Monday, February 08, 2021

SB LV Hangover Wrangle


Not inclined to go long this morning.  Let's open with COVID.  An update as this post was being prepared:


Texas will hit 40,000 deaths from the coronavirus today, according to Dr. Peter Hotez.  And while hospitalizations are declining, we're a long way from reaching herd immunity.


Here's a thread from Sema Hernandez about her recent experience with one of her children in Pasadena's (TX) school.


Before "Texans Behaving Badly", let's get to some of the news generated last week by Greg Abbott and Dade Phelan.  I made mention in last Friday's Roundup, but there's also been a few other takes posted that are worth your consideration.


Texas Freedom Network also has an analysis of Abbott's SotS and also how Speaker Phelan's committee chairs will conduct business. A sample:

Anti-abortion zealots like Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, and Rep. Stephanie Klick, R-Fort Worth, will turn their committees into parade grounds for legislation designed to ban the procedure entirely ... Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, will head the Human Services Committee, giving him another shot at passing legislation to turn religion into a license to discriminate against LGBTQ Texans.


We know Phelan is against many of the marijuana bills proposed; opposition to vice has long been enforced by the Texas TaliBaptist Caucus.  But who is it besides the church crowd that's blocking casino gambling in the Lone Star State?  Reform Austin suggests a few parties.

Entities with competing interests, namely other casinos, don’t want to see the Las Vegas Sands organization running the table.

First, there are tribal interests in Oklahoma and Texas. The Chickasaw Nation has spent over $350,000 to Strategic & Public Affairs Consulting lobbyist Daniel Hodge. (PD adds: Hodge was a longtime right-hand man to the governor before opening his shop.) The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is paying between $25,000 and $49,999 for three lobbyists. Finally the Kickapoo Tribe in Texas is paying four lobbyists between $100,000 and $150,000 each this session.

Another possible opponent to the Las Vegas Sands expansion in Texas is Tilman Fertitta, who owns the Lake Charles casino The Golden Nugget. Seven lobbyists hired by his company, Landry’s Inc. are being paid from $10,000-$24,999 to $150,000-$199,999 a year (in disclosure forms).

These numbers pale in comparison to the up to $4.5M that the late Sheldon Adelson’s group has spent building up their army of 63 lobbyists.

Money chat is normally Kuff's beat, but I don't see much lately there regarding CFR, so note RA's piece on the top ten PACs in the state.  Only two -- the bottom two -- are affiliated with Democrats or progressives, though H-E-B grocer Charles Butt's PAC and the mega-law firm Greenberg Traurig gives to politicians of both political persuasions.  As best I know, much of GT's blue side fundraising and donating is still headed by the well-connected Roland Garcia.

And concluding our look at the Lege ...

Socratic Gadfly exposes the bogus claims of NRA Pander Bear Drew Springer.


At the top of the "TBB" this week: Ted Cruz.



"The left -- and some grifters on the right -- are consumed by partisan anger and rage," the (Cruz) spokesperson said via email. "Sen. Cruz will continue to work for 29 million Texans in the Senate."

No, he won't. Cruz works only for himself, his potential run for president in 2024, and in the meantime will vote 'no' on everything Biden does or nominates and get into Twitter spats on cultural topics.




The TexTrib via Progrexas has the story about the TXGOP staffer who was fired after he posted video from the DC riot.  (He had also spread around that fake Pizzagate conspiracy theory.)  Bud Kennedy at the FWST took note of the Parker County school trustee who advanced the "Stop the Steal" nonsense.

I will save environmental and social justice links for the week-ending Round-up.  Here's a few items to close out today.

You're running out of time, and places, to get your square fish, chicken and dumplings, jalapeno cornbread, and/or chocolate ice box pie.

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