WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.799 --> 00:00:05.360 Today's episode of The Trip Cast is brought to you 2 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:08.720 by Raise Your Hand, Texas and One World Strategy Group. 3 00:00:12.759 --> 00:00:16.039 Hello and welcome back to the Tribcast. I'm Eleanor Klibanoff, 4 00:00:16.120 --> 00:00:18.920 women's health reporter here at the Tribune, joined by my 5 00:00:19.079 --> 00:00:21.199 co host, politics reporter James Berrigan. 6 00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:22.679 How you doing, James, I'm doing great. 7 00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:27.199 Great and fan favorite friend of the pod politics reporter 8 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:28.960 Jasper Sharer, how you doing. 9 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:29.519 I'm good. 10 00:00:29.559 --> 00:00:32.320 I didn't know I was a fan favorite, but happy. 11 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:32.600 To be back. 12 00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:33.920 Everyone's talking about it. 13 00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:35.119 Everyone everyone. 14 00:00:35.640 --> 00:00:39.679 Jasper is standing in today for our co host Matthew Watkins, 15 00:00:40.039 --> 00:00:42.719 which I believe also gives you all the powers of 16 00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:43.920 interim editor in chief. 17 00:00:44.479 --> 00:00:47.719 It's fine, it's, you know, a big duty. But all 18 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:50.560 I take my powers, I don't take them lightly. 19 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:54.799 Yeah, long overdue. People have been saying, many people, do 20 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:56.920 you have any emergency action items you're going to shove 21 00:00:56.920 --> 00:00:58.600 through while you're interim editor in chief. 22 00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:00.000 M That's a good quest. 23 00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:02.759 I mean, I've just learned ten seconds ago that I 24 00:01:02.799 --> 00:01:04.560 have this title now, so I haven't put a ton 25 00:01:04.599 --> 00:01:07.280 of thought into it, but I am excited to try 26 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:10.959 to you know, Phil Matthew's shoes on the podcast. 27 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:18.480 Speaking of Power. This week's episode is all about the 28 00:01:18.519 --> 00:01:23.319 Texas the top dog in Texas, Governor Greg Abbot. This week, 29 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:26.040 the governor gave his State of the State address on Sunday, 30 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:29.120 where he laid out the emergency items that the legislature 31 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:32.200 can fast track, sort of his priorities for the session. 32 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:35.599 This speech is also an opportunity for the governor, he's 33 00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:38.400 been governor for a decade to sort of talk about 34 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:42.840 how the state is going under his tutelage, under his leadership. 35 00:01:44.040 --> 00:01:46.560 Came at a tricky time this year, I think for Abbot. 36 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:52.319 Just hours before this speech, Texas experience a pretty significant tragedy. 37 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:56.519 The Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncik. 38 00:01:56.799 --> 00:01:57.680 To the La Laders. 39 00:01:57.799 --> 00:01:58.319 Sure. 40 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:02.079 I just think it's important that we start and I 41 00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:03.560 think people put a lot of trust in us here 42 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:07.079 at the Texas Tribune. Who you get your news from matters. 43 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:09.560 I want to go on the record and I want 44 00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:13.360 to say to our North Texas listeners, our North Texas fans, 45 00:02:14.120 --> 00:02:16.759 I am not now and have never been a Los 46 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:19.879 Angeles Lakers fan. Jasper, have you ever been a Los 47 00:02:19.919 --> 00:02:20.840 Angeles Lakers fan? 48 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:23.280 No, I can't say I have I can't speak for 49 00:02:23.360 --> 00:02:26.240 everyone on the podcast, but personally no. 50 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:27.520 Right, So that's two of three. 51 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:31.520 James, I love the Los Angeles Lakers. I will not 52 00:02:31.639 --> 00:02:35.879 apologize for it, and I'm sorry. I mean, I think 53 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:39.520 the Nico Harrison made a bad decision, but it benefits 54 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:41.599 my team, So I am okay with this. 55 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:43.919 Yeah, I think it's a matter that maybe the House 56 00:02:44.120 --> 00:02:47.120 General Investigative Committee should start taking a look at just 57 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:50.039 they've They've been dormant for some number of months now 58 00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:53.039 and this I just feel like things look a little 59 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:53.599 fishy here. 60 00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:56.400 To look into what went into the decision? Yes, yeah, 61 00:02:56.479 --> 00:02:57.080 A what went. 62 00:02:57.000 --> 00:03:00.240 Into the decision? B James's fandom of the LA right 63 00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:03.960 that too. Yeah, it is a trade that the Ringer 64 00:03:04.039 --> 00:03:08.719 referred to as the dumbest NBA move I've ever seen someone. 