As far as the Republicans are concerned, at least. That's the only conclusion one can draw from the actions in the Senate, where there's a big Republican-led fight going on to suspend the two-thirds rule for voter ID bills only. The budget, rebuilding Galveston, CHIP, windstorm insurance, roads, property taxes, college tuition, utility rates, you name it - they all take a back seat to voter ID. There must be some kind of universal Law of Legislative Insanity Conservation, because that's about the only explanation I can think of for the role reversal between the House and the Senate. Well, there is one other possible explanation, a pretty plausible one at that. I suspect that fighting demography is a bit like fighting gravity, but that doesn't stop people from trying.

In the end, despite some clever tactical moves, it looks like the Republicans will prevail. Which is as much a win for Dan Patrick as it is for Dewhurst and the rest of the GOP caucus. Whether this gets scuttled in the House or not - there are what, 500 ways to kill a bill? - remains to be seen. Early reviews of Dewhurst's actions are negative. All this and we're only two days in. Eileen has more.