School choice, gender identity, and online sports betting: TWITP
The Brief
School choice in Texas, gender identity, and online betting were hot topics in This Week in Texas Politics
FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts take a look at the top stories in Texas politics from this week
AUSTIN, Texas - There was a lot of money talk in This Week in Texas Politics from the classroom all the way to the border.
FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts take a look at the top stories in Texas politics from this week.
A longer discussion can be found on the FOX 7 YouTube page.
What they're saying
RUDY KOSKI: So, let's get the headlines from our panel, and we'll start with political analyst Karina Kling. Karina, what's your headline for the week?
KARINA KLING: Governor Abbott lays out his conservative agenda.
RUDY KOSKI: Brian Smith with Saint Edward's University, your headline.
BRIAN SMITH: Vouchers pass the Senate, but obstacles remain.
RUDY KOSKI: Business analyst Annie Spilman, your headline for the week.
ANNIE SPILMAN: Texas House Speaker Burrows discusses water, school choice and small business priorities.
Local perspective
RUDY KOSKI: The governor kicked off the week with his State of the State address. He unpacked a lot of issues during that speech. Karina, what caught your attention in that speech?
KARINA KLING: I think his overall appeal really appears to both factions of the Republican Party. And as well as a bipartisan approach with the property tax relief, Texans are really clamoring for more of that.
BRIAN SMITH: I didn't see a lot that really caught my eye. It was what we knew was coming. It was part of his electoral agenda. Tax cuts, infrastructure, school choice.
ANNIE SPILMAN: I was elated that the governor made note of his small business priority, mentioning his small Business Freedom Council. That, you know, requires state agencies to slash any unneeded rules and regulations.
Local perspective
RUDY KOSKI: The day after the governor's speech, Texas House Democrats said that they were ready for the coming battle over school choice. It has arrived. Karina, do you think anything in that Senate floor debate was really something that would carry over to the House fight?
KARINA KLING: But I think it will move and probably pretty quickly. I think the big question is then going to be what does it look like compared to the Senate version and what do they come up with.
Local perspective
RUDY KOSKI: Governor Abbott this week somewhat showed his hand on the issue of online sports betting. Talking to FOX 7 and several other outlets about this, saying voters should have the say. So, Annie, what's the buzz about this from the business community?
ANNIE SPILMAN: You know, it estimates that the market could generate $360 million in direct tax revenue for the state and adding 8000 jobs. So, to the business community and to any, you know, anybody that's interested in economic growth. That says a lot.
RUDY KOSKI: You know, there is a real joker in the deck here, Brian. That's the Lieutenant Governor.
BRIAN SMITH: I don't think that anything beyond the hearing is going to happen.
Local perspective
RUDY KOSKI: As we mentioned earlier, Governor Abbott was in Washington, D.C. earlier this week at the White House. He attended a ceremony where President Trump signed an order that bans trans athletes from girls' sports. The day before that happened, we learned Attorney General Ken Paxton was investigating two Dallas area school districts. They are accused of allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports, violating state law. Karina, there are a lot of gender bills that have been filed this session.
KARINA KLING: Advocacy groups for LGBTQ plus Texans, I think they're tracking at least 50. That number has probably gone up, affecting the lives of LGBTQ+ Texans. Some of that legislation could affect them. I looked up a couple. I mean, the bathroom bill is back. That was the fight. Others require government records to reflect that there are only two genders. I also saw legislation that would prevent trans people from amending their birth certificates to reflect their gender identity. So again, I think that, you know, this is going to be another fight this session.
RUDY KOSKI: Greg Abbott went to Washington on Wednesday. No, it's not the old movie. He went to the White House to visit the president, telling the president state resources, including jail cells here in Texas, are available to the feds as they continue to ramp up immigration enforcement. Brian, do you think that this is going to be the beginning of an Operation Lone Star handoff, or are we still dancing with the feds?
BRIAN SMITH: He's pivoting to help the federal government. He would love the government, the Feds to take on some of the costs of Lonestar, but he's not going to give up this signature immigration policy. If he gives up Lone Star, that's an admission of failure.
Local perspective
RUDY KOSKI: Another Texan is going to the Trump cabinet. Former Texas State Representative Scott Turner was confirmed as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Brian Turner, when he was in Austin, spoke out against welfare programs. Do you think that he's going to be able to really reinvent HUD?