65 00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:11.319 I mean, I think it was the front page of 66 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:13.960 the Dallas Morning News. I mean, I feel like Dallas 67 00:03:14.039 --> 00:03:15.560 is mourning, Like are the MAVs. 68 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:16.080 There's done? 69 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:18.960 There was a literal like funeral situation rightside of the 70 00:03:19.080 --> 00:03:20.520 American Airline Center. 71 00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:22.000 Yeah, and I guess some of them. 72 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:25.919 The more I think you could call it outlandish speculation 73 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:30.120 or at least, you know, really verging in almost conspiracy 74 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:33.560 theory territory, but maybe not is that you know, Miriam 75 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:37.240 Addelson of course is part of the ownership group that 76 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:41.800 has the majority ownership stake. She wants to you know, 77 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:46.680 legalize casinos, legalized gaming in Texas. Has the prospects for 78 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:50.000 that don't seem awesome with Dan Patrick in charge of 79 00:03:50.000 --> 00:03:53.520 the Senate. So the theories out there in the in 80 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:56.680 the ether, or that this could be priming the pump 81 00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:59.840 for you know, moving the Mavericks outside of Texas, which 82 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:03.520 you know, I don't know if that's actually in the cards, 83 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:06.680 but I feel like just the ties to the you know, 84 00:04:06.759 --> 00:04:09.919 Texas political world here like there there's always some sort 85 00:04:09.960 --> 00:04:14.240 of Texas politics connection, and everyone's running rampant with all 86 00:04:14.280 --> 00:04:16.439 the speculation right off the bat. 87 00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:19.199 So it's a trade so bad you have to assume 88 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:25.680 there's some kind of political ulterior motive motivate play. Yeah, James, 89 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:27.240 do you have anything you'd like to say to the 90 00:04:27.240 --> 00:04:28.240 people of North Texas. 91 00:04:28.360 --> 00:04:31.480 I've been completely caught off guard by this intro right now, 92 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:33.360 and I feel like it was just to make fun 93 00:04:33.399 --> 00:04:33.600 of me. 94 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:37.120 I told Jess right said, please come, prepare to talk about. 95 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:41.199 But I think what the listeners are learning is that 96 00:04:41.279 --> 00:04:44.759 we are political reporters and not sports reporters. We do 97 00:04:44.839 --> 00:04:45.560 not have a whole lot. 98 00:04:46.519 --> 00:04:50.319 We want to tie this back to the Texas legislature 99 00:04:50.360 --> 00:04:54.399 and the odds of a gambling a legislation which is terrible, 100 00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:57.680 not the legislation. I just mean that we can ruin 101 00:04:57.720 --> 00:04:59.680 anything by making it about the Texas legislature. 102 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:02.199 Yes, come to parties with us were very fun. 103 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:05.600 Anyway, moving on to the real stuff, which is that 104 00:05:06.199 --> 00:05:09.839 also on Sunday night, Houston native Beyonce one Album of 105 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:14.720 the Year at the Grammys. Huge night for Texas. Uh, 106 00:05:14.800 --> 00:05:17.600 I've just hearded learned that a resolution has been filed 107 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:21.360 to honor her. So Texas legislation, legislature connections to everything. 108 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:24.120 Los Angeles Nativekendrick Lamar also did pretty. 109 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:28.480 Well at the gramm How dare you uh right not 110 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:30.720 to say to that? Yes, I refuse to engage with 111 00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:34.879 that information. Anyway. Let's move on to Governor Abbott and 112 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:39.199 the State of the State address. James You on Sunday 113 00:05:39.800 --> 00:05:42.240 took a break from I assume planning a Lakers parade 114 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:45.680 in downtown Dallas to uh attend the State of the 115 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:48.120 State Address. Talked just a little bit about the event. 116 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:49.839 You know what the what the vibe was, what the 117 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:50.519 energy was. 118 00:05:51.079 --> 00:05:52.879 Well, the vibe was celebratory. 