Gov. Abbott Championing Covid Lawsuit Protection For Businesses

[#TexasPolitics365]

Gov. Greg Abbott is leading the push to protect businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits. He made liability protections an emergency item for state lawmakers to tackle this session. 

"They have gone above and beyond throughout the pandemic to open and to operate safely. And yet, those same businesses now face the crosshairs of lawsuits," Gov. Abbott said during his State of the State address. 

Texas has seen among the most COVID-related lawsuits in the country, but workplace-specific cases are significantly fewer according to a law firm tracking coronavirus litigation. 

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SCOOP: Husband And Wife Run For Cedar Park Council Seats

[#TexasPolitics365] 

A husband and wife are both running for separate city council seats in Cedar Park.

Dorian and Claudia Chavez filed to run Friday, the last day of filling for city races throughout the state for the May 1 election.

Dorian Chavez is seeking Place 1, a seat currently held by Councilman Tim Kelly, who is not seeking re-election, and will face James Penniman-Morin. His wife Claudia Chavez is seeking Place 3, currently held by incumbent Anne Duffy.

Dorian Chavez previously served one term on the council, but lost his race for re-election last November.  The council  postponed last May's election date in November due to Covid-19.

This will be Claudia Chavez's first run for political office. She served as a medic in the U.S. Army, and is the mother of three boys.

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Rep. Romero Takes Aim At Private Toll Road Where Deadly Ice Storm Pileup Occurred

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Texas State Rep. Ramon Romero, Jr. is asking tough questions after the deadly pileup on Interstate-35W in Fort Worth that happened early Thursday morning. He’s also pursuing legislation to prevent it from happening again, reports ArkLaTexHomepage.com.

Around 100 vehicles were involved in the deadly pileup that killed at least six people, and trapped and injured dozens in the multiple collisions around 6:30 a.m. Thursday morning.

Rep. Romero, Jr. represents District 90, which covers much of the Fort Worth area, says he’s pursuing an investigation into exactly how the pileup occurred in the first place, if weather warnings were clearly issued beforehand.

Romero tweeted that the private toll road should have been salted prior to the storm.

"I don’t believe that @fortworthpd should be held responsible for the maintenance of the roads. This is the matter that maybe wasn’t as clear in the press conference... private toll road with private road maintenance responsibilities"

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AG's Office Getting into Fight Against Williamson County Homeless Hotel

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The Texas Attorney General’s Office added its support to the fight brewing in Williamson County over the Austin City Council’s purchase of a hotel to eventually house the homeless, reports KXAN TV.

Asmall part of north Austin resides in Williamson County. Most of Austin, however, is in Travis County. Williamson County officials last week said they had not been consulted about the decision to house homeless people from Austin in the Williamson County hotel, and that no economic impact or other studies had been done prior to the decision.

Aaron Reitz, the Deputy Attorney General for legal strategy, joined local leaders and business owners during a news conference Wednesday afternoon. He said Attorney General Ken Paxton is looking to “see what legal avenues there may be” to challenge Austin’s decision.

Reitz said the city council entered into a contract without consulting Williamson County officials.

“[They] just sort of kicked the problem up to Williamson County,” Reitz said. “It’s not fair. It’s not just. It stinks.”

Meanwhile, Williamson County commissioners have indicated they are going to file suit against Austin to delay the purchase of the Candlewood Suites hotel.

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Runoff Election For #Texas State Rep. Dist. 68 Scheduled

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A special general runoff election has been scheduled for Feb. 23 in District 68 of the Texas House of Representatives.

Craig Carter (R) will face off against David Spiller (R). Carter and Spiller advanced to the runoff with 18% of the vote and 44% of the vote. 

The vacancy occurred when Republican Rep. Drew Springer was elected to the state senate.

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#Texas Gov. #Abbott Open To Rethink Of His Executive Powers After GOP Criticism

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Gov. Greg Abbott says he's open to reconsidering his executive powers during state emergencies, a point of contention among some fellow Republicans during the coronavirus pandemic, and that his office is "offering up some legislation ourselves on ways to address this going forward."

"What we are working on — and we've already begun working with legislators — is approaches to make sure we can pre-plan how a response would be done, but it has to be done in a way that leaves flexibility to move swiftly," Abbott told The Texas Tribune the day after his "State of the State" address last week.

Some GOP lawmakers have grown uneasy with how aggressively Abbott has used his executive authority, particularly when it comes to business shutdowns and mask mandates. 

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BREAKING: GOP Congressman Ron Wright Has Died Of Cancer, Complications From Covid-19

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Arlington Republican Congressman Ron Wright has died of Cancer and complications of Covid-19, the Dallas Morning News reports. 

His family and spokesperson confirmed Wright’s death Monday morning. The 67-year-old congressman, who was reelected in November, had been battling cancer.

