Spotlight on a framer of the U.S. Constitution: Rufus King.

- Click here for the Wikipedia entry.

Early Life: 

He was born on March 24, 1755, at Scarborough, which was then a part of Massachusetts but is now in the state of Maine.[1] He was a son of Isabella (Bragdon) and Richard King, a prosperous farmer-merchant, "lumberman, and sea captain"[1] who had settled at Dunstan Landing in Scarborough, near Portland, Maine, and had made a modest fortune by 1755, the year Rufus was born. His financial success aroused the jealousy of his neighbors, and when the Stamp Act 1765 was imposed, and rioting became almost respectable, a mob ransacked his house and destroyed most of the furniture. Nobody was punished, and the next year the mob burned down his barn.[2] This statement proves true as John Adams once referenced this moment discussing limitations of the "mob" for the Constitutional Convention writing a letter to his wife Abigail and describing the scene as:

I am engaged in a famous Cause: The Cause of King, of Scarborough vs. a Mob, that broke into his House, and rifled his Papers, and terrifyed him, his Wife, Children and Servants in the Night. The Terror, and Distress, the Distraction and Horror of this Family cannot be described by Words or painted upon Canvass. It is enough to move a Statue, to melt an Heart of Stone, to read the Story....[3] It was not surprising that Richard King became a Loyalist. All of his sons, however, became patriots in the American War of Independence.

For more about his family

- Captain Richard King. 
- Mary King (Stowell).
- David Sowell.
- John King.

Also:

- FENDING CHAOS: THE EARLY YEARS OF RUFUS KING, FORGOTTEN FOUNDER.
- The King Family.
- Rufus King Family Tree.

The U.S. Constitutional Convention 5/25 - 5/31

Mostly for myself, but follow along if you wish. 

- Click here for the source.

May 25, 28, 29:

- Quorum reached. Rules established.

May 30: Met as committee of the whole.

- Three proposals introduced: 

“1. That a union of the States merely federal will not accomplish the objects proposed by the Articles of Confederation, namely, common defence, security of liberty, and general welfare.

“2. That no treaty or treaties among the whole or part of the States, as individual sovereignties, would be sufficient.

“3. That a national government ought to be established, consisting of a supreme Legislative, Executive and Judiciary.”

As voted on: 

“that a national government ought to be established, consisting of a supreme Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary,”

— Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, aye — 6; Connecticut, no — 1; New York, divided (Colonel HAMILTON, aye, Mr. YATES, no).

Discussed, but did not vote on: whether representation should be based on population or the amount of each State’s financial contribution.

May 31: 

- The third Resolution, “that the National Legislature ought to consist of two branches,” was agreed to without debate, or dissent, except that of Pennsylvania, — given probably from complaisance to Doctor FRANKLIN, who was understood to be partial to a single house of legislation.

- On the question [fourth resolution] for an election of the first branch of the National Legislature by the people, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, aye — 6; New Jersey, South Carolina, no — 2; Connecticut, Delaware, divided.

- the fifth Resolution, that the second [or senatorial] branch of the National Legislature ought to be chosen by the first branch, out of persons nominated by the State Legislatures. — Massachusetts, Virginia, South Carolina, aye — 3; Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, Georgia, no — 7.

- The sixth Resolution, stating the cases in which the National Legislature ought to legislate, was next taken into discussion. On the question whether each branch should originate laws, there was an unanimous affirmative, without debate. On the question for transferring all the legislative powers of the existing Congress to this assembly, there was also an unanimous affirmative, without debate.

- On the proposition for giving legislative power in all cases to which the State Legislatures were individually incompetent, — Mr. PINCKNEY and Mr. RUTLEDGE objected to the vagueness of the term “incompetent,” and said they could not well decide how to vote until they should see an exact enumeration of the powers comprehended by this definition. - On the question for giving powers, in cases to which the States are not competent — Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, aye — 9; Connecticut, divided, ( SHERMAN, no, ELLSWORTH, aye.)

- The other clauses, giving powers necessary to preserve harmony among the States, to negative all State laws contravening, in the opinion of the National Legislature, the Articles of Union, down to the last clause, (the words, “or any treaties subsisting under the authority of the Union,” being added after the words “contravening, &c. the Articles of the Union,” on motion of Doctor FRANKLIN) were agreed to without debate or dissent.

- The last clause of the sixth Resolution, authorizing an exertion of the force of the whole against a delinquent State, came next into consideration. He hoped that such a system would be framed as might render this resource unnecessary, and moved that the clause be postponed. This motion was agreed to.

Spoken by Elbridge Gerry in the Constitutional Convention on May 31

The evils we experience flow from the excess of democracy. The people do not want virtue, but are the dupes of pretended patriots. In Massachusetts it had been fully confirmed by experience, that they are daily misled into the most baneful measures and opinions, by the false reports circulated by designing men, and which no one on the spot can refute. One principal evil arises from the want of due provision for those employed in the administration of government. It would seem to be a maxim of democracy to starve the public servants. He mentioned the popular clamor in Massachusetts for the reduction of salaries, and the attack made on that of the Governor, though secured by the spirit of the Constitution itself. He had, he said, been too republican heretofore: he was still, however, republican; but had been taught by experience the danger of the levelling spirit.

 - Click here for the course.

Lecture: Fiscal Size-Up - Health and Human Services

 - Click here for it.

Lecture: Fiscal Size-Up - Agencies of Education

 - Click here for it.

From the Texas Tribune: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sets July 8 date for special legislative session on voting bill, other issues

For a look at the powers of the governor.