119 00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:57.639 As listeners may know, this is a tradition the State 120 00:05:57.680 --> 00:06:00.600 of the State address that traditionally had been held at 121 00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:03.600 the Capitol in front of a joint legislative session of 122 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:06.199 the House and Senate. But a couple of years ago 123 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:08.800 Governor Abbott made the decision he was going to take 124 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:10.879 the show on the road. First, he did it during 125 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:13.360 the pandemic and now he's continued sort of doing that tradition, 126 00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:16.560 holding it at businesses to sort of, I think emphasize 127 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:20.600 his business friendly attitudes and how Texas is a leader 128 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:24.000 in business. So it was a lot of invited attendees. 129 00:06:24.120 --> 00:06:27.040 The number given to us in the press box was 130 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:29.560 eleven hundred people there. Members of the House, member of 131 00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:33.319 the Senate were there, Speaker Borroughs was there, and it 132 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:39.079 was sort of a summary of what the governor believes 133 00:06:39.160 --> 00:06:42.439 is going right in the state of Texas. We're leaders 134 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:45.680 in business in the nation. Got a lot of top 135 00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:51.879 tier research universities and casting his vision forward for what 136 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:55.480 the state needs to do to continue on that path. 137 00:06:56.480 --> 00:07:00.399 And you know, it's all invited guests. So I saw 138 00:07:00.439 --> 00:07:03.120 people saying, oh, he's getting a standing ovation. He's like, well, yeah, 139 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:03.920 he's going to get. 140 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:04.439 A standing ovation. 141 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:05.399 Friendly audience. 142 00:07:05.639 --> 00:07:07.839 It was a friendly audience, but you know it was. 143 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:13.519 It was a speech that cast Governor Abbott's vision forward, saying, 144 00:07:13.560 --> 00:07:16.079 here's what we need to do for the next couple 145 00:07:16.120 --> 00:07:18.800 of decades for Texas to remain a leader. And some 146 00:07:18.839 --> 00:07:21.199 of those things we're going to talk about, like water infrastructure, 147 00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:24.160 which seems like nuts and bolts kind of boring stuff. 148 00:07:24.680 --> 00:07:27.319 But then there's also other things like school vouchers that 149 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:29.920 he talked about and said that was a must pass item. 150 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:32.680 And then things that weren't emergency items but that he 151 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:37.680 certainly stressed were things like immigration, further restrictions on diversity, 152 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:40.600 equity and inclusion programs not just in universities but in 153 00:07:40.759 --> 00:07:44.000 other tax paying entities, so we'll see what comes of that. 154 00:07:44.360 --> 00:07:47.959 And then further restrictions on transgender Texans in public life, 155 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:50.000 which which really caught a lot of people's attention. 156 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:54.480 Absolutely. I mean, were there any big surprises to you 157 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:56.560 jasper on what got the attention? 158 00:07:56.680 --> 00:07:59.120 What didn't I don't you know, I don't think so 159 00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:02.240 I mean one thing that maybe caught my attention rather 160 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:04.160 than any individual item. 161 00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:04.800 Was just how. 162 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:09.199 I guess broad some of the you know, the overall 163 00:08:09.480 --> 00:08:11.720 like menu of items was how there's kind of something 164 00:08:11.800 --> 00:08:15.120 for everyone in the sense that like what James was 165 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:19.439 talking about, you know, there's I think everyone in the 166 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:22.600 universe of Texas politics knew that education savings accounts was 167 00:08:22.600 --> 00:08:25.600 going to be on the list. Bail reform, the Republican 168 00:08:25.639 --> 00:08:28.959 version of bail reform has been this is a repeat item. 169 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:33.039 So some of the more partisan items I think were expected, 170 00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:36.759 and then just kind of the everything else I think 171 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:39.799 you could put in the category of bipartisan, you know, 172 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:44.759 the the shoring up the water infrastructure, teacher pay, you know, 173 00:08:44.840 --> 00:08:47.919 I think it it was, I guess notable in how 174 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:53.399 uncontroversial the agenda was beyond sort of the partisan items 175 00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:55.720 that we all we all knew would would be on there. 