THU brief 4.21.22
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Today’s Stories
GREG ABBOTT is being put on the spot regarding school choice.
Abbott replied on the thread, but his word salad left more questions than answers.
Abbott supported the issue in his first term. There’s not a definitive history of hostility.
The most likely explanation is that Abbott lacks core convictions, either way, on school choice. He was willing to cash the checks the school choice lobby was writing, knowing that those bills would die in the Texas house.
For reasons unrelated to education, Abbott needs the most liberal Texas House possible. It’s not that Abbott is necessarily “against” the issue; it’s that he’s willing to scrap it to protect liberal control of the house.
Nevertheless, it’s funny to see Abbott hoist with his own petard.
This is all reminiscent of a story former state rep Byron Cook once told about Abbott talking out of both sides of his mouth during 2017’s bathroom bill debate. One would be excused for being skeptical of Cook’s claims at the time, but Abbott’s subsequent behavior suggests Cook was correct. (AC)
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION is still happening despite Texas to D.C. bussing gimmicks and enhanced searches border crossings.
In March, border patrol made 129,000 Arrests in Texas Sectors, the highest number since last summer. With Biden threatening to end Title 42, this problem may worsen before it gets better.
Conservative activist STEVE HOTZE has been indicted by a district attorney politically aligned with George Soros.
Specifically, Harris County DA Kim Ogg alleges that the Houston-based activist connected with the beating of a truck driver because of…some “connection” to a voter fraud investigation.
While the tale of fraud was goofy and reportedly led the hired PI to take an ill-advised action, this is, almost certainly, a hatchet job.
This is the latest incarnation of the “[Former Travis County DA] Ronnie Earle indicting Rick Perry” playbook. Just 150 miles Southeast.
(Related: Charlie Geren is still a turd.)
ABORTION, as an issue, looks like it’s headed toward a conclusion.
The Supreme Court is set to rule later this year, and once that happens, the landscape will change dramatically.
In that vein, the Texas Tribune produced a random act of journalism examining the role of local District Attorneys. It will be enormous.
Indeed, our biggest reservation about pursuing an outright abortion ban is that we don’t know how you compel the local DA to enforce it.
This isn’t an abstract consideration. In the pre-Roe era, the abortion ban was frequently not enforced. (AC)
ELLEN TROXCLAIR has been explicitly endorsed by three GOP county parties in her six-county district. In addition, the Travis County GOP condemned the actions of a PAC linked with her runoff opponent.
This is virtually unprecedented.
Hit the Links
Texas A&M defunds annual drag show
Houston mandates outdoor cameras for bars, convenience stores
A meaningful return to politics is unlikely for Julián Castro
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