1 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:07,839 Speaker 1: This week's episode is sponsored by the Lone Star Economic Alliance, 2 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:12,080 the Texas Managed Care Alliance, and the Safer Texas Alliance. 3 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:23,600 Hello and welcome to the Texas Tribune trip Cast for 4 00:00:24,039 --> 00:00:30,399 Tuesday May twenty seventh, twenty twenty five. It is the 5 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:34,960 last Texas Tribune trip cast of the regular session. 6 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:36,159 Speaker 2: We did it? 7 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:38,359 Speaker 3: We did it? Did we do it? 8 00:00:38,399 --> 00:00:39,840 Speaker 4: You specified regular sessions? 9 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 3: Yes, we will get into that. 10 00:00:42,359 --> 00:00:46,840 Speaker 1: Parentheses are soon. I am Matthew Watkins, Editor in Chief 11 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:53,759 Text Tribune. Next to me is my co host, Eleanor Klebanoff. Hello, Eleanor, Matthew. 12 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:58,560 And next to her is jasper Cher, politics reporter, not 13 00:00:58,679 --> 00:01:03,200 co host, but frequent guest and friend of the podcast, 14 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:03,600 Friend of. 15 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:07,439 Speaker 4: The pod, favored guest, guest to guests, favorite guests. 16 00:01:07,439 --> 00:01:08,400 Speaker 3: How's everybody doing? 17 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 2: Doing well? 18 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 5: Tired, very tired, hanging in there? Ready for ready for snyde? 19 00:01:13,599 --> 00:01:17,719 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, I was sad to have missed all the 20 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:21,000 intense text A and M discussion in last week's podcast. 21 00:01:21,239 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 6: Oh, I actually do have some feedback I got about 22 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:25,040 that episode. 23 00:01:25,079 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 3: Okay. 24 00:01:25,359 --> 00:01:28,359 Speaker 6: I would like to offer the audience a male coolpa 25 00:01:28,439 --> 00:01:31,079 on okay, which is that we got a lot of emails, 26 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:33,680 and I'm sure I didn't respond to all of them 27 00:01:33,719 --> 00:01:36,159 because it's been very busy, So consider this My response. 28 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:40,239 The feedback was that we, uh, the average listener listen 29 00:01:40,239 --> 00:01:42,120 to that episode might have thought that there were only 30 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:45,239 two institutions of higher education in Texas. 31 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:47,040 Speaker 3: Really there's only one text A. 32 00:01:47,079 --> 00:01:54,879 Speaker 6: And M not helping, uh, But yeah, we you know, 33 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:56,599 obviously spend a lot of time talking about UT and 34 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:59,079 A and M, but we hear your feedback that you know, 35 00:01:59,159 --> 00:02:01,359 there's that, there's the Texas States and the University of 36 00:02:01,439 --> 00:02:04,359 Houston's and the couple people email me about RICE. We're 37 00:02:04,359 --> 00:02:06,200 not gonna spend a ton of time time at RICE, guys, 38 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:11,319 because we largely cover state institutions, but we hear your feedback, 39 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:13,280 and on a future episode, we'll get Kate and Jessica 40 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:13,719 back to. 41 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 2: Get into the weeds on those systems. 42 00:02:15,879 --> 00:02:18,719 Speaker 1: Listen, Eleanor cannot help it that all those other schools 43 00:02:18,759 --> 00:02:21,680 are so much more functional than A and M and 44 00:02:21,759 --> 00:02:22,000 U two. 45 00:02:22,719 --> 00:02:24,439 Speaker 2: Yes, so they just suck all the oxygen out of 46 00:02:24,439 --> 00:02:24,759 the room. 47 00:02:25,759 --> 00:02:28,599 Speaker 1: But I have lots of takes, but I'm just gonna 48 00:02:28,599 --> 00:02:30,439 go ahead and keep them to myself because we don't 49 00:02:30,479 --> 00:02:34,719 need to do another higher education podcast because it is 50 00:02:34,879 --> 00:02:37,960 May twenty seventh, which means there is less than a 51 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:40,879 week left in the legislative session, and we are officially 52 00:02:40,879 --> 00:02:42,680 at the point of the calendar where things are moving 53 00:02:42,719 --> 00:02:45,919 so fast and furious that it's hard for even me, 54 00:02:46,159 --> 00:02:48,280 whose job it is to keep track of these things, 55 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:52,400 to keep up. Today, the twenty seventh is deadline for 56 00:02:52,439 --> 00:02:55,240 the House to pass Senate bills. Tomorrow is the deadline 57 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:57,639 for the Senate to pass any bills. All that's left 58 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,919 off for that is conference committee reports ironing out you know, 59 00:03:01,439 --> 00:03:05,400 the differences between the chamber bills the chambers past in 60 00:03:05,479 --> 00:03:10,000 different in different chambers. You know, this is the time 61 00:03:10,039 --> 00:03:14,479 where people are tired, tensions often run high. Uh be 62 00:03:14,599 --> 00:03:17,639 worried are things going to break down? And I can 63 00:03:17,719 --> 00:03:20,159 think of no one better to help us talk this 64 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,960 through than Jasper, So thank you for being here. Of 65 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:28,919 course we are, you know, usually at this time going 66 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,000 through the list of all the legislative priorities, what's happening, 67 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,199 what's not What is the thing that is most likely 68 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,560 to ruin our summer vacation. And so that's the exercise 69 00:03:37,599 --> 00:03:40,639 I want to go through with you. Where do we 70 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,439 stand on the big priorities. We're going to start with 71 00:03:44,159 --> 00:03:48,599 schools education issues. School vouchers obviously passed a long time ago. 72 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,840 No big issue, it is, it is law. We are 73 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:55,560 we are there. But the the second step of the 74 00:03:55,599 --> 00:03:59,120 Texas two Step s B two, the school Finance Bill, 75 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:03,199 remain means somewhat open up in the air. Although both 76 00:04:03,199 --> 00:04:06,680 the chambers have seemed to made somewhat of a deal here, 77 00:04:06,919 --> 00:04:08,520 Desper can you tell us a little bit about what 78 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:10,120 this deal is around school finance. 79 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean, I think kind of the top line, 80 00:04:13,159 --> 00:04:16,480 big picture summary is, you know, both chambers got a 81 00:04:16,519 --> 00:04:17,920 little bit of what they wanted. 82 00:04:17,959 --> 00:04:18,199 Speaker 3: It was. 83 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 5: I think we described it in our story as kind 84 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:24,040 of a face saving compromise for both folks in the 85 00:04:24,079 --> 00:04:26,439 sense that, you know, Dan Patrick and the Senate get, 86 00:04:27,519 --> 00:04:30,680 you know, a big bucket of the money narrowly targeted 87 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:34,399 at teacher pay raises, and there's kind of this newly 88 00:04:34,439 --> 00:04:37,759 created fund that, from what I can tell, kind of 89 00:04:37,759 --> 00:04:40,920 replicates a lot of the functions of what the basic 90 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:44,279 lawment increase would have done, you know, kind of dedicated 91 00:04:44,319 --> 00:04:48,079 to helping schools pay for overhead costs, giving them some 92 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,360 of that flexibility to pay for stuff beyond teacher pay raises, 93 00:04:51,879 --> 00:04:55,839 but still kind of how do I put it, like 94 00:04:56,319 --> 00:04:58,959 complying with the dan Patrick mandate, the brand and creating 95 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:03,439 mandate to you know, have more oversight kind of tell 96 00:05:03,879 --> 00:05:06,160 schools what they can and can't spend their money on. 97 00:05:06,319 --> 00:05:09,120 So but from what we can tell, it's, you know, 98 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:12,600 eight and a half billion dollar deal that unless there's 99 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:16,439 some weird last minute hiccup, it's trending towards being signed 100 00:05:16,439 --> 00:05:16,839 into law. 101 00:05:17,079 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, so let's break this down. 102 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 1: I mean, the disagreement seemed to en large part be 103 00:05:21,879 --> 00:05:24,199 centered around how much to go into the basic allotment, 104 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:28,399 which is, tell me, if I'm describing this poorly, like 105 00:05:28,519 --> 00:05:31,439 sort of the big pot of discretionary money that the 106 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,720 schools can spend. Dan Patrick wanted to put less in 107 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:38,160 the house, seemed to want to put more. What the 108 00:05:38,199 --> 00:05:42,160 compromise ended up being would be creating a new allotment 109 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:45,120 for basic costs that would put one point three billion 110 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:49,600 dollars toward that kind of feels like just sort of 111 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:52,439 changing the order of the words here from basic elipment 112 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:54,279 to allotment for basic costs. 