176 00:08:56.039 --> 00:08:58.879 I think part of that was to sort of project 177 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:02.480 the strength on things like fool vouchers, but also to 178 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:05.399 sort of quell this infighting that we have seen in 179 00:09:05.440 --> 00:09:08.879 the Texas GOP for many many years now. He has 180 00:09:09.159 --> 00:09:12.840 Jasper put really well, is putting something out there for 181 00:09:12.919 --> 00:09:17.639 everybody business friendly Republicans love it. They love the investment 182 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:21.639 and water infrastructure, They love the career workforce training that 183 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:24.360 is coming. Something that wasn't an emergency item but that 184 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:28.480 he talked about was investment in nuclear power and nuclear energy. 185 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:31.960 They love all that stuff because it creates a better 186 00:09:31.960 --> 00:09:35.559 business atmosphere. And then social conservatives are very very happy 187 00:09:35.559 --> 00:09:39.080 about school vouchers, are very happy about DEI talk, are 188 00:09:39.159 --> 00:09:43.879 very happy about the further restrictions on transgender Texans and 189 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:48.840 about immigration. So something for everybody, and everybody seems the 190 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:51.919 Republicans of that is, seem to be happy with the 191 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:53.759 direction that Abbot is laying out. 192 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:57.200 You guys mentioned most of these, but just for the 193 00:09:57.240 --> 00:10:01.360 sake of totality, the seven emergency items were cutting property taxes, 194 00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:06.639 a generational investment in water infrastructure, increasing teacher pay, vocational 195 00:10:06.679 --> 00:10:13.120 training programs, school choice, school vouchers, educational savings accounts, bail reform, 196 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:15.799 and then creating a cybersecurity hub in San Antonio. 197 00:10:16.679 --> 00:10:19.360 Yeah, thats me for a loop. Yeah, because it's a 198 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:21.279 little boring, boring, a. 199 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:24.159 Little specific, a little yeah, yeah, but I think. 200 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:26.279 It's like a national security thing, but it is kind 201 00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:27.240 of boring. 202 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:29.120 It's a good reminder that like a lot of what 203 00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:33.639 the government does is gets no headlines and uh, you know, 204 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:36.639 is not that incendiary, but is important. 205 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:38.559 Could maybe throw that in the category of things that 206 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:41.240 the business you know, the Chamber of Commerce Republicans would 207 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:42.639 would be happy about to. 208 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:46.399 Yeah, how does this sort of align with what we're 209 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:48.320 hearing from the House and the Senate on what they 210 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:49.720 want to accomplish this session. 211 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:55.200 I think it generally lines up pretty pretty closely, especially 212 00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:58.000 with I think the Senate has a more with with 213 00:10:58.120 --> 00:11:00.919 Dan Patrick laying out his list of so far twenty 214 00:11:00.919 --> 00:11:03.399 five top priority bills. I think they have a more 215 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:07.600 formal agenda that you know, we can sort of compare 216 00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:11.120 to and just looking at what, you know, the emergency 217 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:15.519 items that Dan Patrick has has already listed as his priorities, water, infrastructure, 218 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:19.960 property tax cuts, school choice, education savings accounts, and bail 219 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:22.399 reform are all up there, and those you know, those 220 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:26.200 low built numbers. And I think Speaker Burrows also put 221 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:29.440 out a statement, you know, listing a few items that 222 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:32.600 he said basically, you know, we're all aligned on passing 223 00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:35.240 this stuff. So I think, you know, there there were 224 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:38.519 may be some some items on Dan Patrick's priority list 225 00:11:38.600 --> 00:11:41.639 that that were not mentioned by Abbott. You know, you could, 226 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:44.960 you could talk about that, but you know, I did. 227 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:48.039 It did seem to me that Abbot was intentionally going 228 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:50.440 back to my earlier point about you know it. It 229 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:54.000 was kind of striking how little controversial stuff was on here. 230 00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:56.320 It feels like that could be kind of an intentional 231 00:11:56.360 --> 00:11:59.279 move to you know, let's make sure we can knock 232 00:11:59.320 --> 00:12:03.360 out school vouchers, essays and some of these other, you know, 233 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:06.720 tricky things like property tax cuts. Took two special sessions 234 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:08.879 last year. Let's get those out of the way before 235 00:12:08.919 --> 00:12:12.759 we bring up, you know, all the stuff that could 236 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:15.879 have nasty floor fights and derail these other items. 