Latest news with #ThisWeekinTexasPolitics
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03-05-2025
- Business
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Texas bail reform, tariff turmoil, and possible THC ban: TWITP
The Brief Greg Abbott's bail reform plan, Trump's tariffs, and a possible THC ban These are some of the hot topics in This Week in Texas Politics AUSTIN, Texas - Members of the Texas House held a rare Friday session on May 2 in order to push out more bills before the session ends June 2. The frantic activity at the Texas Capitol is one of the many stories in This Week in Texas Politics. FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts discussed the big stories from This Week in Texas Politics. What they're saying RUDY KOSKI: It has been a barn burner of a week this week in Texas politics. Let's get the headlines from our panel, and we'll start first with Patrick Svitek with the Washington Post. Patrick, what's your headline for the week? PATRICK SVITEK: School vouchers, or school choice, as supporters call it has finally come into Texas after a very long political battle. RUDY KOSKI: Brad Johnson with the Texan News. Brad, what's your headline for the week? BRAD JOHNSON: It's crunch time in the Texas Legislature. RUDY KOSKI: And business analyst, Annie Spilman, what is your headline of the week. ANNIE SPILMAN: One month in legislative session. RUDY KOSKI: Governor Greg Abbott spent much of the week, teeing up, trying to free up his bail reform idea. House Democrats reportedly have it all locked down for the time being as payback for the passage of school choice. Brad, could a deal be hatched in the back room? Do you feel something's happening? BRAD JOHNSON: There are definitely negotiations going on. You know, there are Democratic members that are whipping votes, trying to get enough support for this, contingent upon them getting some sort of deal in exchange for something else or deal on the bail amendment itself. RUDY KOSKI: The new Lyceum poll came out this week with the top three issues being immigration, the rising problem with prices, inflation and border security. The poll showed an improvement in how people view their economic situation. Annie, I think that that has a lot to do with the lower gas prices right now. ANNIE SPILMAN: Listen, for small businesses in particular, uncertainty is so crippling. It's the enemy of entrepreneurship. It's a scary time right now. RUDY KOSKI: Well, the online verbal boxing match continued this week between Senator John Cornyn and his party rival, Ken Paxton. Meanwhile, fellow Republican Congressman Wesley Hunt continues to flirt with the idea of running for Cornyn's seat. What's going on with Wesley Hunt? PATRICK SVITEK: Yeah, Hunt and his allies politically are definitely trying to keep his options open in the context of this current Senate race. I think to them, they look at him as a solution to this kind of complex political puzzle you have here. RUDY KOSKI: Election reform certainly is a hot topic under the Capitol Dome. A bill by former Speaker Dade Phelan that cracks down on deep fake political ads move forward. Brad, his detractors, tried to claim that this bill was all about squelching free speech, going after nasty memes. BRAD JOHNSON: Now there is a question about how the bill's current makeup and how broad it is and if it would encompass anyone who posted a meme and then spent money to boost it on social media. I think that's a fair question. RUDY KOSKI: Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick was in Washington D.C. On Thursday. President Trump has picked him to head up a commission on religious liberty. This comes after the House had a marathon hearing here in Austin that included a bill allowing the posting of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. ANNIE SPILMAN: Unfortunately, these issues have now sort of taken over a lot of the time. It's burning up the clock and some of the real policy issues that we need to get done we might not get done and in Texas we have to wait another two years. RUDY KOSKI: An interesting compromise in the works at the state capital regarding THC products. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick wants to ban most of those products. Business groups want to say hang on, there are some ways, let's just regulate them. BRAD JOHNSON: Lot of wrinkles to that, questions about whether it can even survive on the House floor with parliamentary rules and points of order. ANNIE SPILMAN: From what I've been told, this is sort of a workaround ban. We're not completely done. There's still language that could be worked on the House floor. They still potentially could go to a conference committee. PATRICK SVITEK: Big picture politically. I do think it is this debate over THC in Texas is a little bit of a re-emergence of that social conservatism. Social conservatist has kind of been, I would argue, a little on the decline in the Trump era, just given that Trump, if not in his policies, in his style, isn't exactly a moral crusader. RUDY KOSKI: You can watch this full discussion on the Fox 7 YouTube page, but let's wrap up this discussion with one word for the week, and Patrick, we'll begin with you. What's your word for this week? PATRICK SVITEK: Tariffs, because it was top of mind from the last conversation. BRAD JOHNSON: Well, it's two, but one month. ANNIE SPILMAN: It wouldn't describe this week, but I'd be hopeful for, Compromise. RUDY KOSKI: And that is This Week in Texas Politics. The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas school choice plan, education funding approved: TWITP