113 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 5: See how that could get mixed up a little bit? Yeah, yes, Yeah, yeah, 114 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,240 but it does you know, a lot of the I 115 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:03,720 was referring to overhead costs, you know, the kind of 116 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:09,240 the list of allowable uses for that fund. It replicates 117 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:11,319 a lot of what I think the schools would have 118 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:15,199 wanted to spend the basic alowment increase on transportation, utilities, 119 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:17,399 insurance cost increases. 120 00:06:17,399 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 1: That kind of stuff feels a little bit like a 121 00:06:19,079 --> 00:06:21,120 distinction without much of a difference. 122 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 4: I think, so. 123 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 5: Yeah, And if it does sound like the overall increase 124 00:06:24,399 --> 00:06:29,360 to kind of the equivalent increase of the basic allotment, 125 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:31,959 you know, even with it's going to be a fifty 126 00:06:31,959 --> 00:06:33,959 five dollars increase to the basic allotment, and then on 127 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,879 top of that, even factoring in this new fund, it's 128 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:40,279 still not quite I think what the schools were looking for. 129 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:42,839 But a lot of that extra difference is going to 130 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:45,480 be made up with the money going directly to teacher 131 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:46,439 pay raises. 132 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 1: Which is four point two billion dollars for teacher pay 133 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:52,360 raise is a pretty substantial increase there to nearly two 134 00:06:52,439 --> 00:06:55,639 billion for special education four hundred and thirty million in 135 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:59,160 additional school safety funds. That was a big issue last 136 00:06:59,199 --> 00:07:01,160 session where there are a lot of new rules and 137 00:07:01,199 --> 00:07:03,240 not a lot of money to spend toward them. 138 00:07:03,439 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 3: What is the reaction of the schools on this. 139 00:07:05,959 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 5: I think it's it's been sort of a grudging, a 140 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,240 big grudging acceptance of it. You know, they eight and 141 00:07:12,279 --> 00:07:15,160 a half billion dollars is a lot of money, you know, 142 00:07:15,279 --> 00:07:17,560 no matter how much how you spend it. And I 143 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:22,120 think what I've seen it's generally positive, with you know, 144 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:24,879 the caveats that you know, they always would have liked 145 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:26,439 to see more, They would have maybe liked to have 146 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,560 a little bit more flexibility in an ideal world. But 147 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,439 I think everyone's also just kind of breathing a big 148 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:34,759 sigh of relief. You know, you go back to twenty 149 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:38,079 twenty three, the school voucher fight. This kind of a 150 00:07:38,079 --> 00:07:41,240 similar amount of money got caught up in was a 151 00:07:41,279 --> 00:07:44,759 casualty of that fight. So just I think big sigh 152 00:07:44,759 --> 00:07:48,519 of relief has been kind of the overarching response that 153 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:48,959 I've seen. 154 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 1: And do we feel like the big hurdle has been crossed? 155 00:07:51,759 --> 00:07:53,920 I mean, the Big Three put out a press release, 156 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:56,759 all of their names, all of their quotes. There are 157 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:59,519 even some Democrats in that press release that you know, 158 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:03,120 we're not done yet, right, Like the bill has passed 159 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:05,399 the House, it's going back to the Senate. They can 160 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:08,959 concur on the amendments or request a conference committee. But 161 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:12,959 is there anything that you're seeing in that situation right 162 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,160 now that makes you think that this is at risk 163 00:08:15,279 --> 00:08:15,800 in any way? 164 00:08:15,879 --> 00:08:16,519 Speaker 4: I don't think so. 165 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 1: No. 166 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 5: I think I think this And if I'm remembering correctly, 167 00:08:20,399 --> 00:08:22,879 I've there's so many different bills that have been trying 168 00:08:22,879 --> 00:08:26,800 to track. But I think the Senate has officially signed off, 169 00:08:26,879 --> 00:08:29,680 so we're like, we're good to go. I think we're 170 00:08:30,079 --> 00:08:33,120 they have, I believe so, unless I'm mixing this up 171 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:36,759 with something else, but they they have. You know, Dan 172 00:08:36,799 --> 00:08:38,480 Patrick put out a bit when they passed it in 173 00:08:38,519 --> 00:08:40,960 the Senate the other day. Dan Patrick's up on the 174 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:44,559 die is making a big show of, you know, saying 175 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:48,720 basically smacking down the haters, saying, you know, people were 176 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:52,440 accusing us of holding this hostage and complaining about what 177 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:55,519 was taking so long, and sort of touting it as 178 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:58,039 you know, you got to work through the details on 179 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:02,960 this thing. And so he was taking a big victory lap. 180 00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:06,159 And I think everyone's considering this this done at this point. 181 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:10,759 Speaker 1: So around the same time that happened, we also saw 182 00:09:10,919 --> 00:09:15,600 action in the House on a THHC ban, a previously 183 00:09:15,759 --> 00:09:21,720 skeptical house in which they voted to essentially ban the 184 00:09:21,759 --> 00:09:24,840 sale of any substances with you know, a detectable amount 185 00:09:24,879 --> 00:09:29,919 of THHC that will essentially, you know, starting September first, 186 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:33,240 completely erase what you know, you have reported to be 187 00:09:33,279 --> 00:09:37,600 an eight billion dollar industry in this state. This is 188 00:09:37,639 --> 00:09:42,240 the House that last session voted to decriminalize marijuana. So 189 00:09:42,279 --> 00:09:46,720 we're talking about a pretty significant shift from being pretty 190 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:52,159 pro marijuana to being pretty anti anything you know, THHC 191 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:53,200 related at all. 192 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,159 Speaker 6: Well, and in twenty nineteen being like, you know, open 193 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:59,519 for a bit, like you know, yeah on THHC specifically 194 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:00,879 like the pendulum swim. 195 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 5: What happened there, Well, there's a lot going on. 196 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:08,519 Speaker 4: I mean the kind of the to word answer is 197 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:09,960 like Dan Patrick happened. 