Second Special Session Ends Early With Some Priorities Incomplete

[Elderberry]

Texas Scorecard by Jeramy Kitchen September 2, 2021

Whether those unfinished priorities will be put on a future special session call is unclear, but the legislative stalemate between parties on issues like election integrity has finally reached its conclusion.

Thursday night marked the early conclusion of the second called special legislative session.

Putting an end to what seemed like an endless stalemate between Republican and Democrat lawmakers on issues like election integrity, banning critical race theory, social media censorship, the session concluded with many of the issues on Gov. Greg Abbott’s special session agenda addressed, with some notable exceptions.

What Did Get Done?

Election Integrity

Though it ended up being a different bill than the one considered in the 87th regular legislative session, prompting the initial quorum break of House Democrat lawmakers enabled by House Republican leadership, election integrity legislation did pass both chambers and is currently awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott’s consideration.

At each step of the legislative process, it passed purely on partisan lines.

Border Security Appropriations

Adding an additional $1.8 billion to the funding that was already appropriated amounting to $1.1 billion during the 87th regular legislative session, the Legislature passed a bill providing for funding to seven different state entities for the purposes of border security. Some of those state entities include the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), Office of Court Administration (OCA), Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Texas Military Department (TMD), and Trusteed Programs within the Office of the Governor.

Increased Virtual Education Options

The Legislature passed a bill that would authorize a school district or charter school to establish a remote-learning program to offer additional virtual learning courses outside of the already existing state virtual school network as long as it meets certain parameters. Ultimately, the bill allows school districts and charter schools to implement best practices learned in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social Media and Email Censorship

Slightly different than legislation considered in the 87th regular legislative session that ended up having its legislative prospects cut short in the House, a bill seeking to stop social media and email service censorship did pass both chambers of the Legislature.

Critical Race Theory “Ban” Improvements

Though a purported ban on critical race theory passed the 87th legislative session specific to social studies curriculum, Abbott added the issue on his special session agenda again citing improvements were needed.

More: https://texasscorecard.com/state/second-special-session-ends-early-with-some-priorities-incomplete/

[IsailedawayfromFR]

The libs will disregard critical race theory and call it something else with the same curriculum and message.

Remember when Affirmative Action was finally canned and they dreamed up Diversity to take its place?

Or when the nonsense of Global Warming was exposed and they came up with Climate Change(which is what sane people call The Weather)?

Libs cannot be controlled by wishful thinking laws.  They need to either be blatantly exposed, jailed or wiped off the face of the earth.

[Bigun]

And the absconding Dems get away completely unharmed.  House takes no punitive action against them at all. Uncontionable!

[IsailedawayfromFR]

And the absconding Dems get away completely unharmed.  House takes no punitive action against them at all. Uncontionable!

Unless financial and/or other penalties are assesed upon these Dems, they will repeat this again and again.