Texas Progressives update the Lege, other Tex-ass stupidity

What? Republican Congresscritters using the Ill Eagles issue for political grift? I am shocked. But, in a man-bites-dog story, one of their own, San Antonio GOP Congresscritter Tony Gonzales, claims that and went after fellow Tex-ass Rethug Chip Roy directly.

Gus Bova calls Strangeabbott's State of the State "a weird, alarming infomercial." Scott Braddick also nailed it. Strangeabbott likes the cocooned environments, like the private biz where he delivered this.

The GOP in the Lege hates cities lobbying, loves big biz lobbying, but hates one of its own lobbying. Busted: Chris Paddie. Actually, everybody hated this, and the Texas Ethics Commission actually had its blind hog and acorns moment.

SocraticGadfly has a Swiftian modest proposal for the PUC and its employee shortages and turnover: just hire some child workers! (He also notes our Lege is behind the ball here.)  

Stace reports on what Americans United for Separation of Church and State found regarding the funders of the Super Bowl Jesus ads. (They're disgusting and laughable both?)

Executing the mentally ill, in this case, Andre Thomas by name? How Tex-ass.

School vouchers going to rich kids? It's what Aridzona does, and per the Observer, probably part of what wingnuts in Tex-ass hope to do, among other portions of their ongoing attack on public schools.

Doesn't matter if Robb Elementary School doors were propped open or not, if they either couldn't be latched or master keys couldn't be found, in the latest laundry list of problems at the Uvalde school.

Not sure why the Drunkenville School Board voted to go beyond UIL sanctions against last year's state hoops team and not let this year's team go to the playoffs, which just punishes players, not cheating coaches already suspended. Anyway, the Monthly profiles this year's Panthers. OTOH, per other stories, the girls team had to forfeit its regular season finale due to its head coach being investigated. Maybe the board needs to fire an AD.

Off the Kuff reports on how to help Democratic judges in Harris County who are defending against those bogus election contests.

A HUGE child trafficking ring busted in Dallas reminds us that, Pizzagate nuttery aside, this is an actual and serious issue.

The Austin Chronicle writes on the firing of Austin City Manager Spencer Cronk following that city's power problems in the recent winter storm.

The TSTA Blog calls out the TEA official who was caught advocating for vouchers.

Reform Austin notes that the Texas Senate committee that is tasked with oversight of the power grid is still not sure how the PUC's proposed reforms will help it.

Texas Monthly investigates the right wing transphobia campaign going on at the Lege.

Jef Rouner argues against taking away schoolkids' cellphones.