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December 18, 2018 7:09 PM
Sen. Schwertner says "The University of Texas has closed their investigation because I did not send the offensive text messages in question”
Public information requests resulted in the University
of Texas at Austin releasing a three-page executive summary of an
outside investigation that concluded the university did not have the findings
to pursue sexual harassment allegations against Sen. Charles Schwertner.
A University of Texas graduate student accused Schwertner
of sending inappropriate texts – and explicit pictures – to pursue a sexual
relationship with her. Schwertner vehemently denied such actions, and his
attorneys said he passed a
lie detector test on the subject. Schwertner’s
lawyers labeled the investigation, first revealed by the Austin American
Statesman, to be “a leak of university officials to the press to damage Sen.
Schwertner in the middle of a political campaign.”
"The University of Texas has closed their
investigation because I did not send the offensive text messages in
question," Schwertner said in a statement released by his attorneys.
"I appreciate the steadfast support of my family, friends, and the voters
who believed in and reelected me just weeks ago," he said. The full statement is
here.
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By Kimberly Reeves
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December 18, 2018 4:15 PM
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Copyright December 18, 2018, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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December 18, 2018 2:25 PM
Amid huge budget needs including school finance and Harvey relief, Abbott pushes taking revenue stream off the table even though it’s nowhere near the table
After
spending the weekend trashing
local governments and perhaps jokingly proposing a wall between New
Mexico and Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott
on Tuesday endorsed a proposal to eliminate the possibility of this state ever
adopting an income tax.
Of
course, the Texas Constitution has since 1993 mandated that enactment of an
income tax would require a vote of the people at the ballot box. “We’ll have casinos
in Baptist churches before we have an income tax in Texas,” the old joke goes.
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By Scott Braddock
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December 17, 2018 5:05 PM
TEC also abandons push to ask lawmakers for authority to issue fines for non-compliance with discovery or subpoenas during an investigation
For
the first time in years, the Texas Ethics Commission will not ask
lawmakers to make changes during the upcoming session to the judicial review
standard for appealing a final order.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By David Saleh Rauf
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December 17, 2018 5:02 PM
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Copyright December 17, 2018, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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December 17, 2018 4:53 PM
Unlike
last year's bitterly fought contest to lead the Mexican American Legislative
Caucus in the Texas House, the board on Monday was
unanimously reelected.
“I
am grateful to my colleagues and look forward to continuing service as Chair of
MALC, the oldest and largest Latino legislative caucus in the United
States," said Chairman Rafael Anchía, D-Dallas. "We will again forcefully
advocate for the best interests of our constituents and our great State,
including preserving the powerful workforce development tool known as the Texas
Dream Act," Anchia said. “I congratulate my fellow MALC Board colleagues
who were re-elected to serve as officers. Our Board represents each corner of
this state, bringing together a diverse talent and skill set that will inform
the important decisions of the House next session," Anchia said.
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December 17, 2018 1:09 PM
As lawsuit winds its way through the courts, Abbott says the state will "get appropriate waivers from federal law allowing insurers to provide coverage at lower rates while ensuring that Texans with pre-existing conditions continue to have access"
Via
reporter Lauren McGaughy
at the Dallas Morning News:
Gov.
Greg Abbott said Texas will work to pass its own health care law to replace the
Affordable Care Act if it's ultimately struck down in the courts.
In
the wake of a Friday ruling that struck down the federal health care law,
Abbott said he will consult with the Trump administration on immediate next
steps while state lawmakers and regulators fashion their own plan to succeed
the ACA.
Full
story
here.
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December 15, 2018 11:00 AM
Lots, and we mean LOTS of staffer moves, exciting appointments, and a notable retirement
First,
some business. The Quorum Report is owned and operated by ruthless capitalists,
after all. For those new and returning members who have asked about logging in
to QR to keep up to date during session, which is coming fast now, here’s what
you need to know. House members should contact the House Business Office to
initiate or renew subscriptions. New and returning members of the Texas
Senate should reach out to Senate Purchasing if not paying from
campaign accounts. If you have any questions at all, please reach out to me and
we’ll get you fixed up.
