News Items 1/19/23

- Kentucky threatens to divest from 11 banks over ESG policies.

- Fewer bills passed in 2022 to change ballot initiative processes compared to 2021.

- Following the 2022 elections, more Americans now live in a Democratic trifecta than a Republican trifecta.

- Supreme Court Poised to Reconsider Key Tenets of Online Speech.

- Rio Grande Water Deal Between Texas and New Mexico Is Opposed by U.S.

- Texas Legislature’s state budget proposals leave more than $50 billion in state funds up for grabs.

- When showing up at the Texas Capitol made a difference.

​​House Bill 2504 - Syllabus and Curricula Vitae Uploads

Might as well continue looking at legislation that impacts you on campus. 

HB 2504 was passed in the 81st meeting of the Texas Legislature, in 2009. It requires that we make our syllabi and resumes (curricula vitae) available online. 

This is what is stated on the ACC website: "Texas State Law (House Bill 2504) requires institutions of higher education to make certain information available on the institution's website. Information is to remain posted on the institution's website for at least 2 years."

- Click here for detailed information from the Texas Legislature Online.

You can use this website to access info about all legislative activities dating back to the 71st session in 1989, and you can use it to follow what's going on currently in the 88th Session.

House Bill 1508 Notice to Students

Here is an email I received today regarding a state law that applies to you.

The information below will be emailed to all currently enrolled students today (CE, DE and Credit). This notice relates to those programs where successful completion may require a background check for licensure. If your program does not require such licensure, it is not directly relevant to your program however, may raise questions from your students. Please review the following and forward to your team as appropriate.

NOTE: This notice is being sent to ALL currently enrolled students as required by law.

Under Texas Occupations Code 58.001, licensing authorities may have guidelines concerning prior criminal convictions that would make an individual ineligible for issuance of a given license. Applicants are encouraged to review all eligibility requirements related to degrees resulting in a license.

-An individual who has been convicted of an offense may be ineligible for issuance of an occupational license.

-Licensing authorities must establish and make available guidelines explaining why a particular offense is considered a basis for ineligibility for a particular license and other criterion that may affect the decision to grant or withhold a license.

-Local or county licensing authorities may establish additional guidelines related to criminal history. Applicants should contact their local or county licensing authority for more information.

-An individual has the right to request a criminal history evaluation letter regarding their eligibility for a license issued under Texas Occupations Code 53.102

Questions related to eligibility requirements should be directed to the department chair of program of interest and/or individual licensing authorities.

__________

Click here for info about the bill from College of the Mainland.

Here are the program that they claim are impacted by it, presumably these are occupations people cannot be licensed for if they have a criminal record: 

• Barber to Cosmetology Crossover (SCH)
• Certified Nursing Aid (CE)
• Cosmetology Instructor (SCH)
• Cosmetology Operator (SCH)
• Emergency Medical Services (SCH)
• Esthetic Specialty (SCH)
• Fire Academy (SCH and CE)
• Health Information Management (SCH)
• Licensed Vocational Nurse (SCH)
• Massage Therapy (CE)
• Medical Assisting (SCH)
• Medication Aide (CE)
• Pharmacy Technician (SCH)
• Phlebotomy Technician (CE)
• Real Estate (CE)
• Registered Nurse (SCH)
• Teacher Preparation (SCH)

__________

For even more info: 

- TLO: House Bill 1508.

- Texas Occupations Code 58.001. 

- Texas Occupations Code 53.102.

From The Texas Tribune: As lawmakers begin a new session, Texas mayors want to maintain control of local issues

States are the boss of local governments. This is a principle that goes back to Dillon's Rule. Nevertheless, Article One the Texas Constitution begins with language highlighting the "preservation of the right of local self-government." And Article 3 Section 56 lists the areas of local public policy where the state will not interfere. 

But recently the Texas Legislature has expanded its control over local governments, and the 88th session is set to continue with additional expansions. 

This article details areas where the state wishes to increase control over city government.

- Click here for the article.

Preserving local control will be a central issue this legislative session, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said at a conference Friday along with eight other members of the Texas’ Big City Mayors coalition.

Mayors of the state’s most populous cities will “undoubtedly” oppose any upcoming legislation that would erode local authority, Nirenberg said.

“As mayors with the responsibility of managing services and operations that largely impact the daily lives of our residents, we believe we are best positioned to determine local policies,” he said.

San Antonio is the second-most populous city in Texas, with 1.4 million residents, and the seventh-most populous city in the nation. The bipartisan coalition is made up of 18 mayors who, combined, represent nearly one-third of the state’s population.

“All of us know what’s going on in our communities,” Arlington Mayor Jim Ross said.

Mayor George Fuller of McKinney, a city of just over 200,000 people north of Dallas, said there has been a “degradation” of the relationship between the state and cities in recent legislative sessions.

“We’ve seen nothing short of an assault on local control,” Fuller said. “We need to right that ship. We at the local level are your partners in the state. We are boots on the ground.”

From the Texas Tribune: Gov. Greg Abbott says in inauguration speech Legislature will prioritize budget surplus, schools and power grid

For 2306: more on what will be prioritized in the regular session of the 88th Texas Legislature.

- Click here for the article.  

Gov. Greg Abbott, in his third inaugural address Tuesday, emphasized that the legislative session would be centered on the historic budget surplus, “parental rights” in schools and public safety.

Notably, he pitched a focus on infrastructure that included the power grid, after the 2021 winter storm and blackout left millions of Texans in the dark and hundreds dead. Abbott trumpeted grid improvements that he successfully pushed in the months after but acknowledged there is more work to do.

In doing so, he aligned himself with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has called the grid a top priority for the session. Abbott, while running for reelection last year, was dismissive of critiques that there were unresolved grid issues and declared it fixed.

. . . Democrats criticized the inauguration as lacking a plan to “address the economic pain Texans are facing,” as the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus put it.

“All over this state, families are having difficult conversations around the kitchen table about the rising costs of goods and services,” Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, said in a statement. “Texas Republicans have controlled this state for nearly thirty years and thirty years later costs for Texas families have never been higher."

To the contrary, both of the inaugural speeches were dripping with sunny Texas exceptionalism; Abbott declared the state “America’s undisputed economic leader.” And he said that was evident in the massive $33 billion budget surplus, which he stressed “belongs to the taxpayers” in pitching a record property tax cut.

Patrick has been more careful — if not more specific — in making promises on property tax relief. In his speech, he said there would be “billions of dollars” in relief and that leaders would find a way to ensure it is sustainable. He also said the Senate will introduce a budget this week that would increase the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $70,000, a larger bump than he has previously discussed.

The Isley Brothers - Fight the Power, Pts. 1 & 2 (Official Audio)

Welcome tp GOVT 2305 and/or 2306

The Establishment of Jamestown: Staving Off Death in England's First Per...

From Roll Call: Yellen warns Treasury could hit debt ceiling as early as June

The debt ceiling hasn't been much of an issue recently. It is now. We will explore it soon - mostly in 2305, but also 2306 since Texas receives a funding from the national government. 

