#TXLEGE: No, really, who hired the right lobbyists re: "reopening?!?"

"Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord,
But a just weight is His delight."
Proverbs 11:1

PushJunction yesterday:

Obviously, PushJunction is tracking reopening in the macro sense. Equally obvious, in that macro sense, is that Texas' alleged "reopening" falls far short of claims made by politicians. We noticed something else.

That chart is a guide for how Mike Toomey, using the authority Greg Abbott delegated to him, is picking winners and losers.

It's tough to know exactly what  to make of this.  It's a snapshot in time.  Except that this is what happens when you put lobbyists in charge of the 11th largest economy in the world.

Equally obvious, the path of least resistance for Abbott is to fire Mike Toomey and lift the remaining restrictions.

Bottom Line:  Next round of campaign finance and lobby reports gonna be fascinating....

#TXLEGE: Shelby Slawson Shows How It's Done

"When the righteous [a]are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan."
Proverbs 29:2

[Note: Shelby Slawson is J.D. Sheffield's runoff opponent.]

This is, easily and by far, the best piece of political communication we've seen in ages:

Highlights:

• For eight years, one of the most conservative state rep districts in the country has been represented by "the most liberal Republican in Texas."

• "How can this have happened?!?"

• Discussion of Sheffield's relationships with campaign consultants and lobbyists.
• Note: It's too long to type, but it flows really well in the video.

• J.D Sheffield, lobbyists, and campaign consultants are basically a giant money laundering operation.

• "You don't really have to be pro-Life, you just have to send a mailer with a beautiful mother and a cute baby...that's what J.D. Sheffield does."

• Sheffield's new strategy: Ignore his record and overhype the fact that he's a doctor...even though it's irrelevant to the job of state rep.

• J.D. Sheffield is a Doctor...Doctor Democrat.

Bottom Line: Well done, there needs to be a lot more communication like this.

#TXLEGE: Rove and Straus weaseling into redistricting

"The king establishes the land by justice,
But he who receives bribes overthrows it."
Proverbs 29:4

PushJunction yesterday:

JOE STRAUS (former Speaker of the Texas House) and Karl Rove (former top-tier strategist) got some love yesterday as they weasel their way back into Texas politics ahead of 2022.

The two appear to be manufacturing energy; they can parlay into more control of the GOP in 2021 (redistricting) as they plot a liberal Republican renaissance.

This is both interesting...AND something into which it's easy to read faaar too much.

It's interesting because it shows Rove and Straus returning to an old playbook.  In 2011, Joe Straus' Texas house drew a redistricting map that, while it favored Republicans, boosted liberal R's at the expense of conservatives.  Wayne Christian and Ken Paxton were the primary targets.  Many of the challenges conservatives have faced in that chamber this decade are rooted in the fact that the last redistricting map elevated rural school board members.

That being said, let's not build this effort up unnecessarily.  It's true that current district boundaries favor rural school board members.  But it's truer still that there have been a long list of failures and missed opportunities since.  While this reality deserves consideration, it's an excuse for nothing.

Bottom Line: How big of a role they play remains to be seen.  They're still has-been's.  Nevertheless, it's worth keeping this effort in the back of your mind over the coming months.

#TXLEGE: Hunter confirms something we've LONG Suspected

"For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life."
Galatians 6:8

PushJunction this morning:

TEXAS COMPETES, a “pro-business” group, is promoting a fringe LGBT normalization agenda while roughly 50% of the state's economy remains shuttered.

Yesterday, Democrats joined by two Republican-ish members of the House Sarah Davis, and Todd Hunter promoted an LGBT bill months way from the 2021 session. Davis, if she manages to win shouldn't be allowed to caucus with the GOP, she's a Democrat. 

The bill's cabal claims it will bolster business, but our state's current circumstances beg the question if there are no businesses open who is there to discriminate against? Texas Competes has not issued a call for the state to reopen and did not respond to a message asking for a position on the matter.

Most of this isn't surprising.  Left-wing Democrats pushing left-wing social policy is to be expected.  Likewise, Sarah Davis.

Todd Hunter's presence, however, is more interesting.

Unlike Sarah Davis, who needs to pick up crossover votes in West University Place, Todd Hunter represents a safe Republican district.  Thus, Hunter's motivation goes beyond naked politics.  What gives?!?

Consider Hunter's day job:

If you weren't aware, Todd Hunter is a trial lawyer.

Now...who gets rich suing people over alleged violations of so-called "non-discrimination" law?!?