BRIAN SMITH: I think he's going to try. But you can't reform an executive agency overnight.
ANNIE SPILMAN: I worked with Rep. Turner while he served in the Texas House. Good guy. Lots of energy. He's got personal stories of family impacted by homelessness and things like that. And he previously worked in a role in the Trump administration that encouraged public and private investment in urban and economically distressed areas. If anything, no change will be good.
Local perspective
RUDY KOSKI: Let's end it with that and get our one word for the week. And we'll start first with Karina. What's your word for the week?
KARINA KLING: I think we saw a lot of the same policies, legislation. So, I'm going to say, Déjà vu.
BRIAN SMITH:I think things are starting to get busy, so I'm going to say, Escalating.
ANNIE SPILMAN: Karina and I are on the same path here, Groundhog's Day.
RUDY KOSKI: And that is This Week in Texas Politics.
The Source
Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
21 minutes ago
- New York Times
Fetterman Calls California Protests ‘Anarchy' as He Criticizes Democrats
Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania warned fellow Democrats that they could face a political backlash if they were seen as failing to sufficiently condemn acts of violence by protesters in Southern California, which local officials have said were limited. On Monday, he posted a photo on social media of a car engulfed in flames and a masked, shirtless person waving a Mexican flag. He suggested that Democrats — many of whom have in fact criticized acts of destruction or violence — should go further in denouncing unruly demonstrations. 'This is anarchy and true chaos,' he wrote. 'My party loses the moral high ground when we refuse to condemn setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and assaulting law enforcement.' Local officials in California have described the violence as limited, under control and exacerbated by President Trump's decision to federalize the National Guard and deploy troops over the governor's objection. 'I unapologetically stand for free speech, peaceful demonstrations, and immigration — but this is not that,' Mr. Fetterman wrote. 'This is anarchy and true chaos.' Mr. Fetterman, elected in 2022, has become one of the Democrats whom Republicans love to quote as he has broken with some of his party's orthodoxies. He checked himself into a hospital for depression early in his first year in office, and his mental health has recently been the subject of both concern and scrutiny. Democrats on Capitol Hill tried to shrug off his latest comments on Tuesday. 'Everyone is entitled to their opinion,' said Representative Yvette D. Clarke of New York, the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Some praise appeared to arrive, however, from Elon Musk, the owner of the social media site X, where Mr. Fetterman made his comment. Mr. Musk replied to the post with an American flag emoji.
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What the 'Big, Beautiful' tax bill means for municipal bonds
JPMorgan raised its forecast for municipal bond sales in 2025 to $560 billion as US lawmakers deliberate over President Trump's "big, beautiful" tax and spending bill in the Senate. Goldman Sachs Asset Management co-head of municipal fixed income Sylvia Yeh weighs in on what policy changes to the US tax code could mean for municipal bond investors, as well as valuation catalysts in comparison to Treasury yields (^TYX, ^TNX, ^FVX). Goldman Sachs manages several municipal bond ETFs (GMUB, GCAL, GMNY, GUMI). To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Catalysts here. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Meet the candidates in the runoff for the Board of Supervisors District 1 seat
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Two candidates remain in the special election race for the vacant seat on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors representing South County, and voting is already underway. The runoff for the empty District 1 seat, which was set after no candidate received enough votes to win outright earlier this year, pits two South Bay mayors against each other: Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre and Chula Vista Mayor John McCann. Both are vying to serve the remainder of the term former Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas abruptly vacated in the weeks after winning re-election. D1 Special Election: What to know | The Candidates | How to vote | More Stories Moreover, the race is going to be decisive in shaping majority control of the technically nonpartisan body the next few years. Republicans have the opportunity with McCann to take back the reins just four years after Democrats became the majority party at the county. Ballots were distributed to registered voters in District 1 last Monday, June 3 with early voting beginning via mail and drop-box shortly after. In-person vote centers will begin opening up on Saturday, June 21, ahead of the final day to vote on Tuesday, July 1. For those looking for more information on the race for a seat on the Board of Supervisors, here is an introduction to both remaining candidates. The Board of Supervisors has a wide array of responsibilities in presiding over the county, spanning executive, legislative and judicial powers. Its primary duty is to set policies for most county departments, which largely encompass public health and safety, and unincorporated areas. The board can also