- For a head start on the debt ceiling, click here. 

- For the article, click here. 

Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen told lawmakers Friday that the department will be forced to deploy “extraordinary measures” next week to keep from exceeding the $31.4 trillion statutory borrowing cap but that those accounting tools may not last beyond early June.

Yellen’s letter is the starting gun of sorts for potential negotiations between House Republicans, the Senate and administration over what, if any, conditions Democrats might accept in return for raising the debt limit.

After winning control of the House, GOP lawmakers have made clear they intend to extract concessions for a debt limit increase that could include spending cuts, a crackdown on illegal immigration or other measures. Both the White House and congressional Democrats have said they won’t negotiate over the debt limit.

Pennsylvania Democrat Brendan F. Boyle, ranking member of the House Budget Committee, reacted to the Treasury letter with a statement slamming Republicans for “thinking it's acceptable to use our economy as a political hostage to try and force an extremist and deeply unpopular agenda.”

He said GOP lawmakers “need to do the right thing and come to the table to raise the borrowing limit before it’s too late — before our economy and millions of American jobs have been put at risk.”

. . . Beginning Thursday, Yellen wrote, Treasury will reach the $31.4 trillion ceiling and have to start deploying extraordinary measures to remain under the cap.

Those include commonly used methods such as cashing out existing and suspending new investments of the federal employee retirement and disability trust fund and a separate fund for postal retiree health benefits. Treasury will also suspend reinvestment of securities held in separate retirement savings funds for federal workers. Once the debt ceiling is lifted and Treasury is able to borrow again, those funds are made whole.

Key terms from the article: 

- Treasury Secretary
- Janet L. Yellen
- $31.4 trillion statutory borrowing cap
- House Republicans
- the Senate
- administration
- raising the debt limit.
- spending cuts
- the White House
- congressional Democrats
- Pennsylvania Democrat
- Brendan F. Boyle
- ranking member
- House Budget Committee
- borrowing from the public
- government trust funds
- Bipartisan Policy Center
- Congressional Budget Office
- CBO’s revenue projections.
- tax season
- Wrightson ICAP
- dysfunctional Congress

Texas Legislative Priority #10 - Health Care

Background

Agenda Setting - Why are we dealing with this?

Problem definition - What is the precise problem? Are there multiple problems presented by this issue?

Health Care bills introduced in the 88th Legislature.
- Click here for them. 

Health Care bills introduced in the 87th Legislature.
- Click here for them. 

__________

Interest Group Activity

UT Houston School of Public Health: 2023 Texas Legislature Bill Tracker.

Texas Council of Community Centers: Legislative Priorities.

Texas Center for Child and Family Studies: Bills and Hearings.

Texas Medical Association: Top Ten Priorities.

Texas Health and Human Services: 87th Legislative Session - 2021.

___________

Proposed legislation so far: 

HB 2057: Relating to the licensing and regulation of lactation consultants and the creation of the Lactation Consultant Advisory Board; requiring an occupational license; imposing fees; providing penalties; creating a criminal offense.

HB 2078: Relating to the authority of a physician to provide and dispense and to delegate authority to provide and dispense certain drugs.

HB 2079: Relating to the authority of pharmacists to order and furnish certain prescription drugs.

HB 2082: Relating to insurance regulation of a prepaid health care plan for certain individuals with low income.

Texas Legislative Priority #9 - Abortion

Background

Agenda Setting - Why are we dealing with this?

Problem definition - What is the precise problem? Are there multiple problems presented by this issue?

Abortion bills introduced in the 88th Legislature.
- Click here for them. 

Abortion bills introduced in the 87th Legislature.
- Click here for them. 


_________

- Bill: HJR 56.

- Bill: HB 819.

Texas Legislative Priority #8 - LGBTQ Texan's Rights

Background

Agenda Setting - Why are we dealing with this?

Problem definition - What is the precise problem? Are there multiple problems presented by this issue?

Same Sex bills introduced in the 88th Legislature.
- Click here for them. 

Same Sex bills introduced in the 87th Legislature.
- Click here for them. 

__________

88th Texas Legislative Session: 64 bills filed in relation to LGBTQ+ community.

Equality Texas: Legislative Bill Tracker.

Texas State law Library: LGBT Law.

Texas Legislative Priority #7 - Guns

Background

Agenda Setting - Why are we dealing with this?

Problem definition - What is the precise problem? Are there multiple problems presented by this issue?

Gun bills introduced in the 88th Legislature.
- Click here for them. 

Gun bills introduced in the 87th Legislature.
- Click here for them. 

Priorities for the 88th Session the Texas Legislature

A look at some of the specific issues different people are prioritizing this session. Expect more.

- Filed House Bills.
- Filed Senate Bills.

Texas Tribune: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick prioritizes property tax relief, electric grid fixes and border security for 2023 legislative session.

- Property Taxes
- - Raise Homestead Exemption

- Power Grid
- - Is more work required? 
- - - Abbott says no
- - build more natural gas plants
- - less focus on solar and wind
- - preparation
- - changes to state power market
- - bailout gas utilities and electric companies
- - incentivize increases in power generation

- Border Security and Law Enforcement
- - increased funding
- - increased punishment for gun crimes
- - recall for district attorneys
- - allow for change in jurisdiction
- - increased incarceration
- - increased funding for rural law enforcement

- Education
- - increased scholarships for law enforcement
- - increased funding for non-PUF universities
- - access to PUF funds
- - tenure reform
- - anti - CRT
- - increased teacher pay - 13th check
- - increased school safety funding
- - Parent's Bill of Rights

- Elections
- - tighten
- - illegal voting made a felony
- - timely counting of votes
- - review of machines


Texas Tribune: Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick diverge ahead of the legislative session on property taxes, power grid.

- Property Taxes 
- - how far to go? 
- - how to pay for it? 
- - relief

- Electric Grid
- - has it been fixed or not? 


Texas Tribune: Texas lawmakers target property taxes, election fraud and transgender people in new legislation ahead of 2023 session.

A random look at the content of some of the legislation that has been introduced so far. Some are unlikely to pass, maybe most.

- Public Education
- - increased ethnic studies
- - create African American and Mexican American Studies
- - school funding based on average enrollment
- - textbook content ratings

- Guns
- - who can own guns? 
- - reporting of purchase of multiple guns and magazines
- - raise minimum age to purchase

- Abortion
- - increase exceptions to abortion ban
- - rape, incest, life of the mother, lethal fetal abnormalities
- - stop efforts to pay for out of state abortions

- LGBTQ Texan's Rights
- - legal definition of child abuse to include gender affirming health care
- - puberty blockers, testosterone, estrogen
- - remove liability coverage from doctors who offer treatments

- Energy
- - make building renewable energy facilities more difficult
- - harden energy and water infrastructure 
- - backup water generators for for public water supply systems
- - alert system for boil water notices

- Health Care
- - expand post-partum Medicaid to 12 months
- - menstrual supplies tax exempt

- Voting and Elections
- - election fraud made a felony
- - polling site on colleges and university campuses with more then 5,000 students

- Disaster Declarations
- - more legislative oversight on governor's emergency powers
- - limit extensions of emergency declarations
- - limit governor's ability to move funding around for emergency projects

- Property Taxes
- - abolish school district's M&O tax
- - limits on increases in appraisals
- - half on any budget surplus to be given to the Texas Education Agency

- Opioid Testing
- - remove penalties against fentanyl testing

Texas Tribune: The Texas Legislative session has begun. Here are 6 things we’re watching.

