Abbott and Patrick's Clash Over Property Tax Plans: A Deeper Dispute?

Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick remain at a tense impasse over how best to lower property taxes, with ideological differences between the two chambers about how to deliver that stalled lawmakers Monday from adjourning. The Texas House passed legislation Tuesday to spend $12.3 billion on “compression,” while the Senate unanimously passed legislation to offer some tax compression in addition to raising the homestead exemption to $100,000. It is likely Abbott will need to call a second special session to reconvene the House, assuming the Senate does not pass the House plan.