House Speaker Names Committee Chairs For Session

[#TexasPolitics365]

Republican Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan shook up the chamber’s committee leadership Thursday, signaling who his top lieutenants will be during his first session overseeing the lower chamber, reported the Texas Tribune.

According to the speaker's office, 21 chairs of the chamber's 34 standing committees are Republicans and 13 are Democrats. And a Democrat — state Rep. Joe Moody of El Paso — is again serving as speaker pro tem, a position he held under Bonnen during the 2019 session.

The practice of appointing Democrats as committee chairs and vice-chairs is said to irk many Republicans.

Five committee chairs and 14 vice-chairs are women, while 14 chairs and 21 vice-chairs are Black, Hispanic or Asian American.

--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Gov. Abbott Signs Executive Order Protecting Energy Industry From "Federal Gov't Overreach"

[#TexasPolitics365] 

Gov. Abbott held a press conference in Odessa Friday, where he issued an Executive Order to protect Texas' energy industry from federal overreach. 

Abbott also announced his support for legislation that will prohibit cities from banning natural gas appliances.

During an energy roundtable in Odessa, Abbott and the participants also discussed enhancing workforce development in Texas, cutting costly red tape, and expanding broadband access in rural communities.

The Governor's Executive Order directs every state agency to, "use all lawful powers and tools to challenge any federal action that threatens the continued strength, vitality, and independence of the energy industry," according to a statement released by the governor's office.

Each state agency should work to identify potential litigation, notice-and-comment opportunities, and any other means of preventing federal overreach within the law. 

"The men and women who work in the energy industry produce the affordable energy that powers our lives and they are vital to the Texas economy,” said Abbott.

"Texas is a pro-energy state, and we will not sit idly by and allow the Biden administration or local governments to destroy jobs and raise energy costs for Texas families," he said.

"My Executive Order will help ensure that the Federal government cannot take away the livelihoods of Texans who work so hard to provide our state and our nation with the energy we need."

--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Sen. Bettencourt Opposes "Crime Bomb" Release Of 1,540 Prisoners

[#TexasPolitics365] 

As the Harris County Jail reaches capacity amid a lingering pandemic a federal judge has ordered county officials to review 1,543 cases, reports Fox26 Houston TV.

Judge Lina Hidalgo and others are again pushing for the immediate release of almost 2,000 criminal defendants, citing the on-going health risk of so many people living and working in confinement. As of this week, 2,609 inmates have tested positive and 6 have died of COVID-19.

State Senator Paul Bettencourt and others are pushing back in federal court, calling the proposed mass release "a crime bomb" that will pose a clear and immediate danger to public safety.

Bettencourt tweeted his opposition and about the brief he filled with the court along with other legislators, citing Houston's already high crime rate.

"Filed brief w/ 8 Reps to stop "crimebomb" from @SheriffEd_HCSO asking release of HC inmates! Fox26 panel hosted by @GrooganFox26 said, murders skyrocketed in COH, @WSJ rated Houston #21 (Chicago #36) on crime, & majority of inmates victims are minorities!"

--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Bill Seeks To Ban Transgender Teens From Playing On Single-Sex Teams

[#TexasPolitics365]

Lawmakers have filed legislation that would ban transgender girls and women who attend public K-12 schools, colleges and universities from playing on single-sex sports teams designated for girls and women, reports the Texas Tribune.

One bill, filed by Rep. Valoree Swanson, R-Spring, is similar to others filed across the country that are characterized by conservative advocates as trying to maintain fairness in women’s sports. 

State legislators and school boards across the country are struggling with the concept of those born as males seeking to play on women's and girls sports teams. 

Idaho passed a similar law last year called the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.” In Montana, another bill, called the “Save Women’s Sports Act,” advanced to the state Senate this week.

Meanwhile, LGBTQ advocates claim the bills legitimize discrimination and help to stigmatize those struggling with their gender identity.

--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Little-Known GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Condemned By Party For Violent Rhetoric

[#TexasPolitics365]

A self-proclaimed Republican candidate for governor of Texas is in hot water for posting a noose on Twitter that called for the death of politicians in Washington. The post prompted a strong rebuke from the Republican Party of Texas Sunday.

