Legal Challenges To Amendments Appear Quashed

CAPITAL Highlights

A half-dozen lawsuits challenging the 13 approved Texas constitutional amendments appear to be dead in the water, The Dallas Morning News reported. The secretary of state’s office last week declared the propositions approved and now a part of the Texas Constitution, while Gov. Greg Abbott canvassed the election and certified the results. One proposition that would have raised the retirement age of judges was rejected by voters.

In addition, the Texas attorney general’s office said the lawsuits had improper “citation and return of service.” The plaintiffs are unable to correction those citations because the election results have been certified.

The six nearly identical lawsuits claimed the state used uncertified polling machines that exposed the election to voter fraud, and the plaintiffs called for the courts to throw out the Nov. 7 results and hold a new election using paper ballots only, The News reported.

The suits threatened to delay voter-approved property tax cuts and a raise in retired teachers’ pensions.

Abbott Enters Primary Battle Fray, Mum On Fifth Special Session

The Texas Legislature’s fourth special session ended last week with the House and Senate still at loggerheads over Abbott’s push to allow the use of taxpayer money to pay for private school costs, commonly known as school vouchers. Last month, 21 House Republicans joined with Democrats to remove the voucher provision from a broad education bill that did not pass both chambers. Abbott is sticking to his promise to endorse primary challengers to House Republicans who voted against the voucher plan, the Texas Tribune reported. With the holiday season underway, it appears unlikely there will be another special session this year, but Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said he believed the best day to come back for another session “would be Feb. 5, 30 days before the election.”

The impasse means legislation to increase public school funding, provide teacher bonuses and hike funding for school safety measures also died on the vine.