17 Days Left in the First Called Special Session of the 87th Legislature
Special Session Watch
Are they back yet? That’s what everyone in Austin is asking after the majority of House Democrats left for Washington, DC, denying the House chamber the necessary members present to conduct any business.
The Senate, meanwhile, has managed to pass all the bills on the special session agenda, with the exception of restoration of the Legislature’s funding that Gov. Abbott vetoed.
Gov. Abbott said in an interview last week he intends to keep lawmakers in Austin and “call special session, after special session, after special session every single month until we address and vote on these bills.”
Rep. Joe Moody Stripped of Leadership Position
Rep. Joe Moody (D-El Paso) was stripped of his position as speaker pro tem of the Texas House last week in the first major backlash for a Democrat who left the chamber to prevent a vote on a Republican priority elections bill. The removal of Moody was effective immediately.
“The most important titles in my life will never change: Dad, Husband, El Pasoan,” Moody said in a statement. “Nothing political has ever even cracked the top three, so nothing has changed about who I am or what my values are.”
Rep. Beckley Announces for Congress
Rep. Michelle Beckley (D-Carrollton) announced Tuesday that she is challenging Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (R-Irving) for the 24th Congressional District.
Van Duyne is one of two Texas Republicans that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is targeting for reelection. The boundaries for CD-24 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are likely to change before the 2022 election due to redistricting.
Only in Austin…
The 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup will hold one of its semifinal matches at the new Q2 Stadium in Austin.
The semifinal match will feature the winners of the following matches:
Quaterfinal #1: Quatar vs El Salvador
Quarterfinal #4: United States vs Jamaica