SocraticGadfly: Winter storm kabuki theater at the Texas Lege, week 2

March 20, 2021

Winter storm kabuki theater at the Texas Lege, week 2

More lies, inactions, foot-dragging, slow-walking, and performance art about the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri are happening under the Pink Dome in Austin. Here's some of the latest.

1A. So, the PUC not having an up-to-date list of crucial facilities — that the likes of Oncor are supposed to create — led Oncor to shut off electricity to natural-gas fired power plants. 

1B. Abbott and the Lege are still at kabuki theater stage on fixing problems, especially on REQUIRING action. Let alone on moving beyond what Ed Hirs calls "window dressing."

1C. Related? Press release last week from the Railroad Commission. Chair Christi Craddick said they're ready to help the Lege out; not a word about "weatherization."

1D. There's a reason for that. Christi and her former state House speaker dad still make money off the bidness. And the weak-ass ethics laws in Tex-ass allow her, and her dad on House committees, to do so. They also allow the two of them, and others, to receive campaign contributions grift from the bidness. And Goeb and the spavined mule Paxton aren't doing anything either. Strangeabbott remains committed to weatherization — on paper. Check the reality later. 

1E. Since the Lege wants to legally block governments within the state from requiring electricity for home heat and cooking in new developments, 1D won't change.

1F. The repricing kerfuffle is yet more kabuki theater. It's unclear who it would help, and it can't target natural gas prices. It's pseudo-populism. That's especially true as the option to reprice expires today.

1G. Andrea Zelinski looks at the Goeb angle on repricing, whether he'll really (once again) be all talk, no cattle at end.

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