Tuesday, July 06, 2021

Pre-Special Wrangle

Maneuvering for perceived advantage in the forthcoming 30-day special legislative session is in high gear, and among the developments to watch is, as Harvey Kronberg at Quorum Report has noted, the level of trust shown between Abbott, Patrick, and Phelan.

With his veto, (the governor) has terminated an entire support staff for an independent branch of government by vetoing funding. He has suggested he will not put Article X back on the agenda until he gets legislation he wants. In other words, the governor is offering a financial quid pro quo in exchange for specific legislative performance.

Democrats have filed a case with the Texas Supreme Court. Unlike most of what they do, there is no tort issue involved so we are unlikely to find a wink and a nod from their primary benefactors at TLR. And while some of the justices are serious people fully comprehending the precedent they will be setting, they are still under the thrall of the state’s current financial power structure.

That's all we get from Harvey w/o a subscription.  But it's enough to suggest that there may be some conservatives coming back to Austin with a chip on their shoulder ... just like all the Dems.  It's worth mentioning that two former Speakers and one previous lieutenant governor -- two of them Republicans -- have weighed in via amicus brief at the SCOTX against Abbott's veto.

So I'm anxious to see how, and how quickly, that goes.  In the meantime, if you'd like a briefing on the upcoming special, join Every Texan on Facebook tomorrow.


Lt. Dan and his Schutzstaffel at the Texas Public Policy Foundation stayed busy during the interim practicing their Lone Star-styled fascism.


Scott Braddock examined Patrick's deep and abiding convictions about "freedom of speech".  The Dallas Observer updated us on the latest assault on free speech being committed by Collin College trustees.  And Robert Rivard reviewed our state's long history of suppressing the vote, a topic given yet more urgency with the SCOTUS decision last week.


Among the items I'd like to see the governor add to the special session call are medical cannabis and Medicaid expansion.  Both have widespread public support.


Previewing my environmental post:


I'm amazed that Ted Cruz missed this list.  Not so much that none of our Texas Congresspersons found the courage to mention it; neither did the president.


Here's a look at the latest in social justice news ahead of a longer post.


Stace at Dos Centavos also had some thoughts about DA Ogg and Dr. Gokal.

David Collins highlighted the Texas Green Party's state meeting.  Houston mayoral also-ran Bill King thinks the answer is a new centrist party, aimed at Democrats disaffected with the liberal wing (LOL) and anti-Trump Republicans.

I have a lot more to get to before Lege coverage once again takes center stage.  Until then, here's the lighter-side items.

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