The Brief Big topics in "This Week in Texas Politics" included the school choice plan and education funding legislation FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts discussed that and other hot topics this week. AUSTIN, Texas - In "This Week in Texas Politics," the big story was the passage of Gov. Abbott's school choice plan and education funding legislation. FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts discussed that and other hot topics this week. The full discussion by the panel is on the FOX 7 YouTube page. That discussion includes the upcoming 2026 political primaries. What they're saying RUDY KOSKI: "This Week in Texas Politics closed out with a lot of fireworks underneath the Capitol dome. Let's get the headlines from our panel and we'll begin first with Harvey Kronberg from the Quorum Report. Harvey, what's your headline for the week?" HARVEY KRONBERG: "Intimidation works." RUDY KOSKI: "Brad Johnson with The Texan News. What's your headline?" BRAD JOHNSON: "Abbott's long-awaited win finally realized." RUDY KOSKI: "And business analyst, Annie Spilman. What's your headline for the week?" ANNIE SPILMAN: "Property tax relief measures progress through the legislature." RUDY KOSKI: "The big news of the week, of course, being that on Thursday, Team Abbott getting the win with his school choice plan finally clearing the Texas House. Harvey, you know the fix was in long before this session even began. Do you think that the Democrats just missed an opportunity by digging in?" HARVEY KRONBERG: "I think once the President weighed in, whatever Republican support they had evaporated, the only question for the Speaker was how to navigate a way to let them at least get their votes on record. But there was no room left for negotiation." RUDY KOSKI: "The other big vote of the week was HB 2, the education funding plan passing with little opposition. Public education supporters say the amount is good, but not good enough to keep pace with inflation. Brad, Robin Hood is still alive. You know, what reforms caught your eye that you think really may make a difference? BRAD JOHNSON: "The one that caught my eye, whether anything else though, is we may have talked about this before, but the classroom discipline bill." ANNIE SPILMAN: "From a business perspective, I think many don't realize that this legislation also addressed workforce development." RUDY KOSKI: "Next topic. The Trump administration pulled a big grant that was to help build the Houston to Dallas bullet train. Those against the project celebrated that move, but Thursday, the new owners of Texas Central told the House Transportation Committee, the project is still alive. Brad, this fight has always been about somewhat of a property rights fight, right?" BRAD JOHNSON: "I think it's, there's two sides of it. There's the property rights and then there's just paying for the dang thing. You know, it's so expensive. That's why they needed federal funding. And you look all across the country and massive transit plans like this are running into problems because they're so expensive, it's just difficult to do." RUDY KOSKI: "Annie, why do Republicans hate trains?" ANNIE SPILMAN: "You know, Texas and land and eminent domain and people coming to take their land and you've got especially in rural areas, that's a line in the sand." HARVEY KRONBERG: "Rural representation was always able to block any kind of high-speed rail, but their numbers are dwindling, and a lot of these rural districts are turning suburban. And so, I think the writing is ultimately on the wall, but the funding is going to be the critical thing." RUDY KOSKI: "Lights, camera, action. The Senate this week sent to the House a $500 million bill to help attract film and TV productions to Texas. Annie, you were at the committee hearing in the Senate a couple of weeks ago when Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson testified. But some so-called conservatives are against it. What's your read on SB 22's fate next week in the House hearing?" ANNIE SPILMAN: "Listen, this helps support small businesses and local communities like our local florists, restaurants, caterers, print shops, and so on. So, I think anyone that would oppose this seems to have sort of a microscopic view on this and not really looking at ultimately the trickle-down effect on what this could do for Texas communities. RUDY KOSKI: "An ugly floor fight broke out at the State House Thursday before the school reform votes took place and involved a memorial resolution for the late Cecile Richards, who once led Planned Parenthood. That abortion debate really wasn't on my bingo card, but there are some pending bills, action in committee on some abortion issues. Brad, does Thursday floor fight kind of foreshadow some problems with those bills?" BRAD JOHNSON: "I think it shows two things. First of all, it's a retribution