Texas Matters is a Thursday evening series focusing on Texas political news while sharing information and strategies with the aim of taking back our state.
Updates: 83rd TX Legislative Session
Burnt Orange Report: Texas Sodomy Law Repeal Bill Passes 5-0 Out of Senate Committee
The Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee took a major step forward yesterday when it advanced SB 538:
SB 538 would repeal §21.06 of the Penal Code, the Homosexual Conduct Law, which was declared unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court in the 2003 Lawrence v. Texas decision. The bill would also amend the Health and Safety Code to delete the statement that "homosexual conduct is not an acceptable lifestyle and is a criminal offense under §21.06, Penal Code."
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San Antonio Express: Abortion clinic bill stalled in Senate
SB 537, which attempts to close abortion clinics by increasing minimum standards, remains stalled in the Senate:
Texas Republicans are one vote short of passing a controversial abortion bill in the Senate — and the fate of the legislation now rests squarely on the shoulders of two South Texas Democrats.
Sens. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, and Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, oppose the bill, and without their votes it won't have the supermajority needed under Senate rules to get to a floor vote.
[...]
Opponents argue the bill could shutter more than three-fourths of the clinics that perform the bulk of the state's abortions, requiring those licensed exclusively to perform the procedure to meet the physical and safety standards of ambulatory surgical centers, which provide a wide range of operations.
Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/...
Texas News and Interviews
Burnt Orange Report: Looking West
This morning, Chaille Jolink posted some initial information regarding last night's explosion at the West Fertilizer Co. in West, Texas:
Whether or not this tragedy could have been completely prevented or not remains to be seen. What seems suspect is that the permit process started through a complaint, but according to the DMN [Dallas Morning News] there were no public comments for or against the TCEQ [Texas Commission on Environmental Quality] permit being issued. Hopefully we will get more information and better news as the day goes on, keeping West and all of Texas in our thoughts and prayers.
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Yesterday, HuffPost Live posted an interview with Jeremy Bird that recaps what Battleground Texas is doing here and why. The 5:15 minute video is worth listening to.
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Calling Out Texas Republicans
Texas AG fears Democrats more than North Korea
Earlier this week,
DRo posted a diary highlighting this ridiculous assertion by Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott:
“One thing that requires ongoing vigilance is the reality that the state of Texas is coming under a new
assault, an assault far more dangerous than what the leader of North Korea threatened when he said he was going to add Austin, Texas, as one of the recipients of his nuclear weapons,” Abbott said. “The threat that we’re getting is the threat from the Obama administration and his political machine.”
Video of the Week:
One Texas PAC: 100 Days with Ted Cruz
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Commentary by nomandates: Precision Matters.
It is indeed regrettable that Texans have not elected a Democrat to a statewide office since 1994, but Democrats and progressives and liberals here are actively working to change that.
Texas Republicans do not represent all Texans. They don't usually even bother to pretend to do so; instead, they pander to their base. So I am stuck with GOP Gov. Rick Perry, GOP Sen. John Cornyn, GOP Sen. Ted Cruz, and GOP Rep. Steve Stockman, and they never listen to my calls or emails, nor do they represent those of other Texans who voted for their Democratic opponents in every election. I certainly accept responsibility for my role in this because my efforts to help elect Democrats to those offices have not been good enough. Yet.
Here's the thing: Posting diaries with titles attacking "Texas" rather than "Texas Republicans" is not productive. If someone writes a diary calling out Republican Gov. Rick Perry, Republican Sen. John Cornyn, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, and Republican Rep. Bill Flores for their hypocrisy and cruelty, I want to be able to rec that diary and to share it on Twitter and Facebook. But I will not do so if the diary indicts "Texas" and fails to emphasize that these hypocrites are all Republicans. In fact, I'm probably going to post something like this:
Texas Republicans!!!!! (6+ / 0-)
The proper title for this diary would be "Texas Republicans want federal disaster aid that they have refused to give others."
Every single politician whom you call out in this diary is a Republican. That fact should matters at a site where we're supposedly working to elect more and better Democrats.
Is it too much to ask for precision here?
Do you think that Texas Democrats, liberals, or progressives support their hypocrisy and pandering to their cruel base?
"Compassion is not weakness, and concern for the unfortunate is not socialism." Hubert H. Humphrey
by nomandates on Thu Apr 18, 2013 at 05:49:32 PM CDT
I realize that no one at this site is obligated to help Texas Democrats, liberals, and progressives to take back our state. But I am requesting that folks think twice and please clearly identify all Texas Republicans as such when posting diaries.
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Update: Separate diary posted per suggestion in the comments:
Precision Matters: Please say "Texas Republicans."