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July 31, 2020
The Texas Medical Board is aware of sometimes conflicting information being published regarding COVID-19. In the past week there was a widely published claim of a "cure" for COVID-19. As we are all aware the medical community is still learning, researching and gaining understanding of the virus. While there are drugs and therapies being used to treat COVID-19, there is no definitive cure at this time.
From Texas Medical Board
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July 31, 2020
Texas State Teachers Association President Ovidia Molina released the following statement:
“With a pandemic still raging across Texas, the Texas State Teachers Association demands that the state prohibit any school district from beginning classes, in-person or remotely, before Sept. 8.
From Texas State Teachers Association
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July 31, 2020
“Greg Abbott’s reckless decision today to force the opening of schools will lead to more outbreaks and more deaths. Greg Abbott has learned nothing: he is repeating the exact same mistakes he made opening up bars too early. This isn’t a plan, it’s a death sentence.
From Texas Democratic Party
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July 31, 2020
Progress Texas Institute is releasing an analysis of diversity in media sources over the course of the 2020 primary election season, specifically, in regards to the U.S. Senate race.
Texas is one of the most diverse states in America, and when it comes to our politics we often hear about the growing communities of Asian, Black, and Latinx voters.
From Progress Texas
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July 30, 2020
Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX-25) today issued the following statement after the Secretary of the Army announced the five civilian experts leading the independent review of Fort Hood:
“I support the Secretary of the Army’s announcement of an independent review of the climate and culture at Fort Hood.
From Representative Roger Williams
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July 30, 2020
– Attorney General Ken Paxton today issued guidance stating that local officials cannot postpone local elections that were scheduled to be held on May 2, 2020 beyond November 3, 2020. This letter was addressed to Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan. After moving its May 2, 2020 local election to November 3, 2020, as permitted by the governor’s proclamation, the Round Rock City Council is attempting to postpone the election—again—to May 2021.
From Office of the Attorney General
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July 30, 2020
Late last week, children and families seeking asylum were seen through the windows of the Hampton Inn & Suites Hotel in McAllen, Texas calling out for help after being secretly and illegally detained without due process. The families were later moved to an unknown location according to news reports. This operation was enforced in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and contracted entities under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
From Mexican American Legislative Caucus
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July 30, 2020
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement on the passing of Herman Cain:
“Our hearts are heavy as we bid farewell to Herman Cain. I was blessed to call him a friend. In his 74 years on earth, he lived the American dream to the fullest.
From Senator Ted Cruz
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July 30, 2020
Today, State Representative Jeff Leach announced he has received the endorsement and support of the Plano Firefighters Association. Representative Leach, a Plano native, is seeking his fifth term as State Representative for House District 67, which encompasses portions of Plano, Allen, Richardson and Dallas in Collin County.
From Jeff Leach Campaign
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July 30, 2020
In another stinging setback for ExxonMobil Corporation in a long-running environmental enforcement case, the federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected nearly every argument Exxon raised in its appeal of the $19.95 million penalty imposed by a federal trial court judge to punish the company for committing 16,386 days of violation of the federal Clean Air Act at its Baytown, Texas, refinery and chemical plant.
From Environment Texas
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July 30, 2020
TexPIRG is calling on Governor Abbott to hit the reset button on the state’s response to containing the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as cases surge to concerning levels. More than 1,000 health professionals nationwide, including 43 from Texas, have now signed an open letter to America’s decision makers urging them to shut it down, start over, and do it right this time to contain COVID-19 and save lives.
From TexPIRG
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July 30, 2020
Yesterday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that they will ignore a ruling from the highest court of the United States. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program had been restored to its original implementation from 2012 following a federal court order and a United States Supreme Court ruling released earlier this summer, which found that the Department of Justice’s attempt to terminate DACA violated the Administrative Procedure Act.
From Mexican American Legislative Caucus
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July 30, 2020
Yesterday, the Texas Education Agency announced that, consistent with a nonbinding letter recently released by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a blanket order from a local health department closing schools does not constitute a legally issued closure order. Therefore, schools closed by a local health authority and solely providing remote instruction after the allocated transition window would not qualify for funding.
From Texas House Democratic Caucus
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July 30, 2020
The Railroad Commission continues to make positive strides with its Underground Injection Control program, ensuring the protection of underground sources of drinking water and the control of seismic activity, according to a recent report from the Environmental Protection Agency.
From Railroad Commission of Texas
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July 30, 2020
Today Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced the release of two state action plans detailing the distribution and eligible uses of more than $285 million in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assist in long-term recovery efforts following severe flooding in 2018 and 2019 in South Texas and the Lower Rio Grande Valley and Tropical Storm Imelda in Southeast Texas.
From Texas General Land Office
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July 30, 2020
The League of Women Voters of Texas conducted its sixth survey of Texas county websites in July 2020. This review was narrow in scope, focusing the information counties are providing voters regarding the impact of COVID-19 on voting and elections. Thirty counties ranked "Outstanding" in this review. Reviews for each county are available here.
From League of Women Voters of Texas
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July 30, 2020
End Citizens United (ECU) and Let America Vote (LAV) announced today that Fight for Reform, their state level project, is endorsing Dr. Eliz Markowitz for Texas House District 28. This endorsement recognizes Dr. Markowitz’s leadership in the struggle to fix our broken political system.
From Eliz Markowitz Campaign
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July 30, 2020
Today, in response to the Texas Department of State Health Service’s COVID-19 pandemic data, Vance Ginn, of the Texas Public Policy Foundation released a racist statement.
State Senator José Menéndez, Chairman of The Texas Senate Hispanic Caucus issued the following statement:
From Senate Hispanic Caucus
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July 30, 2020
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick issued the following statement today in response to guidance issued by Attorney General Ken Paxton regarding the opening of both public and private schools across Texas:
From Dan Patrick Campaign
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July 28, 2020
Today, Representative Jeff Leach (House District 67) announced another significant endorsement in his campaign for re-election with the backing of the Richardson Police Officers Association.
From Jeff Leach Campaign
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July 28, 2020
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), chairman of the Subcommittee on The Constitution, today introduced the Safeguarding Americans from Coronavirus and Religious Exercise Discrimination (SACRED) Act, legislation that would block federal funding for COVID relief to state and local governments that discriminate against religious individuals or institutions, violating their First Amendment rights.
From Senator Ted Cruz
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July 28, 2020
Senator Bettencourt (R-Houston) lauded the decision by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-Texas) to make clear that local health departments do not have the authority to preemptively shut down Texas schools. Currently roughly 3.2 million of the 5.5 million students in Texas live in seventeen counties where local health departments have ordered schools to be preemptively closed.
From Senator Paul Bettencourt
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July 28, 2020
Texas State Teachers Association President Ovidia Molina released the following statement:
Attorney General Ken Paxton has concluded that local health officials lack the authority to order school buildings closed as a precautionary safety measure to protect students, educators and local communities in the midst of a deadly pandemic that threatens to continue raging across Texas for weeks to come.
From Texas State Teachers Association
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July 28, 2020
Progress Texas Institute releases our latest media diversity report today focusing on coverage of the Texas U.S. Senate primary race.
From Progress Texas
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July 28, 2020
After hundreds of video conference calls, phone conversations, and socially-distanced meetings with Texans over the past few months, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following information about the new COVID-19 relief bill – the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection, and Schools (HEALS) Act – announced by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
From Senator John Cornyn
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July 28, 2020
The Texas Faculty Association today urged Gov. Greg Abbott to instruct the governing boards of all state-supported universities to delay opening campuses to in-person instruction, labs and other student activities until at least Sept. 8. The association also called on community colleges and private universities in Texas to delay opening their campuses until the same date.
From Texas Faculty Association
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July 28, 2020
Progress Texas releases the following statement on the five year anniversary since Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s federal indictment on felony securities fraud charges on July 28, 2015.