for a couple of things that happened on budget night, or back on the rules. But then I think there is actually a coordinated opposition to the Speaker on certain things." ANNIE SPILMAN: "This sets a really bad precedent. You know, these Memorial Bills are sacred resolutions that memorialize lives. They are really things that were untouchable as far as partisan issues." HARVEY KRONBERG: "We've essentially got two weeks left for Bills to be set and heard in committee and we're approaching a choke point here right now and we just went to DEF CON 3, if not DEFCON 4." RUDY KOSKI: "Think that this was the fight of the session there, Brad, and that everything else is going to be kind of maybe smooth sailing?" BRAD JOHNSON: "No, I don't think so, but I will say this this does provide an interesting test of the Speaker's metal." RUDY KOSKI: In the battle for Senator John Cornyn's U.S. Senate seat, on Friday Ken Paxton posted on social media a list of people endorsing him. That list includes Austin defense attorney Adam Loewy. While Loewy's name is eye-catching, state Senator Joan Huffman's name also came up Friday. She may become a possible contender to replace Paxton as Attorney General. BRAD JOHNSON: "I think the most interesting thing to me is the attorney general's race. That is going to be fascinating to watch. Mays Middleton obviously jumped in, announced with $10 million of his own commitment. John Bash is already in." HARVEY KRONBERG: "I can toss in a name that just surfaced the last couple of days for attorney general. That's Joan Huffman. She is Senate Finance chair, and it would be a free ride for her. BRAD JOHNSON: "Harvey, I just talked to her on the phone this morning, and she said she was seriously considering it." ANNIE SPILMAN: "Some other ones that I've heard that might drop; George P. Bush. Eva Guzman. Brandon Creighton, his name has been thrown out there. Chip Roy and one that you kind of are hearing up and down, Mitch Little. He is a new state Rep and he was involved in the Paxton and impeachment trial (on the Defense Team)." RUDY KOSKI: "Brad, I think last week you had mentioned that this is going to be possibly a reshuffling period for the Republicans here in Texas. You still thinking that?" BRAD JOHNSON: "Well, yeah, I mean, there's been pent-up energy for three cycles for three terms at the statewide level because nobody's left. Well, now some people are leaving. Paxton running for Senate. (former Texas Comptroller) Hager going to A&M." ANNIE SPILMAN: "You know, I think right now, the minute you start hearing rumors about statewide and then who might throw their name in the hat there, you start seeing movement in the state Senate, and then there's rumors about who from the House is in that Senate district and who's going to move up there." HARVEY KRONBERG: "The candidate most people want to see is Brian Harrison, decide to run for Congress and leave the House of Representatives. That would have near universal support. " RUDY KOSKI: "Let's wrap things up with one final word. Can you believe it? One final word for this week. All right, guys, let's try it. Harvey, what's your one word?" HARVEY KRONBERG: "I'm going to go back to tariffs." ANNIE SPILMAN: "Reflective." BRAD JOHNSON: "Abbott." RUDY KOSKI: "And with that, we're wrapping up another Week in Texas Politics." The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ken Paxton's Senate run, state budget, and Texas DOGE: TWITP
The Brief Big topics this week: Ken Paxton's Senate run, a new state budget, and Texas DOGE FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts discuss the big stories from This Week in Texas Politics AUSTIN, Texas - Texas House members worked into the early morning hours to finalize their version of a new state budget. The marathon debate capped off an intense week. FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts discuss the big stories from This Week in Texas Politics. Local perspective RUDY KOSKI: Big votes and some big decisions dominating This Week in Texas Politics. Let's get the headlines from our panel, and we'll start with Philip Jankowski with the Dallas Morning News. Philip, what's your headline for the week? PHILIP JANKOWSKI: Yeah, Paxton's Senate run sets off party battles. RUDY KOSKI: Political analyst Karina Kling, what's your headline for the week? KARINA KLING: I'll stick to that same theme. Get ready for a nasty Senate primary between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton. RUDY KOSKI: Brian Smith with St. Edward's University. Give me a headline. BRIAN SMITH: Not going to change much. Attorney General Ken Paxton wants to be your next senator. RUDY KOSKI: Early Friday morning, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick announced that he doesn't plan on changing jobs he's running for reelection. But another high-profile Republican is trying to change jobs, Attorney General Ken Paxton, as expected, announcing that he will challenge Senator John Cornyn for the GOP nomination for chair. Philip, no surprise, this one, as everyone's mentioned, has gotten ugly fast. PHILIP JANKOWSKI: Obviously, no love lost between these two. I can remember a tweet, I think we all can remember this one that John Cornyn put out when Ken Paxton was needling