Texas Senate: Where Tuesday can fall on a Wednesday It's like Groundhog Day all over again

Bill Murray gave one of his best performances as a weatherman caught in a time loop in "Groundhog Day." Bill Murray gave one of his best performances as a weatherman caught in a time loop in "Groundhog Day." Photo: Columbia Pictures Photo: Columbia Pictures Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Texas Senate: Where Tuesday can fall on a Wednesday 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN — It's Groundhog Day at the state Capitol.

When the Texas Senate quit passing bills early Wednesday, they were working in the legislative day of Tuesday, because thats when it began.

And because when they recessed, and did not adjourn for the day, it was still officially Tuesday when they resumed their legislating at 10 a.m. on Wednesday — the day on normal Texans' calendars.

Senate leaders said the plan is to finish approving bills that were on their calendar for Tuesday (both calendar and legislative day), then adjourn and immediately convene on the "new" legislative day of Wednesday.

Confused?

The Senate often does this during legislative sessions, as a way to keep their flow of legislation moving forward, since bills have to be passed on separate days unless the votes are there to suspend the rules and do it on one day.

Because most of these votes are 20-11 — along party lines — that rule cannot be suspended, since 25 are needed. To make that happen, the Republican majority needs five Democrats, and they aren't supporting much, if anything, on the special session agenda.

Rolling your eyes yet?

Stay tuned. Within a few hours, the Senate is on track to pass the remaining bills on its calendar, and will shift gears into formally being in session on Wednesday so they can take final votes on all the just-passed legislation.

Senators say its simple: Just the difference between a legislative day and a calendar day.

Or, as Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston explained it on Tuesday (or Wednesday): "Groundhog day."