From Progress Texas
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July 28, 2020
Gov. Greg Abbott has extended in-person early voting for this fall’s presidential election by one week, starting on Tuesday, October 13. During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, large public gatherings, like those often seen at polling places, create opportunities for the virus to spread.
From TexPIRG
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July 28, 2020
Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the grade promotion requirement related to the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test for students in grades 5 and 8 has been waived for the upcoming school year.
From Senator Peter P. Flores
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July 28, 2020
The Texas Public Power Association (TPPA) announced the election of new officers to lead the organization in the year ahead and presented public service and industry excellence awards at its Annual Business and Membership Meeting today. The state trade Association – the voice of public power across Texas – has a membership composed of municipally-owned electric utilities, electric cooperatives, river authorities and joint action agencies responsible for the generation and delivery of electricity to more than 5 million Texans.
From Texas Public Power Association
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July 27, 2020
Texas State Teachers Association President Ovidia released the following statement:
“We are glad the governor suspended the promotion requirements for fifth and eighth graders that are tied to STAAR scores for the upcoming school year, but he didn’t go far enough.
From Texas State Teachers Association
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July 27, 2020
The Texas Classroom Teachers Association appreciates Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement today that the use of STAAR testing in grade promotion requirements will be suspended for the 2020-21 school year. It is clear that this unusual year will not provide results that can be compared to other years, and it is appropriate to remove the significant consequences associated with the tests.
From Texas Classroom Teachers Association
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July 27, 2020
The Tony Gonzales for Congress campaign announced today that the final canvass has been completed by all 29 counties in congressional district 23 and it confirmed that Tony Gonzales won the Republican primary runoff. The final margin is 46 votes (12,342 – 12,296) out of 24,638 cast.
From Tony Gonzales Campaign
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July 27, 2020
Beginning Monday, July 27, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will electronically post to its website COVID-19 case counts and deaths by facility name for state supported living centers, state hospitals, and state-licensed nursing and assisted living facilities.
From Texas Health and Human Services Commission
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July 27, 2020
Governor Abbott released a proclamation today allowing for six additional days of early voting. After a runoff election with identical measures of expanding the number of days of early voting, Common Cause's election protection efforts still saw major issues that we anticipate in greater numbers for the fall.
From Common Cause Texas
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July 27, 2020
Today Commissioner George P. Bush announced the results of a survey conducted by the Texas General Land Office (GLO) to gather input from local officials, councils of government and river authorities for its Disaster Recovery Planning Studies Survey for Mitigation Funding.
From Texas General Land Office
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July 27, 2020
The Tony Gonzales for Congress campaign released a statement announcing support for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021:
"This district has large active duty and retired military populations and serving them is one of the most important responsibilities that this district’s member of Congress has.
From Tony Gonzales Campaign
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July 27, 2020
Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy issued the following statement on the conclusion of the Senate District 14 special election.
"The labor movement owes a debt of gratitude to Representative Eddie Rodriguez and Senator-elect Sarah Eckhardt for the ways in which they each elevated the voices of working families in the special election for Senate District 14.
From Texas AFL-CIO
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July 27, 2020
Travis County GOP chairman Matt Mackowiak released a statement today on the House District 47 primary runoff:
“On Thursday, the Travis County Republican Party completed the canvass for the Republican Primary runoff. We certified that Justin Berry defeated Jennifer Fleck 6,418-5,319, a margin of more than 1,000 votes out of fewer than 12,000 votes cast.
From Travis County Republican Party
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July 27, 2020
Today, the Texas Democratic Party, Powered By People, and the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats announced our joint Black Voter Outreach Program aimed to reach out and contact every Black voter in Texas by Mid-August.
From Texas Democratic Party
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July 27, 2020
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after his legislation to authorize the Smithsonian Institution to create a museum honoring American Latinos, the National Museum of the American Latino Act, passed the House:
“Close to 40 percent of all Texans identify as Hispanic, and their history is an integral part of Texas history that must be recognized and remembered,” said Sen. Cornyn.
From Senator John Cornyn
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July 27, 2020
From Texas Legislative Black Caucus
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July 27, 2020
?Attorney General?Ken?Paxton, in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Northern, Southern, Western, and Eastern Districts of Texas, today informed the public about several fraudulent schemes involving masks, personal protection equipment (PPE), and other COVID-19 related equipment.
From Office of the Attorney General
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July 27, 2020
A virtual Town Hall meeting set for July 30th at 7 p.m. will be led by State Representative Carl Sherman (District 109) on the topic of “last responders” during the COVID-19 pandemic. A last responder is the funeral home individual or entity who is charged with the handling of a person who has passed.
From Representative Carl Sherman
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July 27, 2020
State Representative Carl Sherman (District 109) wrote in a letter today to Texas Governor Greg Abbott of his concerns regarding refugee resettlement in the State of Texas.
Rep Sherman implored the governor to reconsider the decision he made earlier this year to cease the acceptance of new refugees to the state.
From Representative Carl Sherman
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July 27, 2020
U.S. Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36) released the following statement in support of the State Department’s decision to force China to close its Houston consulate.
“Donald Trump has taken more actions to hold China accountable than any other President in our history,” said Rep. Babin.
From Representative Brian Babin
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July 27, 2020
The Texas Tech University System Board of Regents announced today that Lieutenant General Ronnie D. Hawkins, Jr., (ret.) is the sole finalist for the presidency of Angelo State University (ASU).
"I would like to extend my congratulations to Lt. General Ronnie Hawkins on being named the sole finalist to serve as president of ASU by the Texas Tech System Board of Regents.
From Representative Drew Darby
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July 24, 2020
Annie’s List, the statewide political organization that works to elect pro-choice, progressive women to office in Texas, proudly announces nine Texas House endorsements in advance of the November 3 general election.
From Annie’s List
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July 24, 2020
State Representative Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin) released a video today encouraging Texans to participate in the ongoing United States Census. The Census, which is required by Article I, Section II of the United States Constitution has taken place once per decade for over 200 years.
From Trent Ashby Campaign
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July 23, 2020
Today, the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021. You can read the legislation here, and below is a summary of its impact on Texas:
• Raises troops’ pay by 3%.
From Senator John Cornyn
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July 23, 2020
Today, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved a request from the City of Corpus Christi (City) for $222,475,000 in multi-year financing from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for a desalination plant in the Port of Corpus Christi's Inner Harbor Ship Channel near Port Aransas.
From Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa
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July 23, 2020
The Harris County Commissioners Court has created an independent, non-partisan office to oversee elections for Harris County. State Representative Garnet F. Coleman has the following statement:
“I applaud the move from the Harris County Commissioners Court to create an independent, non-partisan Elections Administrator.
From Representative Garnet Coleman
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July 23, 2020
Today, state Representative Chris Turner, Vice Chair of the House Committee on Redistricting, wrote Attorney General Ken Paxton and urged him to take legal action against the Trump Administration to protect Texas’ interests with regard to the census and congressional apportionment.
From Representative Chris Turner
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July 23, 2020
Texas families still have an opportunity to apply for Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) food assistance benefits. Eligible families are able to receive a one-time payment of $285 in food assistance benefits per eligible child.
From Senator Jose Rodriguez
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July 23, 2020
Today, State Representative Jeff Leach (House District 67) announced that he has been endorsed for re-election by Allen Mayor Debbie Stout, Allen Mayor Pro Tem Gary Caplinger, and Allen City Councilmembers Kurt Kizer, Baine Brooks, Carl Clemencich and Chris Schulmeister.
From Jeff Leach Campaign
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July 23, 2020
We are just less than a month away from the fall semester of school starting at Fort Bend ISD and other local districts. Online student instruction will begin on August 17, 2020. TEA is then requiring schools to have a phase in transition to full in-class student instruction.