198 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:12,559 Speaker 5: You know. He he adopts this as his you know, 199 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:15,960 one of his top pet issues, you know, almost six 200 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:20,120 months ago now, and was pretty much driving the hardest 201 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:23,080 bargain possible from the get go, you know, made clear 202 00:10:23,159 --> 00:10:24,919 that he was going to go to the mat force 203 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:29,200 a special session over this, and the House you know, 204 00:10:29,279 --> 00:10:31,600 I think this was sort of a frustration of mine 205 00:10:31,799 --> 00:10:33,559 in reporting on this story throughout the session, it was 206 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:36,639 really difficult to get a sense of where the House 207 00:10:36,639 --> 00:10:39,840 stood on this. Even you know, Ken King, the State 208 00:10:39,879 --> 00:10:43,200 Affairs Chairman who carried the bill throughout the session, kind 209 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:45,399 of was, I think it's fair to say, a little 210 00:10:45,399 --> 00:10:47,519 bit all over the place, or at least was you know, 211 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:51,360 he put out different versions of the bill that you know, 212 00:10:51,399 --> 00:10:56,960 would have regulated the industry almost to the point of extinction, 213 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:59,279 and then sort of went back and it was, you know, 214 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:03,159 maybe a little more of a permissive regulatory approach, and 215 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,279 that was the version that got to the House floor, 216 00:11:05,399 --> 00:11:11,639 and Tom oliverson another Republican state representative, brought forth an 217 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:15,480 amendment that that essentially reverted the the build back to. 218 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:16,200 Speaker 4: The Senate ban. 219 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:18,799 Speaker 5: And to my initial point, I think the House was 220 00:11:18,799 --> 00:11:22,080 pretty ambivalent about this issue sort of from the get go, 221 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,600 and you sort of saw them falling in line with 222 00:11:25,759 --> 00:11:27,440 what the Senate wanted on it. And it's I think 223 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:30,919 it was a show of Dan Patrick's way over you know, 224 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,799 kind of both chambers of the Legislature in some points. 225 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:37,159 Speaker 6: So we're seeing a lot of blowback to this sort 226 00:11:37,159 --> 00:11:39,759 of anecdotally, right, I mean, a lot of I think 227 00:11:39,799 --> 00:11:42,559 this is not an issue that falls along partisan lines always. 228 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,240 I mean, it sort of ensnares a lot of like 229 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:47,720 veterans groups are very active around this, a lot of 230 00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:52,360 you know, older people who use these products sort of 231 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:56,639 you know what they would say, like medicinally, like not 232 00:11:56,639 --> 00:11:59,159 not through like an official medical marijuana program, but they 233 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:03,600 just sort of use them that way. And so I 234 00:12:03,639 --> 00:12:06,799 think this is there's like I'm hearing a lot of 235 00:12:06,879 --> 00:12:08,759 chatter almost like is this something? 236 00:12:10,039 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 2: Is everyone else on board with this? Or is this 237 00:12:11,399 --> 00:12:15,000 Stan Patrick's thing? Would Abbot veto something like this? 238 00:12:15,159 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 5: Yeah, we haven't gotten It's been sort of radio silence 239 00:12:19,879 --> 00:12:23,159 from Abbot on, you know, not just whether he'll veto it, 240 00:12:23,159 --> 00:12:26,159 but kind of the issue overall. He's been pretty adamant 241 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:29,159 about just letting the sort of the will of the 242 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:30,360 ledge dictate what happens. 243 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:31,799 Speaker 3: You know. 244 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,919 Speaker 5: I do think that the kind of trying to read 245 00:12:34,919 --> 00:12:37,759 the tea leaves here. The other part of this equation 246 00:12:37,879 --> 00:12:40,919 is the expansion of the state medical marijuana program. And 247 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:44,799 I think the kind of the cliff notes version is 248 00:12:44,799 --> 00:12:47,639 that the two chambers seem to have reached deal to 249 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:55,080 do a more expansive expansion than what was previously thought 250 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,600 to be on the table, and I think that maybe 251 00:12:58,879 --> 00:13:02,159 slightly decreases the odds of Abbot vetoing this. You know, 252 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:05,159 the kind of the outrage meter was at its like 253 00:13:05,799 --> 00:13:08,080 fever pitch when it seemed like we're going to have 254 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:12,200 the ban and also, you know, a less permissive expansion 255 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:15,440 of medical marijuana. So I think you know now that 256 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:19,360 the medical program tea cup is being seems like expanded 257 00:13:19,399 --> 00:13:22,039 to include chronic pain in some of the you know, 258 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,480 the things that were on the table that seemed to 259 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,519 be on the table in the House when lawmakers were 260 00:13:27,519 --> 00:13:31,000 deciding whether to do the THHC ban. You know that 261 00:13:31,039 --> 00:13:34,039 the band was sort of sold as going in tandem 262 00:13:34,039 --> 00:13:37,360 with this major expansion of medical marijuana. I think the 263 00:13:37,399 --> 00:13:41,120 fact that that seems to be happening now, maybe Abbot 264 00:13:41,159 --> 00:13:45,559 just doesn't want to ruffle, you know, feathers with with 265 00:13:45,639 --> 00:13:49,440 Dan Patrick. I mean, he he had that happen on 266 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:52,919 property taxes two years ago, and it was a messy situation. 267 00:13:53,399 --> 00:13:55,600 We're kind of at this point now where all the 268 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,919 Republicans are more or less on the same page. You know, 269 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:02,840 everything's fine. My money would be on no Veto at 270 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:06,720 this point. But I also, you know, stranger things have happened. 271 00:14:06,919 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, the twists in terms of this have been very interesting, 272 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:12,960 right because you mentioned the the kind of deal to 273 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:18,799 expand the medical marijuana provision. Then you see that measure 274 00:14:18,879 --> 00:14:22,399 go up in the House and there's the Senate then 275 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:26,240 removes chronic pain from the list of those provisions, which 276 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:29,320 then creates this whole stir Tom Olliversen you already mentioned 277 00:14:29,519 --> 00:14:32,399 kind of tweets up against you know, against this decision. 278 00:14:32,919 --> 00:14:35,399 People seem to think that maybe Dan Patrick has pulled 279 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:37,840 a fast one on them and you know, has kind 280 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:40,399 of gone back on the deal. Then they come out 281 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:42,519 on social media and are sort of having their. 