Texas Progressives roundup: Voting hither and yon

Who to let vote and who to not let vote, and how to do this, is occupying a fair chunk of the Lege's time. But, as usual every other year about this time, there's more idiocy in Austin right now. There's also other idiocy elsewhere. Actually, there's other idiocy at Austin to note, just at UT, not under the Pink Dome.

With that, let 's dig in to this week's Roundup.

Texas politics

The "election integrity" vote restriction crusade continues. Here's the Observer take. (The latest anti-abortion bills, etc. are also covered there.) At the Trib, Ross Ramsey says for Republicans, it's about 2018 more than 2020.

That link also talks about weatherization bill. The Senate's has fines, the House's various bills don't. Senate covers natural gas as well as electricity; the House doesn't. It's weird to have a bill that's better in the Senate than in the House, but there you go. OTOH, the Senate bill has that anti-renewables anti-subsidy poison pill.

Off the Kuff also comments on the Senate's omnibus voter suppression bill and the fight against it.

SocraticGadfly has takes on two Texas Democratic items. First, he looks at the latest Betomania lead balloon. Second, he looks at a 2018 election pal of Beto: Kendall Scudder, ConservaDem. .

A biggie. In a bipartisan bill, expanded Medicaid may come to Texas.

Will qualified immunity sink the George Floyd Act? Let's hope not and let's hope the bill's sponsors stand by their "guns," so to speak. Qualified immunity is what needs to be sunk.

 

 Grits for Breakfast concluded that Texas was able to greatly reduce the number of traffic stops conducted without any negative effect on crime.

Texana

The Monthly weighs in on "The Eyes of Texas" brouhaha. The Trib shows old white boy QB Colt McCoy pressured alumni to keep the song. (Both are long reads.)

Dan Solomon takes the Chronic to the woodshed for allegedly semi-fawning coverage of Deshaun Watson.

 

The Current introduces us to Kaitlin Teniente, the first female coach of a college E-sports team in Texas.

Metromess

Seven Collin County jailers have been fired for their part in the death of Marvin Scott III.

 

Helltown

 

Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker celebrates National Out To Win Day.

National

The New York Times has a breakout analysis of Georgia's new voting law.

Boycott Sonic, Arby's (where still existing) Buffalo Wild Wings and Jimmy John's. Here's why.

 

G. Elliott Morris criticizes an analysis of the effects of Georgia's voter suppression law.