11 special session priorities, no ERCOT in sight and election integrity bill at forefront

AUSTIN – When Texas Governor Greg Abbott called a special session in Austin to begin last Thursday one item that was glaringly missing was the power grid issue.

One issue that was glaringly on the list was the election integrity bill.

Starting with ERCOT, it is an issue Texans might want more information about since if one remembers back in February when ERCOT mentioned the reason they failed in the cold temperatures was because they had Texans’ backs when it came to the hotter months.

Fast forward to very recently when Texans were requested to turn up their air conditioning  because of more failures during the summer months.

Abbott has reportedly told the Public Utility Commission to call for solar and wind powered generators to compensate customers after this past winter’s calamity as well as create maintenance schedules and to development connections for new and existing power plants, the results of his actions Texans won’t see during this special session.

In a statement released last week by Abbott he said this week “Two of my emergency items, along with other important legislation, did not make it to my desk during the regular session, and we have a responsibility to finish the job on behalf of all Texans. These Special Session priority items put the people of Texas first and will keep the Lone Star State on a path to prosperity. I look forward to working with my partners in the Legislature to pass this legislation as we build a brighter future for all who call Texas home.”

The question still remains however, what about those Texans who were negatively affected during the winter storm due to ERCOT’s inability to keep Texans warm.

As a side note Abbott also has the ability to continue to call additional special sessions as needed.

The governor outlined 11 priorities he thought needed addressing including election integrity, which some call the voter suppression bill as well as critical race theory; border security; bail reform; social media censorship; article X funding; family violence prevention; youth sports; abortion-inducing drugs; thirteenth check; appropriations matters involving property-tax relief, enhanced protection for the safety of children in Texas’ foster-care system by attracting and retaining private providers for the system and a better safeguard the state from potential cybersecurity threats.

As for the top items on his list of 11 the election integrity bill has received increased media coverage this week when in a statement released by the Texas House Democratic Caucus it stated Texas House Democrats left the state and broke quorum to fight back against state Republicans’ continued attacks on Texans’ freedom to vote.

Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Chris Turner, Mexican American Legislative Caucus Chair Rafael Anchía, Texas Legislative Black Caucus Chair Nicole Collier, Legislative Study Group Caucus Chair Garnet Coleman and Dean Senfronia Thompson released the following statement on the decision to break quorum Monday afternoon.

“Today, Texas House Democrats stand united in our decision to break quorum and refuse to let the Republican-led legislature force through dangerous legislation that would trample on Texans’ freedom to vote.

“We are now taking the fight to our nation’s Capitol. We are living on borrowed time in Texas. We need Congress to act now to pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act to protect Texans – and all Americans – from the Trump Republicans’ nationwide war on democracy.”

Governor Abbott also released a statement Monday regarding the Texas House Democrat’s Decision “Texas Democrats’ decision to break a quorum of the Texas Legislature and abandon the Texas State Capitol inflicts harm on the very Texans who elected them to serve. As they fly across the country on cushy private planes, they leave undone issues that can help their districts and our state.

The Democrats must put aside partisan political games and get back to the job they were elected to do. Their constituents must not be denied these important resources simply because their elected representative refused to show up to work.”

In a statement last week by Turner he said “The governor’s agenda for the special session shows he is more concerned with pandering to die-hard Trump supporters and right-wing extremists than he is with serving everyday Texans. Abbott’s agenda proves one thing: he is clearly panicked about his upcoming primary election.”

Turner went on to say “We have real crises in this state –  hundreds of Texans died because the governor couldn’t keep the heat on last February, millions of Texans are still unable to access basic medical care and our COVID-19 vaccination rates have plateaued. That’s what a real leader would focus on.”

Also late last week State Representative Carl Sherman said he believed there is much to be done and said of the upcoming session,

“We must pray without ceasing for Washington to pass the John Lewis Act now, if not they are leaving Texans under a governance of confederacy.”

With 11 items on Abbott’s list and a month to get it all done unless a second special session is called, as of Monday no one was sure what was next in regard to Abbott’s priorities.

“The growth of our state should not be a threat to any party unless the party’s agenda is not inclusive of those citizens,” Sherman concluded. “Any legislative priorities that aim to take us back to a time by suppressing the vote should be rebuked by all voters Republicans or Democrats. Let the people vote. This is not your great great grandfather’s ballot.”