TUE brief 2.15.22
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Today’s Stories
STEPHANIE KLICK is apparently in a dog fight.
The five-term State Representative has received massive assistance from colleagues as early voting kicks off.
Klick’s colleagues, of course, are repaying the favor after she killed legislation during the 2021 legislative session that would have prohibited sex changes on minors. In the grotesque calculations of the Texas House, this is called “protecting your members” from tough votes.
In 2019, Klick similarly killed election integrity legislation that could have pre-empted many of the concerns we saw in 2020 and avoided the train wreck of Phelan and a “think” tank “overseeing” reforms in 2021.
While Klick has a reasonably conservative record on some (safe, leadership approved) conservative issues, her willingness to do the leadership’s dirty work makes her an asset to them. In 2021, leadership routed the pro-life bills through Klick’s committee to give her cover to kill the “gender modification” (*shudder*) ban.
None of which stops alleged “pro-family” groups, who know better, from supporting Klick.
Pushback has, however, changed their behavior elsewhere. (AC)
BRYAN HUGHES endorsed state representative Reggie Smith as the incumbent attempts to fend off a challenge from Shelley Luther.
This is most likely a consultant play.
While Hughes is one of the more conservative Senators, he’s always had an unfortunate “go along/get along” streak. This is a textbook example.
The fact that Smith has to attack his opponent is a weird look but one that liberal lobbyists like.
TEXAS VALUES has backed away from supporting several (but not all) incumbent legislators entangled in sex scandals. This comes following significant pushback.
The group had previously designated Representatives Cole Hefner (Adultery), Lacey Hull (Adultery), Brooks Landgraf (Sexting, rumored adultery), and Charles Schwertner (Sexting) as so-called “Faith and Family Champions.”
Lawmakers who exercise poor judgment in their private lives are likely to be doing the same in others. Should they be forgiven? Sure. Should they be returned to Austin, where the lobby can ply them with “booze and broads?” No. (AC)
Related: Candidate booted from anti-trafficking program amid escort allegations
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