FRI brief 10.22.21
Welcome to the brief. If you were forwarded this email, be sure to sign up (hint: there’s a button below). The newsletter will be coming out at 3 PM going forward.
Today’s Stories
VALOREE SWANSON thinks you’re stupid. Specifically, she's fundraising on the back of a bill that doesn’t do anything.
Swanson’s so-called “Save Women’s Sports” Act (HB 25) is the 2021 equivalent to 2019’s widely ridiculed “Save Chick-fil-a” bill. The measure is flawed in so many ways that it’s useless for any purpose besides political virtue-signaling.
The bill doesn’t apply to college athletics, nor does it provide a civil cause of action for enforcement. Instead of empowering parents to take legal action (as other states have), Texas’ bill relies on UIL bureaucrats as an enforcement mechanism. Anyone who believes woke bureaucrats will faithfully execute such a measure should see here.
The only utility of this bill (as claimed by the folks like Swanson) also happens to be a double-edged sword.
Defenders of the watered-down version of the protect women in sports measure say it’s the first in a multi-step process. Unfortunately, that view is mistaken. The political capital just spent is unlikely to be regenerated.
The only question is whether proponents are actively lying or if they’re too stupid to understand this dynamic. Either hypothesis is plausible. Neither is acceptable.
A FOURTH SPECIAL SESSION is in the cards and could come quicker than anticipated.
Yesterday, Florida Governor Ron Desantis called a special state legislature session to ban vaccine mandates. DeSantis’ action stands in contrast to Greg Abbott’s posturing.
Gubernatorial candidate Don Huffines, predictably, is calling on Abbott to follow DeSantis’ lead. This appeal and DeSantis’ actions, taken together, create a dynamic that will be difficult for Abbott to resist.
Left to their own devices, Texas ‘leadership’ (i.e., Abbott, Patrick, and Phelan) would prefer to grandstand without substance (see the previous item) and give bureaucrats extra-legislative power. That may no longer be tenable (though it won’t stop them from trying).
Abbott’s timeline is the most important unresolved question.
As outlined Tuesday, a special session in early 2022 would give Abbott and company time to conduct polling and determine the bare minimum results the grassroots will need to be satiated. But, comparisons to DeSantis, pressure from Huffines, and businesses firing employees over jabs could force Abbott’s hand.
Time will tell.
Finally, the question that must accompany all special session discussions: What motivation do Democrats have to show up? Most likely, some boondoggles akin to the recently passed Tuition Revenue Bonds.
This is why it’s essential to get regular sessions done right.
JOHN SCOTT has been appointed Secretary of State, an appointment that comes a little more than a week after the third special session ended.
The left hates the pick and is making bones about it on social media and in the press. Grievances against the permanently triggered woke include Scott’s defense of Texas’ Voter ID law in court (a law the vast majority of Texans support) and his work to overturn the 2020 election on behalf of President Trump.
It’s inaccurate to suggest that the pick is of Trump just because of this recent activity. Like his immediate predecessors, Scott comes from the Abbott universe, having served under the Governor when he was Attorney General.
One thing to note, the role of the Secretary, in addition to sitting atop election administration, is to liaise with foreign countries (including Mexico) as the Lone Star diplomat.
This could be a big deal come December/January when mass migration of Haitians is expected at the Southern border.
WAYNE CHRISTIAN has an op-ed promoting carbon capture technology. Christian’s op-ed is notable in its insistence that “government should not be in the business of picking winners and losers.”
While Christian’s statement sounds like boilerplate Republican rhetoric, his position stands in contrast to his fellow Texas Republicans John Cornyn and Dan Crenshaw. The latter two have led efforts to increase subsidies for carbon capture at the federal level.
Christian, who was previously floated as a primary challenger to Cornyn, could be formidable come 2026.
Hit the Links
Is RRISD hiding information to cover up a forced abortion?
Thanks for reading
Please feel free to contact me (reply to this email or email me at pushjunction@gmail.com) with questions, comments, suggestions, or tips.
One last thing, to be sure you always receive these emails, 1) move this message to your inbox and 2) add pushjunction@substack.com to your contacts (hover over the from the line).