That's right: TRIAL LAWYERS!!!

We've suspected for several years that the push in recent sessions to label everything under the sun as "discriminatory" was a sop to trial lawyers.  We just couldn't prove it.  While it's not iron clad, Hunter's ascension on this issue certainly lends credibility to the hypothesis.

Bottom Line: More lawsuits over alleged "discrimination" certainly means more business for trial lawyers.

#TXLEGE: Republicans "Shocked" to find local officials Exploiting Loopholes (That THEY Created)

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."
Galatians 6:7

Dallas:

DALLAS - Home and property owners in Dallas may pay for the pandemic with higher taxes.

The Dallas City Council is considering an increase of up to 8%.

That would make up for the loss of millions in sales tax revenue this year and next year, especially after many businesses shut down.

The state law that limits property tax increases has an exception for emergencies like natural disasters.

[Note: They've yet to make it official, but Austin is widely expected to follow.]

Galveston County:

The Galveston County judge is calling on the governor to freeze 2020 property appraisals at 2019 levels because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Mark Henry, the county judge, wrote Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday requesting the property assessment freeze “so local families don’t get hit with an additional economic burden” during the global pandemic. Galveston County Central Appraisal District officials said the vast majority of county properties saw an increase in value in 2020, which would lead to higher property taxes.

Of course, this is "outrageous." And you should be "outraged." Just like Texas' statewide GOP "leadership" is outraged:

Whether we're facing times of challenge or times of prosperity—raising taxes on the people of Texas is never the answer. #txlege https://t.co/uLRGhbQLS2

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 20, 2020

I talked with @wfaa’s @JasonWhitely about property tax appraisals and the misinformation being put out by many of our cities and counties regarding your property taxes, among other things. If you missed it, click here to watch: https://t.co/Z8eIQl8o1b#txlege

— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) May 26, 2020

Lest we forget:

County Judge Mark Henry, who recently asked Gov. Greg Abbott to use his disaster powers to freeze property values at 2019 levels, was quoted in the Galveston County Daily News as saying Bonnen has been “hiding behind his keyboard.” Henry added that he’s glad the speaker chose to not seek reelection. That was after Bonnen said Judge Henry’s property values proposal is a “horrible idea.”

There’s apparently been bad blood between the two of them for some time, which shouldn’t surprise anyone given the escalating tensions between state and local governments. Bonnen, as quoted in the Daily News, said “My valuation doesn’t cost me one penny in property tax, his tax rate does.”

To be fair, the Dallas and Galveston county stories are kinda/sorta different.  What ties them together is that local officials are raising taxes within the bounds of state law as currently written.  Like it or not, the law is on the locals side.

This is especially true in the case of what Dallas is doing:

[Note: The phrase "in the manner provided for a special taxing unit" is the part that permits them to go up to 8 percent.]

Both of these situations were completely preventable.  Abbott, Patrick, and Bonnen chose to not prevent them.  To hear the Texas GOP caterwauling now, however, does remind us of a movie reference:

Bottom Line: They have nobody to blame except themselves.

Bush's Revealing Choice in Memorial Day Company

Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
1 Corinthians 15:33

Friends, future, etc:

At 10 a.m. Monday, there will be a livestream of a ceremony at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, near Fort Hood. Bush will speak, with retired Navy admiral William McRaven giving the keynote address.

McRaven retired as a four-star admiral and is credited with organizing and overseeing Operation Neptune Spear, the raid in May 2011 that led to the death of Osama bin Laden. He was the ninth commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, from August 2011 to August 2014. He served as chancellor of The University of Texas system from 2015-18.

Bush is the eldest son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and is a former Navy Reserve officer. He has served as land commissioner since January 2014.

There isn't much to add.  We spent several years of our life detailing how Bill McRaven is an aggressive partisan who weaponizes his military service to silence critics.  It's just a shame so many of Texas' allegedly Republican elected officials were cowed by the Admiral's stars for so long.

One of the odder unintended consequences of Trump's presidency has been the degree to which Republicans have gotten wise to Bill McRaven.  We'll leave the federal stuff to others, except to say that most Republicans no longer see Bill McRaven as politically advantageous.  Except, apparently, George P. Bush.

Bottom Line:  Don't you dare interpret this cynically...why do you hate veterans?!?

The Real Austin Experience

"Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,
And the end of mirth may be grief."
Proverbs 14:13

From Alexander Strenger (the Former Mayoral Candidate):



Bottom Line; Honestly, it speaks for itself....