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October 29, 2023
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
The Texas House has finally begun moving some of the legislation Gov. Greg Abbott has tasked lawmakers with during the third special session.
But one of the biggest moments of the last week happened behind the scenes. As the House debated legislation to tamp down on illegal border crossings, House Speaker Dade Phelan ordered that Attorney General Ken Paxton be kicked out of the chamber.
The event was first reported by State Rep. Steve Toth (R–The Woodlands) in a video posted to X, and confirmed to Texas Scorecard by Paxton’s office and other lawmakers who were present.
“Dade Phelan is doubling down on stupid,” said Toth. “We had Ken Paxton over in the House today to say hello and to look at legislation that we’re moving through the House and Dade Phelan actually sent the sergeant at arms to kick the attorney general out of the Texas House.”
Sources inside the House say Paxton was invited by several members of the chamber, and only met in the back hall.
While access to the floor of the House is limited when business is being conducted, statewide officials and former members of the Texas House—of which Paxton is both—are regularly granted access.
The move comes as tensions have grown between Paxton and Phelan over the past several months.
In May, Paxton called for Phelan to resign following video footage of Phelan apparently presiding over the House while intoxicated. Days later, Phelan led the House’s impeachment of Paxton.
Paxton was later acquitted by the Senate.
Featured
While the House debated border security legislation, a Democrat lawmaker launched into a profanity-laced tirade on the House floor.
The moment happened during the early portions of the debate for House Bill 4, which would allow Texas to arrest people for illegally entering the state as well as remove them from the state for refusing to comply with an order to return to Mexico.
State
Travis County Judge Orders TEA Not to Release School Ratings
Judge Catherine Mauzy ruled that the changes to the accountability ratings violate Texas law and would cause “irreparable harm” to school districts.
Texas House Approves Ban on Employer COVID Vaccine Mandates
The legislation was strengthened with an amendment to fine companies $50,000 for non-compliance.
Teachers Unions Listed as Founding Members of Texas Democrat Initiative
The Texas State Teachers Association and the Texas American Federation of Teachers were announced as founding members of a new initiative to turn Texas blue.
Local
Katy ISD Students Asked to Reflect on ‘White Privilege’
The assignment potentially breaks Texas’ law prohibiting educators from teaching that one race is inherently superior to another race.
Retired Richardson ISD Coach Charged with Possessing Child Porn
Frisco police found “multiple images meeting the Texas statutory definition of child pornography.”
Prosper’s Proposed School Bonds Would Cost Taxpayers $5 Billion with Interest
Prosper ISD property taxpayers already owe $2.6 billion in school bond debt principal and interest.
Federal
AG Ken Paxton Sues DHS for Cutting Down Wire Fencing at Border
Texas had placed the wire along the shore of the Rio Grande as a deterrant to illegal crossings.
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred Embraces ‘Anti-Semite Cleric’
Allred embraced Omar Suleiman, who has recently said the United States and Israel are committed to the genocide of Gaza.
Record-Breaking Levels of Illegal Alien Encounters Continue
September broke the monthly total encounters record, while the conclusion of the federal fiscal year broke the previous year’s record by nearly 100,000.
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Quoting...
"The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is."
- Winston Churchill
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