Texas border, school vouchers and a possible THC ban: TWITP
Texas border, school vouchers, possible THC ban: TWITP
FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts take a look at the top stories in Texas politics from this week.
AUSTIN, Texas - FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts take a look at the top stories in Texas politics from this week.
RUDY KOSKI: A snowball certainly got a chance in south Texas, around Galveston, this week. And in Texas politics, we got some cold, hard changes. Let's get the headlines from our panel. And we'll begin first with Philip Jankowski with The Dallas Morning News. Philip, what's your headline?
PHILIP JANKOWSKI: It's Trump's World, and we're just living in it.
RUDY KOSKI: Brian Smith with St Edward's University, your headline.
BRIAN SMITH: Democrats say thanks for nothing, Speaker Barrows, as committee chairs are all Republicans.
RUDY KOSKI: Brad Johnson with Texas News. What's your headline?
BRAD JOHNSON: Finally, some fireworks in the Texas House.
Donald Trump's return to the White House
President Trump's Inauguration
Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th President of the Untied States marking his comeback to Washington. Just after his swearing in ceremony, President Trump signed a number of executive orders to mark the beginning of his second term
Local perspective:
RUDY KOSKI: Donald Trump officially returned to the White House Monday. And during a post-inauguration event, he and Governor Greg Abbott had a long unscripted moment, a bro-mance, talking about border security. Philip, a lot of things are happening involving the border between Trump and Abbott. What are you tracking?
PHILIP JANKOWSKI: Well, my colleagues in Dallas are definitely paying attention, close attention to see if there's going to be any raids of churches or schools. Down here in Austin, I'm paying a little bit, paying attention to whether Abbott's efforts to get the feds to pay, I don't want to say pay back Texas, but give Texas $11 billion for all the money that state taxpayer spent on Operation Lonestar.
Latest Texas legislative session coverage
Local perspective:
RUDY KOSKI: Two Texans, this week, we're in the nomination hot chair hearing chair this week, former Congressman John Ratcliffe getting off that hot seat and was confirmed to head up the CIA. And former policy advisor for Governor Rick Perry, Brooke Rollins began the process for her Ag Secretary appointment. Brian. Which of the two do you think will have the biggest impact on Texas?
BRIAN SMITH: Well, obviously. Rollins because agriculture is a clientele agency that represents a huge segment of the Texas economy. Having a Texan in the role means that Texas agriculture will have a seat at the table. And it means that Commissioner Miller has at least one friend in D.C. now.
RUDY KOSKI: The Texas House and Senate this week pushed out their base budget plans. Both bills are similar in scope and size. And a lot of the coverage on that really has been about the money, about $1 billion for a school voucher type plan. Brad, what else caught your eye?
BRAD JOHNSON: Yeah, the fact there's no daylight, at least in Appropriations so far between the two chambers on the ESA program is notable. But my eyes, as I, always, are caught by the property tax side of this. But this is where we saw things really break down last session. You know, the knockdown, drag out fight between the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker. You know, back then the House was trying to do this appraisal cap side of things, and that was something the Senate dug their heels in against. But right now, you know, there's no daylight on the ESA appropriation, there's a lot of daylight between the two on this property tax side. And does that spell another fight between, you know, the House and the Senate?
Passage of HR 4 in the Texas House
Texas legislature: Floor debate was about setting rules
The floor debate was about setting rules for the session in the state House.
Local perspective:
RELATED: Texas House has new rules in place for session
RUDY KOSKI: Thursday, state House members passed H.R. 4. That's their rules for this session. Democrats were cut out of getting committee chairmanships, but they're being allowed to be vice chairmen. Philip, it's a shut-down, and it's an empowerment all in one. So, is this a win/win or is this going to be just more gasoline on that big GOP fight?
PHILIP JANKOWSKI: You know, the hard line certainly isn't happy about it. But why are they happy about anything? I mean, folks like Brian Harrison are calling it the Democrat Empowerment Act, despite the fact that basically they got what they wanted. But this is, it is, it does encapsulate Republican politics in Texas right now where such these drag out fights are happening in such niche things.
RUDY KOSKI: Brian, from a historical point, you know, is this a big moment?
BRIAN SMITH: When you look at, it is a fundamental change from the way that the Texas House of Representatives work, where there has been, at least at the top level, that bipartisanship that helped the body stay together.
BRAD JOHNSON: Burroughs effectively increased his majority by about 20 votes from the Speaker's vote to this one. We'll see how long he can maintain that.
Will there be a ban on THC products in Texas?
Texas lawmakers consider ban on all THC products
State lawmakers are preparing to debate legislation that could shut down the sale of all forms of THC in Texas. The crackdown is a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. But, groups that sell the products are trying to keep them available.
Local perspective:
RELATED: Texas lawmakers consider ban on all THC products
RUDY KOSKI: Texas commissioner said. Miller this week continue to push back on Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick's call to ban the sale of all THC products, from that Hemp law that was passed in 2019. Miller wants tougher enforcement on sales, not a total ban on hemp products, and he wants to protect the use of medicinal marijuana. Brian, can Miller win this day?
BRIAN SMITH: I think this is something Miller can win on because there's broad based support from Democrats and Republicans on medicinal marijuana. It's a compassionate issue. I also think Miller has to keep all his agricultural options open, and he's not calling for legalize recreational marijuana, which is not coming to Texas this session or anytime soon.
Wrapping up This Week in Texas Politics
Local perspective:
RUDY KOSKI: All right. Let's wrap up this week in Texas politics with one word for the week. And Brad, we'll start with you. Give us a word.
BRAD JOHNSON: I'll just go with, fireworks.
RUDY KOSKI: Philip, your work for the week.
PHILIP JANKOWSKI: Compromise. Question mark.
RUDY KOSKI: Brian, give us a word.
BRIAN SMITH: Immigration.
RUDY KOSKI: And that is This Week in Texas Politics. A full run of the discussion can be found on the FOX7 YouTube Page and on FOX Local.
The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski