster last night, they took two bills with them: Senate Joint Resolution 2 (which would divert some money that currently goes into the Rainy Day Fund into the state highway fund) and Senate Bill 23, which introduced life without parole for 17 year olds. Both were headed back to the Senate for ratification, and only one seemed like it had any surrounding issues (the original Senate version was life with parole, so there's still a gap between the two chambers to be resolved.) Now all three are headed back to the floor, and it will take a lot more than a 13 hour debate to derail it this time.

Here's the full text from Perry's call:

"I am calling the Legislature back into session because too much important work remains undone for the people of Texas. Through their duly elected representatives, the citizens of our state have made crystal clear their priorities for our great state. Texans value life and want to protect women and the unborn. Texans want a transportation system that keeps them moving. Texans want a court system that is fair and just. We will not allow the breakdown of decorum and decency to prevent us from doing what the people of this state hired us to do.

The special session will consider the following issues:

• Legislation relating to the regulation of abortion procedures, providers and facilities.
• Legislation relating to the funding of transportation infrastructure projects.
• Legislation relating to establishing a mandatory sentence of life with parole for a capital felony committed by a 17-year-old offender.

Perry will be delivering the opening speech at the the National Right to Life Convention in Dallas tomorrow at 10am. Look for lots of blather about mob rule and some terrible, terrible science.

As for the second special, see you at 2pm on July 1.