1 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:06,280 I'm just in Dane with a brief look at the latest news in Texas politics 2 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:12,439 and policy from the Texas Tribune. The US Justice Department announced Monday it issuing 3 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:17,120 Texas and Governor Greg Abbott after the state declined to remove the floating barrier it 4 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:22,239 deployed earlier this month on the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass. The federal lawsuit 5 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:27,519 alleges the barrier was installed without necessary authorization from the US Army Corps of Engineers. 6 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:32,359 The lawsuit also alleges that the floating barrier obstructs navigation on the river and 7 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:37,039 demands that the state remove it. Abbott defended his decision to keep the barrier 8 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:42,159 and blame the Biden administration's immigration policy for the conditions at the border. The 9 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:46,439 barrier, accompanied by rows of razor wire, was deployed as part of Operation 10 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:51,600 Loan Star, an aggressive state border security initiative launched in March of twenty twenty 11 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:57,119 one, shortly after Biden took office. The Justice Department lawsuit was preceded by 12 00:00:57,119 --> 00:01:03,520 a diplomatic complaint about the barrier from the sick In government. As the clock 13 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:07,239 is taking toward Attorney General Kent Paxton's September impeachment trial before the Texas Senate. 14 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:12,439 Far right groups are fighting hard and spending big money to protect their most important 15 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:18,719 ally and to stave off a major loss amid their ongoing fight for control of 16 00:01:18,719 --> 00:01:23,159 the Texas GOP. It's a key part of the constellation of political action committees, 17 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:29,000 campaigns, institutions, and dark money groups that a trio of West Texas 18 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:34,959 oil tycoons Tim Dunn and brothers Ferris and Dan Wilkes have pumped small fortunes into 19 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:38,799 as part of a long term crusade to push Texas to the extreme right, 20 00:01:38,599 --> 00:01:44,359 and until last month, no state politician had received more money from those groups 21 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:49,719 than Paxton, who has in turn used his office to push ultra conservative priorities 22 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:53,920 while declining to defend state agencies in numerous lawsuits filed by groups connected to Dunn 23 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:59,599 and the Wilkes brothers, including those seeking to undermine the state's campaign finance laws. 24 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:05,319 In other impeachment news, lawyers for Paxton are pushing to disqualify three Democratic 25 00:02:05,359 --> 00:02:09,520 state senators as jurors in this upcoming trial. Paxton's lawyers filed the motion Friday 26 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:15,960 that ask Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick to disqualify senators Nathan Johnson of Dallas, Roland 27 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:20,439 Gutierres of San Antonio, and hose A Menendez of San Antonio, arguing they 28 00:02:20,479 --> 00:02:24,919 have a proven bias against Paxton. The House Impeachment Managers responded in their own 29 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:30,759 filing later Friday, registering their opposition, saying, in part, the House 30 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:36,240 Managers oppose this motion and trust that all Senators previously determined to be eligible to 31 00:02:36,319 --> 00:02:42,800 vote will follow their constitutional obligation to impartially try mister Paxton. The trial to 32 00:02:42,879 --> 00:02:47,120 determine whether Paxton should be permanently removed from office is set to begin September fifth. 33 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:53,360 We have a big favor to ask, would you go to Texas Tribune 34 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:59,400 dot org slash brief survey to take a five minute listener survey. This is 35 00:02:59,439 --> 00:03:02,680 the best way for the Texas Tribune journalist to know what works and what doesn't 36 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:08,560 for our podcasts. The link again is Texas Tribune dot org slash brief Survey. 37 00:03:08,879 --> 00:03:13,919 There's also a link in the show notes, and we greatly appreciate your 38 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:17,639 feedback. Check for updates to any of the stories you heard in today's episode 39 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:23,159 at Texas Tribune dot org and follow the Brief podcast for daily news updates wherever 40 00:03:23,199 --> 00:03:30,879 you get your podcasts. I'm Justin Dane for the Texas Tribune. You've been 41 00:03:30,879 --> 00:03:37,800 briefed. Today's brief is brought to you by Raise your Hand Texas. Raise 42 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:42,360 your Hand Texas believes no matter what an education boucher is called, the policy 43 00:03:42,439 --> 00:03:46,280 is the same. Boucher's divert public funds to private schools and vendors. Find 44 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:52,639 out more at Raise your Hand Texas dot org. Here from Adam Kinzinger, 45 00:03:52,879 --> 00:03:57,199 the New Quatur, Catherine Clark, Aaron Franklin, and many others. At 46 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:01,000 the twenty twenty three Texas Tribune Festival, opening September twenty first through the twenty 47 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:06,240 third in Austin, one hundred newly and out speakers join an already stellar lineup 48 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:11,479 who will debate new ideas and take on big issues that matter to Texas and 49 00:04:11,639 --> 00:04:15,240 the nation. Learn more at Tribefest dot org.