237 00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:21.559 Yeah, the speaker's statement that you're referencing said, excuse me. 238 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:25.559 The speaker's statement that you're referencing said, the House Senate 239 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:29.080 and Governor Abbott are quote clearly aligned. So he and 240 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:32.120 the items that he was mentioning were all items that 241 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:33.879 were emergency items for the governor. 242 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:35.759 So they're trying to project unity. 243 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:38.399 They're trying to project that they're all on the same 244 00:12:38.440 --> 00:12:40.200 page and there's not going to be this infighting that 245 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:42.879 we saw. We may be on track to another Kumbai 246 00:12:42.919 --> 00:12:44.919 Ya session like we saw in twenty nineteen. 247 00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:46.559 Was distant memory. 248 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:49.240 We'll have to wait and see what that relationship between 249 00:12:49.240 --> 00:12:51.799 the House and the Senate looks like. But also also 250 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:54.840 can I just get on like a little rant here, please, 251 00:12:56.039 --> 00:13:00.360 seven emergency items, that's what you call priorities. When you 252 00:13:00.440 --> 00:13:03.039 have seven of them, you can track them, and we 253 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:04.200 know easily what the seven are. 254 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:05.960 Seven even is a little bit big. 255 00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:09.799 But Lieutenant Governor has forty forty and that has grown 256 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:12.120 from the original twenty that it was. And I get 257 00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:14.159 the idea of like you've got to do more and more, 258 00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:17.039 but when you have forty like it, each one gets 259 00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:19.399 a little less deprioritized. 260 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:21.639 And the House under Speaker Feeling was going to have 261 00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:23.679 one hundred and fifty of them. Now we don't know 262 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:24.519 what it's actually going to be. 263 00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:27.200 Like Speaker Borrows hasn't put out his statement, but just 264 00:13:27.240 --> 00:13:31.320 a little rant about priorities and top the Governor said 265 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:34.279 seven and he said these are our emergency items, and 266 00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:36.440 then he talked about a bunch of other issues. And 267 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:39.039 I think you know he's covering all his bases. But 268 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:41.480 that's it's just a little pet peeve of you. Well, 269 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:44.399 and we should note too, that. Patrick also made a 270 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:47.799 point to say, even if an item is not included 271 00:13:47.840 --> 00:13:50.159 in this top forty list doesn't mean that it's not 272 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:53.120 a priority or it's not important. So really forty is 273 00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:55.440 kind of just the starting point of his So he's right, it's. 274 00:13:55.320 --> 00:13:57.320 Like everyone gets a few. There's not even there's not 275 00:13:57.320 --> 00:13:58.519 that many senators guys. 276 00:13:58.559 --> 00:14:00.360 As a wise woman once said, a friend to all 277 00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:02.200 is a friend and none though, come on now, I mean, 278 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:05.240 there's just show what your priorities are. 279 00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:07.559 I would say if I could broad this out even further. 280 00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:09.879 A real issue I have had with the Texas I've 281 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:13.879 covered several state legislatures. There's too many bills, period, doesn't 282 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:16.840 matter if their priorities or not. Texas the text legislature 283 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:20.200 files north of ten thousand bills every session. We pass 284 00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:23.200 about a thousand of them. Many of them are the 285 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:26.559 same bill again and again and again. It is insane 286 00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:28.639 to me. I just saw a memo someone I think 287 00:14:28.679 --> 00:14:32.200 Brad Johnson tweeted out this memo from the you know, 288 00:14:32.519 --> 00:14:37.120 legislative Legislative Research Council that you know helps write the bills, 289 00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:39.080 basically being like, can you please tell us which ones 290 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:43.000 are your priorities? So we can like prioritize getting those written. 