LEGISLATORS BEGIN FILING BILLS AHEAD OF SESSION
Texas legislators are off to the races, filing more than 850 bills on Nov. 14, the first day of filing season for the 88th session, which begins Jan. 10.
The Austin American-Statesman reported the potential laws, constitutional amendments and propositions address everything from property taxes to border security, access to guns, education and health care.
Thousands more bills will be filed prior to the March 10 deadline. Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan have not yet announced their legislative priorities.
Property-tax relief is likely to be a top item, given past remarks from the state’s leaders. With a hefty state surplus of $27 billion predicted, two bills would carve into that surplus to reduce property taxes.
Other topics drawing proposed legislation:
• Democrats have filed a bevy of bills to increase gun safety and limit access to certain firearms.
• Legalizing gambling will again be before the Legislature, as it has the past several sessions.
• Another Democratic measure would expand Medicaid benefits for women both before and after birth.
DACA RECIPIENTS URGE QUICK CONGRESSIONAL ACTION
A number of recipients of the Obama-era program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, are urging Congress to act during the lame-duck session to give them permanent protection against deportation.
The Texas Standard reported Austin accountant Edilsa Lopez was one of several recipients who met with congressional leaders to tell their stories and urge them to adopt such legislation.
Nearly 600,000 children who were brought here by parents who are not U.S. citizens are protected under DACA, while another 400,000 are eligible but have been stymied from enrolling by legal challenges.
“This is my third time in D.C. flying to meet with congressmen from both sides of the aisle and they just keep on talking and talking,” said Diego Corzo, 32, of Austin. “I think it’s time that they finally put an importance to find a solution — a longterm solution — for the DACA recipients, for the Dreamers, so that we stop living in limbo.”
RRC INSPECTORS SENT TO REEVES COUNTY AFTER QUAKE
The Texas Railroad Commission sent inspectors to Reeves County in West Texas Nov. 17 after the area was rocked with a 5.4 magnitude earthquake near its border with Culberson County. The agents are examining disposal activity at injection wells in the area.
Tremors from the earthquake were felt in both San Antonio and Austin.
STATE NOW BUSING MIGRANTS TO PHILADELPHIA
The City of Brotherly love is the latest recipient of migrants being bused from Texas border communities, the Texas Tribune reported. The first bus arrived in Philadelphia Nov. 16.
“Since April, Texas’ busing strategy has successfully provided much-needed relief to our border communities overwhelmed by the historic influx of migrants caused by President Biden’s reckless open border policies,” Abbott said.
Texas has been sending busloads of migrants to Washington, D.C., Chicago and New York in an attempt to pressure Biden to stiffen his immigration policies.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said the city welcomed the migrants and has been preparing for their possible arrival since summer.
“As a proud welcoming city, we will greet our newly arrived neighbors with dignity and respect,” said Kenney.
COVID-19 CASES RISE SLIGHTLY
The number of new cases of COVID-19 during the past week in Texas rose to 13,104, with 57 deaths reported by the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University. Cases of lab-confirmed COVID19 hospitalizations in the state stayed steady at 993, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches and Cedar Park. Email him at gborders@ texaspress.com.