- how to allocate the budget surplus
- parental rights
- LGBTQ issues and women's health
- border security


Texas Tribune: Texas House speaker addresses prospects of anti-LGBTQ bills, gun legislation and casinos.

- Youth Health and Safety
- Mental health services
- Juvenile Justice
- Family and Protective Services
- Chapter 313
- Uvalde Shooting
- Casinos

From the New York Times: The New Soldiers in Propane’s Fight Against Climate Action: Television Stars

For our look at interest groups and the tactics they use to serve their clients.

They see electrification as a threat and are doing what they can to encourage the use of propane (and propane accessories).

I pulled a few terms out of the story that relate to textbook content.


- fossil fuel industry group
- Propane Education and Research Council
- TV, print and social media- influencers
- federally-sanctioned trade association
- anti-electrification campaign
- public records request
- Energy and Policy Institute
- tax credits
- National Propane Gas Association
- oversight
- Department of Energy
- Government Accountability Office
- campaigns
- federal and state climate policies
- lobbying
- public relations firm
- New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
- New York Propane Gas Association
- state carbon tax
- Federal rebates
- state-level incentives
- social media ads
- congressional authorization
- paid influencer for the propane industry

- Click here for the article. 

For D.I.Y. enthusiasts, Matt Blashaw is a familiar face, judging bathroom remodels or planning surprise home makeovers on popular cable television shows.

Mr. Blashaw also has an unusually strong opinion about how Americans should heat their homes: by burning propane, or liquid petroleum gas.

“When I think of winter, I think of being inside. I think of cooking with the family, of being by a roaring fire — and with propane, that is all possible,” he said on a segment of the CBS affiliate WCIA, calling in from his bright kitchen. “That’s why we call it an energy source for everyone.”

Less well known is the fact that Mr. Blashaw is paid by a fossil fuel industry group that has been running a furtive campaign against government efforts to move heating away from oil and gas toward electricity made from wind, solar and other cleaner sources.

The Propane Education and Research Council, or PERC, which is funded by propane providers across the country, has spent millions of dollars on “provocative anti-electrification messaging” for TV, print and social media, using influencers like Mr. Blashaw, according to the group’s internal documents viewed by The New York Times.

As a federally-sanctioned trade association, PERC is allowed to collect fees on propane sales, which helps fund its marketing campaigns. But according to the law that created this system, that money is supposed to be used for things like research and safety.

In 2023, the organization plans to spend $13 million on its anti-electrification campaign, including $600,000 on “influencers” like Mr. Blashaw, according to the documents, which were obtained from PERC’s website as well as a public records request by the Energy and Policy Institute, a pro-renewables group. . . . 

Agencies currently under review by the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission

During every session of the Texas Legislature the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission reviews about 25 agencies. They determine whether how well the agencies in question are performing the duties they have been set up to perform. 

This will provide us a great way to focus on specific agencies and understand the nature of the executive branch. 

Click here for the website of the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission. 

Click here for info on the agencies under review during the 88th Session. 

Here is a list of those agencies: 

- Anatomical Board of the State of Texas

- Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District

- Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office

- Electric Reliability Council of Texas

- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

- Office of the Independent Ombudsman

- Texas Invasive Species Coordinating Committee

- Texas Juvenile Justice Department

- Lavaca-Navidad River Authority

- Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (Limited scope review)

- Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission

- Public Utility Commission of Texas

- Office of Public Utility Counsel

- San Antonio River Authority

- San Jacinto River Authority

- Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board

- Office of State-Federal Relations

- Upper Guadalupe River Authority

- State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (Limited Scope Review)

- Texas Water Development Board

- State Water Implementation Fund for Texas Advisory Committee

Reports from the interim committees for the 87th Texas Legislature

After the end of each session of the Texas Legislature, the presiding officer of each chamber provides instructions for its members to research different policy areas - problems - and provide recommendations for solutions. 

These are often the basis for the legislation that will be introduced in the 88th Legislature.

This semester provides us an opportunity to see if this is true.

For relevant background: 

- Texas House Interim Committee Charges. 

- Texas Senate Interim Committee Charges. 

- From the Legislative Reference Library of Texas: Interim Hearings.

- From the Texas Legislative Council: Interim Studies.

Active Learning Assignment #1

What do you want to be when you grow up? 

How are you going to make it happen?

What obstacles do you think might be in your way?

I'm serious.

My plan is to use this as one of the ways you can get a tangible understanding is the impact that government has on you. In this case I want to go through the legal processes in place for engaging in your proposed career.

This might even be helpful.

What to know: 
- It is due for full credit in a week - look on Blackboard for the details
- It will be subject to a penalty if turned in late.
- Is can be turned in for partial credit until the end of the semester.
- The grade is commensurate to the quality of the work.
- There is a 150 word minimum requirement.
- You may write as much as you wish.


_________

Past Assignments: 

Please click on this link.

It will take you to the part of the Texas Education Code that contains the basic rules regarding community colleges in the state. 

It's a long document, but try to make sense of it for me.

- Can you find the language that creates Alvin Community College?
- Does anything here stick out to you as particularly interesting? Explain.
- This language has an impact on you as a student - as well as a taxpayer. How? 

What to know: 
- It is due for full credit on the last day of class.
- It will be subject to a penalty if turned in late.
- Is can be turned in for partial credit until the end of the semester.
- The grade is commensurate to the quality of the work.
- There is a 150 word minimum requirement.
- You may write as much as you wish.


__________

Past Assignments: 

Fall 2023

This assignment is for both GOVT 2305 and 2306

Do you know as much as a 4th grader? 

This is what 4th graders in Texas public schools are expected to know about government. 

Read it and tell me what you already know about all this stuff. If the answer is "nothing" that's ok.

The student understands how people organized governments in different ways during the early development of Texas.

The student is expected to:
(A) compare how various American Indian groups such as the Caddo and the Comanche governed themselves; and
(B) compare characteristics of the Spanish colonial government and the early Mexican governments in Texas.

The student understands important ideas in historical documents of Texas and the United States.

The student is expected to:
(A) identify the purposes and explain the importance of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the Texas Constitution;
(B) identify and explain the basic functions of the three branches of government according to the Texas Constitution; and
(C) identify the intent, meaning, and importance of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights (Celebrate Freedom Week). 

- Click here for all the elementary school Social Studies TEKS mandates.