him and Cornyn said, essentially, hard to run for Senate from prison, Ken. RELATED:Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announces Trump-endorsed re-election campaign BRIAN SMITH: I think the key to the race though is, who does Donald Trump support? RELATED:Ken Paxton announced bid for Senate; John Cornyn responds KARINA KLING: I think that it's interesting because Trump needs him. Cornyn's trying to get his agenda over the finish line there in the Senate and moving that agenda. He's got the support of national Republicans coming out in support of him early on for Cornyn. And I think when Trump does endorse, it's not going to be until late in this primary. RUDY KOSKI: The Texas House worked into the early morning of Friday, plowing through its big budget bill. There were a lot of amendments, more than 400, and a lot ended up in a trash can called Article 11. There was talk about defunding the lottery, taking money away from the economic development and tourism office in the governor's office. Brian, was there anything in the debate that surprised you? BRIAN SMITH: I think the commitment to fund border security is something that I was surprised survived because I thought Texas was going to try to move that to the federal level and get reimbursed for the money. RUDY KOSKI: Ah, but we did have a little political drama before that budget debate began and a little political nose tweaking. It involved Representative Brian Harrison. He put up a motion to unseat Speaker Burrows and he only got two votes. Philip, certainly an embarrassment for Harrison, but does this solidify the position for Burrows? PHILIP JANKOWSKI: Yeah, I think it does solidify his position, or at the least shows that everybody's moved on past this. An embarrassment. Maybe in the Chamber, people think Brian Harrison is an embarrassment. But Brian Harrison pretty much got what he wanted. RUDY KOSKI: Well, it looks like legislation to create a new Texas Regulation Oversight Agency will be the first major bill that's going to be sent to the governor's desk for his signature in this session. But, Karina, the Republicans have been in control of state government for a very long time. Is this just an indictment against them that they've blown management? KARINA KLING: I noticed, you know, we were talking about Brian Harrison and speaking of him, he was the only Republican to vote with Democrats against this. And he was saying just what you're mentioning there, that it's a power grab and expands government. So it's going to be an interesting kind of the give and take on this moving forward. RUDY KOSKI: Let's circle back now to Ken Paxton's bid for the Senate. His decision means that he's not going to seek reelection as Attorney General. Republican John Bash is the first Republican to jump in. Karina, this creates an open seat, open opportunity for the Democrats. KARINA KLING: Yeah, I mean, this is going to be a competitive primary in Texas for sure. It could really reset Republican politics here in Texas. RELATED:Former U.S. Attorney John Bash announced bid for Texas Attorney General PHILIP JANKOWSKI: They are teeing up, what could be a pretty, you know a pretty contested election with a Trump, you know Mid-Term election coming up. BRIAN SMITH: There's going to be a lot of pressure for the Democrats to put their best top candidates at the top of the ticket. But I think if they really focus on the AG position, this is how they could get their foot in the door. RUDY KOSKI: You can see the full discussion on the FOX 7 YouTube page and also on FOX Local, but let's wrap things up with one word for the week, and we'll start with Karina. What's your word for the week? KARINA KLING:Sleep. RUDY KOSKI:Brian, what's your word for the week? BRIAN SMITH: Budget. RUDY KOSKI: Philip, give me your word for the week. PHILIP JANKOWSKI: Oh man, I think I said Tariffs last week, so this week I'll say Terrified. RUDY KOSKI:And that is This Week in Texas Politics. The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski and previous coverage
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas Lottery investigation, latest in legislative session: TWITP
The Brief The Texas Lottery investigation and the latest discussions in the legislative session were hot topics in This Week in Texas Politics FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts have a look at some of the top stories this week. AUSTIN, Texas - This Week in Texas Politcs we saw several top issues that could turn into big fights, and a few topics that seemed to come out of left field. FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts have a look at some of the top stories this week. Local perspective RUDY KOSKI: It was an extremely busy week This Week in Texas Politics. Let's get our headlines now from our panel. And we begin first with Patrick. Svitek with the Washington Post. Patrick, what's your headline? PATRICK SVITEK: Well, here in Washington, it was another suspenseful and dramatic week for President Trump's legislative agenda. That's my headline. RUDY KOSKI: Brad Johnson with the Texan. Brad, what's your headline? BRAD JOHNSON: Meet the new legislature's whipping boy and the Texas Lottery Commission. Local perspective RUDY KOSKI: Well, a