- Click here for the article. 

Gov. Greg Abbott has set a special session of the Texas Legislature starting July 8, his office announced Tuesday.

Abbott’s office did not specify what legislative priorities will be included on the special session agenda and said in an advisory that such items “will be announced prior to the convening of the special session.”

Abbott has already said that he plans to ask state lawmakers to work on two priority elections and bail bills that died in the final hours of the regular legislative session after House Democrats walked out of the chamber.

More recently, Abbott has said the agenda for the Legislature’s overtime round will also include further restricting in schools the teaching of critical race theory, which refers to an academic discipline that explores the role racism plays in institutions and structures of governance. And during a teletownhall with supporters Tuesday evening, Abbott said he would add a call for legislation that would prevent certain social media companies from blocking or banning users based on their viewpoints. Legislation that sought to do so died during the regular session.

The GOP priority elections bill, known during the regular session as Senate Bill 7, was a sweeping piece of legislation that would have created new limitations to early voting hours and curbed local voting options like drive-thru voting, among other things.

Key terms: 

- special session
- governor
- legislature
- quorum
- elections
- bail reform
- federal funds
- state budget
- line-item veto
- lieutenant governor
- speaker of the house
- ballot

Lecture: Fiscal Size-Up - Natural Resources

- Click here for it. 

Lecture: Fiscal Size-Up - Regulatory Agencies

- Click here for it. 

Lecture: Fiscal Size-Up - Business and Economic Development

- Click here for it. 

Lecture: Fiscal Size-Up - Public Safety and Criminal Justice

- Click here for it.

The 21 vetoed bills

 SB 813 Relating to the insurance premium tax credit for the certified rehabilitation of certified historic structures. Veto

HB 686 Relating to the release on parole of certain inmates convicted of an offense committed when younger than 18 years of age; changing parole eligibility. Veto

HB 787 Relating to conditions of community supervision prohibiting contact with certain persons. Veto

HB 1193 Relating to the jurisdiction of a juvenile court over certain persons and to the sealing and nondisclosure of certain juvenile records. Veto

HB 1240 Relating to the offense of failure to comply with an order from a fire marshal and the authority of certain county employees to issue citations for certain violations; changing a criminal penalty. Veto

HB 1477 Relating to performance and payment bonds for public work contracts on public property leased to a nongovernmental entity. Veto

HB 1544 Relating to the eligibility of land to continue to be appraised for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land if the land is temporarily used for sand mining operations; authorizing a fee. Veto

HB 2448 Relating to the verification of the incarceration of an accused person in a criminal case for the purpose of discharging a surety's liability on a bail bond. Veto

HB 2667 Relating to universal service fund assistance to high cost rural areas and the uniform charge that funds the universal service fund. Veto

HB 2803 Relating to a commercial landlord's or tenant's remedies regarding certain unlawful activities in a multiunit commercial property. Veto

HB 3135 Relating to the powers and duties, authority to issue bonds, and authority to impose a tax of the SH130 Municipal Management District No. 1. Veto

HB 3207 Relating to preventing the loss of benefits by certain retirees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas who resume service during a declared disaster. Veto

HB 4218 Relating to a cause of action for the bad faith washout of an overriding royalty interest in an oil and gas lease. Veto

SB 1 General Appropriations Bill.
Line item veto. Veto

SB 36 Relating to creation of a higher education task force focused on mental health services and the offense of hazing. Veto
SB 237 Relating to the issuance of a citation for a criminal trespass offense punishable as a Class B misdemeanor. Veto

SB 281 Relating to the use of hypnotically induced testimony in a criminal trial.

SB 474 Relating to the unlawful restraint of a dog; creating a criminal offense. Veto

SB 1109 Relating to requiring public schools to provide instruction and materials and adopt policies relating to the prevention of child abuse, family violence, and dating violence. Veto

SB 1458 Relating to standardized forms and materials for the issuance of protective orders, magistrate's orders for emergency protection, and temporary ex parte orders. Veto

SB 1772 Relating to the establishment of the Texas Pollinator-Smart program for solar energy sites. Veto

From the Legislative Reference Library of Texas: Bill vetoed by Governor Abbott

There are 21 of them.

- Click here for the list.

And click here for a complete list of vetoed bill dating back to 1846.

From the House Research Organization: Analysis of HB 3979

- Click here for it.

The Details: 

C.S.H.B. 3979 amends the Education Code to require the State Board of Education (SBOE), in adopting state social studies curriculum standards, to adopt essential knowledge and skills that develop each student's civic knowledge, including an understanding of the following:

· the fundamental moral, political, and intellectual foundations of the American experiment in self-government;

· the history, qualities, traditions, and features of civic engagement in the United States;

· the structure, function, and processes of government institutions at the federal, state, and local levels; and

· the founding documents of the United States, including the following:

o the Declaration of Independence;

o the U.S. Constitution;

o the Federalist Papers, including Essays 10 and 51;

o excerpts from Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America;

o the transcript of the first Lincoln-Douglas Debate; and

o the writings of the founding fathers of the United States.



The bill requires the SBOE to review and revise, as needed, the curriculum standards not later than December 31, 2022. The bill's provisions relating to the adoption of state curriculum standards apply beginning with the 2022-2023 school year.