Rusk, Texas city councilman Martin Holsome tweeted out a photo of a noose - twice - following the Capitol riot. His post, on January 7th, pictured the noose, and read:

"Starting in Washington DC..."

In a January 15th Twitter post, which has since been deleted by Twitter for violating its rules against violence, Holsome posted the same picture of the noose with a more threatening message: 

“Once more for those of you who don’t understand... Starting in D.C. - let ’em hang by the neck until they are dead, dead DEAD!!!” 

The Huffington Post reported that Holsome, who in the past has said he works as a trucker and an independent logging contractor, won his council seat in Rusk, a small town of 5,500, by just one vote in 2018. 

A profile in a local paper described him as an “unconventional” councilman who is “imperfect” and became an “accidental politician.” Public records show that he will serve in the position until 2022. 

The  Texas Republican Party released a statement Sunday condemning Holsome's call for violence.

"The Texas GOP condemns all talk of political violence, specifically comments made by gubernatorial candidate Martin Holsome.  

The statement continued, "Chairman Allen West has stated, “I personally find any depictions of a noose disgusting and despicable. Martin Holsome’s language is horrifying. Calling for lynching is mortifying to any decent American.” 

"Support for political violence will never have a home in the Texas GOP. We have consistently condemned the leftist violence that ravaged the nation last summer and again in early January. We have always been consistent in this principle."

--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

FED Economist Says #Texas Economy Primed To Come Roaring Back In 2021

[#TexasPolitics365] 

Texas employers are expected to create 518,000 new jobs this year, an eye-popping gain after one of the most volatile years in recorded history for the nation’s economy, the Dallas Morning News reports.

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas economist Keith R. Phillips said Friday that Texas is likely to see economic growth accelerate in the second half of this year.

“As we go forward with more and more vaccinations, it could be a very strong second half,” Phillips told viewers during a Fed presentation.

Tweeting about the economist's report, Gov. Greg Abbott was gleeful.

"Texas’ most reliable economist expects ‘very strong’ recovery for state in second half of 2021. Count on it. The Texas economy is about to skyrocket."

--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Beto O'Rourke Planning 2022 Run Against Gov Abbott

[#TexasPolitics365] 

Beto O'Rourke discussed Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, and a possible run for governor on an El Paso radio show, reported the El Paso Times.

KLAQ's Buzz Adams interviewed the El Paso native through Skype.

Toward the end of the interview, Adams asked O'Rourke about a possible run for Texas governor.

"It's something I'm going to think about," O'Rourke said. "This State has suffered perhaps more than any other in the midst of this pandemic."

He blamed Gov. Greg Abbott's poor leadership for El Paso's 1,600 Covid-19 deaths since March, 2020, and said Sen. Ted Cruz should resign because three state newspapers called on him to do so.

O'Rourke represented the 16th District in Congress from 2013 to 2019. He was defeated in his bid for the US Senate by incumbent Ted Cruz in 2018. He ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020, dropping out in November, 2019, just before Super Tuesday. 

--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Democrat Raises $330k In Race Against AG Paxton

[#TexasPolitics365] 

Former Democratic Galveston Mayor Joe Joworski has raised $330,000 in his bid to unseat Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton next year.

The third-generation Galveston lawyer stated, “I am proud of our strong start to this timely campaign to restore integrity, ethics and support for the rule of law to the office of the Texas Attorney General. For too long Ken Paxton has defied the law and disrespected the citizens of Texas. That ends in 2022.”

If the name sounds familiar, it's because you might remember his grandfather, legendary Watergate Prosecutor Leon Jaworski.

He quotes his famous grandfather on his campaign page, saying, "No one - absolutely no one - is above the law."

The virtuous slogan takes on a political tinge, because it echoes what national Democrats have been touting since the capital siege on January 6th, that Trump, Congressmen, and rioters should all "be held accountable."

The one-term mayor, who says he lost his re-election bid after championing the rebuilding of storm-damaged subsidized housing in his city, believes he has a shot against Paxton, who is facing an FBI investigation but has not yet been charged with any crime.