282 00:14:42,399 --> 00:14:45,879 Speaker 3: Little like that. 283 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,039 Speaker 1: It would be quite a twist if Abbott were to 284 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:50,919 then come in and veto that. 285 00:14:51,639 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 3: But it'll be interesting to see. 286 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:57,279 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, where we land on all this 287 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:02,200 will be curious because you know, you've seen times in 288 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:06,519 different states where you had a more broad medical marijuana 289 00:15:06,639 --> 00:15:09,159 program and you could basically just go find a doctor 290 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,240 to write you a prescription and then. 291 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 3: You know, do that. 292 00:15:13,279 --> 00:15:16,279 Speaker 1: I think Dan Patrick seems very intent on keeping that 293 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:17,840 from happening again in Texas. 294 00:15:17,919 --> 00:15:20,039 Speaker 5: Yeah, he was pretty clear that that was like his 295 00:15:20,159 --> 00:15:22,960 big the thing that he wanted to make sure was, 296 00:15:23,159 --> 00:15:25,519 you know, not part of the equation was and he's 297 00:15:25,799 --> 00:15:28,879 kind of been riding that train for for years now, 298 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:31,000 like he just you go back to some of the 299 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:33,639 comments he's made over the years. He that's been his 300 00:15:33,759 --> 00:15:37,039 big sort of line in the sand or sticking point 301 00:15:37,039 --> 00:15:40,000 that he doesn't want to open this up to you know, 302 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,799 anyone being able to get their doctor to write this prescription. 303 00:15:43,159 --> 00:15:46,600 I think also the big unexplored question is what does 304 00:15:46,879 --> 00:15:49,559 what's kind of the ripple effects of this in twenty 305 00:15:49,559 --> 00:15:52,840 twenty six, how big of a you know, a backlash 306 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:56,039 I guess on both or on either side of the aisle. 307 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 4: You guys were mentioning just. 308 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 5: Some of the kind of the opinions on this issue 309 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:02,440 within the Republican Party. 310 00:16:03,399 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 2: I mean, you've got farmers that. 311 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:07,399 Speaker 6: Are upsett veterans, You've got small business owners. I think 312 00:16:07,399 --> 00:16:09,919 it's an example of like, particularly in these final days 313 00:16:09,919 --> 00:16:11,759 of session, like things that are happening inside the dome 314 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:15,200 feels so like like, of course Abbot couldn't veto this 315 00:16:15,279 --> 00:16:17,960 because like Alliver sin Patrick struck this d and everyone 316 00:16:18,039 --> 00:16:21,080 is on board finally, and it's like that can become 317 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:23,279 so insular that it's like you sort of lose track 318 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:27,360 of like what do people outside of this don't want? 319 00:16:28,279 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 2: As we get into like the nitty gritty of negotiating. 320 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, and this is one of those I mean, we 321 00:16:32,159 --> 00:16:34,360 were talking about school finance earlier, and it's like, do 322 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:37,879 people really understand and notice that, like, you know, however 323 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:40,639 much is in or not in the basic a lotment 324 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,279 determines whether I have like a music teacher in my 325 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:46,039 elementary school or whatever. Like there's a lot of different 326 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:48,440 kind of steps you have to get to understand that. 327 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,720 But the number of people, I don't know what that 328 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:54,919 number is, but there's clearly enough of a number that 329 00:16:55,159 --> 00:16:57,679 it allows these stores to pop up pretty much everywhere, 330 00:16:57,759 --> 00:17:00,279 not just like in downtown Austin, but like every you know, 331 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:02,840 rural parts of the state too. You can find these 332 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:07,079 these things. And starting September first, those stores are probably 333 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:12,119 going to have to close and that you know, product 334 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:15,000 that they're selling will be illegal and like in some cases, 335 00:17:15,079 --> 00:17:17,680 like you could get a felony charge for having it 336 00:17:17,759 --> 00:17:20,839 and you've got you know, and it's going to be 337 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:24,319 very clear who did this, Yeah, right, and that'll be 338 00:17:24,519 --> 00:17:27,279 interesting to watch. I honestly have no idea of like 339 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:30,440 how much of a political impact or penalty this will be. 340 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:32,880 It might be fairly limited. And I think in defense 341 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:35,680 of the of the Senate of Dan Patrick for this, 342 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:38,359 it was never the intent of the legislature to have 343 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:40,920 all these stores pop up when they legalized him. They 344 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,400 were trying to do something very different than what they've 345 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,559 done right now. But yeah, this will be This will 346 00:17:46,559 --> 00:17:47,720 be one to watch politically. 347 00:17:47,839 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 5: And just on your your last point, this one comment 348 00:17:51,279 --> 00:17:55,119 that Raphael and Sheia, the Stay lawmaker from a Democrat 349 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:58,680 from Dallas, made on the floor as this THHC band 350 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,480 debate was going on. He he made the comment that essentially, 351 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:04,799 you know, we as the legislature kind of you know, 352 00:18:04,839 --> 00:18:06,920 if you're looking for someone to blame for this, it's 353 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:10,119 kind of the legislature's fault for, as you say, sort 354 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:13,160 of inadvertently creating this issue, this industry six years ago 355 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:17,559 and then basically doing nothing to step in and you know, 356 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:20,279 put some at least reasonable regulations on it in the 357 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:23,359 intervening time, really laid the groundwork for folks to come 358 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:25,960 in and you know, say, we just got to get 359 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:26,720 rid of it altogether. 360 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:30,519 Speaker 1: So yeah, all right, Let's take a break and hear 361 00:18:30,599 --> 00:18:37,440 from our sponsors. A coalition of more than one and 362 00:18:37,519 --> 00:18:41,559 fifty Texas job creators, citizens and business associations is working 363 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:46,240 to stabilize the insurance market by restoring transparency and fairness 364 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:50,759 to Texas's courts. That's the Lone Star Economic Alliance. Learn 365 00:18:50,839 --> 00:18:56,200 more at ww dot l s e A t X 366 00:18:56,440 --> 00:19:01,160 dot com. That address again, l s e A TX 367 00:19:01,319 --> 00:19:06,119 dot com. The Safer Texas Alliance supports SB three, advocating 368 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:09,720 for responsible THC policies that protect public health and safety. 369 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:15,079 Learn more at Safer Texasalliance dot com. Texas Managed Care 370 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:19,759 Alliance is working to protect high quality healthcare for Medicaid patients, 371 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:24,720 ensure accountability for taxpayer dollars, and advocate for fair and 372 00:19:24,759 --> 00:19:30,359 competitive contracting policies. More at ww dot Texas Managed Care 373 00:19:30,519 --> 00:19:37,680 Alliance dot org. That's Texas Managed Care Alliance dot org. Okay, so, Jasper, 374 00:19:39,039 --> 00:19:41,200 I think one of the big topics of conversation then, 375 00:19:41,519 --> 00:19:46,640 is is dan Patrick just getting everything he wants here? 376 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:49,440 And you know, I think we talked about these two 377 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:52,640 bills HB two, the school finance and the THHC ban, 378 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:55,799 and I think one of the big questions here is 379 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:59,160 how related are these pieces of legislation? Is this a 380 00:19:59,200 --> 00:20:01,640 part of some kind of big deal struck between the 381 00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:04,240 big two? We're going to give you your THC band 382 00:20:04,279 --> 00:20:05,880 if you give us a little bit more on the 383 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:07,400 on the school finance. 