Daily Dispatch 2/28/25: Texas GOP Dodges Blame And Responsible Response For Measles Outbreak

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Republican officials from Governor Abbott on down have been generally silent when it comes to recommending vaccinations for their constituents in the midst of the biggest outbreak of measles in Texas in three decades: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/28/texas-measles-abbott-lawmakers-response/

...The Mennonite community of Gaines County has become a scapegoat in the outbreak, but their doctrine does not specifically forbid vaccines - the issue is science denial, not religion: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/mennonites-measles-west-texas-20189910.php

...Much closer to the real cause is widespread for-profit anti-vax misinformation along the lines of that peddled for years by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. - now part of a Trump administration that has canceled this year's FDA meeting on flu vaccines: https://truthout.org/articles/rfk-downplays-texas-measles-outbreak-after-first-us-death-in-10-years/

Massive and haphazard federal layoffs have resulted in a severe decline in service at our national parks, including Big Bend: https://www.chron.com/life/wildlife/article/texas-parks-lines-layoffs-20184426.php

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, known for his fondness for cupcakes, raw milk and "Jesus shots", is now railing against fluoride in public drinking water: https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/editorial/article/sid-miller-water-fluoride-ban-texas-20191495.php

Freshman GOP State Rep. Brent Money of East Texas has filed a bill calling for the repealing of no-fault divorce in Texas: https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/tx/89/bills/TXB00076560/

...He's also calling for the current ban on gender-affirming care for minors to be expanded into a full ban for everyone: https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/tx/89/bills/TXB00076559/

...While D/FW State Senator Phil King has introduced a bill that would require Texas law enforcement agencies to conceal records regarding police officer discipline from the public: https://www.kut.org/crime-justice/2025-02-24/austin-police-department-misconduct-oversight-texas-legislature

This year's Amplify Austin Day begins on the evening of Wednesday March 5 and continues through the evening of Thursday March 6! Help Progress Texas continue our important work here: https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! See a great essay on this year's celebration, happening amidst so much turmoil, and a listing of related events happening across Texas:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org/blog/black-history-month-2025-celebrating-texas-culture⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...Check out a terrific essay for Black History Month by Progress Texas Institute Board Chair Louis Bedford:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org/blog/trickle-down-diversity-doesn%E2%80%99t-work⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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