If you're watching the Texas House budget debate today - don't blink.
While it took about 16 hours to get through the first three articles of the budget Friday, lawmakers are zooming through their debate on the remaining parts of the budget.
Many amendments are simply being withdrawn - or moved to Article XI in the budget. That's the place were projects without funding go to hang out just in case money can be found to fund them.
Getting into Article XI also means that the members of the House/Senate conference committee that works out the details between the chambers' two budgets can add those programs as they negotiate. The conference committee is only allowed to negotiate their bills. They could, however, get orders from the House or Senate to go "outside the bounds" of what's on paper in the budget.
It's all kind of technical but the bottom line is getting your pet project in Article XI means there's still a chance it could be funded. A slight chance - but that's better than no chance.
