Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: The Zurawski v State Of Texas case is set to be heard by the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court tomorrow: https://www.npr.org/2023/11/26/1215227706/texas-supreme-court-to-hear-case-on-state-abortion-laws-and-pregnancy-complicati ...Watch via this livestream link: https://www.texasbarcle.com/CLE/sc.asp Ted Cruz is ignoring criticism for incorrectly characterizing the auto crash near the Canadian border on Wednesday as a "terrorist attack: ht...
Nov 27, 2023•8 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Several factors paint a picture of strategy for Governor Greg Abbott in vying to be Donald Trump's running mate: https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/11/20/greg-abbott-vice-president-2024-texas-gov ...While Abbott endorses 58 Texas House members who voted his way on vouchers last week: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/as-promised-gov-greg-abbott-endorses-republicans-who-supported-school-vouchers-and-excludes-incumbent-opponents/ ...
Nov 21, 2023•10 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: As vouchers crashed and burned in the House on Friday, Governor Abbott promises to keep pushing: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/11/19/abbotts-next-move-unclear-after-school-choice-defeat-in-texas-house/71585560007/ Abbott hung out with Donald Trump and endorsed his run for President on the border this weekend: https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/19/politics/trump-us-mexico-border-abbott/index.html The Texas State Board of ...
Nov 20, 2023•11 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: A school funding bill including vouchers is up for a full House debate and vote today: https://www.kut.org/politics/2023-11-16/the-texas-house-will-vote-on-school-vouchers-friday-heres-what-to-expect ...Odds of it passing are slim, but crazier things have happened: https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/will-school-choice-pass-in-the-texas-house-tomorrow A poll of his constituents conducted by U.S. House Rep. Greg Casar indicates heavy Demo...
Nov 17, 2023•11 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Six more plaintiffs have joined the lawsuit, spearheaded by Amanda Zurawski, over Texas abortion laws that led to life-threatening medical situations for them: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/11/15/1213188342/20-women-sue-texas-over-abortion-laws Officials in Mexico push back against new, unconstitutional immigration legislation in Texas: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/mexico-deportation-law-18494150....
Nov 16, 2023•11 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: The Texas House GOP passed the highly demonstrative and unconstitutional immigration bill SB4 last night - it's headed for the Governor's desk under threat of legal challenge: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/11/14/texas-approves-bill-arrest-deport-people-suspected-illegal-immigration/71579308007/ Over half of the Texas GOP delegation in the U.S. House voted against their own party's efforts to avoid a government shu...
Nov 15, 2023•9 min
Governor Abbott, so far, has held true to his threat to keep the Texas Legislature in Austin - in many cases, hundreds of miles away from their homes, families, jobs and businesses - until they finally cave on multiple decades of resistance to school vouchers. We're proud to be joined by two lawmakers with a front row seat to Abbott's charade: Senator Sarah Eckhardt of Austin and Rep. James Talarico of Round Rock share their perspectives on why vouchers are bad for Texas, who's really behind Abb...
Nov 14, 2023•28 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: A national energy analysis shows that ERCOT remains vulnerable to natural gas-related outages in freezing weather as winter approaches: https://www.kvue.com/article/weather/texas-grid-conditions-this-winter/269-d0171aff-35e8-44b9-b259-10b69c8e9153#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16998983290299&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kvue.com%2Farticle%2Fweather%2Ftexas-grid-conditions-this-winter%2F...
Nov 14, 2023•10 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: A bill including private school vouchers was approved in committee on Friday and is likely to see a full vote on the House floor: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/10/texas-house-vote-committee-school-vouchers/ Abbott's stubbornness on vouchers is related to his national political ambitions: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/11/10/texas-gov-greg-abbott-thrust-in-middle-of-gop-infighting-hampering-school-choice-agenda/ School ...
Nov 13, 2023•9 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: "Texas Republican Civil War" continues into the fourth "special" session: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/texas-republican-civil-war-in-new-phase-with-fourth-special-session-17847543 ...While private school voucher opponents, for now, are unswayed: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/09/texas-house-vouchers-education/ ...And the financial aspects of voucher programs appear ever more unsustainable: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/educat...