384 00:20:07,599 --> 00:20:11,279 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think, uh, you know, Dan Patrick's folks at 385 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:14,400 least dispute that notion. But I think it just if 386 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:16,720 you kind of look at the timing of you know, 387 00:20:16,759 --> 00:20:21,359 when these you know, for example, SB three, the THHC 388 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:26,599 band kind of getting increasingly postponed and delayed until you know, 389 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:30,000 sort of a trust uh, but verify a situation where 390 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:33,039 the House was waiting for the Senate to take action 391 00:20:33,839 --> 00:20:37,039 and on approving the school finance deal. So I think 392 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:39,720 clearly those backroom discussions were happening to an extent. 393 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:40,440 Speaker 3: You know. 394 00:20:41,559 --> 00:20:44,440 Speaker 5: I also think that HB two school the school finance 395 00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:48,799 package was always going to pass in some form anyway. 396 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:52,079 I don't think, you know, anyone in either chamber really 397 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:54,960 realistically saw an opportunity to go back to their school 398 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:58,200 districts and say like, we're again giving you zero dollars. 399 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:01,240 But you know, I think think kind of the timing 400 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:03,799 of how all this came together, maybe certain provisions within 401 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:09,200 HB two were potentially tied to THHC. But you know, 402 00:21:09,319 --> 00:21:12,599 it is wild that after all this, you know, thousands 403 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:16,200 of bills, it comes down to these two completely unrelated issues. 404 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,960 And I should say also a point of correction going 405 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:23,119 back to what we were talking about before. HB two 406 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:25,960 has passed the Senate, but the House does need to 407 00:21:26,039 --> 00:21:28,079 sign off on those changes, so they. 408 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:30,039 Speaker 1: But it seems like they've given the indication that they're 409 00:21:30,079 --> 00:21:33,319 going to exactly yeah, okay, very good, all right, But 410 00:21:33,319 --> 00:21:35,079 I mean, let's tick off some of the other dan 411 00:21:35,079 --> 00:21:39,319 Patrick priorities. The lottery, right, he wanted to abolish the 412 00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:43,279 Texas Lottery Commission, moved that lottery at least temporarily over 413 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:46,440 to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The House 414 00:21:46,599 --> 00:21:50,599 voted over the weekend to do that. Film incentives passed 415 00:21:50,599 --> 00:21:54,400 on Sunday, increasing States film incentives to more than five 416 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:56,359 hundred million dollars. That passed the House on. 417 00:21:56,359 --> 00:21:58,559 Speaker 5: And they did amend the amount down I believe it 418 00:21:58,599 --> 00:21:59,839 was to three hundred million or so. 419 00:22:00,079 --> 00:22:01,160 Speaker 3: Okay, thank you for that. 420 00:22:01,279 --> 00:22:03,839 Speaker 5: A bit of a change, but still another check mark 421 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:04,480 checked off. 422 00:22:04,799 --> 00:22:08,680 Speaker 1: Ten commandments in the classrooms appears poised to pass and 423 00:22:09,079 --> 00:22:13,359 be signed into law. Water SB seven past the House 424 00:22:13,519 --> 00:22:18,079 yesterday in a big infusion. H JR seven, which would 425 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:21,720 be the constitutional amendment directing funds to that automatically, is 426 00:22:21,759 --> 00:22:24,400 on the Senate calendar. I think we could probably expect 427 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:28,240 that one to go through as well. I mean, if 428 00:22:28,279 --> 00:22:30,480 you just tick off the things that Dan Patrick has 429 00:22:30,519 --> 00:22:34,960 been talking about, maybe unlike any other session, it's hard 430 00:22:35,039 --> 00:22:37,480 to find something that he was really pushing for that 431 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:39,920 is not going to become law of this year. 432 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:42,359 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think he's and he has kind of established 433 00:22:42,359 --> 00:22:46,000 this pattern or habit of putting out his list of 434 00:22:46,039 --> 00:22:49,440 top priorities early on at the start of session, even 435 00:22:49,799 --> 00:22:53,759 you know, getting out right before Greg Abbott's State of 436 00:22:53,799 --> 00:22:55,720 the State. So he's kind of he's the first of 437 00:22:55,759 --> 00:22:59,000 the big three to kind of lay out his action items, 438 00:22:59,039 --> 00:23:03,599 and he put out forty items this year, you know, 439 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:06,960 not including the state budget, which always kind of comes 440 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,200 down to the end, but all the other items. I mean, 441 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:14,480 it's they're really only a couple that are still standing 442 00:23:14,519 --> 00:23:17,680 out there that haven't at least been put on a 443 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:21,000 House calendar, you know, And therefore I think we can 444 00:23:21,039 --> 00:23:25,839 assume our dead like ban on taxpayer funded lobbying, letting 445 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:29,440 cities and counties send their own lobbyists Austin. I think 446 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:33,000 that was one of the handful that didn't make it through, which. 447 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:37,119 Speaker 1: A measure that amazingly still has not become given how 448 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:38,000 logic considered. 449 00:23:38,039 --> 00:23:41,279 Speaker 5: It is kind of shocking with Dustin Burrows being the speaker 450 00:23:41,319 --> 00:23:44,680 this year and you know, author of the kind of 451 00:23:45,079 --> 00:23:47,079 the I guess what critics named the death star bill 452 00:23:47,279 --> 00:23:50,359 targeting cities last session, kind of shocking that didn't get through. 453 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:52,839 But you know, one point that was made to me 454 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:56,200 for I published a story kind of looking at how 455 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:58,640 Patrick was getting a lot of what he wanted. I 456 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:01,759 think the one point of new there is that you know, 457 00:24:01,799 --> 00:24:05,559 the it's this the House and Speaker Burrows kind of 458 00:24:05,599 --> 00:24:09,559 they don't put out their own corresponding list to kind 459 00:24:09,599 --> 00:24:12,559 of it makes it hard to do kind of an 460 00:24:12,559 --> 00:24:16,319 apples to apples comparison of which chamber is getting, you know, 461 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:18,920 more or less of what they want. Just if you 462 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:22,359 look at you know, Speaker Burrows is a pretty conservative guy. 463 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:25,480 The House has a much more conservative make up this session, 464 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:31,039 and the kind of the argument that you know a 465 00:24:31,039 --> 00:24:33,039 lot of folks are saying the House has been getting rolled, 466 00:24:33,119 --> 00:24:35,880 or that the you know, the Senate is having their way. 467 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:37,880 I think to an extent, there's some truth there, but 468 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:40,960 also it's kind of they're they're both growing in the 469 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:43,079 same direction on a lot of these things, right right. 