Patrick wants state senators to look at religious protections, union dues and ethics

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick asked state senators Thursday to revisit some unfinished business from the 2015 legislative session, rolling out interim charges that include politically charged issues such as Christian conservatives’ religious beliefs, union dues and ethics.

All three sparked heated debate throughout the session, and one of them — ethics — represents an item that Gov. Greg Abbott declared an emergency (legislators fell short of his expectations). They are now on Patrick’s to-do list for lawmakers before they next meet in 2017.

Also Thursday, Attorney General Ken Paxton added his voice to the mix, making known that he wants both chambers to set interim priorities that include both support for social conservatives’ religious positions and anti-abortion legislation.

Social conservatives have been especially upset the Legislature did not take action on their religion-based issues, calling for a special session on the issue ahead of the June ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that legalized gay marriage in all 50 states. Patrick is asking the State Affairs panel to “make recommendations that ensure that the government does not force individuals, organizations or businesses to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs.”

Patrick’s focus on Christian conservatives’ beliefs comes amid a heated campaign over a nondiscrimination ordinance in Houston that would extend protections to gay and transgender residents in the state’s largest city at businesses that serve the public. Similar protections have been enacted in other areas of the state, and national and state gay rights leaders have indicated that local protections against discrimination are the next frontier in the battle for gay rights.

On ethics, the Legislature never passed a comprehensive package of reforms backed by Abbott that was meant to address conflicts of interest at the Capitol. Patrick is now asking senators to “recommend changes necessary to inspire the public’s confidence in a transparent and ethically principled government.”

Union dues also proved to be a flashpoint during the session. There was a late — and ultimately unsuccessful — push to pass a bill that would have ended automatic payroll deductions for union and non-union dues of most public employees. Patrick, whose Senate approved the anti-union bill that died in the House, is asking members to reconsider ending the practice.

Patrick also laid out interim charges for the Senate committees on Natural Resources and Economic Development as well as Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs. He asked the first panel to study the effect of proposed regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency, a perennial target of GOP lawmakers, and recommend “legislative or constitutional action” if necessary.

Patrick said interim charges for other Senate committees would be announced Friday.

House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, has not announced any interim charges for the lower chamber.

Paxton also weighed in on issues he’d like the Legislature to consider in the interim, requesting more support in law for conservative Christians’ beliefs in light of the Supreme Court’s gay marriage ruling, and additional restrictions on abortion in the state.

In letters Patrick and Straus, Paxton asked that the Legislature consider “clarifying” support for religious organizations and ensure that the state’s compliance with the high court’s ruling does not “needlessly trample the religious liberties” of government employees. He also asked the lawmakers to push for uniform discrimination laws and ordinances across the state.

This story was originally published October 8, 2015 at 8:41 PM with the headline "Patrick wants state senators to look at religious protections, union dues and ethics."