Nov 10, 2023•13 min
Here in Texas, we watch from afar as state after state after state embraces the therapeutic and financial benefits of marijuana decriminalization. Many of us have resigned ourselves to the idea that the Lone Star State is simply and probably permanently a no-fun zone - but, medical cannabis IS a reality here, though most of us don't realize the opportunity exists. We welcome Terrence Baugh of the medical cannabis company GoodBlend to the mic for an explanation of current policy in Texas, how YOU...
Nov 09, 2023•29 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: The fourth special session this year is stretching the patience of Texas lawmakers to the brink: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/08/texas-legislature-fourth-special-session/ Voter turnout was strong for an off-year election: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/about/newsreleases/2023/110823.shtml ...Especially in North Texas: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2023/11/09/score-one-for-democracy-voter-turnout-in-north-texas-jumped/ ....
Nov 09, 2023•9 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Last night's election results yielded both great and not-so-great news regarding those 14 constitutional amendment propositions: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/11/07/us/elections/results-texas.html Both of our endorsed candidates in Houston's local elections go to runoffs on December 9, including mayoral candidate Sheila Jackson Lee: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/07/houston-mayor-race-2024-results/ ...And City Controller ca...
Nov 08, 2023•13 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Voter turnout is up for this off-cycle election in North Texas: https://www.keranews.org/government/2023-11-06/early-voting-doubled-in-north-texas-for-this-years-constitutional-amendment-election-heres-why ...But across the state, it's pretty typically dismal: https://www.kxan.com/news/your-local-election-hq/why-texas-constitutional-amendment-elections-historically-have-low-voter-turnout/ ...Which reminds us to remind you to VOTE NO on Prop...
Nov 07, 2023•11 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: As the end of the current special session looms tomorrow, Texas Republicans are continuing their press for private school vouchers: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/03/texas-house-school-vouchers-funding/ ...While odious immigration reform bills appear to be on hold for the NEXT special session: https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2023-11-05/texas-lawmakers-put-the-brakes-on-sweeping-immigration-enforcement-bill-for-now The 5th U.S. Cir...
Nov 06, 2023•9 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: A dark money operation funded by Tim Dunn of Defend Texas Liberty is pushing against a desperately-needed school bond proposal in Midland: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/02/tim-dunn-move-midland-school-bond/ Moves made two decades ago to make certification to teach elementary school in Texas had the side effect of driving down wages: https://theconversation.com/texas-tried-to-fix-its-teacher-shortage-by-lowering-requirements-the-resul...
Nov 03, 2023•10 min
Running for office is a daunting decision - even more so for progressives in a state like Texas, where via gerrymandering and other tactics, Republicans have entrenched their power despite (and because of) their ever-dwindling popularity. Two North Texas Democrats - Francine Ly and Sam Eppler - have both risen to that challenge by running against U.S. House Rep. Beth Van Duyne, one of the worst MAGA types in Congress, and whose District 24 has been shored up for her base after her very narrow in...
Nov 02, 2023•53 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: That monumental deal on school vouchers announced a couple of days ago by Governor Greg Abbott has thus far failed to materialize at the Capitol: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/01/texas-house-dade-phelan-school-vouchers-greg-abbott/ While a timely op-ed by D/FW spiritual leaders gives even more insight on why vouchers are a bad idea for Texas: https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/other-voices/article281275983.html#a...
Nov 02, 2023•8 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: An announcement yesterday by Governor Greg Abbott on a voucher breakthrough is news to voucher opponents, whose positions have not changed, at least publicly: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/abbott-school-voucher-deal-18459828.php ...Meanwhile a ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates by Texas business owners heads to Abbott's desk: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/31/texas-legislature-covid-vaccine-mandates-ban-bill/ ...As does $...
Nov 01, 2023•8 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: After an eight-year delay, a trial date is set for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, indicted on securities fraud charges - April 15, 2024: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/10/30/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxtons-criminal-trial-set-for-april-15/ A federal judge has ordered federal border agents to stop cutting razor wire - notably, unless that razor wire threatens to hurt migrants: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2...