As will all written assignments: 

- It is due for full credit on midnight the following Monday.
- It will be subject to a penalty if turned in late.
- Is can be turned in for partial credit until the end of the semester.
- The grade is commensurate to the quality of the work. 
- There is a 150 word minimum requirement. 
- You may write as much as you wish.

__________

For classroom discussion: 

- Caddo.
- Comanche.
- Native American tribes in Texas.
- Spanish Texas.
- Mexican Texas.
- Texas Declaration of Independence.
- Texas Constitution.
- The three branches of government.
- Video: Three Branches of Texas State Government.
- U.S. Declaration of Independence.
- U.S. Constitution.
- U.S. Bill of Rights.
- Texas Bill of Rights.
- Celebrate Freedom Week.

Catching up with the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives

A point of comparison with the same position on the national level.

From the Texas Tribune: Texas House selects Rep. Dade Phelan as speaker for another legislative session.

Texas House of Representatives members on Tuesday voted 145-3 to elect state Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, to a second term as speaker — the most powerful position in the lower chamber.

He defeated state Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, who was nominated by ultraconservative members who say Phelan is unreasonably accommodating of Democrats in the chamber. Tinderholt cast a ballot for himself, as did two Republican members who nominated him, Nate Schatzline of Tarrant County and Bryan Slaton of Royce City.

Phelan said he would shepherd bills through the chamber that have the support of a majority of members while also ensuring that lawmakers from the minority party would have a meaningful voice.

He said it is important to preserve this Texas House tradition.“Our rules keep the game fair, but they do not dictate the outcome,” Phelan said. “We will have divisions — every session does — but that division does not have to define us.”

He earned the support of every Democrat in the House, including Toni Rose of Dallas, who praised Phelan for supporting her bill in 2021 to expand Medicaid coverage for new mothers. Tracy King, a Uvalde Democrat, commended Phelan for meeting last week with families of victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting this past May.

“They agreed on some things and they disagreed on some other things,” King said. “But throughout the entire meeting he was honest with them. He was upfront, answered those questions boldly, and it was impressive. … Those are the qualities I find very, very admirable.”

Houston Chronicle: Opinion: Why the House speaker chaos over Kevin McCarthy won't happen in the Texas Legislature.

Kevin McCarthy likely isn’t sleeping too well these days, what with his fellow Republicans in the Freedom Caucus tanking his repeated attempts to become speaker of the U.S. House. It’s been 100 years since the speaker was not elected on a first vote, and as of this writing, McCarthy had racked up four failed votes, and counting.

Meanwhile, down in Texas, Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan, also under fire from Freedom Caucus ideologues, is probably sleeping like a baby.

Why?

Because Phelan has something McCarthy doesn’t have, and considering the hopelessly tribalist partisan politics of Washington D.C. these days, could probably never have: Democratic support.

McCarthy, R-California, and Phelan, R-Beaumont, both began the holiday season with a strong mandate within their respective Republican caucuses and the certainty their party would have a legislative majority in January.

That’s where the similarities end. Phelan knows his re-election as speaker of the Texas House on January 10 is a lock while McCarthy flails embarrassingly because, at least for the time being, the Texas House is still not like the U.S. House in several important ways.

What some have seen as a Phelan weakness (potentially relying on Democratic votes to be elected speaker), may actually be a strength, since it has allowed Phelan and the Texas House Republican Caucus to avoid the predicament McCarthy and the U.S. House Republican Conference find themselves in today.

Who is Dade Phelan? 

- Texas Tribune: Texas Rep. Dade Phelan.

How train robberies in the 19th century helped build up law enforcement agencies in the west

From a podcast I listened to in the car recently. Two gangs and one individual who robbed trains and stagecoaches in the west and were successful for a period of time because of the lack of law enforcement agencies - notable federal agencies. The only available force initially was the general population that would create vigilante forces to capture and punish these individuals. 

One of my themes in class is that governmental activity is often related to actual events. Here's anb example. 

- Wikipedia: Reno Gang. 

. . . a group of criminals that operated in the Midwestern United States during and just after the American Civil War. Though short-lived, the gang carried out the first three peacetime train robberies in U.S. history. Most of the stolen money was never recovered.

The gang was broken up by the lynchings of ten of its members by vigilante mobs in 1868. The murders created an international diplomatic incident with Canada and Great Britain, a general public uproar, and international newspaper coverage. No one was ever identified or prosecuted for the lynchings.

- Wikipedia: James–Younger Gang.

For nearly a decade following the Civil War, the James–Younger Gang was among the most feared, most publicized, and most wanted confederations of outlaws on the American frontier. Though their crimes were reckless and brutal, many members of the gang commanded a notoriety in the public eye that earned the gang significant popular support and sympathy. The gang's activities spanned much of the central part of the country; they are suspected of having robbed banks, trains, and stagecoaches in at least eleven states: Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, and West Virginia.

- Wikipedia: Black Bart.

. . . an American outlaw noted for the poetic messages he left behind after two of his robberies. Often called Charley by his friends, he was also known as Charles (or C.E.) Bolton.[1] Considered a gentleman bandit with a reputation for style and sophistication,[1] he was one of the most notorious stagecoach robbers to operate in and around Northern California and southern Oregon during the 1870s and 1880s.

__________

- Frontier Justice.

- Extrajudicial Punishment. 

- Wikipedia: Train Robberies.

- Wikipedia: Vigilance Committees.

-  Extrajudicial Killings.

- Wikipedia: Pinkerton detective agency.

 Lynch law

vigilante Justice / vigilance committee 

Lynch mobs

Free blacks 

5/1/23 - 5/12/23

 Review

The Donor Community: Jennifer Pritzker

For our ongoing look at where campaign money comes from. 

-  Jennifer Pritzker: Political Causes: 

Pritzker was a Republican,[24] and major donor to candidates and organizations such as the NRA, John McCain, and Mitt Romney.[25][26] However, as of 2019, she is reevaluating her support, citing the Trump Administration's transgender military ban and other anti-LGBTQ policies: "When the GOP asks me to deliver six- or seven-figure contributions for the 2020 elections, my first response will be: why should I contribute to my own destruction?”.[27][28]

In August 2020, Pritzker donated $2,000 to the presidential campaign of Joe Biden.[29]

In October 2020, Pritzker donated $100,000 to the Lincoln Project, led by Republican Strategists, some of whom endorse Joe Biden to prevent the re-election of Donald Trump.[30]

During the 3rd quarter of 2020, Pritzker was recognized as a member of the Chairman's Circle, signifying a $25,000 contribution to the Libertarian Party.

For more: 

- The Pritzker Family: 

The Pritzker family is an American family engaged in entrepreneurship and philanthropy, and one of the wealthiest families in the United States of America (staying in the top 10 of Forbes magazine's "America's Richest Families" list since the magazine began such listings in 1982). Its fortune arose in the 20th century—particularly through the founding and expansion of the Hyatt hotel corporation.

