Austin Mayor Adler, Gov. Abbott, Spar Over Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying

[#TexasPolitics365] 

Preparing for a contentious legislative session when state lawmakers return to the Texas Capitol in January, Austin city leaders are defending the use of taxpayer-funded lobbyists to achieve and defend agenda goals while Republican leaders fight to end the practice.

“Everybody should have the ability, as effectively as they can, to advocate for their positions and make sure the legislators know what’s true and what’s not true,” Austin Mayor Steve Adler told KXAN. 

Unsurprisingly, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott disagrees. Writing on Twitter, "Austin - don’t even try to defend taxpayer-funded lobbying.  It is indefensible that you tax residents to get money that you use to hire lobbyists to support legislation to allow you to tax even more. "

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Texas Revises Teen Sex-Ed Standards To Allow Birth Control, STD Topics

[Texas Politics 365] 

The Texas Board Of Education has revised it's curriculum to allow public school teachers to teach students in seventh and eighth grades about birth control methods such as condoms and other contraceptives, reports KIII TV.

Under this revision, public school educators will now be allowed to teach students in seventh and eighth grade about birth control methods such as condoms and other contraceptives, and about their effectiveness in preventing pregnancy, S.T.D.s and S.T.I.s. High school health educators were already required to teach about different methods of birth control, but health education is an optional course at the high school level, unlike in elementary school and middle school.

The conservative think-tank Texas Values said in a press release that they were pleased with the changes by the board, which rejected more "radical" changes being suggested.

"Despite months of testimony and heavy lobbying from pro-LGBT and pro-abortion activists, over 17,000 parents and citizens supported the SBOE to reject topics such as sexual orientation, gender identity, abortion, and comprehensive sex education," wrote Mary Elizabeth Castle, the group's policy advisor.

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Pearland Mayor Doesn't Like Proposition Passed By Voters

[Texas Politics 365] 

Pearland Mayor Kevin Cole says an amendment to the city charter voters approved earlier this month ending roll call votes for the city council could lead to less transparency, since councillors would not be required to spell out their votes, publicly.

Cole said Proposition C could lead to Councilors votes not being individually recorded. 

The Houston Chronicle reports that both candidates in a Dec. 15 runoff for a city council seat also oppose the amendment. 

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Dallas PD Gets State Assistance Amid Crime Spike After Budget Cuts

[Texas Politics 365] 

Gov. Greg Abbott is sending aid to the Dallas Police Department after they requested help following $7 million in cuts to their overtime budget by city leaders. It comes amid a spike in crime in the city, reports Breitbart.

"Abbott responded to a request from the Dallas Police Department to provide direct support in reducing violent crime, the governor’s office reported. The Texas Department of Public Safety is sending multiple resources to help the city that is currently in the midst of a spike in violent crime.

Those resources include DPS special agents, state troopers, and intelligence analysts. The additional manpower will be directed at helping support gang and drug enforcement operations."

Abbott said in a written statement: “Every Texan deserves to feel safe in their own community, and the State of Texas will continue to provide the city of Dallas with the resources they need to crack down on this heinous activity and protect Dallas residents.”

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Incoming Legislators File Over 500 Bills Two Months Ahead Of Opening Day

[Texas Politics 365] 

Texas State House, photo by Stephen Abbott

Spectrum News 1 reports that incoming lawmakers are already filing bills for the 2021 session. Over 540 of them, in fact: 

"Thousands of pieces of legislation are filed each session, but a fraction of them make it through to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk in the 140 days lawmakers have to complete their work. This next session will be particularly difficult with the state forecasting billions of dollars in shortfalls to the budget due to the coronavirus pandemic. Redistricting, or the redrawing of the state’s political maps, is also on the table next year.

Legislation dealing with redistricting was filed on Monday. There were also about 30 bills related to elections that had been proposed in both the House and Senate."

The 2021 legislative session begins on January 12, and ends on May 31.
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AP: FBI Investigating Attorney General Paxton

[Texas Politics 365] 

The Associated Press is reporting that the FBI is investigating Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

"The FBI is investigating allegations that Paxton broke the law in using his office to benefit a wealthy donor, according to two people with knowledge of the probe.

Federal agents are looking into claims by former members of Paxton’s staff that the high-profile Republican committed bribery, abuse of office and other crimes to help Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, the people told The Associated Press."

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Two Austin City Councilors Face GOP Challengers In Runoffs

[Texas Politics 365]

The Austin Chronicle reports on the Republican challengers seeking to unseat two Progressive Democrats on Austin's city council, most notably Mackenzie Kelly's runoff against far-left leaning Jimmy Flannigan, who has infamously proposed literally dismantling the city's police headquarters.

A GOP party official working with Kelly says the Republicans have been vigorous in their block walking efforts throughout the campaign.

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