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Just hours after the gavel fell on the regular session of the Texas Legislature yesterday, it was clear the end of the session had been eclipsed by a bill that didn't pass, and the lawmakers who tried to make certain of it.
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An 11th-hour walkout by Texas House Democrats on Sunday stole the headlines. Democrats effectively denied a quorum to the Republican-led House and, at least temporarily, stopped momentum on a bill that would tighten voting laws in Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott, who made the bill a priority at the start of the session, promised to reconvene the legislature to reconsider the measure, and
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threatened to deny pay to lawmakers. Less talked about amid this drama, was the spark that set it off: last minute additions including one that would mandate that early voting on Sunday couldn't start until 1 p.m. Many Democrats saw the move as a blatant attempt to block "souls to the polls," a euphemism for the efforts some Black churches use to inspire members to cast their ballots. Why 1 p.m. on Sunday? As House Democrats saw it, either it was a blatant attempt at suppressing the Black vote (a charge leveled at
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the bill in its entirety ), or at the very least, evidence of disinterest in how this measure and others like it would affect people of color. It was no accident that many House Democrats walking out of the Capitol on Sunday took refuge in a nearby church where the mood was described as defiant and celebratory. It also underscored the resolve among some Texas Democrats not to permit a reversal of hard-fought gains against the efforts of previous generations in suppressing the votes of people of color. Although some news reports have dismissed the walkout as futile, there are signs that it struck a nerve. At least one GOP lawmaker claims that the "1 p.m." start
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was a typographical error. The Republican house speaker, criticized by some in his own party for not exercising greater control over members, acknowledged that the walkout was not only within
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the rights of the Democratic lawmakers , but it's legitimacy as an effort to register an affront to their constituents. Some Republican lawmakers have promised changes to the bill before it is taken up again in special session. Whether those changes will make the bill more or less palatable remains to be seen. But it would be a mistake to conclude that the walkout of last weekend was mere political theater. Rather, there's every reason to see the event as one of the most significant in the entire session – a statement that in a state undergoing profound social, demographic and political change, the mechanics of process should take a backseat to progress. We'll continue to follow this story as it develops and encourage you to explore more of our coverage from the last week, below.
Until next Wednesday, we'll see you on the radio.
- David Brown

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2021 Lege Recap: Abortion, Guns, The Electric Grid And A Quorum-Breaking Walkout

The Texas Legislature adjourned Monday. But lawmakers could be headed to a special session after House Democrats prevented the passage of a controversial voting bill.


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Read More




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Critical Decisions: Which Texas Leaders Call The Shots On COVID-19 (Part 2)

Texas Standard tracked a year’s worth of state and local government decisions about COVID-19 in a new digital project.

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Read More




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US Energy Secretary: Texas Should Connect To National Grid, Embrace Greener Jobs

"We want to make sure that the oil and gas sector is carbon-free," U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm tells Texas Standard.

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Read More




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Asleep At The Wheel Marks 50 Years Of Western Swing

Ray Benson, the Grammy-winning group’s frontman, says the Lone Star State always embraced him even though his roots are not in Texas.

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Read More




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Texas Takes Tiny Steps Toward Expanding Medical Marijuana Program
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(KUT)
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U.S. Formally Ends Policy For Asylum-Seekers To Wait In Mexico
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(AP)
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Terrellita Fontaine Maverick Lived Up To Her Name
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(Texas Public Radio)
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How The Texas Town Of Mount Pleasant Leveled Up COVID-19 Vaccinations
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(KERA North Texas)

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Hey y’all! My name is Caitlin R. King and I’m the Texas Standard’s intern for the summer! I found this internship through
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Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI). RJI is headquartered at the Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia, where I'm a senior convergence investigative student. I’m interning remotely so I haven't had the pleasure of visiting Texas, which makes my role as a journalist interesting. I’m from a small town in Illinois just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. I can hardly fathom the size of Texas and the number of people that it’s a home to. One thing I can fathom is what it’s like to not be from the big city – and how powerful the disconnect between urban and rural populations can be in politics, journalism, or beyond. Currently, I’m working to reinvigorate the Texas Standard’s
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Instagram and introduce
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a TikTok account to appeal to the younger generation. I hope to show them that journalism is for them just as much as it’s for their parents. I am also working with the ultimate goal to make journalism more accessible for all people. To do so, I make sure to prioritize things like closed captioning and web compatibility. I’m so excited and happy to be working with the Texas Standard this summer. I hope I can make it down to Texas sooner rather than later, because I know I’m missing out. Tweet me reasons why the next King Family vacation should be Texas so I can get the family on board to rectify this!
- Caitlin R. King

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@caitlinrhking

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