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Today’s stories
The first day of the TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION is today.
A few questions can be deployed as a rubric for judging Republican lawmakers this year.
Is it a priority for the party?
Does it aid Democrats?
Is action inline with criticism of D.C.?
The Republican Party of Texas has a robust set of priorities it’s pushing this session. Will they be… prioritized? The current political environment dictates they ought to be. Leadership will deserve criticism if they don’t dominate the action.
After the 20202 election cycle, the country just endured, including in-broad-daylight abuse of our election system with last-minute changes to election administration, irregularities, and stonewalling of judicial remedy; Republicans should proactively address these issues after failing to enact reforms in 2019.
Currently, Republican lawmakers are being asked to make unforced errors like legalizing marijuana and casino gambling to close down a $1B budget shortfall. These are moves that benefit Democrats (won’t address the current shortfall) and should be DOA as bad public policy.
Finally, Republican lawmakers will be confronted repeatedly with valid hypocrisy criticisms if they predictably reject the Biden-Harris-Pelosi-Schumer hydra's advances while onboarding the left's policies in Texas.
Link: Will Drew Springer follow through and limit the Governor’s power?
The Houston Chronicle’s Jeremy Wallace has created an almost entirely inverted cheat sheet (5/6) on hot button issues.
Election administration needs to be predictable and build trust by minimizing chances for fraud or maladministration. Also, Facebook should be barred from meddling in elections.
Police reform should happen.
Redistricting won’t happen, but when it does, Republicans should draw the maps they want. Democrats didn’t try to flip the legislature in 2010 and 2020 to draw maps that would benefit the other team.
Casinos, as mentioned above, should be DOA. There will be no immediate economic benefit (it doesn’t solve the state’s current budget problem), and it’s a net negative on the economy.
Medicaid expansion doesn’t have traction, according to Speaker Dade Phelan.
Marijuana legalization, like casino gambling, is a con job for revenue, and it empowers Democrats. Why do that?
Hit the links
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