The Democrats Are Still Gone!
July 27, 2021
It is day 20 of the 30-day Special Legislative Session. Rumors were circulating that the Democrats might slowly trickle in this week but it isn’t looking very hopeful. The Texas Constitution requires that we have two-thirds of the House present (100 legislators) to conduct any business but we only have 83 Republicans. During the recent legislative session that concluded in May we had many important accomplishments. However, between the COVID-19 pandemic and Winter Storm Uri we ended with critical issues yet to be addressed. Most of those issues were added to the agenda when Governor Abbott called this Special Session. Unfortunately, just four days after we convened the Democrats fled in private chartered jets to D.C.
The consequences of the Democrats cut-and-run decision will be extremely high. Aside from wasting your taxpayer dollars on a convened Legislature that can take no action (about $1 million a month) the entire legislative branch of Texas government will be defunded September 1. This is in addition to the neglect of all the very important issues we are here to tackle. Issues like securing our elections, reducing abortions, cutting property taxes, stopping CRT in schools, border security, etc. These will fall by the wayside. Also, if the Legislature is defunded it means all staff will be furloughed, constituent services will stop, all district office rents will go unpaid, no office phones or internet…the list goes on.
Please know that I will continue to be in Austin waiting for the Democrats and to fulfill my obligations as your state representative. I don’t know what the Democrat’s end game is but I know it will be a complete failure for them. I hope that all Texans will hold accountable those who fled Texas and their constituents on this failed publicity stunt.
Here is a reminder of all that is on our session agenda. I have also urged Governor Abbott to add a ban on child medical gender modification (criminalizing it as child abuse) and SB 14 which I authored in the last session. SB 14 prevents cities from regulating private employers employment practices forcing business to operate differently city to city, town to town.
- ELECTION INTEGRITY: Legislation strengthening the integrity of elections in Texas.
- ABORTION-INDUCING DRUGS: Legislation to prohibit people from providing abortion-inducing drugs by mail or delivery service, strengthens the laws applicable to the reporting of abortions and abortion complications, and ensures that no abortion-inducing drugs are provided unless there is voluntary and informed consent.
- BAIL REFORM: Legislation reforming the bail system in Texas to protect the public from accused criminals who may be released on bail.
- THIRTEENTH CHECK: Legislation relating to a “thirteenth check” or one-time supplemental payment of benefits under the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
- ARTICLE X FUNDING: Legislation providing appropriations to the Legislature and legislative agencies in Article X of the General Appropriations Act.
- BORDER SECURITY: Legislation providing funding to support law-enforcement agencies, counties, and other strategies as part of Texas’ comprehensive border security plan.
- SOCIAL MEDIA CENSORSHIP: Legislation safeguarding the freedom of speech by protecting social-media users from being censored by social-media companies based on the user’s expressed viewpoints, including by providing a legal remedy for those wrongfully excluded from a platform.
- FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION: Legislation requiring schools to provide appropriate education to middle and high school student about dating violence, domestic violence, and child abuse, but that recognizes the right of parents to opt their children out of the instruction.
- YOUTH SPORTS: Legislation disallowing a student from competing in University Interscholastic League athletic competitions designated for the sex opposite to the student’s sex at birth.
- CRITICAL RACE THEORY: Legislation similar to House Bill 3979 concerning critical race theory as originally passed by the Texas Senate in the 87th Legislature, Regular Session.
- APPROPRIATIONS: Legislation providing appropriations from additional available general revenue for the following purposes:
- property-tax relief;
- enhanced protection for the safety of children in Texas’ foster-care system by attracting and retaining private providers for the system; and
- to better safeguard the state from potential cybersecurity threats.