Family members still largely own Hyatt, and prior to its sale to Berkshire Hathaway, the Marmon Group, a conglomerate of manufacturing and industrial service companies.[1] Their holdings also have included the Superior Bank of Chicago (which collapsed in 2001), the TransUnion credit bureau, Braniff airlines, McCall's magazine, and the Royal Caribbean cruise line.

- Governor Jay Robert "J. B." Pritzker:

. . . an American billionaire businessman, philanthropist, and politician serving as the 43rd governor of Illinois since 2019. A member of the wealthy Pritzker family, which owns the worldwide hotel chain Hyatt, Pritzker is based in Chicago and has started several venture capital and investment startups like the Pritzker Group, where he is a managing partner. His estimated personal net worth is $3.6 billion.[1]

Pritzker has been a longtime financial supporter and active member of the Democratic Party. He became the Democratic nominee for governor of Illinois in the 2018 gubernatorial election after winning a crowded primary election.[2] He defeated Republican incumbent Bruce Rauner in the general election on November 6, 2018, and took office on January 14, 2019.[3][4] Pritzker was reelected in 2022.

From the Texas Tribune: Appeals court to decide if First Amendment should have protected Laredo’s “big crazy lady” from arrest

A great look at federalism

- Click here for the article.   

It is unusual for all 16 judges of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to convene and hear a case. This month, they will do so to consider a lawsuit involving a foul-mouthed Latina firebrand known as La Gordiloca, an unlikely citizen journalist who has upended politics as usual in her border town of Laredo.

Her case pits the First Amendment against qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that shields public officials from being sued individually unless they’ve violated a “clearly established” constitutional right. Although it involves a freelance, untrained citizen journalist, the case has widespread implications for journalism in Texas and beyond. A similar case is already working its way up through the courts in Fort Bend County.

Priscilla Villarreal didn’t set out to piss off powerful people around Laredo. It started one day in 2015 when she heard sirens blaring outside her house. She went outside and saw a hostage situation unfolding; she began recording video on her phone as shots were fired and continued as the victims, two dead girls, were carried out of the house. She uploaded clips to Facebook; almost one million people saw them.

Villarreal’s day job was supervising wrecking crews as they cleaned up tractor-trailer crash scenes, but unedited videos chronicling the dark corners of her city became her calling. Her reach exploded with the release of Facebook Live, and along the way she picked up a moniker: La Gordiloca, or “the big crazy lady.” She now has 200,000 followers watching her livestreamed crime scene videos and listening to her stream-of-consciousness soliloquies, mostly in Spanish, about everything from cooking and local restaurants to well-sourced gossip about corrupt cops and politicians.

It’s the latter that began turning heads around Laredo, a South Texas town of a quarter-million people. In 2017, when a local U.S. Border Patrol agent died by suicide, Villarreal learned his name from a police officer and reported it publicly before the police issued a statement. A month later, she posted the name of a family involved in a deadly car crash, again after verifying it with a Laredo police officer.

Police started harassing her, she says, including in a filmed incident in which a police officer prevented her from being near a crash site where she was working her day job with the cleanup crew. Six months after her initial reports naming the people involved in the two incidents, Laredo police arrested Villarreal for twice breaking a little-known state law — one under which the Webb County district attorney had never before prosecuted anyone — involving soliciting or receiving information from a public servant that “has not been made public” with an intent to obtain a benefit.

“When I would report on whatever it was that was going on that had to do with the cops, they had to stop what they were doing,” Villarreal said. “I’m not saying all of them, but, you know, not being able to beat somebody up or to do something that was gonna get caught on camera — I think that that’s what they didn’t like about what I was doing.”

From the Texas Tribune: Property tax revision, judicial branch expansion among new Texas laws that took effect Jan. 1

Most bills passed by the legislature take effect 90 days after the end of the regular session. Some take effect at different times if the language of the bill says so.

Here are three that were passed in 2021 that are just now taking effect.

- Click here for the article.  

. . . Senate Bill 12, written by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, limits the amount of property taxes a school district can levy on the homestead of an elderly or disabled person, according to a bill analysis by the Senate Research Center.

To ensure that districts are not burdened by a decrease in revenue, the law makes districts eligible for additional state aid.

. . . House Bill 3774, authored by Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, includes several reforms to the judicial branch. It creates 10 district courts, five statutory county courts, one statutory probate court and one criminal magistrate court. It revises the jurisdiction of certain statutory county courts, gives magistrates in certain counties jurisdiction in criminal cases, revises the duties of certain district and county attorneys and provides public access to the state court document database — if the state Supreme Court agrees.

Additionally, the law creates a code of professional responsibility to regulate entities overseen by the Texas Forensic Science Commission, revises the commission’s investigatory power and permits the commission to use state funds to train forensic analysts.

. . . Senate Bill 1210, written by Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, and Bettencourt, requires that building codes allow the use of refrigerants, a component of air conditioning units, other than hydrofluorocarbons, so long as they comply with the federal Clean Air Act. This law is in line with a movement in the United States and around the world to phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbons, chemical compounds of hydrogen, carbon and fluorine that erode the ozone layer and contribute to global warming.

A Senate Research Center analysis of the law noted that a leading industry group, the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, supported the legislation. Major Texas manufacturers including Goodman and Chemours also supported it, the analysis found. The analysis said the transition away from hydrofluorocarbons includes ramping up the manufacturing of air conditioners that use other types of coolants, many of which can be manufactured in Texas.

The Speaker of the House Explained: GOP Crisis

Interesting commentary regarding the last time Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives had to elect a new speaker. It foreshadows some of the issues that are happening now.



For background: 

- John Boehner.

Interesting bit from this link: 

Challenged 2015 House Chair election: Many Republicans were ready for a new House of Representatives Chairman following the 2014 mid-term elections. EMC Research reported 60% of participants in their telephone survey wanted a new chairman. In the end there were a total of 25 votes against Boehner, 29 were needed in order to choose a new speaker. Boehner responded by removing those who opposed him from influential committees.

For Spring 2023: 1000 word topics for 2305 and 2306

GOVT 2305

Will the 118th Congress be Deadlocked?

The 118th Congress is underway and it features each party in charge of one of its two chambers. The Republicans have a narrow lead in the House, and the Democrats have a narrow lead in the Senate. In the chapter on Congress you'll see this referred to as divided government.

You will be told that it compounds the checks and balances by putting competing political forces at odds. In this case conservative forces in the House can block liberal forces in the Senate, and vice versa.

But is this really true? We have a chance to test this idea.

Over the course of the semester I want you to analyze the activities of the House and Senate and try to figure out where they work together, and where they don't. Assess their relationship. Give examples to prove your point. Write it out so I can understand what's going on.

Aside from the word length please:
1 - use at least three references
2 - use whatever format works best for you
3 - use a language that at least approximates English

Note that you may write as much as you want.

Possible readings:

- With Congress Deadlocked, States’ Abortion Debates Continue.

__________

GOVT 2306

Legislative Priorities of the 88th Texas Legislature

The Texas Legislature will meet throughout the spring semester. I will provide a list of legislative priorities, the specific items that the leaders of the legislature - as well as the governor - would like the legislature to focus on.

