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May 12, 2024
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
With his future in the Legislature uncertain, House Speaker Dade Phelan has issued his list of interim charges for House committees.
Interim charges refer to the issues given to committees to investigate and research ahead of the legislative session next year. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick released the Senate’s charges nearly a month ago.
Phelan’s charges, however, have come later than usual. In 2022, Phelan released his interim charges on March 10.
But this year is unusual as Phelan is facing serious challenges both at home and in the capitol. In less than three weeks he has to compete in a runoff election for his legislative seat after coming in second place during the Republican primary election in March, a historically perilous position for an incumbent member—let alone the Speaker of the House.
Even if he defies the odds and survives that challenge, there is serious doubt about whether members would re-elect him to serve as speaker. State Rep. Tom Oliverson (R–Cypress) has already announced he will run for speaker in 2025, and others are expected to follow.
Phelan’s charges for the House, compared to the charges for the Senate, are significantly more muted.
For example, while the House Committee on Ways and Means has been instructed to study ways to provide additional property tax relief, the Senate Finance Committee studies the effects of property tax elimination.
Regarding higher education, the difference is even more stark, as the House charges are missing key issues that will be studied by the Senate—including the role of faculty senates.
The entire list of House interim charges can be viewed here
Featured
A high-profile healthcare lawsuit in Beaumont, Texas, is flying under the radar—which is just how the federal government and Pfizer want it.
The Department of Justice recently argued that a whistleblower lawsuit against Pfizer, filed by Brook Jackson, should be dismissed.
Jackson, a 20-year veteran in clinical trial administration employed by a third-party vendor (Ventavia Research Group), worked on Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine trials in 2020. Alarmed by what she witnessed, Jackson raised concerns to her superiors, Pfizer, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2020.
She claimed the trial was being run, documented, and reported in a manner that violated Federal law and was potentially dangerous.
Hours after contacting the FDA on September 25, 2020, Jackson was fired. Her sealed whistleblower complaint seemed to stall, with the FDA not investigating her claims. Faced with inaction, Jackson filed a lawsuit.
State
Gov. Abbott Directs Public Universities to Ignore Biden’s Title IX Rewrite
Gov. Greg Abbott is instructing Texas’ public universities to ignore a controversial rewrite of Federal Title IX rules by the Biden administration that would threaten the privacy and safety of female students.
Facing Criticism, Frederick Frazier Lies About Paxton Impeachment
Frazier is falsely claiming that Attorney General Ken Paxton chose not to take part in the House’s impeachment investigation, when the record shows otherwise.
In Their Own Words: House Runoff Candidates on the Speaker
Texas Scorecard asked candidates what they would like to see in a House Speaker Candidate.
Local
Katy ISD’s Pro-Parent Gender Policy Under Investigation
School Board President Victor Perez says the district will fully cooperate with any Department of Education requests.
Prosper ISD Superintendent Holly Ferguson Under Investigation by Texas Education Agency
TEA won’t reveal details due to “anticipated litigation,” but their investigation is linked to Ferguson’s role in a 2022 sex abuse scandal and coverup.
Houston Police Chief Resigns Amid Controversy
Police Chief Troy Finner resigned on Tuesday following new revelations about his knowledge of 260,000 uninvestigated cases.
Federal
Political Consultants Enter Plea Deals in US Rep. Cuellar’s Bribery Case
Colin Strother and Florencio Rendon’s plea deals expose an elaborate scheme aimed at concealing Cuellar’s finances.
Federal Court Allows Texas’ Media Censorship Case to Continue
Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle’s order gives credence to Texas’ claim that the federal government sought to suppress right-leaning media companies.
Report: US Should End Birthright Citizenship for Children of Illegal Aliens
A report from the Huffines Liberty Foundation explains this legal remedy should be pursued, but the U.S. also needs to regain control of the border.
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