The Tardy, Brief, Ketchup Wrangle from Far Left Texas

Not as long as you or I feared.  First, let's load the chuck wagons and pluck the cockleburrs out of our saddle blankets and rest up this long weekend ahead before the Legislature's new/old business comes due.

@GovAbbott announced that he will convene a special legislative session on July 8, 2021. Agenda items will be announced prior to the convening of the special session. #txlege pic.twitter.com/p7uVaezYad

— CreditUnionCoalition (@CUCTx) June 22, 2021

Some lawmakers -- particularly Democrats -- seem less than thrilled about it.

So the governor defunded an entire branch of govt, and expects us to come back to pass bills we killed in the regular session? I don't think so, my staff does not work for free #txlege https://t.co/tzNUOcIzg8

— Jarvis Johnson (@jarvisjohnsontx) June 18, 2021

Governor Fish Lips (what? you hadn't noticed?) thinks he's being tricky.

Gov. Abbott has indicated that he will call the #txlege back for at least 2 special sessions: addressing election integrity, bail reform, redrawing legislative districts, spending federal COVID-19 funds and more.

There is no moratorium on donations during special sessions. pic.twitter.com/hR8JLTGIuG

— Transparency USA (@Transparency_US) June 19, 2021

In addition to voter suppression bills, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he will add “abolishing critical race theory” to the special session call. #txlege https://t.co/ZHF5CNFGIi

— Michael Li 李之樸 (@mcpli) June 19, 2021

Texas Dems have asked the SCOTX to decide whether his veto of Article X -- which funds the Lege's staff -- is constitutional.

#TXLege Democrats ask Texas Supreme Court to block @GovAbbott's legislative funding veto https://t.co/F5Icrcn4Ku

— Forever in debt to your priceless advice. (@PDiddie) June 25, 2021

In other dictatorial developments:

Gov. Greg Abbott says immigration in Texas is a declared disaster, enabling him added authority to move $250 million for border wall.

Typically disaster declarations used for hurricanes and natural disasters.

via @James_Barragan and @cassi_pollock https://t.co/7hIKz4jGpc

— Rebekah Allen (@rebekahallen) June 23, 2021

Wrong disaster.

Some Texas power plants unexpectedly went offline last week. The grid operator says it still doesn’t know why https://t.co/uElNcyv5dB ... via @MitchellFerman #txlege

— Cassi Pollock (@cassi_pollock) June 24, 2021

I’m sorry, but WHAT? We’re not allowed to know how/why ERCOT failed and what can be done to prevent it in the future??#KHOU11 #HTownRush https://t.co/IOd3WOsrM8

— BrandiKHOU (@BrandiKHOU) June 22, 2021

The worm may have finally turned against Abbott and Ken Paxton last week; some things that happened were suggestive.

A group of former top aides to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton reiterated in a court filing this week that they believe Paxton committed crimes while in office, and suggested that Paxton is intentionally mischaracterizing witness testimony. https://t.co/JjqRXM9pIf

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) June 23, 2021

BREAKING: TX AG @KenPaxtonTX’s office, while warning how treacherous the #border is, failed to provide security to aide who was ordered to gather footage for videos the agency wants to put out to show the dangers. So she quit. Exclusive by @taygoldenstein https://t.co/KcID8HexXg

— Jay Root (@byjayroot) June 24, 2021

Thousands of Texans file a suit against governor for ending federal UI benefits https://t.co/Vb9rMEnYKb

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) June 25, 2021

Indiana won their lawsuit just last week.  Kuff also weighed in on a couple of polls that show no great love for what the Repubs have been doing lately, and Grits for Breakfast called Abbott's vetoes "a final punch in the nose for the bipartisan criminal justice reform movement".

Honestly though, in a state unplagued with Trump Syndrome, a Democratic Party with some cojones and a plan might stand a chance of flipping something in 2022.

If the Texas Democrats had a vision for the future ID say sure why not, but until then pic.twitter.com/tN0KDUBqhn

— dr. ernie luckman (@ErnieLies) June 23, 2021

The vice president didn't help the cause in her visit last week.

For all of the questions Kamala Harris took from reporters, immigration advocates and even a group of detained migrant children, the vice president had few answers. https://t.co/egAB8qnUsI

— NYT Politics (@nytpolitics) June 26, 2021

When all else fails, send in the doctor.

First Lady Jill Biden travels to Texas next Tues 6/29. She'll visit COVID-19 vaccine sites to encourage Americans to get vaccinated, via White House. Stops in DFW & Houston. Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff joins FLOTUS for Houston visit. #txlege #COVID19

— Wes Rapaport (@wesrap) June 24, 2021

The local Donks have a new chair.  According to former precinct chair J.R. Behrman, he's Nigerian.  They also censured a state representative for his conduct.

169 to 41, the Harris County Democratic Party @harrisdemocrats exec committee votes to censure Rep @RepHaroldDutton for his handling of transgender issue during the regular session. The parliamentarian reminded them it's basically a reprimand with no pragmatic consequence #TxLege

— Scott Braddock (@scottbraddock) June 28, 2021

I'll wrap this Wrangle with a few things worth celebrating.

For many fans of Houston hip-hop, today's the day to celebrate the life and music of DJ Screw and one of his most revered works, the “June 27” freestyle. https://t.co/ILzhUObxXS

— Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) June 27, 2021

I am the son of a (former) undocumented migrant worker & a Southern Tejana. We are farmers. My grandfather was a bracero. Mi bisabuelo fought in the Mexican Revolution. This is all a dream. I get to be a writer. I am blessed. #thanx @juliangillmusichttps://t.co/4eUcRXZ1OO

— Lupe Mendez is on vacation. (@thepoetmendez) June 26, 2021

To save West Dallas’ remaining shotgun houses from gentrification, Artstillery is teaming up with the Nasher Sculpture Center with some immersive performances. https://t.co/fVgGM9DWDb

— Texas Highways Magazine (@TexasHighways) June 27, 2021

.@Simone_Biles ending on a high note. 👏 #GymTrials21 pic.twitter.com/sb3wfnYjXs

— Team USA (@TeamUSA) June 28, 2021

A teenage Mel Brooks during his service as a US combat engineer in World War II, a very happy 95th birthday to the legendary diminutive comedy titan today. pic.twitter.com/kvenRp5u5x

— FilmPhonic (@FilmPhonic) June 28, 2021

And also, as mentioned, my mother Jean, marking her 95th year (and amazing us all)!

Sunday "The Party of Lincoln" Funnies

Not quite back to normal

Here.

Celebrating Mom's 95th in Beaumont with her today.  Brother went to the hospital yesterday.  Have spent all week laid low by a vicious summer cold.  So there's my excuses for not posting since Monday.

Still have all those I promised in draft, with a lot of work needed, but they won't see the light of day until next week soonest.  Funnies tomorrow, a Monday Wrangle to play catch-up, then we'll see.

Thanks for checking in.