I want you to select one and become an expert on it. What is the nature of the problem? What proposals are being made to address the problem? What interests have lined up for and against these proposals? Will they pass? If not, why not?

We will discuss these topics in class, and I will post material about them on the blog.

Aside from the word length please:
1 - use at least three references
2 - use whatever format works best for you
3 - use a language that at least approximates English

Note that you may write as much as you want.

 

Spring 2023 Class and Office Schedule

I'll clean this up soon

Spring 2023

Online
- GOVT 2305-IN01

MWF
- 8:19am - 9:12am: GOVT 2305-SCH01
- 9:18am - 10:12am GOVT 2305 SCH02
- 10:55am - 11:44am GOVT 2306-GDH01
- 12:58pm - 1:51pm GOVT 2306-SCH01

MW
- 2:30pm - 4pm GOVT 2306-06: Melcher

M
- 6pm - 9pm: GOVT 2306-91: Ramsey

TTH
- 11am - 1220pm: GOVT 2305-02 
- 4pm - 5:30pm: GOVT 2306-08: Melcher 


- 2022-2023 ACC Academic Calendar.

January 17 - Classes begin

Week 1: 1/17 - 1/20 
Week 2: 1/23 - 1/27
Week 3: 1/30 - 2/3
Week 4: 2/6 - 2/10
Week 5: 2/13 - 2/17
Week 6: 2/20 - 2/24
Week 7: 2/27 - 3/3
Week 8: 3/6 - 3/10
Week 9: 3/13 - 3/17 - Spring Break
Week 10: 3/20 - 3/24
Week 11: 3/27 - 3/31
Week 12: 4/3 - 4/7
Week 13: 4/10 - 4/14
Week 14: 4/17 - 4/21
Week 15: 4/24 - 4/28
Week 16: 5/1 - 5/5

May 5 - Classes end

Week 17: 5/8 - 5/12 - Finals Week

May 12 9am - ACC Grades due


Mini 3 Week
Week 18: 5/15 - 5/19


Summer 1

Summer 2

UH 

- 2022 - 2023 Academic Calendar.

https://us-lti.bbcollab.com/recording/325968f1c906428b85caa9091dd42f94

Section 15: Public Policy Arenas, Part 1

2305: Chapter 16: Social Policy
2306: Chapter 13: Budget Finances, and Policy

Chapter 16: Social Policy
- social policy
- risks and insecurities
- programs for the elderly
- social security
- medical assistance
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Affordable Care Act
- alleviate poverty
- redistribution
- equality of opportunity
- education
- welfare state
- entitlement programs
- contributory programs
- indexing
- unemployment insurance
- noncontributory programs
- public assistance programs
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
- means testing
- Supplemental Security Income
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- in-kind benefits
- earned income tax credit
- Elementary and Secondary Policy
- GI Bill
- higher education
- health and housing
- Pell Grant program
- War on Drugs

2306: Chapter 13: Budget Finances, and Policy
- sales tax revenue
- budget
- state tax revenue
- sales. motor vehicle, motor fuel, franchise, gas and oil production
- local property tax revenue
- school, special, county, city
- property tax
- homestead exemption
- sin taxes
- fees and fines
- rainy day funds
- income tax
- budget cycle
- general revenue funds
- limitations
- pay as you go
- spending cap
- dedicated and non-dedicated revenue
- dual processing process
- fiscal note
- appropriation bill
- riders





Equal Treatment and Civil Rights


- Hierarchy

- Citizenship

- 14th Amendment

- Backlash


Lecture Topics: 

- Public Finance: Definition.
- Public Finance: Government Expenditures.
- Public Finance: Government Revenue.
- United States Treasury security.
- Fiscal Federalism.
- United States federal budget.
- Federal grants in the United States.
- Administration of federal assistance in the United States.
- 2023 Fiscal Size-Up.
- Brazoria County: Budget Data by Year.
- City of Alvin Annual Budget.
- Alvin Independent School District Budget.
- Alvin Community College District Budget.

__________

- Article 1, Section 8.

- First Congress.
- Executive Agencies.
- - The First Three Departments: 
- - - State.
- - - War / Defense.
- - - Treasury.
- - The First Executive Agencies
- - - U.S. Customs Service. (ports of entry)
- - - The Attorney General
- - - The Census
- - - Naturalization Act
- - - Patent Act
- - - Crimes Act
- - - Copyright Act
- - - Residence Act
- - - Indian Intercourse Act
- - - Funding Act
- - - Collection of Duties Act
- - - Revenue Marine - U.S. Coast Guard
- - - First Bank of the United States
- - - Tariff of 1791.

- Judicial Branch
- - Federal Judiciary





UH

- Crime, Corrections, and Public Safety

__________

Topics: Equal Treatment



GOVT 2305

WTP - Chapter 14: Domestic and Foreign Policy



GOVT 2306

LSP - Chapter 14: Energy, Environment, Transportation, and Immigration Policy 

Terminology: 

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Education Reform Act
entitlement programs
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Medicaid
Medicare
Permanent University Fund (PUF)
redistributive programs
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)

Section 14: Federalism and Public Finance

Public Policy and Federalism: 
- Federalism and Public Policy.
- Public Policy and the Enumerated Powers.


- Public Finance.
- - Wikipedia: Government Revenue.
- - Wikipedia: Tax Policy.
- - U.S. Treasury Department: Tax Policy.
- - Texas Comptroller: Taxes.
- - Pearland: City Tax Information.
- - Brazoria County Tax Office.
- - Texas Education Agency: School District Property Values and Tax Rates.
- - TACC: Property Taxes at Texas Community Colleges.

- Fiscal Size-Up: Areas of Spending / State Agencies.
- Criminal Justice and Public Safety.








2305: Chapter 15: Economic Policy
2306: Chapter 12: Local Government

2305: Economic Policy
- focusing event
- public policy
- economic policy
- market economies
- establishing law and order
- defining rules of property 
- defining rules of exchange
- enforcing contracts
- setting market standards
- providing public goods
- creating a labor force
- promoting competition
- monopolies
- marker failures
- collective responses
- externalities
- inequality and unemployment
- economic efficiency and low inflation
- managing the economy
- federal relief 
- work programs
- investments
- economic conditions
- electoral politics
- promoting stable markets
- Securities and Exchange Commission
- economic prosperity
- measuring economic growth
- gross domestic product
- full employment
- low inflation
- promoting business development
- protecting employees
- protecting consumers
- National Labor Relations Act
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- monetary policy
- federal reserve system
- reserve requirement
- open market operations
- federal funds rate
- fiscal policy
- budget deficit
- national debt
- taxation
- tariff
- progressive tax
- redistribution
- regressive tax
- tax expenditures
- mandatory spending
- discretionary spending
- budget process
- anti trust policy
- consumer protection
- deregulation
- subsidies
- contracting policy

2306: Chapter 12: Local Government
- preemption
- Dillon's Rule
- ordinances
- municipalities
- county government
- unincorporated areas
- county judge
- county commissioner
- county sheriff
- county prosecutor
- county administrators
- county finance officials
- city governments
- home rule cities
- general law cities
- city charters
- initiative
- referendum
- recall
- annexation
- mayor-council system
- commission form
- council-manager system
- city manager
- special district
- school district
- special improvement districts
- municipal bonds
- community college districts
- library districts
- municipal utility districts
- hospital districts
- homeowners association
- county elections
- city elections
- nonpartisan elections
- minority representation
- place system
- single member districts
- low turnout
- voting
- corruption
- TIRZ
- debt
- councils of government
- sprawl
- zoning
- workforce
- pensions

_______

Chris Matthews: I don't think Rep. McCarthy has any finesse

A good description of what makes a good political leader, as opposed to a bad one. 