Now,
a follow up: We asked a couple weeks ago what y’all thought
about the newly-reconfigured Four Seasons bar. Results are in: This
audience is displeased. Our unscientific
Twitter poll showed that 72% of you said "They've
ruined it.” “When this topic comes up, and it does often, I have not had even
one person say they like the new bar,” wrote one reader via email. “They took
away the unique Texas look and left us with a generic hotel bar.” Your thoughts
will be passed along to their management and I guess we’ll see you at the Cloak
Room instead.
But
back to the lecture at hand. Yes, getting a mention in People on the Move can feel
like a shameless plug but that’s why I’m here to do it for you. So, send career
news to ksbraddock@gmail.com and put
POTM in the subject line so you don’t get lost in the shuffle. Thanks so much.
Here’s
this week’s edition:
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By Scott Braddock
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December 15, 2018 10:53 AM
First elected in 1994, Rep. Pickett says "I need to completely heal this time. I am told I am physically strong enough to hopefully make my recovery quicker than most. My body and mind need a break."
Here
is the full statement from Rep. Joe Pickett:
"With
a heavy heart, I am stepping down as a member of the Texas House of Representatives
effective January 4th, 2019. Just before
last session, I learned I had cancer. I moved quickly and sought treatment
which was somewhat successful, but not 100%. I went ahead and struggled through
the 85th Legislative Session after contemplating retirement back during the
early days of that session. With some down time after last session and the
healing power of purpose, I pressed on and ran for re-election. In the last few
weeks, I have learned of additional issues I must address. Some issues relate to the first surgery and
some are unfortunately new ones. I could
probably continue at a reduced work level while undergoing treatment, but I
have been there and done that. I need to completely heal this time. I am told I
am physically strong enough to hopefully make my recovery quicker than most. My
body and mind need a break.”
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December 14, 2018 4:47 PM
Over the last decade, the commission has consistently proposed to increase the per diem, but the Legislature has mostly opposed the hikes
The
Texas
Ethics Commission on Friday approved an increase to the legislative per
diem from $190 to $221, a 16 percent boost that will cost taxpayers an
additional $650,000 through the regular session.
It
marks the second hike to the daily stipend for lawmakers' living expenses since
2015, though this one came without the consent blessing of House and Senate
leadership.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By David Saleh Rauf
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Copyright December 14, 2018, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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December 13, 2018 4:39 PM
A new report out from Texas A&M University
recommends ongoing training and a permanent infrastructure for post-recovery
efforts for events like Hurricane Harvey.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Kimberly Reeves
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Copyright December 13, 2018, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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December 12, 2018 4:28 PM
Capitol pros like Jenn Saenz from Sen. Hinojosa’s office and Will McAdams, who most recently served under Sen. Hancock at B&C
As
he continues to put together his administration-in-waiting, Chairman Dennis Bonnen on Wednesday announced a
full slate of policy experts for the Office of the Speaker.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Scott Braddock
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December 12, 2018 10:34 AM
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Copyright December 12, 2018, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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December 11, 2018 9:51 PM
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Copyright December 11, 2018, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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December 11, 2018 2:45 PM
House members on the commission at odds with TPPF over how to fix school finance, Chair Huberty says he won’t sign on unless new money is added in and Rep. Ken King says the commission may have wasted 11 months of everyone’s time without some changes to the draft
The Commission on Texas Public School Finance
danced around the idea of telling lawmakers to put more money into the school
finance system at this morning’s meeting; ultimately deciding that the amounts
noted in a draft report are advisory at best.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Kimberly Reeves
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Copyright December 11, 2018, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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December 11, 2018 7:52 AM
GALVESTON – The devastation of Hurricane Harvey has put
momentum behind the idea of a $31 billion coastal barrier, but a coalition of
environmental group on Galveston Bay is urging more study before the
implementation the Army Corps of Engineers’ proposed plan.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Kimberly Reeves
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