--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Four Democrat Congressmen Call On Biden To Lift His Drilling Ban

[#TexasPolitics365] 

Four Texas Democratic Congressmen I have written a letter to President Biden, asking him to recind his executive order halting

federal land being leased to oil and gas companies for energy, Townhall reports.

Reps. Vincente Gonzalez, Lizzie Fletcher, Henry Cuellar, and Marc Veasey – sent the letter to Biden Wednesday, asking him to rescind the order.

"Media reports indicate that the Administration plans to announce a new proposal to ban responsible energy leasing, including oil and gas leasing, from our federal waters and lands indefinitely," the letter stated. 

"A federal ban for any period of time will certainly imperil hundreds of thousands of jobs, entire communities, and billions of dollars in royalty revenues to the Federal Treasury and eliminate funding for important conservation programs such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)."

Townhall says the order will result in a GDP loss of $700 billion and the federal government will lose its biggest revenue generator, the letter stated. One of the other concerns they share is America returning to dependence on foreign oil.

The four Texans also took time in their letter to stand up for our neighbor, New Mexico, which funds its school system largely from oil and gas tax revenue that goes into a reserve fund for that purpose.

"New Mexico, a small, poor state that receives a huge portion of their revenue for things like funding Albuquerque schools, will find this rule devastating," they wrote.

--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

#Texas Wins First Case Against Biden Administration, Halt Of Deportations Paused

[#TexasPolitics365] 

The first lawsuit in the country brought against a Biden Administration executive order has been won by Texas.

Attorney General Ken Paxton sued in Federal court to halt the deportation of immigrants here illegally for a hundred days.

The Biden Administration had argued that they needed the time to re-evaluate policies and procedures relating to immigration. They argued in court that one presidential administration could not bind future administrations with agreements made with the states.

But Paxton had argued, in a letter sent to the Homeland Security Department, that agreements made between the Department of Homeland Security and the state of Texas required consultations that were not done in this case.

Texas U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton temporarily blocked an executive order Tuesday, issuing a restraining order that blocks the Biden policy nationwide for 14 days, reported the Epoch Times.

Paxton hailed the victory, saying on Twitter, 

“Texas is the FIRST state in the nation to bring a lawsuit against the Biden Admin. AND WE WON.”

“Within 6 days of Biden’s inauguration, Texas has HALTED his illegal deportation freeze. *This* was a seditious left-wing insurrection, And my team and I stopped it."

David Pekoske, acting Homeland Security secretary, issued a memorandum Jan. 20 directing authorities to focus on national security and public safety threats, but halting most deportations of illegal aliens for 100 days.

--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Legislators Murmuring About US Census Delay Causing Redistricting Special Session

[#TexasPolitics365] 

Call this one "analysis" on this blog's part, informed by confidential sources that we are going to call "Armadillos."

The Texas state legislature was already pressed for time, given that they meet only once every two years, and legislators are handling well over 1,500 pieces of legislation as well as a multi-billion-dollar budget. Legislators have also been sent home early already due to the risk of exposure to covid-19.

But this year, the year after a US Census, they also are tasked with the often complicated, highly political task of redistricting the state.

With a heavy workload as well as delayed data from the US Census Department in Washington, legislators are already murmuring about a special session being  this summer.

Here's why:

In early December, the Census Bureau reported to Congress that it had discovered some processing anomalies, causing delays in reporting the census results to Congress at the end of the year, as was expected.

Details on the anomalies have not been publicly released, but the bureau says it is working to resolve the issues, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. While the bureau has not officially announced any data delays, news reports indicate that additional time to process the census data will be needed, perhaps as late as mid-February.

In all states, a delay in the release of data would compress legislator's timeline for redistricting, says the legislative Association.

In Texas, it was already going to be tight scheduling redistricting, which would come late in the 140-day, once-in-two-years session, which began less than two weeks ago.

We have been unable to confirm thus far if a special session will be necessary, but given that serious delays from Washington are all but certain, we can deduce that Gov. Abbott will be compelled to call one.

State representatives and state senators would probably be well-advised to delay their vacations.

--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.