GOP Strategist Matt Mackowiak Says Governor Rick Perry May Not Have As Much Power In State Legislature As He Thinks [AUDIO]

On the Monday edition of The Chad Hasty Show Matt Mackowiak, GOP strategist and co-founder of MustReadTexas.com, talked with Chad Hasty about the latest going on nationally and statewide.

The Texas legislative session looks to be wrapping up in 30 days, provided Governor Rick Perry does not call a special session. However, Mackowiak said that there are still plenty of "thorny" issues the legislature is facing, particularly concerning education and the state budget.

As far as the possibility of a special session, Governor Perry has been throwing the idea around to get the legislature to cooperate with him, as well as threatening to veto some legislation. But Mackowiak believes Perry doesn't have as much power as he thinks he does. Mackoiwak went on to say that Perry's presidential campaign actually hurt Perry's political influence, and that Perry waited too long to start bringing up his tax relief plan.

"Politically speaking, the governor did sustain some political damage from the presidential campaign. So he came back, and he wasn't quite as feared as perhaps he had been in the past. Now the veto threat, it'll either be something the legislature balks at or doesn't take seriously, or they will. And so, that remains to be seen."

Mackowiak said the final week of the legislative session will be the one to watch, and that there most likely will not be a special session until early next year.

You can listen to Matt Mackowiak Monday at 9:35 during The Chad Hasty Show on NewsTalk 790 KFYO. You can also follow Mackowiak on Twitter: @MattMackowiak.