Good morning!

Sometimes, a wagonload of currency isn’t worth much.

First, here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Tuesday, June 22, 2021
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Running DEMs

• Following their walkout last month to avoid voting on a comprehensive election reform bill in the final hours of the regular legislative session, Erin Anderson reports Texas House Democrats say they are willing to flee the state to block election integrity legislation during a special session later this year.
   
• “It’s no secret that’s something that has been effective in the past in the state of Texas.” – State Rep. Rafael Anchia (D–Dallas)

• That all depends on how you define “effective.”
   
• Mr. Anchia’s grasp on history is as shaky as his grasp on public policy. Yes, Texas House Democrats famously fled the state in 2003 to block legislative redistricting. In the end, redistricting happened; all the Democrats effectively did was waste time and money.

Defund The Legislature

• In case you missed it over the weekend, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made good on his promise to defund the legislature by vetoing that section of the biennial budget. As Brandon Waltens explains, starting Sept. 1 there will be no pay for legislative offices except that which lawmakers themselves pay for out of personal or campaign budgets.
       
• The section of the budget – Article X – vetoed by the governor also funds legislative branch agencies such as the Legislative Research Library and the Sunset Commission. 
       
• Funding could be restored if Gov. Abbott calls a special session of the legislature prior to Sept. 1 and places budgeting of Article X on the call.

• Probably not a popular take, but defunding the legislature serves them right on at least two fronts. Most recently, Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) allowed Democrats to break quorum and therefore stop progress on election integrity legislation.
      
• More significantly, since lawmakers refused to meaningfully challenge Gov. Abbott’s unconstitutional power grab in 2020, it is fitting they are being defunded by executive fiat in 2021.

Veto Round Up

• Jeramy Kitchen reports on legislation that was vetoed by Gov. Abbott. The list includes bills relating to criminal justice reform, dog restraint regulations, and oil and gas royalty contracts.
   
• In all, Gov. Abbott vetoed 20 bills. He signed 1,034 bills, and allowed 105 others to pass into law without his signature.

Family Issues In The Legislature

• Lawmakers made significant strides in delivering on CPS family issues and a key homeschooling issue, says the Texas Home School Coalition. In an interview with Robert Montoya, THSC’s Jeramy Newman says lawmakers listened to citizens on key reforms.

Number of the Day

Texas Scorecard will cover these in greater depth this fall, but for now here is a quick list of the statewide propositions lawmakers set for Texans’ consideration.

• Prohibition on Limiting Religious Services [SJR 27]
  State and local governments may not enact any rules that prohibit or limit religious services by religious organizations.
   
• Right to Designated Essential Caregiver [SJR 19]
  Residents of nursing, assisted living, and similar residential facilities have the right to designate an essential caregiver who may not be denied in-person visitation.
   
• Homestead Tax Exemption for Surviving Military Spouses [SJR 35]
  Expands the current homestead tax exemption to include surviving spouses of service members fatally injured in the line of duty, along with those killed outright.
   
• Homestead Tax Limit for Surviving Spouses of Disabled [HJR 125]
  Extends the current homestead school tax limit for disabled individuals to surviving spouses who are at least 55 years old and reside at the home.
   
• Eligibility Requirements for Certain Judicial Offices [SJR 47]
  Adds that state supreme court and court of appeals justices, and court of criminal appeals judges, must be Texas residents at the time of election who have been practicing lawyers licensed in the state of Texas and/or Texas state or county courtjudges for at least 10 years (the current amount of experience), with no suspensions of their licenses. Requires district court judges to have eight years of Texas law practice and/or court judge experience, with no suspensions—twice the current requirement of four years of combined experience.
   
• Authority of State Commission on Judicial Conduct [HJR 165]
  Authorizes the Commission to investigate complaints and reports against candidates for state judicial office, in the same manner it does judicial officeholders.
   
• County Infrastructure Bonds in Blighted Areas [HJR 99]
  Authorizes counties to issue bonds to fund infrastructure and transportation projects in underdeveloped, unproductive, or blighted areas.
     
• Charitable Raffles at Rodeo Venues [HJR 143]
  Designates sanctioned rodeos as professional sports teams and authorizes professional sports team charitable organizations to conduct raffles at rodeo venues.

Today in History 

On June 22, 1775, the Continental Congress issued $2 million in paper currency backed by nothing other than the future revenues. For his part, George Washington was not a fan of the “Continental,” as the currency was known…
    

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