| Speaker Phelan Announces Interim Charges |
House Speaker Dade Phelan yesterday issued a series of interim charges related to the Texas-Mexico border.
Twelve committees received a unique charge, with each of these committees also receiving a general charge to review the distribution of federal pandemic recovery funds and their potential use to respond to the border crisis in addition to their individual directives.
Rep. John Turner Won’t Seek Reelection
Rep. John Turner (D-Dallas) said Monday he will not seek reelection to the Texas House of Representatives in 2022. Turner has represented House District 114 since 2019 after he flipped the previously GOP-held seat during the 2018 cycle.
In a statement, Turner said another election cycle and legislative session would not be “compatible with the time I need to devote to being a father and husband at this stage in life. The next few years are an important time to be involved with my family and that is much harder when one is away as often as legislative service requires.”
Legislators and Staff Sue Governor Abbott
A group that includes Texas House Democrats and legislative staffers is asking the Texas Supreme Court to override Gov. Greg Abbott’s recent veto of a portion of the state budget that funds the Legislature, Capitol staff, and legislative agencies.
More than 60 Democratic members of the House signed a petition for a writ of mandamus as did the House Democratic Caucus and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, four state employees, and the Texas AFL-CIO.
The petition argues that Abbott exceeded his executive authority and violated the state’s separation of powers doctrine. The parties involved are asking the state’s Supreme Court to find Abbott’s veto unconstitutional, which would allow the vetoed portion of the state budget to become law later this year.
Only in Austin…
The H-E-B Austin Symphony July 4th Concert & Fireworks is back!
Spend this July 4th with your family and friends at Vic Mathias Shores (formerly Auditorium Shores) for an amazing event complete with a fireworks display over the city skyline.
The event begins at 8 p.m., followed by “mile-high” fireworks. The event is free and open to the public.