Oct 31, 2023•9 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: As a new week begins, the line against vouchers at the special session is holding...for now: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/san-angelo-republican-school-voucher-program-doa-texas-house-without-major-increase-public-school-funding/287-75354955-4380-41dc-af8e-3c77a6906c4b ...While religious schools eye the prospect of expanding into rural areas should vouchers pass: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/...
Oct 30, 2023•6 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: New immigration bills, which will pave the way for regular harassment of Texas Latinos, continue towards the Governor's desk: https://www.axios.com/2023/10/26/texas-migrants-border-arrest-bill ...While Houston Representative Armando Walle becomes a touchstone of his community's frustration: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/texas-latino-democrat-walle-slams-republicans-immigration-bill-detain-rcna122335 A judge rules that the TEA cannot r...
Oct 27, 2023•9 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Houston Rep. Armando Walle had strong words for House Republicans after debate over harsh new immigration laws was cut short: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/25/texas-legislature-house-immigration-bills/ ...While GOP efforts for vouchers appear to have made little progress: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/25/texas-vouchers-house-abbott-legislature/ New U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has ties to Texas based on efforts on be...
Oct 26, 2023•10 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Both Republican U.S. Reps Pete Sessions and Roger Williams have seen their aspirations to become Speaker of the House dashed: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/24/pete-sessions-us-speaker-race-texas/ Ken Paxton sues the Biden administration, this time for removing deadly razor wire from the border: https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/24/politics/texas-paxton-biden-administration-border-razor-wire-lawsuit/index.html Houston U.S. Representative an...
Oct 25, 2023•11 min
Progress Texas is proud to endorse former Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins in his run for Houston City Controller - a somewhat low-profile but pivotal position in the government of our state's biggest and most diverse city. His performance during the pandemic election of 2020 was outstanding - so much so, that Republicans have been doing all they can to undermine the voters of Houston ever since. We know he'll bring that same dedication and expertise to the job of Controller. Join us for a grea...
Oct 24, 2023•22 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: The state's lawsuit will go to trial in April, following a ruling by anti-abortion activist judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo: https://news.yahoo.com/planned-parenthood-must-face-trial-005536520.html ...While Lubbock County becomes the fourth, and largest so far, Texas county to establish a so-called "abortion travel ban": https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/23/abortion-travel-ban-lubbock-county/ $1.5 billion of YOUR taxpayer money for t...
Oct 24, 2023•8 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Early voting on 14 constitutional amendment propositions and a variety of local matters begins today! Learn all about voting in Texas at https://govotetexas.org/ , and grab our handy guide to those 14 amendments at https://progresstexas.org/2023-texas-statewide-ballot-guide . The special session nears its third week - the lower amount of taxpayer money the House version of school vouchers would give Texas families would put private school e...
Oct 23, 2023•7 min
Who's ready to VOTE? We sure are - and with early voting starting Monday, with tons on the line - key funding for Texas' retired teachers and state parks, a big oil money grab to block, major races in Houston and elsewhere across Texas - we figured it was a great time to host a guest episode of Pod Bless Texas, hosted by our pal and fresh-faced groom Kendall Scuddar, and featuring our own Executive Director Kathleen Thompson. K & K talk all about the 14 amendments and (generally) agree on wh...
Oct 21, 2023•56 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Democrats in the Texas House present a solid school funding package, which of course is near-guaranteed to be ignored by the GOP majority: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/10/19/texas-legislature-house-democrats-unveil-school-funding-bill-hb117/71240474007/ ...While Republican House members present another iteration of the same old idea, vouchers: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/19/texas-house-voucher-school-cho...
Oct 20, 2023•10 min
Next month's election - early voting actually starts on Monday, October 23 - is what we like to call a "low-turnout/high impact" election. Meaning, since few Texans (unfortunately) are likely to show up, YOUR vote carries a LOT more weight than it would in a higher-turnout situation. Ironically, these quieter elections are frequently the most significant opportunities Texans have to nudge our state in the right direction, and that's certainly the case with the 14 constitutional amendment proposi...
Oct 19, 2023•36 min