From Ron Reynolds Campaign
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July 23, 2020
More than 51 million unemployment claims have been filed since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Families are hurting. Now, more than ever, Congress should be focused on getting our economy back on its feet and helping the American people safely return to work.
From Senator Ted Cruz
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July 23, 2020
“In Texas, we've recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday for forty years -- forty years -- obviously because of the fact that this occurred as a result of the Emancipation Proclamation being announced in Galveston, Texas.”
From Senator John Cornyn
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July 22, 2020
In April, Governor Greg Abbott set up a “Strike Force to Open Texas.” In that “Strike Force” is a “Special Advisory Council” composed of “some of the most prominent and politically powerful business executives in the state” and devoid of the voices of local leaders.
From Texas Democratic Party
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July 22, 2020
Last week, Dr. Eliz Markowitz hosted a live town hall with the American Federation of Teachers with panelists Glenda Mcal, President of Fort Bend AFT, Oneida Gage, Roxanne Garcia & Xavier Herrera, Stafford School Board Trustee.
From Eliz Markowitz Campaign
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July 22, 2020
The Texas State Teachers Association today sued state Education Commissioner Mike Morath for adopting charter school partnership rules that illegally deprive public school teachers of contractual and other employment rights and allow corporate charter chains to operate in Texas without certified teachers.
From Texas State Teachers Association
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July 22, 2020
Amid uncontrolled spread of the novel coronavirus in Texas, TexPIRG and top health experts delivered a letter Wednesday to Governor Abbott, calling on him to shut back down, start over with new policies to thwart COVID-19 and do it right.
From TexPIRG
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July 22, 2020
Progress Texas joins calls for Texas Supreme Court Justice Paul Green to step down before Aug. 24th to ensure Texans have the opportunity to vote for their replacement with a special election. If he follows through with his plans to retire on Aug. 31st, Gov. Greg Abbott will choose his successor, who will serve until 2022.
From Progress Texas
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July 22, 2020
The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) this week passed Railroad Commission Chairman Wayne Christian's (R - Texas) resolution urging the federal government to investigate excessive dumping of crude oil by Saudi Arabia and Russia and take appropriate action.
From Railroad Commission of Texas
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July 22, 2020
The Tony Gonzales for Congress campaign released a statement on the latest developments in the CD-23 Republican Primary Runoff:
"Tony's margin of victory has increased now that most counties, including all of the largest counties in the district, have updated their results to reflect all votes legally cast,” said Gonzales campaign spokesman Matt Mackowiak.
From Tony Gonzales Campaign
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July 21, 2020
Today, Representative César Blanco announced his intentions to refiling two pieces of legislation he previously filed to address sexual assaults in the Texas military forces. Rep. Blanco's previous bills, H.B. 3039 (85R) and H.B. 4256 (85R), which aimed to protect victims and witnesses of sexual assault in the Texas military from retaliation and punishment for reporting incidences of sexual assault, and ensure state courts retained jurisdiction over criminal sexual assaults committed in the Texas military.
From Representative Cesar Blanco
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July 21, 2020
– State Senator José Rodríguez released the following statement regarding President Trump’s executive order regarding the U.S. Census announced today:
The President is flailing about trying to distract attention from his disastrous lack of basic competence.
From Senator Jose Rodriguez
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July 21, 2020
Today, President Donald Trump signed a memorandum to intentionally exclude members of our communities from being counted in the 2020 Census. This action counters the constitutional mandate that requires the “whole number of persons in each state” to be counted in the decennial census under the 14th Amendment.
From Mexican American Legislative Caucus
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July 21, 2020
Based on the results released last night by the Travis County Clerk’s Office,
Sarah Eckhardt, Democratic candidate for Senate District 14, increased her Election Day lead. In a six-way race, Eckhardt garnered 60,480 votes or 49.75% of the total votes cast. Her closest competitor, State Representative Eddie Rodriguez, was only able to garner 41,151votes or 33.85% of the votes cast. It is now up to Governor Greg Abbott to set the runoff for the Special Election.
From Sarah Eckhardt Campaign
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July 21, 2020
Progress Texas releases polling results on policing today as cities across Texas begin taking up annual budgets, including Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, and San Antonio.
In the immediate aftermath of the George Floyd protests, the organization commissioned a poll to ask Texans how they felt about policing in our state. The results make one thing clear: voters are ready for their local leaders to enact change.
From Progress Texas
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July 21, 2020
Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy and Secretary-Treasurer Montserrat Garibay today issued this comment on President Trump's memo purporting to remove undocumented immigrants from the U.S. Census count:
"In a bald quest for political gain with the dwindling number of Americans who support him, a self-obsessed, thuggish, ignorant President of the United States has issued an invalid directive calling for the exclusion of undocumented persons from the U.S. Census.
From Texas AFL-CIO
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July 21, 2020
Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) and Senator Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) are saying NO to a 2nd lockdown of the Texas economy based upon updated TMC hospitalization trends in the Houston area since July 1st. The Texas Medical Center 'Daily New COVID-19 Hospitalizations' graph data below on the right, and a Senate District 7 derivative chart of it on the left, clearly shows that new hospitalization rates in the Texas Medical Center peaked around July 5th, have come down, and have been at the same level for July 18th, 19th and 20th.
From Senator Paul Bettencourt
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July 21, 2020
State Representative Jeff Leach (HD67) announced today that he has received the endorsement and support of the Plano Police Association, representing over 75% of the Plano Police Department’s approximately 340 sworn officers and members.
From Jeff Leach Campaign
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July 20, 2020
Today, Comptroller Glenn Hegar released an updated Certification Revenue Estimate (CRE)
for the 2020-2021 biennium. The 2021 fiscal year ending balance is now projected to be at $110.19 billion,
down by $11.57 billion compared to the October 2019 CRE. The reduction is mitigated to $7.47 billion as a
result of $4.1 billion in lowered costs for the Foundation School Program, bringing the overall deficit for
the current biennium to $4.58 billion.
From Representative Donna Howard
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July 20, 2020
Today on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed the importance of the feedback he received from Texans during the State Work Period as he returns to the Senate to push for the next coronavirus relief legislation.
From Senator John Cornyn
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July 20, 2020
Texas State Senator Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, today participated in a Legislative Budget Board meeting during which the Comptroller of Public Accounts provided an economic and revised revenue update indicating a $4.58 billion shortfall in the current 2020-21 biennium.
From Senator Jane Nelson
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July 20, 2020
Today, members of the House and Senate Committees on Administration, issued a joint letter to their respective Chairmen calling for the removal of Confederate monuments on the Capitol grounds. In addition, the members call for the renaming of the John H. Reagan State Office Building.
From Mexican American Legislative Caucus
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July 20, 2020
The Texas Faculty Association today called on Gov. Greg Abbott to keep his mandatory statewide mask order in effect for the fall semester and order all colleges and universities in Texas to enforce it for students, faculty, staff and visitors when campuses reopen.
From Texas Faculty Association
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July 20, 2020
This morning, members of the House Committee on Administration and the Senate
Committee on Administration issued a joint letter calling for the immediate removal of several
Confederate memorials located on the Capitol Grounds. In addition, the members call for the
renaming of the John H. Reagan State Office Building
From Representative Rafael Anchia
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July 20, 2020
Today, amidst one of the most poorly run conventions in American history, Texas Republicans elected right wing shock jock, former Florida Congressman Allen West as Texas Republican Party Chair, ousting incumbent Chair James Dickey.
From Texas Democratic Party
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July 20, 2020
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick delivered a video message to the 2020 Republican Party of Texas virtual State Convention today. You can watch it here.