470 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:46,319 Speaker 1: It's is the House getting rolled, if it's if it 471 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:48,119 wants the same things the same exactly. 472 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:50,960 Speaker 6: Yeah, but there is sort of a also a reality 473 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:53,920 that's like Dan Patrick, obviously as Lieutenant Governor the House 474 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:55,640 spent all this time trying to just pick a speaker, 475 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:57,480 like he gets to get out in front, he gets 476 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:00,680 to set his priorities, and then how says like, oh, well, 477 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:02,279 those are kind of our priorities too. 478 00:25:02,799 --> 00:25:04,400 Speaker 2: There is you lose a little bit. 479 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:08,880 Speaker 6: Of the bicameral nature of absolutely this when we just say, like, well, 480 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:11,119 we'll let Dan Patrick decide for both chambers. 481 00:25:11,279 --> 00:25:13,680 Speaker 5: And that is an important point too, that it's a new, 482 00:25:13,759 --> 00:25:18,000 first time speaker. You've got the biggest freshman class in 483 00:25:18,039 --> 00:25:22,920 the House since twenty thirteen, over like one in five 484 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:25,400 members in the lower Chamber are folks who are still 485 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:28,400 kind of like learning where the bathrooms are, learning the ropes, 486 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:32,440 and that is just by nature going to seed more, 487 00:25:32,559 --> 00:25:35,680 you know, more power to the Senate. And then when 488 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:37,920 you on top of that, you've got a guy who 489 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:42,119 in Dan Patrick, who is really you know, he has 490 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:46,960 firmly established he has shown what he will do to 491 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:50,640 make life miserable for past speakers. He's kind of in 492 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,640 his element more so than any other session. It's a 493 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:56,440 recipe for the Senate to really drive the agenda. 494 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:58,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean you talk about a new speaker, and 495 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:00,799 not only a new speaker, a speaker who entered the 496 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:03,440 race for speaker quite late in the process, and we 497 00:26:03,519 --> 00:26:05,960 really didn't know for sure was going to be the 498 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,400 speaker until at the start of the leg. 499 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:12,279 Speaker 5: After, you know, we don't even Burrows isn't even a 500 00:26:12,279 --> 00:26:15,839 candidate for speaker until you know, a bunch of House 501 00:26:16,079 --> 00:26:19,519 low house bill numbers have been pre filed already, so 502 00:26:19,599 --> 00:26:22,279 he maybe even has less of a chance to set 503 00:26:22,279 --> 00:26:23,920 his own agenda this at that point. 504 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:27,839 Speaker 6: So and replacing a speaker who you know, tried to 505 00:26:27,839 --> 00:26:30,799 take on Dan Patrick to some extent, exactly got you know. 506 00:26:31,559 --> 00:26:34,119 I will briefly tell you my allegory, okayis I have 507 00:26:34,319 --> 00:26:36,920 a personal anecdote that I believe represents actually a couple 508 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:39,519 of themes of the legislative session, which is that yesterday 509 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:43,759 before my house shift, I as true fans of the Pod, No, 510 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:46,720 I've been getting bar into playing tennis. And so I 511 00:26:46,759 --> 00:26:48,720 went into a tennis clinic and there was a girl 512 00:26:48,759 --> 00:26:50,319 that I was I had never played with before, who 513 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:52,599 was so good. She was like so she was hitting 514 00:26:52,599 --> 00:26:53,720 from the baseline. 515 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:56,440 Speaker 4: So powerful, like the Dan Patrick of the Some might 516 00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:57,119 signe okay. 517 00:26:57,039 --> 00:26:59,640 Speaker 6: Yeah, And I was kept being paired against her, and 518 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:00,519 I was like, that's insane. 519 00:27:00,559 --> 00:27:01,640 Speaker 2: I got to get on her side. 520 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:03,319 Speaker 6: I got to get on her team, and so I 521 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:06,160 sort of I moved around so that I was standing 522 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:07,799 near her when they were splitting up the teams. 523 00:27:08,279 --> 00:27:11,279 Speaker 4: So you're the Dustin Burrows in this in this allegory. 524 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:11,680 Speaker 2: Some might say. 525 00:27:11,839 --> 00:27:14,440 Speaker 6: And then when we got on the court, she's hitting 526 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:17,119 so powerfully. She's on the baseline. I'm on the service line. 527 00:27:17,359 --> 00:27:21,039 She sets up, hits the first shot and it nails 528 00:27:21,079 --> 00:27:24,079 me directly in between the shoulder blades at full speed, 529 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:25,680 which was extremely painful. 530 00:27:26,559 --> 00:27:28,640 Speaker 4: And I was like, you know, and this is a true, 531 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:30,200 legitally something happened yesterday. 532 00:27:30,240 --> 00:27:31,680 Speaker 6: I've got like a weird bruise on the back in 533 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:34,200 between my shoulders and I was like, oh, that feels 534 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:35,440 like a metaphor. 535 00:27:35,599 --> 00:27:37,640 Speaker 4: Yeah, I know how that applies. 536 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:41,079 Speaker 1: And then she took all the TSC TCS tennis bag 537 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:42,839 and threw it in the trash. 538 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:45,039 Speaker 2: Right and said, but no more property taxes. I was like, 539 00:27:45,079 --> 00:27:45,559 I'll take it. 540 00:27:45,599 --> 00:27:48,079 Speaker 4: I'll take How far can we extend this allegory? 541 00:27:48,759 --> 00:27:53,359 Speaker 1: You know, there's there's a long, proud history of tennis players, 542 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:56,240 you know, dating back to our founder Evan Smith, our 543 00:27:56,279 --> 00:28:00,920 current CEO Son Shaw issues. Yeah, our current editor in 544 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:07,039 chief JV had a short lived JV tennis career. 545 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:10,559 Speaker 6: Oh okay, so you're saying I'm being groomed to become 546 00:28:10,599 --> 00:28:13,200 a CEO of the Texas Tribune. 547 00:28:13,279 --> 00:28:13,680 Speaker 3: That's great. 548 00:28:13,759 --> 00:28:16,519 Speaker 6: Yeah, yeah, it all felt very you know. So yeah, 549 00:28:16,759 --> 00:28:19,839 I do think there's also to some extent of metaphor 550 00:28:19,839 --> 00:28:21,839 and there about the Democrats and sort of how they've 551 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:22,920 strategized all of this. 552 00:28:23,079 --> 00:28:25,039 Speaker 2: But certainly seems like everyone's kind of. 553 00:28:25,359 --> 00:28:27,680 Speaker 5: They're the folks who are getting served to in that 554 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:29,359 in that allegory, I guess. 555 00:28:29,079 --> 00:28:31,279 Speaker 2: Are there being like, hitt it to me and I'm 556 00:28:31,359 --> 00:28:33,160 getting just knocked over. 557 00:28:33,359 --> 00:28:35,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, And they seem to be the ones who seem 558 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:39,720 to be trying to push the House getting rolled narrative 559 00:28:39,799 --> 00:28:43,000 the most right, Jean Blue, you know, trying to. 560 00:28:42,920 --> 00:28:44,440 Speaker 3: Make that argument and everything there. 561 00:28:44,559 --> 00:28:47,119 Speaker 1: There, of course, is another very powerful person in the Capitol, 562 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:48,920 and that's Greg Abbott, who had his own set of 563 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:51,920 priorities and has landed a lot of them as well. So, 564 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:54,680 I mean, we mentioned a bunch of those water, teacher pay, 565 00:28:55,799 --> 00:29:00,279 school choice, of course, being like his signature is shoe 566 00:29:00,359 --> 00:29:01,200 on this issue. 