Sine Done

There's a strange and beautiful symmetry to having a session that began with a display of chummy bipartisanship in the House, and a vicious rules debate in the Senate, end exactly the same way.

The House left at 6pm, leaving the Senate to work out what to do with the Sunset rescue resolution they passed and the bond bill they didn't. Instead, the Senate hung on to a little after 9pm and, after a lengthy argument about whether discussing the date of sine die also means discussing the time, they punted the decision by doing nothing about either, and raising the specter of a special session.

Lt. Gov David Dewhurst's logic was chillingly simple: The House hadn't passed the bond authorization, so it was pretty pointless passing the Sunset rescue because they'd probably be back (early betting says July) to fix both.

It will be interesting to see how Speaker Joe Straus responds at his wrap-up meeting with the press on Tuesday morning.