291 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:47.120 How about everyone? Here's my ask to the Texas legislators 292 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:49.320 when you are sending a memo to them saying, these 293 00:14:49.320 --> 00:14:51.720 are the priorities I'd like you to, you know, prioritize 294 00:14:51.720 --> 00:14:53.879 these bills of the many that I have five asked 295 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:56.759 you to write up. Just knock off everything else at 296 00:14:56.759 --> 00:14:59.679 the bottom there. Just just everyone gets a couple of priorities. 297 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:03.039 This is what according to our politics editor are now 298 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:06.360 managing editor for Politics and Enterprise, Rebecca Allen has told 299 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:09.080 me that Louisiana they meet every year, but every other 300 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:11.879 year there's a limit on how many bills legislators can file. 301 00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:13.919 Let's give that a try in Texas. 302 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:19.360 It's an interesting idea. I mean, I think, to be fair, he's. 303 00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:22.279 Like, let's stop talking on a high wire right now. 304 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:27.600 It's a pleasure to be here. Now I am. I 305 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:30.240 will just to be fair to the Lieutenant governor. I 306 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:34.120 do think that, you know, he he has still been 307 00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:37.519 pretty intentional about you know, the low bill numbers are 308 00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:41.039 still you know, he indicates that those are his his 309 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:43.759 utmost priorities. I think, you know, he sort of assumes 310 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:47.240 that people know Senate Bill three, like his his THHC 311 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:49.919 band is going to be top of mind. You know, 312 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:52.840 I think people aren't necessarily equating that in importance to 313 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:56.360 like Senate Bill thirty nine, no offense to whoever files that, 314 00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:57.919 But you know, it's it's. 315 00:15:58.320 --> 00:15:59.279 So I don't know, I think. 316 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:02.039 And it's also sort of like him flexing his muscles 317 00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:04.440 in some way where he's like he's just amassed this. 318 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:07.559 I think he's pretty regularly referred to as like the 319 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:10.559 most powerful lieutenant governor in history, and he's like, I'm 320 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:13.480 gonna roll out forty priority bills and like get guys 321 00:16:13.559 --> 00:16:13.960 better pass. 322 00:16:14.279 --> 00:16:16.720 Yeah, but there's not being nothing about being unfair. But 323 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:19.679 it's just like just something that is like more colloquial, 324 00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:20.200 very easy. 325 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:22.840 There's the Ten Commandments, there's the seven sacraments, right, they 326 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:25.320 make it easy for the people to follow. 327 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:27.600 Yeah, well, I will say, I mean there is a 328 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:30.960 risk to doing seven items when in fact we know 329 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:33.840 that of these also, of these seven, you know a 330 00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:36.879 few of them are higher priorities, and certainly you do forty, 331 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:39.159 you get to say at the end, we passed a 332 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:43.600 majority of my priorities with this. You know, Governor Abbott 333 00:16:43.639 --> 00:16:46.759 has thrown a ton of political capital last session and 334 00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:51.120 this and now this session into vouchers. I mean, I 335 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:53.960 think we can really see this as like there's seven 336 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:58.879 and one rises above the rest, right, what I mean, 337 00:16:58.919 --> 00:17:00.480 James talked to us a little bit about how we 338 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:03.279 got here. Governor Abbot's role in getting vouchers to this point, right, 339 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:04.039 And I think you. 340 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:06.200 Make an excellent point, like there's seven of them. It's 341 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:08.039 easier for us to track, like, it's easier for the 342 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:10.640 people to watch. It's also easier to snipe them. It's 343 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:13.799 a bigger gamble, for sure, percent bigger gamble. Didn't get 344 00:17:13.799 --> 00:17:15.640 his agenda done. 345 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.640 Here's what I'll say. 346 00:17:17.640 --> 00:17:20.599 I mean, the governor is at an all time high 347 00:17:20.640 --> 00:17:21.799 in terms of his power. 