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August 1, 2020 2:41 PM
A good and decent servant of Texas, condolences for the family are pouring in. He passed away this morning around 11am
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Copyright August 01, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 1, 2020 10:41 AM
The Office of the Speaker says arrangements are forthcoming. Sincerest condolences to Rep. Howard and her family
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Copyright August 01, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 1, 2020 10:30 AM
After lengthy conversations with insiders, Texas Capitol veteran Jon Fisher takes an in-depth look at what a session might really be like come January: Professional advocates whose stock-in-trade is hard work and research may have the upper hand while those who rely on entertainment may be at a distinct disadvantage
One thing on which
everyone agrees is that anyone planning to work the 87th Legislature
needs to be preparing for an entirely different environment.
What will it actually look like?
Of course, it is too soon
to know for sure, but we recently asked some experienced veterans to help us understand
how this could really unfold. What happens in the future, naturally, is based
on ever-changing conditions. Remember, the Texas Capitol is not
even open right now.
Speculation began in
earnest when Texas House parliamentarians released a memo on July
16 outlining how interim studies could proceed under House rules without formal
public hearings. That will not be the issue in January, when both chambers will
have the chance to rewrite their rules.
Texas House leadership is currently
surveying members to determine what the existing membership believes would be
the best way to handle business next session. Those results are not in yet.
House sources are telling
us that they are preparing for a hugely different environment and that those who
have incorporated flexibility and innovation into their lobbying plans will
have the advantage.
There are a few common
themes in those preparations.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Jon Fisher
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Copyright August 01, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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August 1, 2020 10:26 AM
Quorum Report has obtained a draft of proposed rules for Texas
House committee hearings during the interim. It’s
available to subscribers:
The rest of the story, subscribers only
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Copyright August 01, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 31, 2020 4:55 PM
Major appointments, new lobby gigs, and more
It was a little weird at
first, but now talking politics and campaigns for trade associations via Zoom –
instead of in person – is really no problem at all. Connecting with all of you,
even if it can only be online, is healthy and helpful. This week, the Texas
Public Power Association virtually hosted Dallas Morning News
reporter Gromer Jeffers and myself for
a conversation on the political environment and the coming elections. Our
publisher Harvey Kronberg and your editor are
available for similar online events for your group. Just send us a note.
It’s all part of our reality now. If you haven’t read Jon
Fisher’s report on what a legislative session during a pandemic may actually
be like, give
it a look.
Thanks to listeners of the
Texas Take podcast for sticking with us during the pandemic. This
week, we completed our 200th episode. The show, hosted by reporter Jeremy
Wallace and yours truly, is a joint venture of Quorum Report
and the Houston Chronicle. And yes, I am the only remaining
original cast member. Check out the
show here or subscribe to the Texas Take on Apple Podcasts or
Google Podcasts. Here’s to 200 more.
Now, to the important
stuff: What’s going on with you? The career news has
been significant this week, from major appointments to some new lobby gigs. You
can always let everyone know what’s happening by emailing ksbraddock@gmail.com. Please use POTM in
the subject line.
Here’s the latest edition of People on the Move.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Scott Braddock
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Copyright July 31, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 31, 2020 2:56 PM
Tinderholdt told ace reporter Cassi Pollock that he is recovering from a serious case of COVID-19, which he thought last week might kill him. His entire family tested positive
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Copyright July 31, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 31, 2020 12:55 PM
“I know he fought a hard long battle to the end, and that was just who he was,” Muñoz Jr. said of his father. “He never gave up.”
The
news from The Monitor down in The Valley:
Former state Rep. Sergio
Muñoz Sr. has died after recently becoming ill with COVID-19, the Hidalgo
County Democratic Party announced via social media Thursday morning.
The father of current
state Rep. Sergio Muñoz Jr. and the party’s vice chair, Muñoz Sr. served as
representative for Texas’ 36th district between 1993 and 1997.
The Palmview native was 68
at the time of his death. He died at DHR Health (Doctors Hospital at
Renaissance) in Edinburg.
“I know he fought a hard long battle to the end, and that was just who he was,”
Muñoz Jr. said of his father. “He never gave up.”
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Copyright July 31, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 29, 2020 3:00 PM
Was on his way to see President Trump: "This morning on the way to Midland, I tested positive for COVID-19. I immediately rented a car and am driving back to Houston," Hunt said. "I remain asymptomatic and feel in perfect health."
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Copyright July 29, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 29, 2020 1:28 PM
Editor Scott Braddock and KFYO radio host Chad Hasty dig into the tensions building with the Texas GOP and and governor's office
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Copyright July 29, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 29, 2020 9:19 AM
He has not been wearing a mask and has publicly defended not wearing a mask
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Copyright July 29, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 28, 2020 6:44 PM
AG Paxton weighed in and Education Commissioner Morath confirmed that previous guidance saying schools would continue to be fully funded if they were closed by a local or county health order is no longer applicable
Editor’s note: This
story has been updated to include comments from Education Commissioner Morath –
SB
Texas Attorney General Ken
Paxton took the lead on school openings this afternoon, nixing the idea
local health authorities can dictate school closures.
