Posted on 07/07/2021 5:01:31 PM PDT by RandFan
Texas legislators will return to Austin on Thursday to finalize work on some of the most controversial conservative priorities that have emerged in states across the country this year.
Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said in a statement Wednesday that the legislature would tackle a major package of election overhauls that failed at the last minute in May when House Democrats staged a surprise walkout, denying a quorum and killing the bill.
Republicans had pledged to revive the legislation, which makes changes to rules related to early voting and curbside voting, bans round-the-clock voting centers and eliminates straight-ticket voting. It would also limit the use of drop-boxes for those who cast absentee ballots.
In an effort to force legislative action after the walkout, Abbott vetoed a budget provision that would have funded the state legislature itself.
The Texas voting overhaul is among the most comprehensive in a series of measures across the country aimed at reforming election rules in the wake of the 2020 elections. Republican governors have signed similarly sweeping bills in states like Arizona and Georgia, and legislators have passed measures that have been or will be vetoed by Democratic governors in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Texas legislators will also take up a measure meant to ban teaching of critical race theory, after a similar measure died in the state House. Opponents of that measure have criticized it as overly vague, putting teachers at risk of legal action if they discuss issues well outside the purview of critical race theory.
Abbott is also seeking action on a bill prohibiting transgender people from participating in sports leagues that conform to their gender identity, another top priority of conservative legislatures this year.
And legislators plan to consider a bill to hold social media companies to account if they ban or censor certain kinds of speech. That measure, which has become a Republican priority after Twitter and Facebook banned former President Trump from their platforms over his incitement of the Jan. 6 insurrection, is likely to open a new front of the culture wars in conservative legislatures this year and next.
Finally, the legislature will take up a bill to bar doctors from prescribing abortion-inducing drugs by mail or delivery service. The measure would also toughen laws related to reporting abortions performed in the state.
“We have unfinished business to ensure that Texas remains the most exceptional state in America,” Abbott said in a statement announcing his legislative priorities.
The special session is Abbott’s last chance to bolster his conservative credentials ahead of his 2022 re-election bid, when he will face at least two challenges from the ultra-conservative wing of the Texas Republican Party.
Former state Sen. Don Huffines (R) and Allen West, the former Florida congressman who will resign as chairman of the Texas Republican Party next week, have both said they will run against Abbott.
A poll released Sunday by the Dallas Morning News and the University of Texas-Tyler showed 50 percent of Texans approved of the job Abbott has done as governor. Eight in 10 Republicans like the job Abbott has done so far.
Among those Republican voters, 52 percent said they would favor Abbott in a GOP primary. Thirteen percent said they preferred a more conservative Republican, while 22 percent said they wanted to see a candidate more in the mold of Trump.
Abbott hosted Trump last week during a tour of the Southern border, and Trump has reciprocated by endorsing Abbott for another term
Consrvative priority #1: fire Cornyn
t is always easy to tell when an important election is coming up and the incumbents have a threat of a primary challenge.
“How dare conservatives actually defy Democrat corruption and tyranny.”
Funny how Abbott’s list comes out within 24 hours of Col Allen West announcing he will challenge Gov. Lights Out in the primary next year.
I know it’s sad that most politicians only do what you elect them to do in the lead up to the next election.
WHY??
I will NEVER understand this
Wrong. Conservative priority #1: No little P as AG.
Unfortunately we’re going to have to wait 5 years for that.
“Funny how Abbott’s list comes out within 24 hours of Col Allen West announcing he will challenge Gov. Lights Out in the primary next year.”
_________________________________________
Abbott’s not promised my vote this time around.
I was one of those who slept in my vehicle during the freeze because my block was elected to be without utilities for several days. NOT the several hours that was promised.
Abbott: Killed a bill that would protect children from being ‘gendered,’ a bill that would give additional protection to animals being abused, and his damn ECOT (?) at at least 5 freaking folks who were paid $250,000 annually and they DIDN’T EVEN LIVE IN the wonderful state of Texas.
SO. While Abbot may be better than a dEmocrat, I plan on voting in the primary for West.
Abbott. Ignorant, arrogant Abbott. All he had to do was protect the citizens of Texas and he freaking couldn’t do that and folks died.
(Spit)
I was blessed with the purchase of a new vehicle in Jan of this year.
My heater in my old car had finally pooped and my beloved car was getting really to the point of repairs needing to be done that were more than the value of the vehicle.
I liked that vehicle. Stayed with the same manufacturer, though.
:)
Abbott, the finger in the wind “conservative” is playing the age-old game of getting Religion leading up to his reelection attempt.
People with short-term memories will buy into it and forget about his many bad decisions. Especially, his capitulation to the Fauci/CDC edicts of the Pandemic unleashed by the Communist Chinese.
I’ll simply ask all Texans to contrast Abbott with Desantis. This comparison should be more than enough to send Abbott packing. Texas can do far better than Abbott.
Abbott: Killed a bill that would protect children from being ‘gendered”
****
This is one of Huffines big issues. He says there are “gender” clinics in TX which should be shut down and Abbott has done nothing about it...
Abbott: Killed a bill that would protect children from being ‘gendered”
****
This is one of Huffines big issues. He says there are “gender” clinics in TX which should be shut down and Abbott has done nothing about it...
Has he done anything about border security yet??!
“This is one of Huffines big issues. “
________________________________
Huffines also seems big on ‘Build The Wall.’
After getting burnt on Abbott will be taking very close looks at others.
No mention of property taxes. Lord Abbott doth not deemeth it important.
priority #1: fire Cornyn
We try, every time.
But, being Midge McConnell’s top henchman earns Corny Cornball lots of $$$$, from Midge’s RINO war chest, to smear any viable contenders :-(
No mention of property taxes. Lord Abbott doth not deemeth it important.
What do you propose he do about property taxes?
No mention of state income tax, or exorbitant gas tax, either. As in other states, like California, etc.
Welcome to FR, Bozo.
“Lots of hyperventilating about this on the evening news - all sorts of ‘how dare they!’ stuff”
Good luck finding any “decent” news stations in Central Texas as they all seem to have gone to the dark side and not worth a bucket of warm spit.
Thank God for FR.
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