Three Texas Republican U.S. House members have voted against Kevin McCarthy for Speaker

They are: 

- Rep. Michael Cloud, Texas 27th.
- Rep. Chip Roy, Texas 21st.
- Rep. Keith Self, Texas 3rd.

Click here for the current delegation from Texas to the U.S. House of Representatives.


Here are a couple of stories from the Texas Tribune regarding their decision and the impact it is having on their colleagues. These are followed by one from the NYT describing the ideological nature of the 20 no votes.



- Texas Republicans urge Chip Roy and other McCarthy opponents to let Congress get to work.

Texans are slated to chair some of the most influential committees in this congressional session. But without a speaker of the House, they can’t take their gavels. And it’s getting on their nerves.

“Everything flows from the speaker being elected. We can’t even get sworn in. I can’t start my committee. We’re held hostage until we get this thing resolved,” said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, who is slated to lead the House Foreign Affairs Committee and lead the party’s investigations into the Biden administration’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.

. . . Normally, committee assignments would be determined by early December, allowing members to hire staff and set up the structures needed to immediately start legislating. Republican party leadership plays a central role in selecting who will lead each committee.

But that process was delayed late last year after it became clear that this year’s speaker’s election would be competitive. The House Republican conference was unable to get enough of their members behind McCarthy in a November party meeting to secure his majority in the full chamber, leaving too much uncertainty for the party to start doling out chairmanships.

That’s put several Texans in limbo. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, is competing against two other Republicans, Reps. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, and Clay Higgins, R-Louisiana, to lead the Homeland Security Committee, which will be key to the party’s oversight agenda of the Biden administration’s immigration policy. Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Lubbock, is also gunning for the top spot on the House Budget Committee.

“Rules changes, who gets more power, who gets on what committee — I can’t think of one American who gives a damn about any of that,” Crenshaw told reporters. “They care about the mission. And the conservative agenda is one that will accomplish the mission for the American people the best. But we can’t start that agenda until we start governing.”

- U.S. Rep. Chip Roy emerges as key GOP agitator in U.S. House speaker fight.

U.S. Rep. Chip Roy is showing no signs of backing down in his fight to overhaul Congress, even as he’s facing off against the most powerful members of his party to do so.

The boisterous Austin Republican continued to issue impassioned pleas from the House floor Tuesday afternoon urging a shake-up of his party’s leadership and pressing for changes to rules that he says keeps the power of Congress in the hands of a small group of party leaders. Roy’s stand, along with the protests from a vocal group of roughly 20 other right-wing Republicans including two Texans, blocked his party from being able to select a Speaker on Tuesday — the first time in a century the House was unable to select its leader on the first try.

The stalemate is angering other Republicans, who fear it is self-sabotage before the party can even swear in its own members. Without a speaker, rules for the House’s day-to-day business cannot be determined, staffers could go without paychecks and laws cannot be passed. Committee assignments also remain in flux, including a handful of chairmanships that Texans are gunning for. The speaker is the third-highest-ranking elected official in the country, second in line to the presidency. The House will vote again and again until it is able to find one person who can get a simple majority to be speaker.

- How Far Right Are the 20 Republicans Who Voted Against McCarthy?

 Most of the lawmakers who voted against Mr. McCarthy — at least 95 percent — are members of the House Freedom Caucus or were recently endorsed by its campaign arm. By contrast, just about a fifth of all House Republicans are estimated to be part of the caucus, founded in 2015 and considered to be one of the farthest-right groups in the House.

In the third round of voting on Tuesday, all 20 of the lawmakers defying Mr. McCarthy voted for Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio instead. Mr. Jordan, who himself voted for Mr. McCarthy, is a founding member of the Freedom Caucus and has repeatedly cast doubt on the 2020 election.

In the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, held Wednesday, the same 20 lawmakers voted for Representative Byron Donalds of Florida, also a member of the Freedom Caucus, instead of Mr. McCarthy. Mr. Donalds joined the group on the third vote, throwing his support to Mr. Jordan after voting for Mr. McCarthy on the first two ballots, and then for himself in the subsequent ballots.

From House.gov: Speaker Elections Decided by Multiple Ballots

As I'm posting this, the House is about to have its fourth vote for speaker.

- Click here for the page. 

For more on the previous multiple ballot elections: 

- 1793 - 1795: 3rd Congress - Frederick Muhlenberg. 3 votes

Muhlenberg was seeking his third term as speaker, it would be his last. He did not seek re nomination in the 4th Congress. He was replaced by the leader of the Democrat-Republican party. 

- 1799 - 1801: 6th Congress - Theodore Sedgwick. 2 votes

- 1805 - 1807: 9th Congress - Nathaniel Macon. 3 votes

- 1809 - 1811: 11th Congress - Joseph Varnum. 2 votes

- 1819 - 1821: 16th Congress - John Taylor. 22 votes

- 1821 - 1823: 17th Congress - Philip Barbour. 12 votes

- 1825 - 1827: 19th Congress - John Taylor. 2 votes

- 1833 - 1835: 23rd Congress - John Bell. 10 votes 

- 1839 - 1841: 26th Congress - Robert Hunter. 11 votes

- 1847 - 1849: 30th Congress - Robert Winthrop. 3 votes

- 1849 - 1851: 31st Congress - Howell Cobb. 63 votes

- 1855 - 1857: 34th Congress - Nathaniel Banks. 133 votes

- 1859 - 1861: 36th Congress - William Pennington. 44 votes

- 1923 - 1925: 68th Congress - Frederick Gillett. 9 votes

__________

- Click here for the full list of Speakers.

LIVE: Kevin McCarthy seeks U.S. House speaker's gavel in new Congress

This is streaming right now (1/3/23 - 11:05am). I'm not sure what will be available later, but it shows the opening of the 118th Session of the U.S. House of Representatives. After a roll call, they will proceed to elect the speaker - which promises to be eventful. 

WATCH LIVE: Senate opens, McConnell expected to speak after becoming lon...

Here is streaming video (as of 1/3/23 11:10am) of the opening of the 118th Session of the U.S. Senate. It isn't nearly as eventful as that of the house since the presiding officer is already established constitutionally.

