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April 2, 2023
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
When the Legislature reconvenes tomorrow, we will be 84 days into the 140-day legislative session.
To put that in perspective, that means the session will be 60% complete without a single priority of Gov. Greg Abbott or Texas Republicans having passed the House, while priorities continue to move through the Senate.
The House has started passing its own priorities, however. Last week, the chamber approved legislation to eliminate sales tax on feminine hygiene products and diapers. They also approved a bill to regulate the sale of “Made in Texas” honey.
An interesting moment occurred, however, when the chamber approved a Democrat bill, pushed through a Democrat-led committee, and unanimously supported by Democrats that some say could effectively abolish the death penalty in Texas.
When the initial vote took place, the proposed law passed 84-61, with 18 Republicans joining every Democrat in supporting it.
In the state legislature, however, bills are required to receive two separate votes on separate days. That second vote was supposed to take place last Thursday, but the author moved to delay the vote until this Wednesday amid grassroots pressure.
We will be watching and reporting if the bill is changed in any way, or if lawmakers change their minds and decide to move onto other priorities instead.
This week...
- The Texas Senate will reconvene Monday at 9 a.m.
- The Texas House will reconvene Monday at 2 p.m.
- The state’s biennial budget will be debated in the House on Thursday.
Upcoming Committee Hearings...
Featured
by Brandon Waltens
Following the anticipated indictment of former President Donald Trump by a New York district attorney, Republican elected officials in Texas are sounding off on what many are calling a political prosecution.
State
Texas Democrat’s Entire Senior Staff Resigns Over Her ‘Toxic and Unethical’ Behavior
According to Jones’ senior staff, she “continued to endorse, encourage, and create an abusive and hostile work environment in the workplace without accountability for [her] or [her] relatives’ actions.”
Democrats in Texas House Succeed in Pushing Anti-death Penalty Bill
Eighteen Republicans joined Democrats in approving the controversial proposal.
Texas Senate Adds ‘Grandfather Clause’ to Proposed Child Gender Mutilation Ban
Children receiving puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones by June 3 would be exempt from the ban.
Local
Crossdressing Bus Driver Tells Fifth-graders to Address Him as ‘Ma’am’
Although hired as a man, the driver dressed as a woman and required young students to refer to him using female pronouns.
Carroll ISD Becomes First to Leave Texas Association of School Boards
The move comes after a string of controversial actions taken by TASB.
Feds Bust Navasota ISD Teacher for Distributing Child Porn
Daniel Byrd is accused of using Telegram and Kik apps to download and share pornographic images of children.
Texas Scorecard Investigates: The Texas Deep State
The Texas Scorecard Investigative team has released a four-part series documenting a months-long investigation of Child Protective Services – the scandals and the reforms.
Why Was a State Commissioner Fired?
The governor’s office, a dangerous state agency, and a mystery.
Children at Risk
The state agency that’s marketed as being pro-child is dangerous for children.
Families Under Siege
“You are mentally and emotionally abusing, traumatizing families daily.”
Will Public Servants Hold It Accountable?
“I think it’s a soured entity that’s spoiled and unchecked because there’s no consequences for the bad behavior.”
Texas Scorecard TV App!
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The app is available for free right now: simply go to the Roku or Apple TV app store, and search for "Texas Scorecard."
Quoting...
“Faith is the mightiest force that man has at his command. It impels human beings to greatness in thought and word and deed.“
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
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