567 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:03,359 Speaker 3: Property tax cuts. 568 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:06,279 Speaker 1: Another thing that seems you know, some bills already done, 569 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:12,000 others well on their way to being passed. Water, and 570 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:14,319 one other one that we haven't talked about yet that 571 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:16,799 seems to be kind of crossing the finish line for 572 00:29:16,839 --> 00:29:19,440 the first time, bail reform. 573 00:29:20,519 --> 00:29:22,240 Speaker 3: Tell us a little bit about that issue. 574 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:26,240 Speaker 5: Well, this is another issue that kind of falls into 575 00:29:26,319 --> 00:29:31,160 the genre of stuff that was a perennial priority that 576 00:29:31,279 --> 00:29:35,000 just kept falling short of the finish line, you know, 577 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:38,480 would always pass the Senate overwhelmingly, and then because it 578 00:29:38,559 --> 00:29:44,440 requires amending the Constitution, Republicans just could not yet enough 579 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:47,559 Democrats in the House on board. But you know, the 580 00:29:48,039 --> 00:29:50,839 short of it is that the this is there's a 581 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:54,119 big bail package that kind of the centerpiece of it 582 00:29:54,160 --> 00:30:00,519 is for certain violent crimes, giving judges discretion to to 583 00:30:00,599 --> 00:30:05,240 deny bail outright and in other cases requiring judges to 584 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:10,079 deny bail. So this was I think Abbott has kind 585 00:30:10,079 --> 00:30:13,039 of governor Abbot has spearheaded this issue. But you know 586 00:30:13,079 --> 00:30:18,279 it's also you know, a perennial item on Dan Patrick's 587 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:22,359 list of top priorities. So I think what happened here 588 00:30:22,480 --> 00:30:25,599 was that Democrats sort of saw the writing on the 589 00:30:25,599 --> 00:30:28,319 wall that this was it was going to happen. You know, 590 00:30:28,359 --> 00:30:31,279 there were more Republicans in the House than we've had 591 00:30:31,319 --> 00:30:34,200 in several sessions now, so they only needed a dozen 592 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:38,160 Democrats to get on board. And you know, this is 593 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:42,519 also kind of a bipartisan issue in some ways where 594 00:30:43,319 --> 00:30:45,039 you know when this when this issue has come up 595 00:30:45,079 --> 00:30:47,559 in the past, like in twenty twenty one, there were 596 00:30:47,599 --> 00:30:49,880 one hundred votes for it in the House, but it 597 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:53,799 just happened to die when the Democrats walked out to 598 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:56,839 kill the voting bill at the end of the regular session. 599 00:30:57,279 --> 00:30:59,279 So just and then in twenty twenty three it just 600 00:30:59,359 --> 00:31:04,799 ran into a a deadline. So it's not really there 601 00:31:04,839 --> 00:31:07,559 are I will say a lot more partisan issues than 602 00:31:07,559 --> 00:31:11,720 this in the legislature, and I think it just you know, 603 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:14,759 the House and Senate got together earlier, I think, in 604 00:31:14,799 --> 00:31:17,680 a much more concerted fashion to try to strike a 605 00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:21,519 compromise that could get at least twelve Democrats on board, 606 00:31:21,519 --> 00:31:24,640 and it turned out that they I think ended up 607 00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:28,200 with like one hundred and thirty plus for the constitutional Amendment. 608 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:32,359 They did fail to get a more stringent, kind of 609 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:36,160 a eleventh hour play to get an even more stringent 610 00:31:36,240 --> 00:31:40,119 version of that through over the weekend, but still I 611 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:42,680 think a huge win for the Republicans on this. 612 00:31:42,799 --> 00:31:42,960 Speaker 3: Yeah. 613 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:45,359 Speaker 1: The other thing that didn't make it through this weekend 614 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:48,599 was a measure that would make it if you were 615 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:51,799 an undocumented immigrant arrested that you were not eligible for 616 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:55,160 bail period. That failed would have required two thirds. 617 00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:58,160 Speaker 5: And that could still theoretically pass. They've I believe they've 618 00:31:58,319 --> 00:32:03,400 postponed that continue nally with I you know, the deadline 619 00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:05,799 is still coming up, so they still do have a 620 00:32:05,799 --> 00:32:07,920 little bit more time to try to pass that, I believe, 621 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:11,400 but it's not they have postponed it enough. I think 622 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:13,519 it's been a full week now that you know, that's 623 00:32:13,519 --> 00:32:14,960 what you do when you're trying to find the votes 624 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:16,480 and they're not coming together. 625 00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:18,920 Speaker 3: Right, And do you think that's enough? 626 00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:20,880 Speaker 1: Do you think that this is enough for Greg Abbott 627 00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:24,039 to declare victory and say I'm satisfied with this with 628 00:32:24,079 --> 00:32:25,039 this measure. 629 00:32:24,799 --> 00:32:25,160 Speaker 4: I think so. 630 00:32:25,279 --> 00:32:28,359 Speaker 5: I mean, it's it's something that you know, he can say. 631 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:30,759 We still have more work to do in future sessions 632 00:32:30,759 --> 00:32:34,279 when we come back in twenty twenty seven. But I 633 00:32:34,519 --> 00:32:37,400 would be surprised if he you know, calls him back 634 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:41,240 simply over this issue. But I also haven't have not 635 00:32:41,279 --> 00:32:43,960 talked to the governor about this, so we'll see what happens, 636 00:32:44,039 --> 00:32:44,359 all right. 637 00:32:44,400 --> 00:32:46,880 Speaker 3: So one measure eleanor that did not pass. 638 00:32:47,119 --> 00:32:49,599 Speaker 1: Really, the only measure that does not seem like it's 639 00:32:49,599 --> 00:32:52,799 going to pass, or it has not passed at least 640 00:32:53,039 --> 00:32:56,240 so far, but seems highly unlikely to pass, is Senate 641 00:32:56,319 --> 00:33:02,480 Bill twenty twenty eight eighty, Yeah, which is a bill 642 00:33:02,599 --> 00:33:05,799 to stop the flow of abortion inducing drugs in the 643 00:33:05,839 --> 00:33:09,279 state using a well, I'm just going to let you 644 00:33:10,039 --> 00:33:13,240 explain the complicated legal situation here. Tell us about the 645 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:15,279 bill first, and then we'll talk about its fate. 646 00:33:15,599 --> 00:33:15,799 Speaker 3: Yeah. 647 00:33:15,799 --> 00:33:18,279 Speaker 6: So this was a bill as an authored by Representative sorry, 648 00:33:18,279 --> 00:33:21,240 by Senator Brian Hughes that is a really wide ranging 649 00:33:21,279 --> 00:33:23,799 crackdown on abortion pills. It's kind of an answer to 650 00:33:24,319 --> 00:33:26,960 blue states that have passed shield laws that you know, 651 00:33:27,039 --> 00:33:30,640 protect their providers who mail abortion pills into Texas. This 652 00:33:30,759 --> 00:33:33,240 is Texas's way of like upping the ante on the 653 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:33,839 other side. 654 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:34,920 Speaker 2: It would do. 655 00:33:35,079 --> 00:33:36,880 Speaker 6: You would be allowed to sue for one hundred thousand 656 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:42,319 dollars anyone who manufactures, distributes, produces, or provides these pills 657 00:33:43,079 --> 00:33:46,720 in Texas. Which and it contains some like very thorny 658 00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:52,039 legal strategies in it. Sort of that Brian Hughes sort 659 00:33:52,079 --> 00:33:58,279 of testing the bounds of the judicial system's response to 660 00:33:58,279 --> 00:33:59,039 to their bills. 661 00:34:00,079 --> 00:34:01,759 Speaker 3: It was seeming dead. 662 00:34:01,920 --> 00:34:04,720 Speaker 6: I was sort of getting the it was stuck in 663 00:34:04,759 --> 00:34:06,839 the It passed the Senate, it got stuck in the 664 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:10,599 State Affairs Committee. Ken King's committee in the House was 665 00:34:10,639 --> 00:34:12,559 getting the sense that it was not moving. There was 666 00:34:12,599 --> 00:34:15,000 a big push from like the sort of far right 667 00:34:15,119 --> 00:34:18,039 in the House to get it moving. 