This time around, a group of Democratic lawmakers are hoping to change that, having formed an “Equity Caucus” to advocate for women’s equity in House leadership and pledging to vote as a bloc for the House speaker, going public with its pick of Dade Phelan. Greg Abbott in September by a bipartisan group of state lawmakers. With the Texas Legislature set to convene in five weeks, an … Texas lawmakers have been reluctant to expand coverage for people with incomes near or below the poverty line. “The more things change, the more things stay the same,” said Rep.-elect Shelby Slawson, R-Stephenville, adding that supporting law enforcement is also one of her top concerns. Perry said he has “no doubt this is the session” to expand access to broadband internet for rural Texans. “It is time for us to be very pragmatic and take a common-sense approach to how we cover the health care needs of Texans,” said state Sen. Beverly Powell, D-Burleson, during a Texas Tribune panel discussion on the state Senate’s agenda. “It's up to the 150 of us to come together for the betterment of Texas,” Goldman said. “We're going to have a $4 to $5 billion budget deficit that we have to balance the budget on. “Women are the glue of most households and women have to make tough choices,” Johnson said. The Phelan Administration at The Texas Tribune's symposium previewing the 2021 legislative session, The House Agenda at The Texas Tribune's symposium previewing the 2021 legislative session, The Senate Agenda at The Texas Tribune's symposium previewing the 2021 legislative session, Writing the Budget at The Texas Tribune's symposium previewing the 2021 legislative session, Drawing the Maps at The Texas Tribune's symposium previewing the 2021 legislative session, What the Black Caucus Wants at The Texas Tribune's symposium previewing the 2021 legislative session, What the Women's Bloc Wants at The Texas Tribune's symposium previewing the 2021 legislative session, Meet the New Members at The Texas Tribune's symposium previewing the 2021 legislative session, Reporters' Roundtable at The Texas Tribune's symposium previewing the 2021 legislative session, weeklong virtual symposium Dec. 7-11 previewing the state’s upcoming legislative session, who will retire as speaker at the end of his term, nothing the state hasn’t worked through before. Health care will likely be top of mind for Texas lawmakers as they return to the Capitol for the 2021 legislative session during the worst public health crisis in a century. “Because inherently, when you're drawing maps that affect the state board of education, House and Senate districts and congressional districts, at some level … it can become controversial or personal to many of the members in both chambers.”. In many states, this process is controlled by the state legislature, subject to gubernatorial veto.When one party controls the process, this can lead to gerrymandering, where district lines are set to maximize that party’s control in Congress. The representatives also talked about how the legislative session will be affected by the pandemic, elections and the presumptive new speaker. “And Dade Phelan is the perfect person for this situation.”. On Tuesday, Rep. Kyle Biedermann (R-Fredericksburg) said that he is committed to authoring legislation in the 2021 legislative session that will … “Most issues in the Legislature aren't really Republican and Democratic issues,” Ramsey said. The conversation, moderated by Tribune reporter Patrick Svitek, also featured state Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, state Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, and state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock. Perhaps it goes without saying — but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. King said he was working with the House parliamentarian to draft rules to allow virtual meetings where the public can weigh in on how new maps are drawn. The 2021 must-do menu also includes legislative and congressional redistricting, which is generally a big ol’ mess even when there’s not a pandemic. After commissioners in a North Texas county ignored citizens’ pleas and authorized extending the county’s mask mandate to February 28, Texas Republican Party Chair Allen West called on the Texas Legislature to act against … “There's a million ways to do this.”, Three veteran members of the Texas House discuss how presumptive House Speaker Dade Phelan will lead the lower chamber. Texas Tax Talk: 2021's Legislative Priorities | Thought ... ... Tax Update Nov. 24, 2020, Phelan was a prominent lieutenant of current House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, whose handling of the 2019 legislative session was popular before scandal brought him down. … Facebook. Third, definitely, he is trustworthy.”, The panelists also said that Phelan, like Dennis Bonnen — who will retire as speaker at the end of his term after a secret recording revealed he encouraged the targeting of 10 GOP members for primary challenges — has the same focus and knack to get things done as his predecessor and will, as Hunter said, fairly call “balls and strikes.”, Texas House members spell out their top priorities heading in to the 2021 legislative session. “A lot of this is just really kind of up in the air and I think folks are … getting antsy on just having some answers and some clarity on what all this ends up looking like come January,” Pollock said. “This is the people’s house, and we need to make sure the people have access to us,” Jetton said. They play no role in the state ’ s executive editor, Ross Ramsey Nov. 30, 2021 after! Of most households and women have to make tough choices, ” Ramsey said,! 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