From Dan Patrick Campaign
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July 20, 2020
Jeff Whitfield, the Democratic nominee for Texas State House District 92, raised over $200,000 since February 23, outraising his opponent more than 2-to-1 and maintaining a war chest of just over $187,000 -- nearly four times that of his opponent. Mary Alice Blackstock, Whitfield’s campaign manager, released the following statement regarding the recent campaign finance filing:
From Jeff Whitfield Campaign
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July 20, 2020
Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa, Vice Chair Carla Brailey, Finance Chair Chris Hollins, Treasurer Mike Floyd, and Secretary Lee Forbes issued the following statement:
“Yesterday, the world lost two of its greatest giants, John Lewis and CT Vivian. John Lewis was everything that is good about this country and everything that we, as Texas Democrats, strive to be.
From Texas Democratic Party
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July 20, 2020
Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) issued the following statement on the passing of Congressman John Lewis:
“Today, I join Americans across the country in mourning the death and celebrating the life of Congressman John Lewis, one of the most courageous and committed citizens our country has ever known.
From Representative Lizzie Fletcher
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July 20, 2020
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) issued the following statement after the passing of U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA):
“John Lewis has left an indelible mark on the hearts of not only those in his home state of Georgia, but all over our nation and across the world.
From Senator John Cornyn
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July 20, 2020
“Heidi and I join men and women across the globe in grieving the loss of the great John Lewis. In my first year in the Senate, I had the privilege of traveling with John and much of the Congressional Black Caucus to Nelson Mandela’s funeral in Johannesburg.
From Senator Ted Cruz
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July 20, 2020
Today, San Antonio native and Iraq War veteran Gina Ortiz Jones, the Democratic nominee in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District issued the following statement on the passing of Rep. John Lewis:
“I am heartbroken by tonight’s news. Our country has lost a leader, a Civil Rights hero, and a relentless champion for justice who changed our nation for the better.
From Gina Ortiz Jones Campaign
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July 20, 2020
“After proving that they couldn’t handle a virtual convention, Texas Republicans are now willing to risk the lives of millions of Texans because they are too technologically inept to continue in a safe and distant manner.
From Texas Democratic Party
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July 20, 2020
The Texas Education Agency just released updated guidance for returning to schools in the fall. The new plan allows individual school systems to limit on-campus instruction for up to the first eight weeks of school. These changes override the TEA’s original guidelines that would require all schools to return to in-person instruction in order to receive funding.
From Texas House Democratic Caucus
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July 17, 2020
Vianovo, a leading strategy consultancy at the intersection of business, policy and politics, today announced that Reeves Strategy Group will join its ranks, bolstering the firm’s capabilities and presence in Texas and across the U.S. and Mexico.
From Vianova
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July 17, 2020
The Texas Classroom Teachers Association appreciates the enhanced flexibility provided in the new state guidance released today by the Texas Education Agency. The guidance allows districts additional time to offer remote-only instruction in certain circumstances. However, we have ongoing concerns that state mandates may not allow districts to take the actions they feel necessary to protect their students and employees throughout the school year.
From Texas Classroom Teachers Association
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July 17, 2020
Today, following the announcement by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to provide school districts with greater flexibility for reopening during the 2020-2021 school year, Representative Leach issued the following statement:
From Representative Jeff Leach
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July 17, 2020
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has made two additional arrests in connection with rioting, vandalism and an assault that occurred during protests near the Texas State Capitol back in May.
From Texas DPS
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July 17, 2020
Texas State Teachers Association President Ovidia Molina released the following statement on TEA’s new school opening guidelines:
“The state education commissioner has given school districts additional time to reopen school buildings without a financial penalty, but irrelevant deadlines are not what educators and students need.
From Texas State Teachers Association
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July 17, 2020
Today, San Antonio native and Iraq War veteran Gina Ortiz Jones, the Democratic nominee in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District issued the following statement on the development of a wind farm tied to the Chinese government near Laughlin Air Force Base in Val Verde County:
From Gina Ortiz Jones Campaign
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July 17, 2020
Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan is continuing his court battle to protect local residents from polluters, responding to Attorney General Ken Paxton’s legal effort seeking to prevent the County Attorney’s Office from suing companies that harm the environment.
From Harris County Attorney
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July 17, 2020
Today, after making their delegates wait 8 hours and not even getting through the credentialing process, the Texas Republican Party shut down their online convention after never really getting started due to “technical difficulties.”
From Texas Democratic Party
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July 16, 2020
Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) is strongly pushing back on the continued claims from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo (D-Harris County) that we need to enact another shutdown, via stay at home order, to fight the coronavirus in Texas.
From Senator Paul Bettencourt
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July 16, 2020
On Wednesday, San Antonio native and Iraq War veteran Gina Ortiz Jones hosted a virtual town hall on closing the digital divide, a challenge that is more important than ever due to COVID-19. 1 in 5 households in San Antonio and El Paso, and 1 and 3 households in rural Texas, lack the at-home Internet connection they need to attend online classes, work from home, access telehealth, and more.
From Gina Ortiz Jones Campaign
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July 16, 2020
Today, as the Texas Republican Convention continues with its technical mishaps and Republican infighting, Texas Democrats are announcing the endorsement of James Dickey for re-election as the Republican Party of Texas chair.
From Texas Democratic Party
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July 16, 2020
Working with a bipartisan coalition, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) secured authorization for the Houston Ship Channel Expansion Channel Improvement Project in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee today.
From Representative Lizzie Fletcher
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July 16, 2020
Today, Sharon Hirsch reported a formidable $218,639 raised for the most recent reporting period, with $171,691 cash on hand. In her bid to unseat ultra-conservative, three-term incumbent Matt Shaheen in Texas House District 66, the campaign received support from over 1,080 individual contributors, reflecting the campaign's broad, grassroots support. The campaign has raised $291,897 for the 2020 cycle.
From Sharon Hirsch Campaign
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July 15, 2020
The campaign of Janet Dudding for Texas House District 14 announced today that it raised a record amount in the June 30th reporting period. The campaign raised $30,064.92 in political contributions, which is the most any Democratic candidate for HD-14 has ever raised in a single reporting period.
From Janet Dudding Campaign
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July 15, 2020
The Tony Gonzales for Congress campaign has hired respected attorneys Chris Gober and J.D. Pauerstein to lead its team as the Republican Primary Runoff's final results are tallied. Currently, Tony Gonzales maintains a 7 vote margin over Raul Reyes with 100% of precincts reporting.
From Tony Gonzales Campaign
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July 15, 2020
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick issued this statement today congratulating Senator Eddie Lucio on his Democrat Party Run-Off Victory last night:
“Senator Eddie Lucio has stood up for his faith and his principles during his entire career in public service. During his re-election campaign, many of his fellow Democrats repeatedly ridiculed him for his belief in God, his courageous stands to protect life and his commitment to the traditional values of his community.
From Dan Patrick Campaign
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July 15, 2020
Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) is strongly pushing back on the continued claims from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo (D-Harris County) that we need to enact another shutdown to fight the coronavirus in Texas. Senator Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) is also speaking out on this issue.
From Senator Paul Bettencourt
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July 15, 2020
Annie’s List, the statewide political organization that works to elect pro-choice, progressive women to office in Texas, releases the following statement by Royce Brooks, Executive Director, in response to the results of the July 14 runoffs and special election.
From Annie’s List
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July 15, 2020
Texas State Teachers Association President Ovidia Molina issued the following statement today:
“We are glad to hear that the state won’t overturn local health officials who have ordered school buildings to remain closed for several more weeks while the pandemic continues to rage across Texas.
From Texas State Teachers Association
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July 15, 2020
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC (TLRPAC) today endorsed Rep. John Raney for reelection in House District 14, which covers part of Brazos County.
“TLRPAC supports candidates who understand what it takes to keep Texas’ economy strong and the need for a fair and efficient legal system in our state,” TLRPAC Chairman Richard J. Trabulsi Jr. said.
From Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
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July 15, 2020
The Texas AFL-CIO today congratulated M.J. Hegar on winning the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat, calling on Texans to vote on Nov. 3 for a new national path on issues that matter to working families.
From Texas AFL-CIO
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July 15, 2020
In order to best represent our constituents and all Texans across the state, on July 7, 2020 we conducted a Google Survey created to gather data on the concerns that our educators and parents face amidst the reopening of schools. We received an overwhelming response of 15,380 Texans who completed the survey.
From Senator Jose Menendez
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July 15, 2020
The results of the state legislative runoffs are in and a clear picture has emerged: Republicans are running the most extreme slate of candidates Texas has ever seen. Despite GOP infighting over which radical conservatives to support in the primary, the winners are right-wing ideologues, some of whom have dismissed concerns about the coronavirus, voted against expanding health care, and pushed conspiracy theories about everything from vaccinations to cell phone technology.
From Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee
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July 15, 2020
Kathy Green, an accomplished leader with extensive public policy, nonprofit, and media experience in Texas, has been named the new Manager of Outreach & Advocacy for AARP Texas.
From AARP
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July 15, 2020
The Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee congratulates the winners of the primary runoff elections for State House. Democratic nominees were chosen in seven runoff races, including three Republican-held seats that Democrats are poised to flip in November.
From Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee
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July 15, 2020
Progress Texas releases the following statement congratulating U.S. Senate candidate MJ Hegar for winning the Democratic nomination, and urges progressive Texans to turn out to vote in November to defeat John Cornyn.
From Progress Texas
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July 15, 2020
Progress Texas releases the following statement on the strong Democratic turnout during the Texas primary runoff election.
“Texas progressives are building a movement, and are voting for a future where all people are able to thrive,” said Tara Pohlmeyer, communications director at Progress Texas.
From Progress Texas
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July 15, 2020
Yesterday, in the middle of a pandemic, Texas Democrats broke the record for highest turnout in a runoff election in Texas Democratic history with a staggering 955,735 number of votes cast with 100% of the precincts reporting.
From Texas Democratic Party
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July 15, 2020
– Progress Texas releases the following statement thanking trial lawyer and human rights advocate Sara Stapleton-Barrera for her competitive campaign for State Senate District 27.
“It’s no accident that this campaign against an almost 30-year incumbent and career politician was so close.
From Progress Texas
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July 15, 2020
State Representative Philip Cortez is requesting more transparency from the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice following a recent surge in positive cases of COVID-19 at the Dominguez
State Jail outside San Antonio.
From Representative Philip Cortez
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July 15, 2020
President Ovidia Molina and Vice President Linda Estrada took office today as the Texas State Teachers Association’s new top leaders, vowing to guide TSTA members safely through the biggest challenges of their educational careers – the COVID-19 pandemic and a reconfiguration of the public school system.
From Texas State Teachers Association
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July 15, 2020
Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) raised more than $1 million in the second quarter of 2020, bringing her re-election campaign committee account to more than $3.45 million cash on hand. She also raised more than $75,000 into the Lizzie Fletcher Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee with the Texas Democratic Party, which has $300,000 cash on hand.
From Lizzie Pannill Fletcher Campaign
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July 15, 2020
The Tony Gonzales for Congress campaign released a statement from the candidate after the election results were released:
“With 100% reporting, the Secretary of State’s office is showing that we won the primary runoff by seven votes. We will be working to protect the integrity of every legal vote until the canvas is complete over the next week.
From Tony Gonzales Campaign
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July 15, 2020
Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller has the following statement on Lani Popp’s victory on Tuesday for the Republican nomination for Texas State Board of Education District 5:
“Let’s be honest that Lani Popp’s victory over her shockingly vulgar, sexist and bigoted opponent saved the state from even bigger embarrassment, but not by a lot.
From Texas Freedom Network
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July 15, 2020
Five Republican candidates won their primary runoff elections tonight and will be added to the general election ballot in Harris County on November 3, 2020, including Troy Nehls in Texas's 22nd Congressional District, Wendell Champion in Texas's 18th Congressional District, Terry Adams for 1st Court of Appeals, Place 5, Joe Danna for Harris County Sheriff, and Russ Ridgeway for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5, Place 1.
From Harris County Republican Party
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July 15, 2020
The Tesla tax subsidy approved by Travis County Commissioners Court today included some baseline assurances that CTI called for such as $15/minimum wage for full time employees with benefits, and extended the $15/hr for contract food and custodial workers. It also added some incremental concessions around workers safety.
From Central Texas Interfaith
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July 15, 2020
Tonight, the Texas Nurse Practitioners Political Action Committee (PAC) applauded the election of Shelby Slawson for House District 59. The nonpartisan Texas Nurse Practitioners PAC is the political arm of Texas Nurse Practitioners, the largest state association of nurse practitioners in the United States.
From Texas Nurse Practitioners PAC
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July 15, 2020
Harris County Republican Party Chairman Paul Simpson released the following statement today regarding the results of the TX-10 Democratic Primary Runoff Election:
"Radical Mike Siegel is far too extreme for the voters of Texas’s 10th Congressional District," said Chairman Simpson.
From Harris County Republican Party
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July 15, 2020
Following the Travis County Commissioners Court passage of an incentive package to bring a Tesla manufacturing plant to the Austin area, a coalition of labor and environmental groups issued this statement:
“After hundreds of letters, phone calls and testimonies from the community, Travis County fell short of a deal that would guarantee good, safe jobs for thousands of workers.
From Austin Interfaith
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July 15, 2020
Progress Texas releases the following statement congratulating Texas Railroad Commission candidate Chrysta Castañeda on her Democratic primary runoff win.
“Virtually every notch on Castañeda’s belt has prepared her for this position. She’s an environmentalist, engineer, and energy attorney, who also has industry expertise,” said Ed Espinoza, executive director of Progress Texas.
From Progress Texas
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July 15, 2020
Polls will be closing soon in Texas for the primary runoff elections. As always, Common Cause Texas has been monitoring for problems, assisting voters and identifying systemic issues that need to be addressed by state leaders.
From Common Cause Texas
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July 14, 2020
– On July 9, 2020, the El Paso City-County Health Authority issued an order
postponing on campus or in-person instruction for pre-kindergarten through grade 12 until after
September 7, 2020 in response to the rapidly increasing rates of community spread and
hospitalizations in the region.
From Representative Mary E. Gonzalez
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July 14, 2020
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick will report raising $2,624,150 million on his July 15, 2020 Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) report. This brings his campaign war chest total to $15,458,849, once again breaking the record of any Lt. Governor in Texas history.
From Dan Patrick Campaign
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July 14, 2020
?Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a letter brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit addressing the impact of a recent decision from the United States Supreme Court that held unconstitutional a Louisiana law requiring abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. The Fifth Circuit is currently considering a challenge to a Texas law requiring the humane treatment of fetal remains through interment or scattering of ashes. Abortion providers sued the State, seeking an injunction that permits them to treat the remains of unborn children as medical waste that is incinerated and placed in a landfill.
From Office of the Attorney General
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July 14, 2020
With its third Weekly Trends & Risk Assessment Report showing Texas is currently facing an uncontrollable spread of the novel coronavirus, TexPIRG is calling for an immediate shutdown of all nonessential businesses and a return to stay-at-home mandates.
From TexPIRG
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July 14, 2020
A new report from Families USA shows the devastating effects the pandemic has had on Texas’ already abysmal uninsured rate. State Representative and Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus Chris Turner released the following statement in response:
“This report, which shows a staggering 29% of Texans under 65 now lack health insurance, is a damning indictment of repeated failures by Republican leaders.