668 00:34:18,159 --> 00:34:19,960 Speaker 2: They called a last minute committee meeting. 669 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:20,559 Speaker 4: They voted it out. 670 00:34:20,719 --> 00:34:22,559 Speaker 2: It got stuck there again. 671 00:34:22,679 --> 00:34:25,679 Speaker 6: It did not get reported to calendars and sort of 672 00:34:25,679 --> 00:34:31,119 missed the deadline to make it onto today's calendar. There's 673 00:34:31,159 --> 00:34:34,480 still optimism I would say among some of the anti 674 00:34:34,559 --> 00:34:37,280 abortion groups, particularly those were maybe like less burst in, 675 00:34:37,360 --> 00:34:40,639 like the strictness of the deadlines that you know, Burroughs 676 00:34:40,679 --> 00:34:42,159 will come through for them in some way, or this 677 00:34:42,199 --> 00:34:46,039 will get saved last minute, but it seems likely. 678 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:48,000 Speaker 2: It did. 679 00:34:48,320 --> 00:34:53,280 Speaker 1: All right, So let's review we a prior trip cast. 680 00:34:53,480 --> 00:34:57,400 We all made our predictions about whether or not there 681 00:34:57,400 --> 00:34:59,320 would be a special session. I believe it was Eleanor 682 00:34:59,360 --> 00:35:01,400 who insisted that we make these predictions. 683 00:35:02,239 --> 00:35:05,440 Speaker 3: Who remembers how they voted. 684 00:35:05,960 --> 00:35:10,400 Speaker 5: Jasper, I feel like I predicted that we wouldn't have one, 685 00:35:10,440 --> 00:35:13,800 but I I, uh, and I'm sticking with that. 686 00:35:13,880 --> 00:35:15,039 Speaker 4: Seems like that's where we're going. 687 00:35:15,199 --> 00:35:15,679 Speaker 3: Eleanor. 688 00:35:16,159 --> 00:35:19,280 Speaker 6: I think I predicted we would largely to be contrarian 689 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:20,920 because I think you both voted that we would not, 690 00:35:22,280 --> 00:35:23,800 and I that's. 691 00:35:23,639 --> 00:35:24,239 Speaker 4: What you say now. 692 00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:28,440 Speaker 2: But yeah, it's all a strategy. I think we will not. 693 00:35:28,599 --> 00:35:32,400 Speaker 6: I think if if part of a special session is 694 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:36,039 like getting the you know, just getting threatening special sessions, 695 00:35:36,039 --> 00:35:38,440 like getting compliance, I think everyone got sort of what they. 696 00:35:38,360 --> 00:35:42,400 Speaker 1: Wanted, agreed. I believe I predicted no, I will. I 697 00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:46,199 think we all. I think we all feel pretty good 698 00:35:46,280 --> 00:35:48,079 about the fact that this is not going to happen. 699 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:48,519 Speaker 3: Now. 700 00:35:48,559 --> 00:35:50,639 Speaker 2: I'm nervous though. This feels like a thing we're going 701 00:35:50,679 --> 00:35:50,920 to play. 702 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:53,719 Speaker 4: We'll see some like last minute impeachments that everything. 703 00:35:54,199 --> 00:35:57,119 Speaker 6: You know, we were talking about it yesterday in the house, 704 00:35:57,119 --> 00:35:59,559 like how crazy it is that yesterday was basically like 705 00:35:59,840 --> 00:36:01,039 the yeah, like. 706 00:36:01,079 --> 00:36:03,639 Speaker 4: How late that all right to your anniversary? 707 00:36:03,719 --> 00:36:06,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're talking about went esp the torte Form bill was. 708 00:36:06,559 --> 00:36:09,440 We were like the fact that this that set into 709 00:36:09,519 --> 00:36:10,480 motion this series. 710 00:36:10,280 --> 00:36:12,599 Speaker 6: Of events that blied us to you know, Mitch a 711 00:36:12,639 --> 00:36:15,079 little watering down the TLR bill. 712 00:36:15,119 --> 00:36:16,800 Speaker 2: It's like deep cuts. 713 00:36:17,039 --> 00:36:18,039 Speaker 3: Yeah, all right. 714 00:36:18,079 --> 00:36:21,159 Speaker 1: Well, you know, another big milestone happening at the end 715 00:36:21,199 --> 00:36:24,960 of the legislative session is some job changes for both 716 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:25,440 of y'all. 717 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:26,039 Speaker 3: You. 718 00:36:26,440 --> 00:36:29,400 Speaker 1: Jasper will no longer be a politics reporter and Eleanor 719 00:36:29,440 --> 00:36:31,280 will no longer be a women's health reporter. 720 00:36:31,679 --> 00:36:32,280 Speaker 3: Why is that? 721 00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:35,960 Speaker 2: Eleanor, I am joining the politics team to work for Jasper. 722 00:36:36,559 --> 00:36:40,440 Speaker 5: Yes, and I'll be hanging up my reporting shoes and 723 00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:44,920 we'll be very excited to you know, take the rein 724 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:48,159 of the reins of the politics team and just I 725 00:36:48,199 --> 00:36:51,000 feel like we have a powerhouse team that we're building 726 00:36:51,039 --> 00:36:54,079 and want to continue all the good coverage we've been 727 00:36:54,119 --> 00:36:57,159 doing this session, you know, into into the future. We're 728 00:36:57,199 --> 00:37:00,320 already already thinking about twenty twenty six. It feels like 729 00:37:01,199 --> 00:37:04,920 a ways away, but with our March primary system be 730 00:37:04,920 --> 00:37:06,719 around the corner before we know it. So I'm really 731 00:37:06,719 --> 00:37:08,559 excited it's gonna I think it's We've got a great 732 00:37:08,559 --> 00:37:09,360 team that we're building. 733 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:11,599 Speaker 3: Yeah, that tell us, tell us about the rest of 734 00:37:11,639 --> 00:37:12,000 that team. 735 00:37:12,559 --> 00:37:17,000 Speaker 5: So we're bringing on Eleanor to to take over a 736 00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:20,079 the legal affairs beat that she can maybe talk a 737 00:37:20,119 --> 00:37:23,239 little bit about herself. But it's I think just like 738 00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:25,719 the perfect fit for Eleanor. She kind of pitched this. 739 00:37:27,320 --> 00:37:31,000 I don't know, it's just a perfect kind of transition 740 00:37:31,079 --> 00:37:34,199 from what you've been covering on the women's health beat 741 00:37:35,119 --> 00:37:37,400 for the last three years. Now. We're also bringing over 742 00:37:38,199 --> 00:37:43,039 Alejandra Serrano, another internal hire too, you know, kind of 743 00:37:43,079 --> 00:37:46,320 still figuring out what everyone's purviews will will include. But 744 00:37:47,519 --> 00:37:51,000 and then we're also filling a vacancy with our DC correspondence. 745 00:37:51,000 --> 00:37:51,719 Stay tuned for that. 746 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:55,000 Speaker 3: But uh, and always like Kayla, that's right. 747 00:37:54,920 --> 00:37:59,079 Speaker 5: Kayla Guo will be continuing just you know, she has 748 00:37:59,119 --> 00:38:01,440 done a lot of great coverage especially of the House 749 00:38:01,480 --> 00:38:04,239 this session and of the bail fight that we were 750 00:38:04,239 --> 00:38:06,920 just talking about. So I think you know, just that 751 00:38:07,320 --> 00:38:13,320 trio of Eleanor, Alejandro and Kayla plus are kind of 752 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:17,400 one of our maybe team MVPs Renzo this session. Continuing 753 00:38:17,599 --> 00:38:20,840 to put out the Blast, our premium newsletter, politics newsletter, 754 00:38:20,880 --> 00:38:24,360 and then are soon to be announced hopefully DC Correspondent. 755 00:38:25,679 --> 00:38:28,199 It's a solid five person band right there. 756 00:38:28,280 --> 00:38:31,840 Speaker 1: Absolutely it's going to be great. One other kind of 757 00:38:31,920 --> 00:38:35,639 internal plug. June eleventh, the Trip Cast will be live 758 00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:38,920 in Austin from the Austin Central Library seven pm. We 759 00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:41,800 will be digging into the impact of the legislative session 760 00:38:41,880 --> 00:38:45,320 on Texas schools and what to expect next school year 761 00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:48,519 with all these changes. So go to Texas Tribune dot 762 00:38:48,639 --> 00:38:51,400 org slash events to get more details at that or 763 00:38:51,440 --> 00:38:52,960 just show up at the library at seven pm. 764 00:38:53,119 --> 00:38:54,679 Speaker 2: It's hanging out at the library. 765 00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:57,199 Speaker 3: But you know, we like it if people are SVP, 766 00:38:57,400 --> 00:39:01,400 so so do that too. And that is all for today. 767 00:39:01,639 --> 00:39:05,079 Speaker 1: We will see what happens and whether our special session 768 00:39:05,119 --> 00:39:09,920 predictions hold up. Thank you to Jasper, thank you to Eleanor, 769 00:39:10,159 --> 00:39:12,280 thank you to our producer Rob, and thank you to 770 00:39:12,320 --> 00:39:16,280 our sponsors, the Lone Star Economic Alliance, the Texas Managed 771 00:39:16,320 --> 00:39:18,880 Care Alliance, and the Safer Texas Alliance. 772 00:39:19,159 --> 00:39:20,760 Speaker 3: We'll talk to you all next week.