No images? Click here [link removed]

March 12, 2023

NEWS DIGEST

by Brandon Waltens

Good morning,

The speed of session is starting to pick up, with legislation passing the Senate and committee hearings lined up on key legislation.

One of the first priorities passed last week by the Senate was legislation restoring the penalty of illegal voting to a felony. That was necessary because it was lowered to a misdemeanor as part of 2021’s omnibus election integrity bill.

Yes, you read that correctly.

Remember when Democrats fled Austin to break quorum and freeze consideration of election integrity legislation? When they returned, Republicans voted to water down the bill.

As Texas Scorecard reported at the time [[link removed]], Republican State Rep. Steve Allison of San Antonio included the change in an amendment.

The last-minute switch infuriated election integrity advocates and Republican Party delegates, who had set a legislative priority to strengthen penalties for election code violations.

But while the Senate attempted to fix the problem two years ago, House Speaker Dade Phelan said that he did not want to "relitigate" the issue, despite Gov. Greg Abbott saying he wanted to see the penalty restored. In the end, Abbott and the Senate accepted the change.

Of course, two years have passed since he said that, and pressure has only continued to grow. This session, multiple bills have been filed in the House to fix the problem.

So far, however, the House Elections Committee hasn't prioritized the issue. Instead of taking up any of the numerous bills to restore the felony penalty of illegally voting, they've considered legislation like HB 1635 [[link removed]] by State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock). That measure is designed to force the Republican Party of Texas to place candidates on the ballot — even if they've been censured for betraying the values of the party.

In the House, that is seemingly more important than protecting elections.

This week...The Texas Senate is scheduled to return on Monday Mar 20, 3:00 pm.

The Texas House is scheduled to return on Monday Mar 20, 2:00 pm.Upcoming Committee Hearings... House Committee Hearings [[link removed]] Senate Committee Hearings [[link removed]] Featured Texas Lawmakers Answer the Question ‘What Is a Woman?’ [[link removed]]

by Darrell Frost

As the radical left wrestles with the meanings of basic terms such as “woman,” “man,” “male,” and “female,” three Texas lawmakers have filed legislation that defines them in state law.

House Bill 3883 [[link removed]] by Rep. Ellen Troxclair [[link removed]] (R–Spicewood), House Bill 3902 [[link removed]] by Rep. Brian Harrison [[link removed]] (R–Midlothian), and Senate Bill 1082 [[link removed]] by Sen. Bob Hall [[link removed]] (R–Edgewood) each propose identical definitions for “female” and “male.”

Read More [[link removed]]

State Senate Committee Hears Testimony on Legislation Banning Child Gender Modification [[link removed]]

“I don’t believe that any parent has the right to mutilate and sterilize their child.” Pro-LGBTQ Resolution Pulled From House Calendar Following Pressure [[link removed]]

The chamber was set to consider another resolution honoring Victor Holmes and Mark Phariss of Plano for making a “lasting, positive difference through their advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community.” Poll: Texas GOP Voters Want to Defund DEI-friendly Universities [[link removed]]

Republicans don’t want their tax dollars to continue going to state universities utilizing DEI policies.

Read more in State news... [[link removed]]

Local Texas Education Agency Announces Takeover of Houston Independent School District [[link removed]]

The move comes after more than three years of litigation and seeks to address poor student performance. Another Grand Prairie Teacher Arrested for ‘Improper Relationship’ [[link removed]]

Cody Bush is the second Grand Prairie ISD teacher charged this school year. Communist China in Texas: Spies Infiltrate Texas’ Sheriffs [[link removed]]

Beijing in Speaker Dade Phelan’s backyard, and yours.

Read more in Local news... [[link removed]]

Federal Legislation Filed in Texas to Allow for Recalling US Senators [[link removed]]

A new bill would help to recall senators who don’t serve the state’s best interest. President Joe Biden Calls for Stronger Implementation of Red-flag Laws [[link removed]]

Texas’ U.S. Senator John Cornyn supported the funding of red-flag laws. Border Patrol Chief Admits US Lacks Operational Control of the Border [[link removed]]

“The impact is always felt first and foremost at the local level.”

​​​​​​​

Read more in Federal news... [[link removed]]

Texas Scorecard TV App!

Have you checked out Texas Scorecard's streaming video apps for Roku and Apple TV?

In addition to our growing library of shows and video content, the Texas Scorecard TV app also includes gavel-to-gavel live coverage of the Senate and House chambers.

The app is available for free right now: simply go to the Roku or Apple TV app store, and search for "Texas Scorecard."

Quoting...

"If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter."

- George Washington

Did someone forward this email to you? Subscribe here! [[link removed]] Help us keep Texans informed! [[link removed]] Manage Your Subscription [[link removed]]

Join the conversation with Texas Scorecard on any or all of our social media accounts!

[[link removed]]

The Texas Scorecard Journalism Fellowship [[link removed]] is a comprehensive program designed for conservative Texans under the age of 25 with an interest in public policy, effective civic engagement, political accountability, and Texas history.

Share [link removed] Tweet [link removed] Forward [link removed] A product of Texas Scorecard

www.TexasScorecard.com

(888) 410-1836

PO Box 248, Leander, TX 78646 This message was originally sent to:

John xxxxxx |

If you ever stop receiving our emails, it might be because someone unintentionally removed you from the list. To resubscribe, simply do so through our subscriber portal:

[link removed]

Before you click the link below... If someone forwarded this email to you, clicking the link will end their subscription. Unsubscribe [link removed]