Good morning, 

A showdown is brewing in the Texas Capitol.

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Brandon Waltens 

Monday, October 4, 2021
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• When grassroots decided to make election integrity the number one priority of the Republican Party of Texas, lowering the penalty for illegal voting was not what most had in mind.
   
• Yet, that is exactly what the the Texas Legislature did. And the Speaker of the House Dade Phelan says he has no intention of fixing the issue.

• Senate Bill 1, Texas Republicans’ signature election integrity measure passed during the second special session in August, actually included a provision to weaken the penalty for illegal voting from a second-degree felony to a Class A misdemeanor.
   

• Weaker penalties for election law violations was the exact opposite of what Republican grassroots told lawmakers they wanted.
   

• “Who in their right mind would agree to reducing the criminal penalties for voter fraud?” asked JoAnn Fleming. Her conservative advocacy group, Grassroots America – We The People, was the first to call out the last-minute bait-and-switch in the bill.

• Under pressure from concerned citizens, last week Gov. Greg Abbott added the issue to the special session lawmakers are currently halfway through. 
   
• “The State of Texas has made tremendous progress in upholding the integrity of our elections,” Abbott said in a press statement. “By increasing penalties for illegal voting, we will send an even clearer message that voter fraud will not be tolerated in Texas.”
   
• Of course, it’s less like “increasing the penalties” and more like restoring them to what they were before House Republicans muddied the bill. 

• When Abbott placed the fix on the special session agenda, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was quick to endorse the addition, claiming they and Attorney General Ken Paxton had “found” the problem and “agreed it must be corrected.” A bill was quickly filed by State Sen. Bryan Hughes that is set to be heard in the Senate State Affairs Committee this morning. 
   
• In the House, however, it’s been a different story. Speaker Dade Phelan, a Republican, says he does intend to “re-litigate” the issue, calling the amendment to decriminalize voting “thoughtful.” 
   
• Nonetheless, State Rep. Mayes Middleton filed an identical bill to undo the Legislature’s unexplained decriminalization of illegal voting—a collection of offenses that includes stealing votes, double voting, and other forms of cheating—and keep the current felony penalties.
   
• In addition to Middleton, Republican State Reps. James White, Tony Tinderholt  and Keith Bell have said they support grassroots’ calls to restore stronger voter fraud penalties. So have Texas GOP Chairman Matt Rinaldi and the party’s Legislative Priorities Chair Jill Glover.
   
• Most House members, however, have remained silent on the issue. Will House Republicans defy Speaker Phelan and stand up for election integrity? 
   
• If left unchanged, the weaker fraud penalties will take effect on December 2.

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