C.S.H.B. 3979, with respect to courses in the social studies curriculum in Texas history, United States history, world history, government, civics, social studies, or similar subject areas, does the following:

· prohibits a state agency, public school district, or open-enrollment charter school from accepting private funding for the purpose of developing a curriculum, purchasing or selecting curriculum materials, or providing teacher training or professional development for such a course;

· prohibits a teacher from being compelled to discuss current events or widely debated and currently controversial issues of public policy or social affairs;

· requires a teacher who chooses to discuss such events or issues, to the best of the teacher's ability, to strive to explore those topics from diverse and contending perspectives without giving deference to any one perspective;

· prohibits a district, charter school, or teacher from requiring, making part of a course, or awarding a grade or course credit for the following:

o a student's work for, affiliation with, or service learning in association with any organization engaged in lobbying for legislation at the federal, state, or local level or in social or public policy advocacy;

o a student's political activism, lobbying, or efforts to persuade members of the legislative or executive branch to take specific actions by direct communication at the federal, state, or local level; or

o a student's participation in any practicum or similar activity involving social or public policy advocacy;

· prohibits an employee of a state agency, district, or charter school from being required to engage in training, orientation, or therapy that presents any form of race or sex stereotyping or blame on the basis of race or sex; and

· prohibits an employee of a state agency, district, or charter school from requiring or making part of a course the following concepts:

o one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex;

o an individual, by virtue of the individual's race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously;

o an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of the individual's race or sex;

o members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex;

o an individual's moral character is necessarily determined by the individual's race or sex;

o an individual, by virtue of the individual's race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex;

o an individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of the individual's race or sex; or

o meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by members of a particular race to oppress members of another race.

The bill's provisions relating to courses in the social studies curriculum and private funding apply beginning with the 2021-2022 school year.

From Texas Tribune: Texas teachers and students, tell us how race and racism are taught in school

 - Click here for it.

After the systemic racism in American institutions was thrust into the spotlight last year, Texas lawmakers approved a controversial bill that restricts how teachers can talk about race and current events in public schools.

House Bill 3979 says that teachers can’t be compelled to discuss current events, and if they do, they must explore them without giving “deference to any one perspective.” It bars them from making civic engagement part of a course. The bill also emphasizes the teaching of “founding documents” and bans teaching about “The 1619 Project,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning project from The New York Times that examines the influence of slavery and racial exploitation throughout America’s history.

Teachers have raised concerns about this legislation. Some consider it an effort to “whitewash” history while others worry it may have a chilling effect on teachers who want to teach history, English, science, math or music in a way that encourages critical thinking.

We’re working on a series of projects about how teachers and students teach and learn about race in Texas, what more needs to be done and what barriers the legislation may pose. Fill out the form below, and we’ll be in touch.

- Click here for detail about HB 3979. 

- Click here for the bill analysis.

Lecture: Module on Public Policy

A preview of the last three chapters we will cover this semester.

- Click here for it. 

Lecture: Chapter 12 - Fiscal Policy Review

This chapter contains info about the public policy process.

- Click here for the lecture.

From The Texas Tribune: Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes funding for Texas Legislature and its staff as punishment for Democrats’ walkout on elections bill

A major development regarding checks and balances.

- Click here for the article.

Gov. Greg Abbott followed through Friday on a threat to veto a section of the state budget that funds the Texas Legislature, its staffers and legislative agencies.

The governor’s move targeting lawmaker pay comes after House Democrats walked out in the final days of the regular legislative session, breaking quorum, to block passage of Senate Bill 7, Abbott’s priority elections bill that would have overhauled voting rights in the state. The move also killed bail legislation that Abbott had earmarked as a priority.

In a statement, Abbott said that “funding should not be provided for those who quit their job early, leaving their state with unfinished business and exposing taxpayers to higher costs for an additional legislative session.”

President Nixon Declares Drug Abuse "Public Enemy Number One"

Federalism and Drug Policy

A few links: 

- Cooperative Federalism and Marijuana Regulation.
- Marijuana Federalism.
- Our Federalism on Drugs.
- Effective Drug Control – Toward A New Legal Framework.

From The National Conference of State Legislatures: State Drug Crime Policy

To accompany the previous post.

- Click here for the page.

Content: 

- Drug Sentencing
- Marijuana
- Heroin and Opiates
- Pretrial Diversion
- Synthetic Drugs

50th Anniversary of the War on Drugs

 - Click here for the Wikipedia entry on it.

And here's a list of federal level laws related to drug use.

so far incomplete

1914 - Harrison Narcotics Tax Act.
1922 - Narcotic Drugs Import and Export Act.
1930 - An Act created the Federal Bureau of Narcotics.
1934 - Uniform State Narcotic Drug Act.
1937 - Marihuana Tax Act.
1970 - Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act.
1970 - Controlled Substances Act.
1978 - Psychotropic Substances Act.
1984 - Comprehensive Crime Control Act.
1986 - Anti-Drug Abuse Act.

From the Texas Tribune: Las Vegas Sands went all in on legalizing casinos in Texas. Here's why the multimillion-dollar effort did not make it far this session.

 - Click here for the article.

In its effort to bring casinos to Texas, Las Vegas Sands — the gaming empire started by the late Republican megadonor Sheldon Adelson — hired an army of lobbyists and spent millions more on TV ads, all after an election season in which Adelson’s largesse was key in helping the state’s Republicans remain in power.

But the gargantuan undertaking ultimately did not make it far at the Capitol, with Sands’ legislation failing to make it to the floor of either chamber and not even receiving a committee hearing in the Senate.

The legislation — which required voter approval — would have brought a monumental expansion of gambling to Texas, which has some of the most restrictive gaming laws in the country. The centerpiece of the Las Vegas Sands proposal was to build “destination resorts” with casino gambling in the state’s four biggest metropolitan areas.