348 00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:22.240 Right. 349 00:17:23.400 --> 00:17:26.839 He was very involved in the Republican primaries last year. 350 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:32.160 He wiped out eleven of fourteen opponents to school vouchers 351 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:34.680 and replace them with people who say they support it. 352 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:37.519 He's so confident that the day after the election he says, 353 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:40.720 We've got seventy nine hardcore. 354 00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:41.559 School voucher supporters. 355 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:44.119 That's more than the seventy six that he needs to 356 00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:46.079 get passed in the House, which is where the problem was. 357 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:49.160 He's also raised or has seventy million dollars in the 358 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:52.200 bank for an election that's two years away. And right 359 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:54.960 now you look around and see who would be crazy 360 00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:58.640 enough to challenge Governor Abbott in an election, whether that 361 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:03.720 be in Republican Party from the right or any Democrat 362 00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:06.880 who would want to go up against that gargantuan war chess. 363 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:10.599 He is at his all time strength, and I think 364 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:14.079 that's what he's projecting in this It's a bold sort 365 00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:17.200 of agenda that he's put out. School vouchers is the 366 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:20.839 number one thing, and he's saying, you guys want to 367 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:25.319 oppose me on anything, I dare you, look at what 368 00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:28.960 just happened to the folks that did that last time around. 369 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:32.440 So I think the legislature has gotten the message and 370 00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:34.519 they are on board, and that's why you're seeing so 371 00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:37.000 much unity. Not to mention that he has also been 372 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:39.880 very wise with the way he's put the agenda out. 373 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:43.119 He realizes he's got a Republican majority in both chambers, 374 00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:45.880 and he sprinkled a little bit of something for everybody. 375 00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:53.359 So it's a unifying agenda for Republicans and he's. 376 00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:54.680 Just super strong. So there's nobody's going to challenge him now. 377 00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:55.319 The Democrats. 378 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:59.319 They are in real trouble, and there's clear opposition from 379 00:18:59.400 --> 00:19:03.319 them to a lot of the agenda, not necessarily the 380 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:07.160 emergency items, but some of the emergency items, certainly including 381 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:08.200 how the teacher pay. 382 00:19:08.119 --> 00:19:08.839 Raise is going to go. 383 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:13.640 But what do you do if you're the Democrats is 384 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:14.480 my question. 385 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:17.039 It's gonna be a tough session for them, I think. 386 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:20.519 Right, I mean, Jasper Governor Abbott, Like you know, last 387 00:19:20.559 --> 00:19:24.559 session we went to several special sessions on school Boucher's 388 00:19:24.599 --> 00:19:27.119 He's thrown his weight behind you know, in these races. 389 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:29.119 He has come out very clearly as like this is 390 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:31.440 the cornerstone of at least you know, the last couple 391 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:33.920 of years of his or you know that's most recent 392 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:36.799 few years. How much of his legacy is riting on 393 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:39.160 getting this done this session, you know, from the zenith 394 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:41.559 of his power to it's a big risk. 395 00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:45.160 Yeah, I mean, I think the short answer is a lot. 396 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:48.759 You know, it's especially just thinking about he's been in 397 00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:54.000 office for such a long tenure, just historically speaking for governors, 398 00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:59.440 and you know, he's he's generally gotten what he wants 399 00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:03.000 from the legisl but he hasn't with some exceptions. But 400 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:05.359 he hasn't you know, I'd be hard pressed to think 401 00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:09.359