On Wednesday, the Texas Senate voted to eliminate what has come to be known as the "two-thirds rule." The move strengthens Republicans' majority power, as it scraps Democrats' ability to block bills on party-line votes. The GOP holds a 20 to 11 Senate majority.
The old rule left Republicans a vote short of bringing up controversial bills for debate without at least one Democrat's support.
Brandon Rottinghaus is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Houston. He tells Houston Public Media's Ed Mayberry how Wednesday's vote to change the rule could significantly impact business in the Senate.