Lecture: Article 5 - The Texas Judiciary

 - Click here for it.

Lecture: Article 4 - The Texas Executive

 - Click here for it.

Lecture: Article 3 - The Texas Legislature

 - Click here for it.

Lecture: The Constitutions of Texas

 - Click here for it.

About Texas Speaker Dade Phelan

- Ballotpedia.
- Wikipedia.
- Texas Tribune.

His District: House District 21.

From the Texas Tribune: Texas House rallies behind Speaker Dade Phelan, even as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick blames him for GOP legislative failures

A look at the presiding officers of each chamber of the Texas Legislature.

- Click here for the article.

The unity and levity in the Texas House on the last day of the regular session directed toward Speaker Dade Phelan belied the political strife of the previous few days.

“We always go through ups and downs, that’s the nature of the Legislature,” said state Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, as the House prepared to adjourn the regular session. “But what we’re really here to tell you is: You did a great job. Thanks for being a friend to the Texas House of Representatives. Thanks for standing up for the Texas House. Thanks for bringing integrity to the Texas House.”

That praise was echoed throughout the day by House Republicans and Democrats in their own floor speeches. And it was a stark shift in tone from the escalating tensions that had hovered over the Legislature in recent days, culminating in a walkout by House Democrats that killed a controversial GOP elections bill, which the minority party said would restrict voting rights.

Key Terms: 

Texas House
regular session
Speaker Dade Phelan
Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi
adjourn
House Republicans and Democrats
floor speeches
in a walkout
GOP elections bill
the minority party
voting rights
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
conservative priorities
two special legislative sessions
quorum
Senate Bill 7
chamber’s rules
floor debate
party’s caucus
Medicaid
Constitutional Carry
Fetal Heartbeat
House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee
permitless carry bill
Texas House Freedom Caucus
socially conservative

From the Texas Tribune: Texas universities got more state funding this year than they anticipated — but they’re still hoping for more support

For our look at State Finance.

- Click here for the article.

Texas’ public university officials and higher education leaders said they are breathing a sigh of relief after state lawmakers added a last-minute influx of $380 million in funding for four-year universities and health institutions at the end of this year’s legislative session, a welcome addition for many schools that have seen enrollments rise as they deal with the financial strain caused by the COVID-19 shutdown.

But community colleges aren’t feeling as lucky, as they lost tens of millions of dollars worth of state funding due largely due to enrollment declines during the pandemic. Leaders across two- and four-year schools also say they’re hoping to squeeze out some additional support for higher education in the expected special session later this year.

The additional money for university enrollment growth was not originally included in the budget conference committee report negotiated by the Texas House and Senate, to the frustration of many university officials. But it was added by the time the budget was sent to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. How much each university will receive from the late session boost depends on enrollment changes.

Key terms:

higher education
funding
community colleges
special session
budget conference committee report
Texas House and Senate
Republican
House Appropriations Committee Chairman
funding per semester credit hour
2008 - $59.02
2022 - $55.65
Texas Higher Education
U.S. Department of Education
The Texas Association of Community Colleges
financial aid grants
Tuition revenue bonds
federal funds

Lecture: The Fiscal Size-Up 2020-21

- Click here for the talk.

- Click here for document.

More on the Old San Antonio Road

 - From Wikipedia.

For more: El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail.

And more: National Trails System.

My next road trip

The Old San Antonio Road

Or, even better, the King's Highway.

- From the TSHA.

Bill Analysis - SB 7

As originally introduced in the Texas House.

- Click here for it.

In brief: 

- strengthening poll watcher protection
- bringing about transparency by utilizing technology throughout the electoral process
- requiring a voter verifiable paper trail
- limiting the most common fraudulent practices and opportunities for fraudulent practices
- providing better and more timely evidence in investigations into alleged voter fraud.

From the National Conference of State Legislatures

- NCSL State Elections Resources.

A quick look at the proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution

Texas Constitution	1		Amends	87-0	SJR 19	1	Enrolled
Texas Constitution	1		Amends	87-0	SJR 27	1	Enrolled
Texas Constitution	3	47(d-1)	Amends	87-0	HJR 143	1	Enrolled
Texas Constitution	5	1-a	Amends	87-0	HJR 165	1	Enrolled
Texas Constitution	5	2(b)	Amends	87-0	SJR 47	1	Enrolled
Texas Constitution	5	7	Amends	87-0	SJR 47	2	Enrolled
Texas Constitution	8	1-b(d)	Amends	87-0	HJR 125	1	Enrolled
Texas Constitution	8	1-b(m)	Amends	87-0	SJR 35	1	Enrolled
Texas Constitution	8	1-g(b)	Amends	87-0	HJR 99	1	Enrolled

- Click here for more.

Lecture: The Political Institutions

I'm still going to past additional info about the rule of the game, but here is a look ahead to the next module: 

- Click here for it.

Lecture: Texas Statutory Code

 In case you would like to walk through them: 

- Click here. 

Lecture: 1000 word essay, Part 1

Hopefully this will help with putting together your essay.

- Click here for it.

Texas Legislature Online: SB7

 - Click here for the info.

And from the Texas Reference Library: index to sections affected.

Catching up with SB 7

This is the bill that attempted to make significant changes to Texas Election Code.

Here are recent news articles related to it.. Al are from the Texas Tribune.

2/1/21 - Gov. Greg Abbott unveils legislative priorities, including police funding, "election integrity," expanding broadband access and more.