Wright is the first member of Congress to die of COVID-19.

According to a statement, Wright had been keeping a vigorous work scheduled before contracting the virus. Two weeks ago Wright and his wife, Susan, were admitted to Baylor hospital in Dallas because of COVID-19 side effects.

Wright announced on Jan. 21 that he had tested positive “after coming in contact with an individual with the virus last week.” He had been in quarantine since Jan. 15 and said he would remain in quarantine until doctors cleared him to return to work.

Monday afternoon, Sen. Ted Cruz tweeted his condolences:

"Heidi and I are saddened to hear of Congressman Wright’s passing. Ron was not only a dedicated public servant, a principled conservative, and a proud Texan, he was also a loving father and grandfather."

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Divided El Paso Co. GOP Splits In Two

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A deeply divided El Paso County Republican Party has split into two organizations over vision and leadership.

KTSM-TV News reports that Party officials expected former chairman Rick Seeberger to cause a scene at last week's meeting at a Christian center in central El Paso. But he quietly stepped down when nearly 100 members of the party largely rejected a motion to allow him to speak.

Seeberger hadn't resigned his position October of last year, but rescinded that position when some people in the green party encouraged to remain involved.

Members of the party then elected Ray Baca as their new chairman, who immediately appointed Bethany Hatch as his vice-chair. The election puts Baca at the head of a local party organization that is recognized by the state GOP.

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Newly Registered "MAGA Patriot Party" Sets Up Office In San Antonio

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An office complex on the west side of San Antonio is the new address for the newly formed MAGA Patriot Party National Committee, reports Fox7Austin.

Paperwork for the new party was filed this past week with the Federal Elections Commission. James Davis, who lives near Tampa Bay, Florida, is listed as its Custodian of Records, Treasurer, and Designated Agent.

The move signals dissatisfaction with the mainstream leaders of the Republican Party, and they're discomfort with former Pres. Trump's frequent bombastic style and rhetoric.

Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa said the Republican Party had created a monster in Donald Trump and could no longer control their base, which has been "radicalized."

“As they continue to lose their base to a radicalized and false ideology, they are finding out the hard way that there is a consequence for selling your soul to a snake oil salesman in exchange for temporary power.”

The San Antonio Express-News reports that a spokesman for former President Donald Trump has disavowed any connection with the MAGA Patriot Party, which listed Trump's political action committee as a beneficiary of its fundraising in its FEC filing.

“We are not supportive of this effort, have nothing to do with it and only know about it through public reporting," said Jason Miller.

Trump has frequently discussed starting a "Patriot Party" to advance his agenda. But despite one starting in Georgia and this effort in Florida and Texas oh, he has not started such an organization or endorsed an existing one.

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#Texas GOP Chair Defends Idea Of Secession Referendum

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Texas Republican Chair and Allen West on Thursday backed a state lawmaker’s push to let Texans decide whether to split from the Union, reports Talking Points Memo.

“I have always said I would rather have Texas lead than secede, but the people here in Texas have a right to be able to voice their opinions on a critical issue that affects them right now,” West told Newsmax.

“Especially in light of all of the onerous, intrusive executive orders that are coming down from [Vice] President Joe Biden."

The Republican leader argued that NOT  putting secession to a vote would deprive Texas citizens of their constitutional rights.

“I don’t understand why anyone would feel that they need to prevent the people from having a voice in something that is part of the Texas Constitution,” Allen said.

Texas Rep. Kyle Biedermann (R), has introduced legislation to hold a referendum in November on making the Lone Star State a country.

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GOP Senator Springer Files 11 Bills On Gun Rights

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State Senator Drew Springer has filed 11 bills in this legislative session protecting and expanding Texans' gun rights.

The 11 bills, the most bills filed by state senator in modern Senate history, said Springer, were filed because "Standing up for the 2nd Amendment has always been one of my top priorities," he wrote in a Facebook post. 

"Time and time again, we’ve seen how harmful government regulations have limited firearm producers and owners," the Weatherford Republican explained.

The bills would establish Constitutional carry, allow Texans to manufacture, sell and use firearms inside Texas, and give Texas sanctuary state status. 

Springer says many of the bills he filed were written to "stand up to the federal government’s overreach and fight for the 10th Amendment."

Rachel Malone, founder of Texas Firearms Freedom, praised Springer and bill co-sponsor Sen. Dawn Buckingham for the legislation.

"Glad to see a Constitutional Carry bill filed in the Senate (SB 540, joint authored by Sen. Dawn Buckingham) ....along with these other bills that we are prioritizing:

- 2A Sanctuary State - companion to HB 635

- Texas Firearm Freedom bill - companion to HB 915

- Suppressor Freedom bill - companion to HB 957

- Domestic Violence Victim Protection - companion to HB 1094"

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