Senate debates as House celebrates

AUSTIN (KXAN) - It is like a grand opening every two years, a chance for the capitol of Texas to show off its splendor to the hundreds who show up for the celebratory first day of the legislative session.

While the feeling is mostly jovial on this honorary day, it still cannot keep the lawmakers starting debating.

"I think this whole thing about voter ID has been blown so way out of proportion," said Dan Patrick (D-Houston) "It's a non-issue as far as I'm concerned."

"It is an overwhelming issue," said Lt. Governor David Dewhurst. "It doesn't make any difference whether you're Republican or Democrat. Everyone from polling data I've seen, says people want to make sure that only U.S. citizens vote."

While the Representatives were speaking of their new hopes for the House with a change in speaker, Senator Dan Patrick was riling up his Democratic colleagues by trying to change the voting rules, ironically to pass a voter identification bill. It caused a meltdown in the Senate, because under his plan, Republicans would not need any Democratic support for the bill.

"Votes happen to be three-fifths is what the U.S. Senate uses," said Sen. Patrick. "And I think if you have 60 percent. If 60 percent of this body wants to bring a bill to the floor, that should be enough."