2/4/21 - Republican who helped Trump campaign challenge Joe Biden's win will lead election work in Texas House.

3/15/21 -  Gov. Greg Abbott formally opens Texas GOP bid to clamp down on local efforts expanding voting access.

3/22/21 - Texas Republicans begin pursuing new voting restrictions as they work to protect their hold on power.

4/7/21 - Texas Republicans say their proposed voting restrictions are color blind. But many see "Jim Crow in a tuxedo."

4/29/21 - Here's how Texas elections would change, and become more restrictive, under the bill Texas Republicans are pushing.

4/29/21 - In push for new Texas voting restrictions, House panel sets up GOP faceoff over which chamber's legislation will advance.

5/7/21 - Texas GOP’s voting restrictions bill could be rewritten behind closed doors after final House passage.

5/23/21 - Polling places for urban voters of color would be cut under Texas Senate's version of voting bill being negotiated with House.

5/29/21 - Texas lawmakers poised to pass sweeping voting bill to restrict voting hours and change election rules.

5/30/21 - After drastic changes made behind closed doors, and an overnight debate, Texas Senate approves voting bill.

 

Some deck shuffling in the plural executive

- Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announces run for attorney general against Ken Paxton.

Land Commissioner George P. Bush announced Wednesday that he is running for attorney general, challenging fellow Republican Ken Paxton with a sharp focus on Paxton's legal troubles.

"Enough is enough, Ken," Bush said during a campaign kickoff at a downtown Austin bar. "You've brought way too much scandal and too little integrity to this office. And as a career politician for 20 years, it's time for you to go."

The 2022 matchup could be the marquee statewide primary of this election cycle, and former President Donald Trump already looms large. He said in a statement last week that he would issue an endorsement in the race — and do so "in the not-so-distant future." Bush told reporters after his announcement that he has asked Trump for his endorsement.

- Republican state Sen. Dawn Buckingham is set to run for Texas land commissioner.

State Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-Lakeway, is set to run for land commissioner, according to two sources familiar with the decision who are not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Buckingham has made calls to potential supporters sharing her decision, the sources said. A Buckingham spokesperson, Matt Langston, said she was "seriously considering" running and would make an announcement soon.

On Friday afternoon, Buckingham launched several Facebook ads alluding to a land commissioner run, asking viewers, for example, if they are "ready to elect the first female Land Commissioner." Another ad billed her as a "staunch defender of the Trump agenda."

Lecture: The Rules of the Game

A preliminary look at Chapters 2, 11, and 12.

- Click here for it.   

I had music playing in the background - it was a bit too loud. Sorry about that.

From the Texas Tribune: Allen West resigns as chair of Texas Republican Party, says he's mulling statewide run

For our look at political parties.

- Click here for the article.

Texas GOP Chair Allen West announced his resignation Friday morning and said he is considering running for another office, potentially one that is statewide.

During a news conference here, West said a statewide run is "one of the things that I have to go to the Lord in prayer." He said it would be "very disingenuous with so many people that have asked me to consider something" to not explore a run.

"Many men from Georgia, many men from Tennessee, came here to serve the great state of Texas, and so we're gonna consider it," said West, who grew up in Georgia. He added that he was announcing his resignation, effective next month, so that there is no conflict of interest as he weighs his next political move.

From the Texas Tribune: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott could be upsetting balance of powers with threat to veto Texas Legislature’s pay

Great separation of powers stuff.

 - Click here for the article.

Fresh off the defeat of two of his legislative priorities Sunday night when Democrats abandoned the Texas House to block a sweeping elections bill, Gov. Greg Abbott flexed his executive muscle Monday — vowing to defund a co-equal branch of government while raising questions about the separation of powers in Texas.

“I will veto Article 10 of the budget passed by the legislature,” he wrote on Twitter. “Article 10 funds the legislative branch. No pay for those who abandon their responsibilities.”

Abbott did not give additional details about how the veto would work, telling his nearly 600,000 Twitter followers only to “stay tuned.” He’s also said that lawmakers will be brought back for a special legislative session this year to pass the failed priority bills. But the veto announcement on social media sparked concerns about the increasing encroachment by the state’s executive branch into the legislative branch’s purview.

Lecture: Texas State Budget Budget process for the 2022-2023 biennium

Last one for today, promise 

- Click here for it.

Lecture: Annexation History - Planning and Development Department - City of Houston

- And click here for my discussion of this one.

Lecture: Territorial History of the USA: Every Month for 400 Years

- Click for the lecture on this sweet little video.

Lecture: A Walk Through the Texas Constitution

 - Click here you lucky people.

Lecture: Why Do You Have to Take This Class?

- Click here for Part 1.

- Click here for Part 2.

Lecture: The States in The United States Constitutional System

- Click here for the lecture.

Delegates to the U.S. Constitutional Convention

 - Click here for the source.