From Texas House Democratic Caucus
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July 14, 2020
Today, San Antonio native and Iraq War veteran Gina Ortiz Jones, the Democratic nominee in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, issued the following statement on the record-breaking 5.4 million Americans – including nearly 700,000 Texans – who have lost their health care as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study from the nonpartisan group Families USA:
From Gina Ortiz Jones Campaign
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July 14, 2020
Today, the Texas Republican Party finally signalled they were moving their convention online, after threatening to expose Texans to coronavirus and losing a battle in court.
From Texas Democratic Party
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July 14, 2020
The Texas Classroom Teachers Association once again urges that public health considerations be first and foremost in any decisions made regarding the reopening of schools in the coming weeks.
From Texas Classroom Teachers Association
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July 14, 2020
On June 18, Governor Greg Abbott announced students will be returning to classes this fall. With that in mind, the Texas Nurses Association, the Texas School Nurses Organization and Representative Donna Howard would like to take this opportunity to remind local school districts of the importance of including school nurses in the planning that needs to take place between now and the beginning of the semester.
From Texas Nurses Association
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July 14, 2020
– In a show of remembrance, State Representative Carl Sherman (District 109) released a statement today that he supports the renaming of Lamar Street in Dallas to Botham Jean Blvd.
“After almost two years since the death of Botham Jean, the renaming of Lamar St. is still in progress,” Rep Sherman said.
From Representative Carl Sherman
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July 14, 2020
State Representative Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) submitted a letter to Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath on Monday calling for a suspension of STAAR testing during the 2020-2021 school year.
From Representative Brooks Landgraf
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July 14, 2020
– Communities across the country are preparing to set out into new territory for the
presidential election in November. Not only has the COVID-19 crisis raised many questions about how voters can
(and can’t) cast their ballots; it has also brought into sharp focus many systemic problems that Americans are
planning to weigh in on with their vote
From REV UP Texas
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July 14, 2020
State Representative Carl Sherman (District 109) said today of the passing of Reginald Moore “He was a selfless man who campaigned for those who never had a voice in their lifetimes and could not speak for justice.”
From Representative Carl Sherman
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July 14, 2020
- State Representative Donna Howard (D - HD 48) expresses strong disagreement
with Governor Greg Abbott and his Republican-led working group’s joint decision to supplant
school districts’ state funding with federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief
Fund (ESSER) dollars.
From Representative Donna Howard
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July 14, 2020
For the sake of student and educator health, the Pflugerville Educators Association and the Del Valle Education Association today demanded that their school districts provide only remote instruction for the first nine weeks of the new school year and that the state not penalize the districts with funding cuts.
From Texas State Teachers Association
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July 14, 2020
Today, Senator Juan "Chuy" sent a letter to Governor Greg Abbott requesting an order for flags in the Rio Grande Valley to be flown at half-staff in honor of the life and public service of City of McAllen police officers Edelmiro Garza and Ismael Chavez, who were shot and killed in the line of duty on July 11, 2020.
From Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa
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July 14, 2020
?Attorney General Ken Paxton gave this statement on tonight’s tragic shooting in McAllen, Texas:
“The hearts of every Texan are broken tonight as two of our finest in the City of McAllen Police Department have paid the ultimate sacrifice. We are praying for our frontline heroes in McAllen and around the state. This office stands ready to assist however we can.”
From Office of the Attorney General
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July 10, 2020
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), along with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Congressmen Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Filemon Vela (TX-34), and Henry Cuellar (TX-28), today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar requesting that the federal government provide additional federal resources, including a new field hospital, to help respond to the surge of coronavirus cases in the Rio Grande Valley.
From Senator John Cornyn
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July 10, 2020
The labor movement in Texas is saddened by the death of John Bland, whose history-making civil rights and labor activism helped integrate Houston and bring hard-working families into the middle class.
Bland was among 13 Texas Southern University students who led Houston's first civil rights sit-in against segregation.
From Texas AFL-CIO
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July 10, 2020
Tuesday is Election Day in Texas for primary runoff elections and a state senate special election.
In March, Texas held its primary elections before the pandemic had truly hit and even then there were a number of serious issues including multi-hour lines at poll sites all over the state.
From Common Cause Texas
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July 10, 2020
Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston) and a majority of House Democrats this week sent a letter to Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, asking for the courts to again order a temporary halt on evictions and foreclosures. This is the third time Rep. Wu has authored this request to the Court since COVID-19 crippled Texas' economy.
From Representative Gene Wu
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July 10, 2020
Representative Ed Thompson has formally nominated Kaitlyn Frazier for the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program. This scholarship program benefits students who have been nominated by the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, a State Senator, or a State Representative and who intend to participate in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs while attending a Texas college.
From Representative Ed Thompson
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July 10, 2020
Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) has been awarded the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This recognition honors the members of Congress who support “pro-business legislation, bipartisan leadership, and constructive governing.”
From Representative Lizzie Fletcher
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July 10, 2020
Ochiltree County Sheriff, Terry Bouchard, today joined a growing list of local Republicans who have endorsed Josh Winegarner.
Winegarner is seeking the 13th Congressional District seat currently held by Mac Thornberry, who will retire at the end of this term.
From Josh Winegarner Campaign
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July 9, 2020
State Senator José Rodríguez released the following statement regarding the start of the 20-21 school year:
Earlier this week, the president said he would use every means possible to force schools to re-open, regardless of the situation with COVID-19. Unfortunately, the situation in Texas is deteriorating rapidly, with the governor warning of significant increases in fatalities.
From Senator Jose Rodriguez
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July 9, 2020
In her race for Congress, Renee Swann has made personal loans to her campaign in the total amount of approximately $650,000. In her July 2, 2020 FEC Report, she disclosed a personal loan to her campaign of $249,500, made on June 10.
From Pete Sessions Campaign
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July 9, 2020
As Texas Republicans remain in shambles trying to revive a dangerous in-person state convention that will either risk lives or show off their technical incompetence, this throwback Thursday, the Texas Democratic Party takes you down a stroll of memory lane a few weeks ago Texas Democrats broke fundraising records and were lauded for our “wave of the future” convention.
From Texas Democratic Party
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July 9, 2020
Many Texas parents who are concerned about sending children back to school in August are switching to homeschooling.
Following the release of the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) school reopening guidelines on July 7, Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) saw an immediate increase in calls and emails from new families, with parents asking how they can start homeschooling.
From Texas Home School Coalition
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July 9, 2020
State Representative Carl Sherman (District 109) issued the following statement today asking businesses to remember to allow essential workers time off work to vote.
Early voting began earlier this week for the July 14 Democratic Party Primary Runoff Election and Rep. Sherman was there to cast his vote on opening day.
From Carl Sherman Campaign
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July 9, 2020
Texas Congressman Kenny Marchant today endorsed Josh Winegarner for U.S. Congress in the Republican Primary Runoff scheduled for July 14th.
From Josh Winegarner Campaign
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July 9, 2020
Houston-area unions representing workers at the George R Brown Convention Center applauded the decision by Houston Mayor Sylvester to cancel the contract with the Texas GOP to host the Texas Republican Party convention.
From Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation
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July 9, 2020
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), chairman of the Subcommittee on The Constitution, today applauded the latest two Supreme Court decisions protecting religious liberty for every American.
From Senator Ted Cruz
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July 9, 2020
Today, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) confirmed they have deployed 40 individuals via BCFS to Christus Spohn in Corpus Christi. BCFS Health and Human Services Emergency Management Division is a non-profit partner of federal, state and local government and private industry, specializing in public health & medical emergency response.
From Senator Juan Hinojosa
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July 9, 2020
?Attorney General Paxton filed an amicus brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in defense of First Amendment rights for members of the State Bar of Texas. The state requires every attorney to join the State Bar of Texas in order to receive and maintain a law license, and every attorney is then compelled to support political and ideological activities involving divisive issues through membership dues.
From Office of the Attorney General
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July 9, 2020
"This morning, the United States Supreme Court ordered a devastating ruling to the reproductive health care rights of women around the country. These expanded exemptions to the Affordable Care Act, will make it more difficult for women to access birth control and allow employers to make personal healthcare decisions for their employees.