direct litigation on behalf of the county, appoint people to certain roles and commissions, and approve contracts for services. Similarly to other legislative offices, voting is based on districts, meaning residents are only able to vote for the candidate hoping to represent their area. To find out which district you live in, the county has a map showing the supervisorial district boundaries available on its website. Here are the candidates, listed in alphabetical order by last name: Paloma Aguirre is the current mayor of Imperial Beach. Since assuming the role in 2022, the Democrat's public profile as grown significantly, specifically for her stalwart advocacy on the Tijuana River sewage crisis. A first-generation Mexican American, Aguirre was born in San Francisco before her family returned to Mexico. In 2001, she moved back to the U.S. to attend University of San Diego, receiving a B.A. in Psychology. She also holds a Master of Advanced Studies in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. After graduating, she worked as a community organizer in south San Diego, focusing on issues tied to immigration, foreclosure and predatory lending. She also worked with the marine conservation nonprofit, WILDCOAST, before her election to Imperial Beach City Council. These issues that defined her pre-politics career are at the center of her campaign for higher office on the Board of Supervisors. Her priorities include addressing the sewage crisis, preventing rent gouging, bringing down homelessness, and 'holding the line on utility costs.' During a community forum earlier this year, Aguirre says she wants to work to ensure the county is carrying its weight on these issues, especially as it relates to the Tijuana River sewage crisis and homelessness. 'It's time we get our fair share from the county,' she said. According to her campaign, Aguirre has been endorsed by a number of major actors in local politics like the San Diego County Democratic Party, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, the Sierra Club, Equality California and a number of local union chapters. A coalition of several of these unions — like SEIU and the California Labor Federation AFL-CIO —have set up an independent political action committee in support of her campaign. County records show more than $590,000 has been raised by the PAC for outside spending, largely on mailers. Aguirre has also received a number of endorsements from elected officials, including: Senator Adam Schiff, Reps. Juan Vargas and Sara Jacobs, State Senator Steve Padilla, National City Mayor Ron Morrison, and San Diego County Supervisors Monica Montgomery Steppe and Terra Lawson Remer. Chula Vista City Councilmember Carolina Chavez, one of the other Democrats who ran for the District 1 seat, similarly endorsed her. John McCann is the current mayor of Chula Vista. The self-identified moderate Republican has been a fixture of Chula Vista local politics for more than two decades, having held various roles over the years since he first became an elected official in 2002. Born and raised in Chula Vista, McCann holds a bachelor's and master's in economics from San Diego State University. Prior to entering politics, McCann served in the U.S. Navy, deploying during the Iraq War. He also worked for the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. In a conversation with KUSI earlier this year, McCann touted his record throughout his tenure in Chula Vista city governance, describing his approach to issues like public safety, neighborhood improvements, traffic decongestion and small business growth as 'common sense.' Specifically, he points to the city's reduction in crime under changes to the police department like its new drone system and doubling of officer patrols, successes of its Homeless Outreach Team, and work to eventually remove the toll on State Route 125. Should be be elected to the District 1 seat, McCann says he would bring this pragmatic approach to the county, pursuing policies that expand wraparound services for unhoused people, tackle immigration, accelerate construction of for-sale, market-rate homes in unincorporated areas and steward its resources in a fiscally responsible way. 'We need to be able to look at what are important to us, preserve those, and look at other things that are 'nice to haves' and look at how we can cut those instead,' McCann said. McCann has been endorsed by a number of groups like the San Diego County Republican Party, Deputy Sheriffs' Association of San Diego, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Club of San Diego and the San Diego Association of Realtors, according to his campaign. He has also received the endorsement of a number of former and current elected officials, including Greg Cox, who held District 1 seat before Vargas; Supervisors Jim Desmond and Joel Anderson; County Assessor Jordan Marks; and State Senator Brian Jones, among others. As far as outside spending goes, two independent political action committees have been set up to expressly support McCann's candidacy, county campaign finance records show. Collectively, these committees have raised over $456,500 with donations mostly coming from organizations in and around real estate spaces, like the Southern California Housing Association and Building Industry Association of San Diego County, as well as the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and California Alliance of Family Owned Businesses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