Connecticut
Oliver Ellsworth (Elsworth)*
William. Samuel Johnson
Roger Sherman

Delaware
Richard Bassett
Gunning Bedford, Jr.
Jacob Broom
John Dickinson
George Read

Georgia
Abraham Baldwin
William Few
William Houston*
William L. Pierce*

Maryland
Daniel Carroll
Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer
Luther Martin*
James McHenry
John F. Mercer*

Massachusetts
Elbridge Gerry*
Nathaniel Gorham
Rufus King
Caleb Strong*

New Hampshire
Nicholas Gilman
John Langdon

New Jersey
David Brearly (Brearley)
Jonathan Dayton
William C. Houston*
William Livingston
William Paterson (Patterson)

New York
Alexander Hamilton
John Lansing, Jr.*
Robert Yates*

North Carolina
William. Blount
William R. Davie*
Alexander Martin*
Richard. Dobbs Spaight
Hugh Williamson

Pennsylvania
George Clymer
Thomas Fitzsimons (FitzSimons; Fitzsimmons)
Benjamin Franklin
Jared Ingersoll
Thomas Mifflin
Gouverneur Morris
Robert Morris
James Wilson

South Carolina
Pierce Butler
Charles Pinckney
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
John Rutledge

Virginia
John Blair
James Madison Jr.
George Mason*
James McClurg*
Edmund J. Randolph*
George Washington
George Wythe*

Education in America - 17th and 18th Centuries

Colonial Governments Prior to 1750 America

From the Legislative Reference Library of Texas: Index to Sections Affected

I'm kicking around ideas for written work for my 2306 classes this summer.

This page allows for searches for bill that affect specific sections of Texas Code. Very convenient.

- Click here for it. 

Immigration links

For a different project I'm working on: 

- The American Immigration Council: Immigrants in Texas.
- The American Immigration Council: How the United States Immigration System Works.
- The University of Washington: Texas Migration History 1850-2017.
- Immigration to the United States: Events and Movements.
- SMU: US - Mexico Border Timeline.
- Wikipedia: Mexican Border War (1910-1919).
- Conner Prairie: Western Immigration. 
- Wikipedia: List of United States Immigration Laws. 
- Pew Research Center: How U.S. immigration laws and rules have changed through history.
- US Legal: The Naturalization Clause Law and Legal Definition.
- LII: 8 U.S. Code § 1101 - Definitions.
- TSHA: Texas Dream Act.

From the American Society of Civil Engineers: Texas 2021 - Infrastructure Report Card

 - Click here for it.

Texas gets an overall grade of C

Here's how it is graded in each of the 12 areas of infrastructure: 

Aviation: B-
Bridges: B-
Dams: D+
Drinking Water: C-
Energy: B+
Flood Risk Mitigation: C-
Levees: D
Parks and Recreation: C-
Highways and Roads: D+
Solid Waste: B
Transit: B-
Wastewater: D

For the entire report, click here.

For more on the American Society of Civil Engineers, click here.

And here:

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is a tax-exempt professional body founded in 1852 to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, it is the oldest national engineering society in the United States. Its constitution was based on the older Boston Society of Civil Engineers from 1848.

ASCE is dedicated to the advancement of the science and profession of civil engineering and the enhancement of human welfare through the activities of society members. It has more than 152,000 members in 177 countries. Its mission is to provide essential value to members, their careers, partners, and the public; facilitate the advancement of technology; encourage and provide the tools for lifelong learning; promote professionalism and the profession; develop and support civil engineers.

From Harris Votes: May 01, 2021: Joint Election Unofficial Election Results

 - Click here for them. 

From the Brazoria County Clerk: Local Election Results - 2021 - May 1

 - Click here for them.

From the Brazoria County Clerk: May 1, 2021 Joint Local Election

 - Click here for the it.

Some recent UT/ TT polls - 4/30/21

- February’s storm and outages united voters wanting state action, UT/TT Poll finds.

Texas voters overwhelmingly support requiring energy providers to protect their facilities from bad weather, and a slim majority thinks the government should pay for that weatherization, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.

Having lived through a statewide winter freeze and electricity outages in February, 84% of Texas voters said those facilities should be weatherized, and 52% said government funds should pay for it.

- Texas voters sharply divided on the fairness of elections and what to do about it, poll finds.

Asking whether the state’s election system discriminates against people of color depends on whether you are talking to Hispanic voters, who are split, Black voters, a majority of whom say it is discriminatory, and white voters, most of whom say it isn’t, according to the new University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.

Overall, 52% of Texas voters said the system doesn’t discriminate. But the question is divisive: 73% of Democrats said it does and 88% of Republicans said it doesn’t. Among white voters, 62% said the system doesn’t discriminate, but 58% of Black voters said it does. Hispanic voters were divided, with 43% saying it does discriminate and 42% saying it doesn’t.

The findings are echoed in the halls of the Texas Legislature, where lawmakers are wrestling with proposed restrictions to the state’s voting laws after a tumultuous election year spurred unsubstantiated questions about voter fraud and the integrity of the process.

- Texans remain concerned about pandemic, but they’re returning to normal, UT/TT Poll finds.

Texas voters are feeling safer about being out in public, and better about getting COVID-19 vaccines, but a majority of the state’s voters still consider the coronavirus a “significant crisis,” according to a new University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.

In the first UT/TT Poll of the pandemic, conducted a year ago, 63% of Texans said they were “only leaving my residence when I absolutely have to.” That has fallen to 21%; in the current poll, 33% said they were “living normally, coming and going as usual,” and another 44% said they are still leaving home, “but being careful when I do.” The majority of Democrats, 55%, were in that last group, while 55% of Republicans said they are living normally.

From 538: Biden’s Betting On Public Support To Push His Agenda. Polls Show His Big Spending Packages Have It.

For our look at the relationship between public opinion and public policy:

- Click here for the article.

In his address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night, President Biden spent a lot of time extolling the virtues of the three massive spending packages that have quickly become centerpieces of his agenda: the $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus package, a $2 trillion infrastructure bill and a $1.8 trillion plan for child care, universal prekindergarten and more.

