Abbott Bans TikTok On Gov't -Issued Devices

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Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all Texas state agencies to ban the use of the social media platform TikTok on any government-issued devices.

Abbott sent letters to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Texas Speaker Dade Phelan and state agency leaders raising concerns about cybersecurity.

(Full story HERE.)
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Lt. Gov. Patrick Lays Out Agenda For 2023 Legislative Session

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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has unveiled a list of 21 legislative priorities including property tax relief, improving the reliability of the electric grid and continuing to spend money on border security funding.

Patrick, who presides over the Senate and wields tremendous power over legislation, also said he will focus on issues like boosting border security, law enforcement, state investment in mental health facilities, restoration of the Alamo, education, school security and tightening the state’s election laws.

(Full story HERE.)
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Sec. Of State John Scott Resigns

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Texas Secretary of State John Scott announced Monday he is resigning from his office, effective at the end of the year. Scott began his tenure as Texas secretary of state in October 2021, following an appointment from Gov. Greg Abbott.

In his announcement, Scott said he would be returning to his private legal practice following his departure. During his time in office, Scott oversaw four statewide elections in 2022, as well as a forensic audit into the 2020 General Election in Texas. The findings of that audit will be released after he leaves office on Dec. 31.

(Full story HERE
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Texas House Speaker Phelan Endorsed By GOP Majority

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Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan on Saturday easily cleared a hurdle long-demanded by the most staunchly conservative members of his party — endorsement by the House Republican Caucus, by secret ballot, of a would-be presiding officer of the chamber.

(Full story HERE.)
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GOP Legislator Plans Anti Woke Legislation

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A growing movement is underway to force investors/consumers to adhere to the “woke” political agenda. Rep. Cody Harris (R - Palestine) has filed HB 709 to prohibit financial institutions from using ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ratings when considering a consumer’s application.

(Full story HERE.)
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GOP Legislators Aiming For School Choice Legislation This Session

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After decades of rejections, state Rep. Mayes Middleton, R-Wallisville, believes this upcoming legislative session is the one where Texas will finally pass a school choice program.

Supporters believe they will finally cross the finish line with backing from families displeased with public schools in the last two years over pandemic response rules and about how race and history are taught. Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and the Texas GOP have already listed school choice as a legislative priority for next year.

(Full story HERE.)
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Texas Democrats Had High Hopes, But Again Face Time Of Introspection

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The odds were more stacked than usual against Texas Democrats this election cycle, with an unpopular president from their party going against them. Yet there was still hope and cautious optimism within the party that if anyone could pull off the upset, it would be Beto O’Rourke.

At a minimum, he could give a repeat performance of his 2018 matchup against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, where he came close enough to defeating the Republican — less than 3 percentage points — that Democrats could convincingly make the case that Texas is a battleground state worthy of national attention and investment.

Instead, O'Rourke, the most promising Texas Democrat in recent history, got walloped by Gov. Greg Abbott by 11 percentage points, and every other statewide candidate lost by double digits.

(Full story HERE.)
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State's High Court Allows Harris County Extended Vote Count

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The Texas Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Harris County election officials can include over 2,000 votes cast during an extended voting period on Election Day in certified results, but must give the number of late-cast votes in each individual race.

In their two-page order, the nine Republican justices on the state's highest civil appeals court rejected the request from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to outright nullify the votes cast after polls traditionally close. However, the court did not dismiss Paxton's petition to have late-cast votes thrown out in future elections.

(Full story HERE.)
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US Supreme Court Refuses Review Of GOP Redistricting

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The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday turned away an appeal by Black and Hispanic voters accusing the Republican-led Texas legislature of intentionally redrawing a state Senate district to diminish their political clout, part of broader challenge to congressional and state legislative maps in the state.

(Full story HERE.)
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U S. Sen. Ted Cruz To Seek Third Term In 2024

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Ted Cruz said over the weekend that he will seek a third term in the U.S. Senate in 2024, though he also did not rule out running for president.

“I'm running for reelection in the Senate, I’m focused on the battles in the United States Senate,” Cruz told reporters after addressing the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual leadership meeting in Las Vegas. He said

(Full story HERE.)
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Beto Leaves Door Open To Future Runs For Office After Latest Loss

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Beto O’Rourke has fallen short twice while running for statewide office in Texas.

The Democrat has galvanized voters but he couldn’t topple the red wall of rural Texas.

What’s lining up to be a double-digit loss to Gov. Greg Abbott isn’t pushing O’Rourke to the side just yet. He's leaving the door open to be involved in Texas politics in one way or the other.

Although, the next steps for O’Rourke after losing are unclear.

“I don’t know my role or yours... going forward but I’m in this fight for life. I’m in this with you,” O’Rourke said.

Three things are certain, Beto is the Democrats ' best known statewide candidate, and he enjoys the limelight and running for public office.

(Full story HERE.)
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