From Senator Jose Menendez
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July 9, 2020
Texas Fair Lending Alliance, an alliance of more than 60 nonprofit organizations across Texas, and Texas Faith Leaders 4 Fair Lending, a coalition of hundreds of faith leaders led by the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops and the Christian Life Commission of the Texas Baptists, are dismayed by the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule that guts important national protections for payday and auto title loan borrowers.
From Texas Fair Lending Alliance
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July 9, 2020
Today, State Representative Garnet F. Coleman (D-Houston) made the following statement in response to the announcement that leading scholars and academics from universities within the Texas A&M System will be analyzing the data reported by law enforcement agencies on racial profiling in accordance with the provisions in the Sandra Bland Act.
From Representative Garnet Coleman
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July 9, 2020
The Texas AFL-CIO and Every Texan (formerly known as the Center for Public Policy Priorities) today proposed a 10-point plan for reforming the Unemployment Insurance system in Texas.
From Texas AFL-CIO
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July 9, 2020
San Antonio native and Iraq War veteran Gina Ortiz Jones, the Democratic nominee in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, raised more than $810,000 during the second quarter of 2020, entering July with more than $3 million cash on hand.
From Gina Ortiz Jones Campaign
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July 9, 2020
Respected Carson County Sheriff Tam Terry today endorsed Josh Winegarner for U.S. Congress in the GOP Primary Runoff. Early voting is already underway in the July 14th election.
From Josh Winegarner Campaign
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July 9, 2020
The Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee raised over $1.3M from January to June this year, surpassing its 2018 cycle total in just six months. The committee received an average small-dollar donation of $34 from over 8,500 individual donors. Over 90% of donations came from Texans.
From Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee
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July 9, 2020
The Texas Classroom Teachers Association is alarmed at the insistence by officials at all levels of government that schools should open for in-person instruction next month, while the rates of COVID-19 infection are surging in many parts of Texas.
From Texas Classroom Teachers Association
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July 7, 2020
"Today, Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath issued TEA's health and safety guidance for school districts to reopen this fall. We appreciate Governor Abbott and Commissioner Morath’s leadership through these extremely challenging times and for working with the Members of the House Public Education Committee and Senate Education Committee to find solutions to get our students back to school and back on track educationally.
From Representative Dan Huberty
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July 7, 2020
Today, Texas announced that more than 10,000 new people have contracted the coronavirus and 60 Texans died from the virus, both all-time highs.
Meanwhile, ICUs in major Texas cities are nearing capacity, and doctors are forced to choose between which patients get a bed.
From Texas Democratic Party
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July 7, 2020
When Governor Abbott issued his requirement to wear face masks, he specifically exempted polling places. His statement on that issue: not having a mask should not impede a voter’s constitutional right to vote.
From League of Women Voters of Texas
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July 7, 2020
State Representative Carl Sherman (District 109) commented today on the anniversary of the tragic Dallas Police ambush in Dallas on July 7, 2016.
Five officers were killed, and nine officers and two civilians injured on this day in 2016 in the Dallas police ambush, which was the deadliest attack on police officers since September 11.
From Carl Sherman Campaign
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July 7, 2020
The Tony Gonzales for Congress campaign today is demanding Raul Reyes come clean and tell the truth about his one year of employment at Southwest Texas Junior College (SWTJC).
From Tony Gonzales Campaign
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July 7, 2020
As criticism and scrutiny everywhere continues to pile on the Texas Republican Party’s dangerous decision to hold an in-person convention in Houston, the biggest coronavirus hotspot in the country, Governor Abbott alone has the power to put a stop to this irresponsible and reckless gathering.
From Texas Democratic Party
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July 7, 2020
A week ahead of the Republican primary runoff election in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, here is a quick reminder that both Tony Gonzales and Raul Reyes support repealing the Affordable Care Act and of the devastating consequences that will have on Texas families.
From Gina Ortiz Jones Campaign
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July 7, 2020
The Texas State Chairman of College Republicans today endorsed Josh Winegarner for U.S. Congress in the July 14th election.
Winegarner is seeking the 13th Congressional District seat currently held by Mac Thornberry, who will retire at the end of this term.
From Josh Winegarner Campaign
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July 7, 2020
Texas State Teachers Association President Noel Candelaria released the following statement:
“Everyone wants to see schools reopen, but they must reopen safely. The Texas State Teachers Association is calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to slow down and put safety first before he allows school districts to begin reopening campuses for the fall semester.
From Texas State Teachers Association
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July 7, 2020
Casey C. Campbell, of Rockwall, Texas, has announced his bid for the Republican nomination of Texas’ Fourth Congressional District. Following former Representative John Ratcliffe’s appointment as Director of National Intelligence, the GOP Congressional District Executive Committee will select a Republican nominee for November’s general election.
From Casey C. Campbell Campaign
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July 7, 2020
With the number of COVID-19 cases continuing to rise nationally, TexPIRG released a new fact sheet today, showing Texas is “trending poorly” when it comes to meeting COVID-19 containment criteria. This is the second week TexPIRG has tracked in-state coronavirus efforts. Last week, Texas received a “trending poorly” grade.
From TexPIRG
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July 7, 2020
Communities across Texas’ 23rd Congressional District are seeing significant spikes in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. San Antonio has the highest case growth among major Texas cities in recent weeks, while infections in El Paso have grown by 60 percent in the past two weeks.
From Gina Ortiz Jones Campaign
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July 7, 2020
The Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee today launched the 2020 Red to Blue Campaign, a new initiative that will harness the political experience and the fundraising capacity of sitting Democratic Members of the Texas House to propel competitive Democratic candidates to victory across Texas.
From Texas House Democratic Campaign Committee
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July 7, 2020
As the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) continues with the phased reopening of driver license (DL) offices, the department is pleased to announce the expansion of in-person services across the state.
From Texas DPS
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July 7, 2020
Today, the Wesley Hunt Campaign is honored to announce the endorsement of former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker of Wesley in his campaign to become the next Representative for Texas' 7th Congressional District.
From Wesley Hunt Campaign
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July 6, 2020
Today, amidst yet another surge in coronavirus cases and heartbreaking stories across the state about the coronavirus overrunning hospitals and ICU capacity in big cities in Texas, a new poll showed that Texans are holding two people responsible for the mismanaged response to the coronavirus pandemic: Donald Trump and Greg Abbott.
From Texas Democratic Party
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July 6, 2020
— Last week, Oklahomans went to the polls and voted in favor of State Question 802, a ballot initiative to expand Medicaid. State Rep. John Bucy III (D-Austin) issued the following statement in response:
"I want to congratulate the people of Oklahoma for giving nearly 200,000 people access to healthcare and bringing over $1 billion of federal funds into their state by becoming the thirty seventh state to expand Medicaid.
From Representative John Bucy III
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July 6, 2020
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has extended the deadline to July 17 for nominations of potential members of Texas’ first-ever regional flood planning groups.
From Texas Water Development Board
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July 6, 2020
Today, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled unanimously that state laws that penalize or remove presidential electors who do not vote for the candidate they pledged to support do not violate the Constitution. Progress Texas offers the following statement in response to the Court’s decision in Chiafalo v. Washington.
From Progress Texas
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July 6, 2020
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued the following statement today regarding Thursday’s decision by the State Republican Executive Committee on the Texas GOP Convention:
“I watched all three hours of the SREC debate on Thursday night.
From Dan Patrick Campaign
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July 6, 2020
On behalf of the members of the Texas Business Roundtable, we applaud your efforts to keep Texans working and
protected in this unprecedented pandemic crisis. In light of the dramatic spike in COVID-19 cases and increased ICU
hospitalizations, face coverings are needed to protect Texans from exposure in public settings, protect Texas jobs, and
keep Texas open for business.