The first part of Biden’s agenda, his coronavirus stimulus package, has consistently garnered high approval numbers — both when it was first being considered and when it was enacted last month. A new ABC News/Washington Post poll (conducted April 18-21) has found that it’s still popular: 65 percent of Americans support it, and just 31 percent oppose it.

But what about the other two plans, which have yet to make it through Congress?

The American Jobs Plan, a $2 trillion bill to improve infrastructure, is also popular, but recent polls disagree on how much. According to Fox News, which was in the field April 18-21, the plan is fairly divisive: Although a plurality (49 percent) of respondents support it, almost as many (41 percent) oppose it. However, it received higher support in other polls, such as CBS News/YouGov on April 21-24 (58 percent support, 42 percent opposition) and ABC News/Washington Post (52 percent support, 35 percent opposition). Monmouth University’s April 8-12 survey, which detailed that the proposal would spend money on “roads, bridges and trains, internet access, power grid improvements, and clean energy projects,” gave the proposal its gaudiest numbers. A full 68 percent of adults said they supported the plan, while only 29 percent opposed it.

CBS News/YouGov also asked about specific infrastructure improvements, and notably, each was more popular than the full bill (which the poll identified merely as “the Biden Administration’s infrastructure proposal”). By a whopping 87 percent to 13 percent, Americans supported a hypothetical bill to spend money building or repairing roads and bridges; they also gave the thumbs-up to a bill to repair or replace old water pipes, 85 percent to 15 percent. Even the least popular specific proposals rated as more popular than the overall bill. For instance, Americans support spending money to build more train and rail lines “only” 63 percent to 37 percent, and they support setting up electric car charging stations “just” 61 percent to 39 percent.

From 538: What Went Down During President Biden’s Speech To Congress

Presidential speeches before joint sessions of Congress are often used to highlight areas of public policy the president wants to promote. Here's a rundown of what went down a couple days ago: 

- Click here for the article.

Social policy timeline

Is American culture antithetical to generous social policy?
- John Calvin
- predestination
- individualism / traditionalism
- Social Darwinism

The English Poor Laws
- The Victorian Poor Law and Life in the Workhouse.
- Poor Relief in the Early America.

U.S. Constitution
- delegated powers
- - commerce
- - security

- reserved powers
- - police powers
- - - health
- - - welfare
- - - safety 
- - - morals

- implied powers

Labor policies
- indentured servitude
- slavery
- Department of Labor
- Wagner Act

Education policy
- military academies
- land grant universities
- Department of HEW - 1953
- - First Secretary - Texan Oveta Culp Hobby

Health policy

Focusing events

- Civil War
- - pensions

- Westward migration

- Great Depression
- - Social Security

Movements

- Progressives Movement
- - child policy - labor / schools / childhood
- - pure food and drugs
- - professionalism
- - labor policy / unionism / minimum wages / maximum work weeks / overtime
- - women's suffrage
- - racial equality
- - political reforms / party machines / 
- - rural development

New Federalism

For our look at Economic Policymaking

- The Policy Making Process.

- The Issue Attention Cycle.

British Colonies

- The Virginia Company.

- Mercantilism.

- Protectionism

Restrictions on American Manufacturing
- The Fur Trade.
- Ship Building
- Subsistence Farming
- Settlements
- cheap labor

French and Indian Wars
- debt

Revolutionary War 
- debt

Taxation

Independence
- confederation v federal system

U.S. Constitution
-  commercial and defense policy

Banking

Enhance Trade

Communications and Transportation
- infrastructure
- clear rivers
- build roads
- contain Native Americans

Westward Expansion
- Royal Proclamation Line
- Lewis and Clark
- Mississippi River
- Gulf Coast
- Pacific Coast
- International Outreach
- Land Grant Universities

Populating the West
- Land Speculation
- Development
- Cities
- Emigration

Patents
- seeds
- telegram
- railroads

The Army Signal Corps

The Rise of Factories

Regulations
- ICC
- FDA
- Federal Reserve

Economic Cycles
- Panics
- 1907 
- Great Depression

Keynesianism
- fiscal policy
- monetary policy

Post WW2 
- Bretton Woods 
- WTO
- IMF
- World Bank

Increased International Trade
- exporting factories

The Rise of the Service Sector
- what is a service?
- consumer economy
- the flow of currency
- credit based economy

Does the Debt matter anymore?

Post Scarcity Economy? 

From the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis: Does the National Debt Matter?

 This idea has been developing for a while.

- Click here for the study.

In the second quarter of 2008, U.S. federal debt held by the public totaled about $5.3 trillion, or 35% of gross domestic product (GDP). This figure grew to $20.5 trillion—or 105% of GDP—by the second quarter of 2020. To put it another way, the national debt has increased 400% in 12 years, while over the same period, national income has grown by only 30%.

Since the Congressional Budget Office projects that federal budget deficits of 4%-5% of GDP will persist in the foreseeable future, a growing number of analysts and policymakers are raising alarms about whether this fiscal situation is sustainable.1

Most people have a very personal view of the nature of debt. We know that high levels of debt and deficit spending at the household level are not sustainable. At some point, household debt has to be paid back. If a household is unable to do so, its debt will have to be renegotiated. It is natural to think that the same must hold true for governments. But this “government as a household” analogy is imperfect, at best. The analogy breaks down for several reasons.

Debt Issuance

While a household has a finite lifespan, a government has an indefinite planning horizon. So, while a household must eventually retire its debt, a government can, in principle, refinance (or roll over) its debt indefinitely.

