And the Fighting Begins …

Welcome to the 81st Texas Legislature.

The opening bell hasn't even rung yet, and punches are already being thrown.

Quorum Report is reporting that in a closed-door caucus meeting this morning, Senate Republicans are hoping to suspend the two-thirds rule when it comes to votes on the issues of redistricting and voter ID, both of which could be hot-button issues this session.

Redistricting will be vital to Republicans clinging to their majority, especially in the House, where their edge is down to only 76-74.

Voter ID nearly caused fistfights last session. The GOP argues that requiring voters to present photo ID at the voting booth is essential to preventing voter fraud. Democrats respond that the only type of fraud a photo ID would prevent – voter impersonation – is virtually nonexistent, and such legislation is really designed to disenfranchise women, the elderly, the poor, and minorities: groups more likely to lack photo ID and more likely to vote Democrat.

The two-thirds rule is a longstanding Senate tradition requiring support of two-thirds of the chamber to bring a bill to the floor, which promotes finding consensus on legislation before it ever gets there. Currently, 12 of the 31 senators are Democrats, enough to block votes on any issue on which they unite.