From Texas Business Roundtable
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July 6, 2020
I was recently speaking with a young person born in 1988. For practical reasons, we will refer to them as "Alex.” Between the banter and cordial laughter at a comfortable six feet, Alex and I began discussing the difficulties they faced in being a Millennial.
From Representative Ray Lopez
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July 6, 2020
Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa issued the following statement:
“Against the advice of doctors, medical professionals, and common-sense, Greg Abbott and the Texas Republican Party decided to hold an in-person convention in the biggest coronavirus hotspot in the country. This decision is dead wrong.
From Texas Democratic Party
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July 6, 2020
In response to a recent direct-mail piece issued by Planned Parenthood & Texas Freedom Network attacking Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. using the term “Sucio Lucio,” to describe the Hispanic senator and his traditional Catholic values of support for life,
From Eddie Lucio III Campaign
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July 6, 2020
The following statement regarding Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Order
requiring masks should be attributed to Jeff Moseley, President and CEO of the Texas Association of Business:
“Texas business applauds Governor Abbott for making the right decision implementing a statewide face
covering order aimed at knocking down COVID-19 transmission in Texas.
From Texas Association of Business
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July 2, 2020
Today, Gov. Greg Abbott issued an Executive Order putting a statewide mask mandate into effect. State Representative and Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus Chris Turner released the following statement in response:
“I am glad Gov. Abbott is implementing a long-overdue statewide mask order.
From Texas House Democratic Caucus
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July 2, 2020
Today, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a mask mandate for Texans living in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases on. Lauren Banister, TexPIRG Public Interest Associate, issued the following statement in response to this decision.
From TexPIRG
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July 2, 2020
Today, Governor Greg Abbott finally mandated statewide facemasks one day after the Texas Democratic Party held a zoom press conference demanding that he do so.
The move comes after yet another day of record new cases and 17 out of the last 18 with record hospitalizations.
From Texas Democratic Party
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July 2, 2020
Moments ago, Governor Greg Abbott issued a statewide order requiring masks for all Texans, with a few exceptions.
Included in Governor Abbott's order was a strong recommendation for everyone to stay home unless absolutely necessary to leave their home.
This comes as Texas nears the end of the first week of early voting for our primary runoff elections. Election Day is July 14th.
From Common Cause Texas
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July 2, 2020
On Wednesday, July 1, 2020, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz blocked U.S. Senate legislation that would have created a pathway to citizenship for young immigrants who are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
From Jolt Action
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July 2, 2020
On Wednesday, San Antonio native and Iraq War veteran Gina Ortiz Jones hosted a virtual town hall on the importance of expanding access to mental health care, particularly as COVID-19 and its economic impact take a toll on Texans.
From Gina Ortiz Jones Campaign
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July 2, 2020
The Texas Medical Board's Executive Committee, with advice and direction from the Governor's Office, today adopted rules on an emergency basis related to the issuance of certain prescriptions during the COVID-19 disaster.
The Board previously adopted emergency amendments to Title 22, Chapter 174.5, which are set to expire July 4, 2020, at 11:59 p.m.
From Texas Medical Board
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July 2, 2020
Texans for Life Committee is proud to endorse Pete Sessions in the runoff to represent the 17th District of Texas in Congress.
Kyleen Wright, president of Texans for Life Committee, notes that “Pete Sessions has a long history of faithful, exemplary service to this state and nation, and has faithfully stood for protecting life.
From Texans for Life Committee
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July 1, 2020
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick issued the following statement today:
“On the same day that presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden announced he would put Anthony Fauci on his team if he is elected president, Dr. Fauci took a swipe at Republican states and COVID19 — specifically charging that Texas had “skipped over” some steps in our plan to fight the pandemic.
From Dan Patrick Campaign
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July 1, 2020
This week, the Senate will pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021. You can read the legislation here, and below is a summary of its impact on Texas:
• Raises troops’ pay by 3%.
From Senator John Cornyn
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July 1, 2020
The Tony Gonzales for Congress campaign today released an initial calculation of more than $400,000 raised in the 2nd quarter of the year, bringing their total funds raised to more than $1.1 million since the campaign began.
From Tony Gonzales Campaign
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July 1, 2020
Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX-25) today released the following statement as the United States Mexico Canada Agreement officially went into effect:
“I am very proud to have partnered with President Trump to pass this once-in-a-generation historic agreement that revitalizes our trade and puts America first.
From Representative Roger Williams
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July 1, 2020
Panhandle State Representative, Ken King today endorsed Josh Winegarner for U.S. Congress in the Republican Primary Runoff on July 14th. Early voting for this election began Monday.
From Josh Winegarner Campaign
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July 1, 2020
The following statement can be attributed to Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening regarding the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement's (USMCA) entry into force.
"USMCA's implementation marks a major milestone for Texas agriculture. Since the inception of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, agricultural exports have soared from $8.9 billion to almost $40 billion.
From Texas Farm Bureau
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June 30, 2020
Today, the state of Texas broke yet another record of new positive COVID-19 cases in the state, with 6975 new cases, almost 1000 more than the previous record of 5996.
From Texas Democratic Party
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June 30, 2020
Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy issued this statement on the Texas Workforce Commission's decision today to reinstate a waiver of the work search requirement for millions of Texans who have lost their jobs in the pandemic:
From Texas AFL-CIO
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June 30, 2020
Texas State Teachers Association President Noel Candelaria released the following statement on the decision to require STAAR testing next year:
“We are in the middle of a health emergency, we don’t even know for sure what form education is going to take this fall, and the state education commissioner has announced that STAAR testing will resume.
From Texas State Teachers Association
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June 30, 2020
Today, the Texas Nurse Practitioners Political Action Committee (PAC) endorsed Shelby Slawson for House District 59. The nonpartisan Texas Nurse Practitioners PAC is the political arm of Texas Nurse Practitioners, the largest state association of nurse practitioners in the United States.
From Texas Nurse Practitioners PAC
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June 30, 2020
Today, the Texas Equity PAC, the political action committee of Equality Texas, the largest statewide organization solely dedicated to securing full equality for LGBTQ Texans, endorsed Texas House Member Eddie Rodriguez for the Special Senate Election Race for Senate District 14 to replace retiring Austin Senator Kirk Watson.
From Texas Equality PAC
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June 30, 2020
- In an interview with the Texas Standard on Tuesday June 30, Sarah Eckhardt (Democratic candidate for Texas senate district 14 in the July 14 special election) stated that the mortality rate for people over 65 years old is between 25% to 30%.
From Pat Dixon Campaign
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June 30, 2020
With America as a whole continuing to struggle in containing the COVID-19 virus, TexPIRG released a new fact sheet today calling on Texas to maintain all current restrictions related to COVID-19, and take additional measures to improve containment.
From TexPIRG
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June 30, 2020
The Railroad Commission of Texas has released its latest strategic priorities in regulating the state's oil and gas industry. The RRC's Fiscal Year 2021 priorities are outlined in the Oil and Gas Monitoring and Enforcement Plan which can be found on the RRC website at
https://www.rrc.texas.gov/media/58340/og-s-plan-fy-2021.pdf
From Railroad Commission of Texas
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June 30, 2020
Today, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that Montana’s exclusion of religious schools from a state scholarship program funded by tax credits violates the federal Constitution. Progress Texas offers the following statement in response to the Court’s decision in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue.
From Progress Texas
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June 30, 2020
As the Texas State Board of Education considers its overhaul of health curriculum standards for the first time in more than two decades, scores of testifiers at a public hearing today urged board members to ensure the new standards move beyond focusing just on abstinence in a state where 60 percent of high school seniors say they’ve already been sexually active.
From Texas Freedom Network
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 Copyright August 03, 2020, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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