lottery reform bill did move out of the Texas Senate and to the House this week. But did the lotto avoid getting defunded or is it just game over for the lotto? Brad, what do you think? BRAD JOHNSON: I don't think this is going away. I don't think the lottery commission is going to be sunsetted, but we might see some substantial changes in the Sunset Bill that they are currently under right now. They need to get renewed by the legislature in order to keep going. And if they don't, well, you know, that's, that's it. PATRICK SVITEK: But something that has stood out to me, just watching it from a distance is how this does not bode well, you know, just I think, atmospherically, for the efforts to expand gambling in Texas. Local perspective RUDY KOSKI: Support in the House, we got that confirmed now for school choice. But the question is, is a which plan? Brad, the House has got a plan. The Senate's got a plan. They're not the same. Is that trouble? BRAD JOHNSON: Well, I actually don't think this is the top candidate for calling a special session. I think that's bail reform, whether that can get across the line in the House. But on this issue specifically, I think we get something. They're going to have to figure out. There's no bridging that gap. They go with one or the go with the other. Maybe there's some other, other creative way to do this. But yeah, it's not across the line yet. There's a lot of negotiating to happen. This thing is definitely going to conference committee. RUDY KOSKI: On Capitol Hill and D.C. The House passed its big budget reform bill. Some members of the Texas congressional delegation are catching a little heat on how they voted. Patrick, who stays on that hot seat? PATRICK SVITEK: One of the most controversial parts of it was its instructions for federal spending cuts to a House committee that oversees Medicaid. Some vulnerable Republicans who voted for this said that they weren't voting for it to support cuts to Medicaid. And so when you talk about vulnerable Republicans in Texas, you're thinking about someone like Congresswoman Monica de la Cruz and South Texas and then some vulnerable Democrats who opposed this, were attacked for Republicans for being in favor of raising taxes. RUDY KOSKI: We saw the return of drag show bans another DEI ban discussion and a package of parental right's Bills at the Texas Capitol. You know, guys, do all these Bills or just some of these Bills make it to the governor? What do you think, Brad? BRAD JOHNSON: Yeah, you probably see most of them make it to the governor. But the question has always is, what do they look like when they finally make it to his desk? RUDY KOSKI: And the biggest devil of a detail is defining what DEI is. Patrick, do you think that at some point in time, someone's really got to just sit down and say, this is what DEI is and get away from this broad definition? PATRICK SVITEK: You know, I agree, there's certainly a definition that could be up for debate there. You've seen some institutions and Republicans have tried to call them out on this. You've seen some institutions realize how politically vulnerable they've become from just using those words they've tried to reclassify or re describe some of those positions just to get away from that language. And that's upset some Republicans even more. RUDY KOSKI: Political Running Back Ken Paxton suited up and is taking on the NCAA this week. He wants a court to order the organization to revise its transgender rule and immediately start screening the sex of student athletes. Brad, who wins this fight? BRAD JOHNSON: Well, I think ultimately right now, the Republicans and Paxton probably do. But I heard there's I heard rumblings of some controversy between the White House and the Attorney General or other random activists like Riley Gaines on this issue. PATRICK SVITEK: But there are, you know, steps you can take, like this latest lawsuit by Paxton that could make it look like you're trying to, you know, steal some of the glory from the White House or try to push their policies a little further in terms of interpretation. RUDY KOSKI: Certainly, a lot of political grenades being tossed and one of the most recent grenades landed here in Austin. HB2 74 was filed this week that would create Austin, DC. But Patrick, didn't we learn a lesson with Washington, D.C., that that's not exactly a good idea. PATRICK SVITEK: Yeah, I mean, obviously, Republicans, state leaders and lawmakers in Texas have dreamed forever about having more control over Austin. As Rick Perry called it, I think, the blueberry and the tomato soup or something like that. But this idea of having a district controlled by the state still seems a little unrealistic to me. Local perspective RUDY KOSKI: All right, you can catch this discussion, our full discussion on FOX 7 YouTube and Fox Local. But let's wrap it up now with our final word for the week. And we'll begin with Brad Johnson. BRAD JOHNSON: Budget. PATRICK SVITEK: I'll say Medicaid, as an extension of that budget fight, because that was the most politically hot issue this week in D.C. RUDY KOSKI: And that is This Week in Texas Politics. The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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
