UNDER THE DOME

Special session puts kink in lawmaker's plans

Rodriguez can't catch a break

Austin Democratic Rep. Eddie Rodriguez could have been in a heck of a fix after Gov. Rick Perry set a special legislative session to start Wednesday.

At one time, Rodriguez thought he'd be taking the State Bar of Texas exam to become a licensed lawyer in July. A looming special session would have put Rodriguez at risk of sacrificing some test preparations to attend to his House duties.

But Rodriguez said Friday that he decided earlier to put off the test until February. Otherwise, he'd have had to cram in lengthy review materials over an abbreviated period after the regular session ended June 1.

Rodriguez still faces a special-session catch, though. The session starts on Rodriguez's 38th birthday.

Under the Dome asked him to air his dream birthday scenario: The House, he replied, "gavels in at 10 (a.m.). Bills are referred to committees. We gavel out. I pick up my wife (Natasha Rosofsky) and go see a movie. ... We get back to the house and go swimming."

Then, he said, he honors plans to huddle with supporters at an East Austin hangout.

One more catch: Rodriguez has postponed a campaign fundraiser set for Thursday until July 8, when he, Perry and probably many others expect the special session to be history.

– W. Gardner Selby