San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Legislature, pandering to the right, left needs unmet
The 87th Texas Legislature will be remembered for its divisive culture wars and political virtue signaling to the extreme right — not for crafting effective policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Winter Storm Uri, mass shootings or the high number of uninsured residents.
State leaders failed Texans because the Republican-dominated House, Senate and governor’s office this legislative session pandered to the far right. Texas leads the nation in uninsured, but lawmakers did nothing. Texas has been rocked by mass shootings in recent years, but lawmakers passed permitless carry. The Texas power grid failed in February, killing hundreds and leaving millions to freeze, but lawmakers refused to make real reforms. Texas saw robust turnout in November during a secure and safe presidential election, but lawmakers focused on false allegations of voter fraud.
Jon Taylor, who leads the political science and geography department at the University of Texas at San Antonio, called the session “one of the most tumultuous, chaotic.”
In a statement Monday, the day the Legislature adjourned, Gov. Greg Abbott said Texas kept its promise of securing the power system to ensure it never fails again. That’s false, but it’s true he did deliver “one of the most conservative legislative sessions our state has ever seen.”
What did Abbott and Co. accomplish? They made it easier for most everyone 21 and older to carry a handgun, they stripped away a woman’s constitutional right to abortion, they whitewashed civics education, enacted an alcohol-to-go law and required professional sports teams with state contracts to play the national anthem.
Republicans didn’t pass the George Floyd Act; instead, they took local control from cities, intrusively penalizing police budget cuts. They took control from social studies teachers, severely limiting what and how they can teach, and they left many Texans uninsured.
Outnumbered House Democrats had a short-lived victory Sunday night when they staged a walkout to break quorum and kill Senate Bill 7, the omnibus voting restrictions bill experts believe would disenfranchise people of color, the elderly and disabled.
But SB 7 will be back in a special session, and the only question is whether Republicans will push voter suppression in response to the lie of widespread voter fraud at the same time they gerrymander political districts to help retain power.
Despite an alarming capacity shortage of foster care homes and services, lawmakers failed to boost funding for foster care reimbursement rates or for the services that work to prevent child abuse and neglect, keeping kids safe and out of foster care.
Although far from enough, some progress was made in education and health care. Education policies set up school districts with access to tools and funding not tied to STAAR to help students recover from pandemic learning losses.
Tens of thousands of eligible children enrolled in Medicaid insurance will keep coverage through House Bill 290, authored by Rep. Phil Cortez, D-San Antonio, which reduces inaccurate midyear eligibility reviews.
Out-of-pocket insulin will be capped at $25 for the insured via House Bill 40, authored by Rep. James Talarico, D-Round Rock. And House Bill 133, authored by Rep. Toni Rose, D-Dallas, will extend mothers’ postpartum Medicaid from two to six months.
Democrats have noted the lack of respect from the GOP, but they have to earn it by winning elections. Democrats should wonder why their message — in juxtaposition with such extreme policies from Republicans this session — isn’t breaking through.
Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio, a bright light in a troubling session, has expressed frustration with his party. He’s often said politics should be taken out of decisions. “We all stand up and proudly state our allegiance to the United States every morning,” he tweeted. “Then some folks spend the day trying to pass bills that break federal law and SCOTUS rulings. Subsequent lawsuits cost us millions to fight and then lose. Recite the pledge and then believe it.”
More Larson and former House Speaker Joe Straus, please. People should always come before politics. One day, Texas voters will send that message to Austin.