Yes, debt has to be repaid when it comes due. But maturing debt can be replaced with newly issued debt. Rolling over the debt in this manner means that it need never be “paid back.” Indeed, it may even grow over time in line with the scale of the economy’s operations as measured by population or GDP.

Unlike personal debt, the national debt consists mainly of marketable securities issued by the U.S. Treasury as bonds. It is of some interest to note that the Treasury Department issued some of its securities in the form of small-denomination bills, called United States Notes, from 1862-1971 that are largely indistinguishable from the currency issued by the Federal Reserve today.

Today, U.S. Treasury securities exist primarily as electronic ledger entries.2 These securities are used extensively in financial markets as a form of wholesale money. The cash management division of a large corporation, for example, may prefer to hold Treasury securities instead of bank deposits because the latter are insured only up to $250,000.

If cash is needed to meet an obligation, the security can either be sold or used as collateral in a short-term loan called a “sale and repurchase agreement,” or repo, for short. Because investors value the liquidity of Treasury securities, they trade at a premium relative to other securities. So, investors are willing to carry Treasury securities at relatively low yields, the same way we are willing to carry insured bank deposits at very low interest rates, or the same way we are willing to carry securities that bear zero interest like the ones displayed above.

Ultimately, the federal government has control over the supply of the nation’s legal tender. Both of the notes above have been legal tender since the gold recall of 1933. Now, consider the fact that the national debt consists of U.S. Treasury securities payable in legal tender. That is, imagine the national debt consisting of interest-bearing versions of the U.S. Note shown above.

When the interest comes due, it can be paid in legal tender—that is, by printing additional U.S. or Federal Reserve Notes. It follows that a technical default can only occur if the government permits it. The situation here is similar to that of a corporation financing itself with debt convertible to equity at the issuer’s discretion. Involuntary default is essentially impossible.3 This aspect of U.S. Treasury securities renders them highly desirable for investors seeking safety—a property which again serves to drive down their yields relative to other securities

From the Census Bureau: 2020 Census Apportionment Counts Press Kit

Texas gets two more seats.

It's up to the legislature to figure out where they go, and what the districts will look like.

- Click here for it

From the National League of Cities: City Rights in an Era of Preemption: A State-by-State Analysis

A report from an interest group highlighting an issue of concern.

". . we are continuing to observe aggressive moves by state legislatures nationwide to usurp local authority. Ultimately, people who live in cities want control over their own destinies. But when states seek blanket policies that run counter to the values of its cities, local leaders do not stand down.

State-level politicians are actively working to overturn the will of people in cities—both through preemption and Dillon’s Rule provisions. As a result, the work of city leaders and the mandate of the people is undermined. Taking stock of the last year, it is abundantly clear that the overall uptick in preemption laws and the general antagonism toward local control by disconnected state lawmakers must stop."

- Click here for the study.

It offers the following definition of preemption:

"Preemption is the use of state law to nullify a municipal ordinance or authority. State preemption can span many policy areas including environmental regulation, firearm use and labor laws. States can preempt cities from legislating on particular issues either by statutory or constitutional law. In some cases, court rulings have forced cities to roll back ordinances already in place."

It focuses on the following areas: 

- Minimum Wage
- Paid Leave
- Anti-Discrimination
- Ride Sharing
- Home Sharing
- Municipal Broadband
- Tax and Expenditure Limitations

It highlight Texas' attention to 
- Minimum Wage
- Ride Sharing
- Tax and Expenditure Limitations

From the Texas Tribune: As Austin voters weigh camping ban proposition, Texas lawmakers consider bills to prohibit homeless encampments statewide

The relevant legislation is House Bill 1925, and Senate Bill 987.

Another example of state preemption of local government.

- Click here for the article.

The Texas Legislature is considering bills that would ban homeless encampments statewide, almost two years after the city of Austin decided to lift a similar local ban — a move that critics say triggered the proliferation of tent cities throughout Austin.

If lawmakers approve the legislation and Gov. Greg Abbott signs it into law, it would become the latest instance of the Republican-led state government overruling local ordinances. State lawmakers also are trying to stop cities from decreasing police funding after the “defund the police” movement sparked by last year’s national protests against police brutality.

“We've seen a huge increase in not only the number of homeless living under bridges or on the streets, but also the rise in crime,” said state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, the author of House Bill 1925. “And really the difference has been that, at least in this case, this city has overturned their own ban.”

Austin’s City Council decided to lift the ban on public encampments in certain areas in July 2019, arguing that the policy had led to citations for people experiencing homelessness and hurting their ability to find housing. The move was quickly criticized by Abbott, who promised to take action against Austin and in his budget priority list asked the Legislature to withhold state grant money from cities that don’t ban such encampments.

The proposed bills — HB 1925 and its companion, Senate Bill 987 — would make camping in an unapproved public place a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500.

Some useful, related terms:

- Homeless Policy
- Preemption
- Criminal Justice Policy
- Class C Misdemeanors

I'll add some on each

For our look at Racial Civil Rights Policy Making

- The Policy Making Process.

- The Issue Attention Cycle.

- John Punch.

- Bacon's Rebellion.

- Slave Law in Colonial Virginia.

- Slavery in the U.S. Constitution.

- The Missouri Compromise.

- Freedom Suits.

- Dred Scott v Sanford. 

- 13th Amendment.

- Equal Protection Clause.

- 15th Amendment.

- Black Codes.

- Reconstruction.

- Jim Crow.

- The One Drop Rule.

- Plessy v Ferguson.

- Separate but Equal.

- Brown v Board of Education.

- Affirmative Action. 

- Racial Profiling.