From The Art of Association: The Best-Kept Secret of the Secret Congress

A brief story about the results of the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress.

- Click here for it.

On this, the final day of the 117th Congress, I want to pay tribute to a remarkable bit of institution-building that occurred during it. The time is ripe for commendation. There is a growing recognition that, for all the chaos and conflict on Capitol Hill, a “secret” or “shadow” Congress operates behind the scenes to get things done for the American people.

The secret Congress is populated by pragmatic work horses, not performative show horses. Over the past two years, they have produced a raft of landmark legislation, almost all of it on a bipartisan basis. Stellar examples include the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Chips and Science Act, the Respect for Marriage Act, and reform of the 1887 Electoral Count Act.

For two congresses now, one group of House lawmakers has exemplified the commendable ethos of the secret Congress–but with a twist. The members of the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress have worked not to make public policy but rather to strengthen the institution that makes it – the People’s House. We will benefit from their labor.

The 202 recommendations made by the Committee during the 116th and 117th congresses span several critical areas, as reflected in chapter headings from its final report:

“Recruiting, empowering, and retaining an experienced, skilled, and diverse congressional staff”
“Building a more civil and collaborative Congress”
“Strengthening lawmaking and oversight capacity”
“Building a Modern Congress” (technology systems and talent)
“Modernizing the Workplace”
“Modernizing District Offices”

Final Report OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE JANUARY 6TH ATTACK ON THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL

- Click here for it.

The rules changes proposed by Republicans in the House Rules Committee

- Click here for the article. 

What is the House Rules Committee? 

Wikipedia: House Rules Committee.

From Axios: McCarthy still short on votes in bid to become speaker

The 118th Congress starts tomorrow. The first job of the House of Representatives is to select a speaker. That requires a simple majority, 218 out of 538. 

Kevin McCarthy was elected leader of the Republican Party in the house - click here for the story - but only by a vote of 188-31. That's short. As of now he does not have the votes to make up the difference.

The following story details what the dispute is about.

- Click here for the article.

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy has begged countless lawmakers — and offered extraordinary concessions, including allowing members to easily fire him at any time — to secure the votes for speaker.

Why it matters:

- Republicans will take control of the House as the 118th Congress opens Tuesday. But McCarthy still doesn't have the votes he needs for speaker, as a handful of GOP lawmakers remain publicly opposed.

- Top members of his team tell Axios they're optimistic about pulling it out. But they can't point to an exact route — always a bad sign.

- McCarthy unveiled a package of rules changes on Sunday for the incoming Congress in an attempt to win over Republican holdouts to his bid for speaker of the House, Punchbowl News reported.

The rule changes amount to concessions to conservatives, who previously demanded similar changes.

- The changes include what was considered a "red line" for McCarthy — making it easier to force a vote on removing the speaker.

- McCarthy's proposed rules hand a knife to skeptics, allowing any five GOP to call for a vote to boot him at any time. In a letter of response, several hardliners still refused to commit to backing him. "He's empowering every part of the conference," a top GOP aide told Axios.

The rules package also proposes ending the use of proxy voting and remote committee proceedings implemented because of the pandemic — as well as fines for not complying with mask mandates or security screenings before entering the House floor.

It also proposes a vote to form a select subcommittee on "Weaponization of the Federal Government" under the House Judiciary Committee, as well as a select committee on "Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party."

Between the lines: McCarthy has yielded to the right on ask after ask for weeks — ever since it was clear he was in trouble because the midterms gave him such a narrow majority.

Yet even close allies privately say it's "hard to see a path" to the 218 votes McCarthy needs when the new Congress opens tomorrow, Punchbowl News reports.

European Powers in North America

A simple way to describe the evolution of European control of North America is (1) the effort of Britain to push out other European nations and then (2) the United States taking over that effort, which included pushing back against Britain, and then Canada and Mexico. 

All justified by Manifest Destiny.

Some related topics.

- Colonialism.

- Mercantilism.

- New Spain.

- New France.

- British North America. .

- Dutch colonization of the Americas.

- Swedish colonies in the Americas.

- Russian America.

- War of 1812.

- Monroe Doctrine

- Mexican-American War.

This is why the federal government gets involved . . .

From The Texas Tribune: Southwest Airlines’ holiday meltdown brings on federal investigation.

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines faces a federal investigation into whether it violated its own legally required customer service plan amid a blizzard of flight cancellations that ruined plans and angered travelers over the Christmas holiday.

In a statement late Monday, officials at the U.S. Department of Transportation called the service meltdown, which resulted in the cancellation or delay of most of the carrier’s flights over the holiday weekend, “disproportionate and unacceptable.”

As Winter Storm Elliott started to wreak havoc on a large chunk of the U.S., the vast majority of canceled flights across the nation were operated by Southwest Airlines. And air travelers’ woes are likely to continue this week.

“USDOT is concerned by Southwest’s unacceptable rate of cancellations and delays & reports of lack of prompt customer service,” the agency posted on Twitter on Monday evening. “The Department will examine whether cancellations were controllable and if Southwest is complying with its customer service plan.”

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tweeted shortly after that he was “tracking [the issue] closely” and would have more to say about this Tuesday.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the DOT said on Twitter that Buttigieg had spoken “with union leaders and the CEO of Southwest Airlines to convey the Department’s expectation that Southwest meet its obligations to passengers and workers and take steps to prevent a situation like this from happening again.”

Southwest officials said in a message to employees, obtained by the The Dallas Morning News on Tuesday, that staffing issues were a large part of the reason the planes were being grounded after pilots and other staff couldn’t get to the airports where they were needed.

The Donor Community

I heard this term recently. A potential presidential candidate was noted to have made a visit to potential donors - no big surprise. Before one decides to run for office - and intends to win - she had to figure out if she has the funds to do so. 

The community of wealthy people interested in influencing the political process can help her make that decision.

Some random links: 

- 5 Ways Candidates Can Ask for Campaign Money.

- Party Polarization and Campaign Finance.

 - Why Biden Donors Are Frustrated: Hurt Feelings and Voting Rights Alarm.

- GOP donors rattled by Donald Trump.

 

From Wikipedia: Seasteading

A possible new type of governing system.

- Click here for the entry. 

Seasteading is the concept of creating permanent dwellings at sea, called seasteads, in international waters outside the territory claimed by any government. No one has yet created a structure on the high seas that has been recognized as a sovereign state. Proposed structures have included modified cruise ships, refitted oil platforms, and custom-built floating islands.[1]

Proponents say seasteads can "provide the means for rapid innovation in voluntary governance and reverse environmental damage to our oceans ... and foster entrepreneurship."[2] Some critics fear seasteads may function more as a refuge for the wealthy to avoid taxes or other obligations.[3]

While seasteading gives an impression of freedom from unwanted rules and regulations, the high seas are "some of the most tightly regulated places on Earth" despite appearing borderless and free; in particular the cruise ship industry is highly regulated.[4]

The term seasteading is a blend of sea and homesteading, and dates back to the 1960s.