This would be a reversal
of state guidance. Back on July 15, the Texas Education Agency
was ready to fund remote instruction based on local closure orders, an idea
that seemed to be aligned with the fact more infection should mean more time
away from classrooms.
Given that latitude, public
health authorities in urban regions of the state indicated local school
districts were not even close to reopening. Were state leaders interested in
more time away from schools? Not so much.
Despite the change,
Education Commissioner Mike Morath said “Protecting
the health of students, teachers, and staff remains our first priority.”
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Kimberly Reeves
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Copyright July 28, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 28, 2020 2:14 PM
In the ad, the group argues "The Trump Virus has robbed us of the moments that make life worth living. It didn't have to be this way."
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Copyright July 28, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 27, 2020 5:05 PM
GOP candidate Jennifer Fleck, who trailed Justin Berry by 9 points in the runoff, tells Republicans to "REFUSE TO VOTE UNTIL YOU KNOW YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!!"
Despite finishing 9 points
in the runoff behind Justin Berry, Republican nominee for Texas
House District 47 Justin Berry, GOP candidate Jennifer Fleck
this week plans to file an election contest in Travis County court. She
confirmed that to Quorum Report this morning.
This was the runoff to
face off this fall against Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, in the district
that takes in much of western Travis County. The county’s Republican Party
Chairman Matt Mackowiak this morning said the party had seen no evidence
of any problems with the voting and “It is time for all Republicans to unite
behind Justin Berry, who won the runoff by a decisive margin.”
But Fleck said she agreed
with Bexar County GOP Chair Cynthia Brehm, who also lost
her runoff and recently made headlines by questioning whether the death of George
Floyd was a hoax intended to hurt President Donald Trump, that there
were irregularities in the voting process that essentially amount to a rigged
election.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Scott Braddock
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Copyright July 27, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 27, 2020 5:01 PM
In this op-ed, Texas House Public Education Chairman Dan Huberty takes issue with pushing back in-person instruction for all schools in the state’s most populous county until September
On Friday, Harris County
and City of Houston Health Officials issued an order to effectively shut down
in-person instruction for all schools in Harris County until at least September
7, 2020. The order halts all extracurricular activities, student athletic
training and strength conditioning even though many districts had already
issued safe and responsible guidance and protocols.
I believe the plan is ill
conceived, and misguided. Judge Lina Hidalgo and I spoke for the first
time on Thursday where she led me to believe I was being asked to provide
input. But it became clear during that conversation that she had already made
her decision.
I was notified on Friday
by Judge Hidalgo that she was moving forward with the order. This order goes
against everything Harris County and the City of Houston have fiercely
complained about during this entire pandemic, local control.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Dan Huberty
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Copyright July 27, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 27, 2020 4:57 PM
TSTA President says the decision does not go far enough: “The governor needs to also suspend the A-F school accountability system and the T-TESS teacher appraisal system for the coming school year...And while he is at it, he should just suspend STAAR testing for 2020-21, period."
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Copyright July 27, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 27, 2020 2:36 PM
Gov. Abbott today decided that early voting for the Nov. 3rd election will run from Oct. 13 to the 30th.
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Copyright July 27, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 27, 2020 10:05 AM
“I congratulate Sarah Eckhardt on her performance in the election, and I wish her well," Rep. Rodriguez said. "As Dean of the Travis County delegation, I look forward to working with her to carve a progressive path forward for our shared community.”
Full
statement from Rep. Eddie Rodriguez.
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Copyright July 27, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 26, 2020 1:05 PM
"We are supposed to be governed by our elected officials and not ruled by our elected officials,” Chairman West said
In a pretty
sharp rebuke of Gov. Greg Abbott’s mask mandate and other
restrictions put in place by executive order during the coronavirus pandemic, newly-elected
Republican Party of Texas Chairman Allen West said in a TV
interview aired Sunday morning that "We are supposed to be governed by our
elected officials and not ruled by our elected officials.”
In the interview on NBC5
in Dallas-Fort Worth, Chair West was asked by Dallas Morning News
reporter Gromer Jeffers about the pandemic
response of Gov. Abbott. Chair West replied "I'm
not too much of a fan of executive orders.”
West was quick to clarify
that he understands and agrees that the executive branch needs to be able to
act quickly in response to a crisis. However, West added that Gov. Abbott
should “have to come back to the Legislature
if you want to continue to send out orders, or what have you. It has to be done
by legislative process."
You can check
out the interview here.
By Scott Braddock
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Copyright July 26, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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