What did Lt. Governor Dan Patrick do to try and further his “bathroom bill” in the 85th Legislative session? Patrick shot Speaker Joe Straus in front of the capitol building, prompting the election of a new, more conservative House speaker. He refused to finish committee assignments, in effect stopping all Senate business. He refused to allow five essential funding bills, which would have kept state agencies running, to come to the floor for a vote, forcing a special session. He threatened to call a special legislative session to compel the House to consider his priorities that stalled.