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Day 64 of the 82nd Texas Legislature

LINE OF THE DAY
“Left at the altar, maybe.”
House Appropriations Committee Chair Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, on the governor’s staff never showing at his committee hearing yesterday

FLOOR PLAY BY ABBY RAPOPORT
Unlike the rest of Gov. Perry’s emergency items that are well on their way to his desk, it took two and a half months just for a sanctuary city bill to be voted out of committee. As Melissa del Bosque writes in her guest column, writing and passing immigration policy is tougher than Texas lawmakers might think. 

OBSERVED
We still don’t know how much of a profit energy companies made from last month’s rolling blackouts. But Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, is touting a bill this week that would require power-generation companies to return profits made from market manipulation to victims. But as Forrest Wilder reports, some argue the legislation borders on price regulation. 

BEST OF THE REST
Sen. Jane Nelson and her finance subcommittee assigned to cut $9.9 billion from Medicaid have suddenly been given greater responsibility. The Austin American Statesman reports that Nelson and her team have been tasked with finding all $16.1 billion in cuts from health and human services. Yikes. Good luck with that. 

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
After the governor’s office never showed up at his House Appropriations Committee hearing yesterday to show public support for his supplemental and Rainy Day Fund bills, chair Jim Pitts has said he needs committee votes by today to make a printing deadline. Let’s hope Perry’s people can make their date this time.