White men thanking the speaker for working in their interest this session. #txlege pic.twitter.com/6HLqnTIOKk
— ✨Kristi Fogle✨ (@KristiFogle) May 31, 2021
Some things can still take your (or at least my) breath away, and that scene -- on Sine Die a week ago -- was one. Speaker Phorehead was pilloried by the Trump faction inside and outside the Capitol; Lt. Dan got in his licks, but the Beaumont Hi-Brow returned fire.
.@DadePhelan: "The Senate was in charge of drafting the [#SB7] conference bill. We got that bill back early Saturday morning. It had flaws all throughout. We found over 12 points of order.” https://t.co/L1mdhfLf5S #txlege
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) June 3, 2021
They blamed staff -- clerks and those who verify their work -- for mistakes, but they also lied about typographical errors.
Democrats pressed @SenBryanHughes about the 1 p.m. start time MULTIPLE times on Saturday.
— Alexa Ura (@alexazura) June 1, 2021
In one exchange w/ @SenRoyceWest who brought up "souls to the polls," Hughes said, "Those election workers want to go to church, too." #txlege https://t.co/FmOFVj7dBC
Mostly they blamed each other, but they also blamed anybody and everybody but themselves for failing to pass legislation that would've let them brag even more about being "tha Mos' Cunservative".
How GOP stalling helped Democrats defeat the Texas voting bill https://t.co/cPHt4HUMAd #hounews
— Matt Schwartz (@SchwartzChron) June 1, 2021
Yeah, it's always somebody else's fault.
As Gov @GregAbbott_TX lashes out at Democrats for the failure of #SB7, the elections bill crumbled largely because it took the GOP *months* to settle on the details. Talked about that and more with Mike Warren on @fox7austin https://t.co/KWY7ENO6uD #TxLege
— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) June 2, 2021
Just like Paxton blamed Antifa for the Jan. 6 insurrection he encouraged; just like the Senate blamed “a typo” in SB7 for their limiting Sunday voting, here Mr. Bush blames HUD for the GLO’s firm decision to deny Houston flood aid. “I know nothing!” https://t.co/A8Fvj8TH5U
— Joe Jaworski (@JaworskiForTX) June 2, 2021
More election news in the next post, followed by environmental, then social justice, and maybe some more, all separate as I play a week's worth of catch-up.
"No matter what Texas state Sen. Bryan Hughes or former President Donald Trump say, there is zero evidence of widespread voter fraud in modern American elections. Like, none," CNN's @ChrisCillizza writes. | Analysis https://t.co/Y22hFoHh5T
— CNN (@CNN) June 2, 2021
Yes, we all have known this for quite some time now, Cillizza. Little slow on the uptake, dude. Still, I suppose it bears repeating for the exceptionally "special" learners among us (like the TXGOP).
The elephants plan on taking their revenge in special session.
The #TXLege's #votersuppression bill (#SB7) designed to support Trump's #BigLie will eventually pass. Blame the #SCOTUS for gutting the #VRA. https://t.co/OcL6evYBl2
— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) June 2, 2021
How the Supreme Court tilted election law to favor the GOP — The court has freed Texas and other Southern GOP states to add voting restrictions, and has given the GOP an edge in the battle to control Congress https://t.co/uL86q1UN35
— Alfons López Tena (@alfonslopeztena) June 4, 2021
(5) New piece from @JuddLegum via Popular Information: How voter suppression legislation was defeated in Texas — and what happens nexthttps://t.co/6enLCBG9kz
— IndependentLeft.news (@IndLeftNews) June 1, 2021
.@GregAbbott_TX tells @ChadHastyRadio there will be 2 special sessions. There'll be one in Sept. or Oct. on redistricting and federal COVID-19 relief funds. "Before that 2nd special session, we will have a 1st special session" on #SB7 and bail bill, plus other TBA issues. #txlege
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) June 3, 2021
I'll also break out Greg Abbott's week in a stand-alone post.
So we know what the Lege did, and did not, accomplish before the curtain came down on the 87th. Let's review anyway.
In May, Texas became the latest state to pass a six-week abortion ban.
— 19thnews (@19thnews) June 6, 2021
In total, 13 states have passed these bans: Idaho, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa, Missouri, Louisiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, South Carolina and Georgia. https://t.co/Wg6HwKBCOl
As 5 Million Texans Lack Health Insurance, Lege Still Says No to Medicaid Expansion #txlege https://t.co/M9NBjQhneA
— Children's Defense Fund-Texas (@CDFTexas) June 7, 2021
Suggestions to encourage power plants to have emergency backup fuel were rarely discussed.
— KUT Austin (@KUT) June 6, 2021
A proposal to back up the Texas grid by connecting it to other parts of the country was also not addressed. https://t.co/TtwIE33pb5
“Students, parents and faculty members spent their summers studying and debating how to combat generations of systemic racism...
— Progress Texas (@ProgressTX) June 4, 2021
Yet, now, Republican legislators have passed a bill that could change it back.” #txlegehttps://t.co/Ja6EHP6pRo
Texas Republican leaders promised action on gun safety after the El Paso shooting. Instead, they passed permitless carry. https://t.co/sbRwrm0u2J
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) June 7, 2021
Looking forward to more stories like this one.
A Houston mother riding bikes with her 5-year-old tried to shoot a puppy running into the street but unintentionally shot her child instead.
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) June 2, 2021
Last week, Texas lawmakers voted to remove background check and training requirements for concealed carry. #txlege https://t.co/magVvDiX0i
Texas Lawmakers Had Two Crises to Address. They Ignored Them in Favor of Sideshows. https://t.co/duFeBk1Oyq
— rgratcliffe (@rgratcliffe) June 1, 2021
I suppose that will wrap this for now. Here's a few calm-me-downs.
Today in 1966, @Astros Joe Morgan & Sonny Jackson appear on Sports Illustrated's cover, the 1st time a Houston team had ever done so. @SInow pic.twitter.com/CRsf2yBHpm
— Houstorian (@Houstorian) June 6, 2021
The solstice festival will include an encampment of tents and permanent structures that form a "living Viking village." The entertainment is NOT billed as family friendly.https://t.co/ct1evVEZdX
— San Antonio Current (@SAcurrent) June 2, 2021
Lots more on the way.
