Meanwhile, In The Second Largest (And Second Most Populous) State In The Union

Some of the pandemic-related proposals that didn't make it out of this #TXlege session would have:

—Updated the state's immunization registry

—Created an emergency mass vaccination and distribution plan

—Funded research into health inequity issues https://t.co/wVk2KUfjwb

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) June 3, 2021

But they did do this:

Lawmakers passed bills that, among other things, prohibit so-called vaccine passports, and ban the mandatory closure of churches and gun stores during an emergency declaration.

“Let freedom ring!” state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, tweeted Sunday after the Legislature approved bills that included the ban on government entities and businesses requiring proof of vaccination for products or services.

For the record, I have only been in one business since Abbott lifted the mask mandates where I was told I didn't need to wear a mask.  It was a high end jewelry store, and the guard had me lower my mask so the camera could get a picture of me ("Let Freedom Ring!").  Otherwise, I haven't been anywhere (except one restaurant) where the majority of people in the building were not wearing masks.

I've never been in or even seen a sign at a business suggesting it would want to see my vaccination card before I could come in.  Seriously, what business is gonna enforce that?  Costco has a greeter at the door, who basically tells you not to come in if you don't flash a membership card, because you can't buy anything in there without one.  I know they were enforcing the mask rule at one point, but that's the only business I've seen doing anything even that close to a "police" action.  But I'm sure we'll all sleep better knowing businesses, as of September 1 (the usual deadline when a bill becomes law after the Legislative session), can't demand something they never demanded in the first place.  All by the time even masks in public will probably be nothing more than a memory.

"Let freedom ring!"

Yeah, the freedom to be stupid cannot be reigned in, or wrung out:

Left in the ashes of the session, which ended Monday, were proposals that would have updated the state’s immunization registry, created an emergency mass vaccination and distribution plan, prioritized first responders in vaccine rollouts, and funded research into health equity issues to address racial inequities in the system that were exposed by the pandemic.

More than 150 bills and resolutions pertaining to the pandemic were filed by lawmakers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. About 20 of them passed.

Of course, some real stupidity was avoided:

Quintero said lawmakers missed an opportunity to rein in both state and local executive authority, decriminalize violations of emergency health orders and instead impose fines for violations, and address some open-government issues that came up during the pandemic, including a measure that would have sped up public information requests during a quarantine, he said. 

During this last pandemic government agencies had skeleton staffs, at best.  Many were open by appointment only (my daughter had to make one months in advance in order to get a marriage certificate, something that in ordinary times just requires you to go to the relevant courthouse and wait for a clerk).  Local school districts sent everyone in administration home, and public information requests were suspended under the statutory provision that when the agency (i.e., a school district) was "closed," deadlines were suspended until it reopened.  Granted, that was written for school districts that close for Christmas or spring break, but that's because no one is in the office while the deadlines are running, or expiring.  During the pandemic, that period of "closure" extended for months.  Who would you force back into a building in order to obtain records of e-mails related to a school board decision on a bond election, or a non-discussion of "critical race theory" (the latest shibboleth among schools everywhere)?  Does the "public's right to know" trump an individual's right, or even the public's right, to be protected by quarantine orders?

These things that pass for knowledge I don't understand.

And if you think the regular session was bad enough, buckle up, buttercup:  it just gets worse.

Since House Democrats staged a walkout that killed Republicans’ priority elections bill for the #TXlege session, Texas’ top three leaders have diverged notably in interviews about how they are planning for a special session. https://t.co/cKTgUVAwOa

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) June 3, 2021

To clarify a point, the Governor and Lt. Gov. are both "constitutional" positions in Texas, by which I mean publicly elected offices.  The Speaker of the Texas House, like the Speaker in Congress, is elected by the membership.  In that article Dan Patrick is quoted criticizing the way the Speaker runs the Texas House.  Patrick did this with the last speaker, who was essentially driven out of office by the Texas GOP, which censured him for not letting Patrick's "bathroom bill" pass the House.  Patrick doesn't answer to the Senators he rules over, because they didn't elect him.  He also has no authority over Abbott or the Speaker, but he likes to think he does.  This, as Donald Trump established on a national scale, is not a model for governance.  The last great Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby, made much of the office because he was a consummate politician who also knew where the bodies were buried.  He used his power to help Texas, sometimes against the wishes of the sitting Governor.  There's a Texas history museum in Austin named for him.

Dan Patrick won't get a latrine trench named for him.  And he isn't much good as Lt. Gov., either.  Mostly he bitches and moans about bills he can't get passed into law.  He never seems to understand what the problem is.  Hobby was a latter-day LBJ:  he never bitched, he just got it done.

Giants walked among us, once.  Alas, no more.  Case in point:  Gov. Absent:

In a Texas Tribune interview Tuesday, Abbott declined to discuss the timing of the special session, the agenda beyond the elections bill and another priority bill that died in the House, and whether the special session would be in addition to a fall special session that he has already committed to for redistricting and federal COVID-19 relief funding.

“Stay tuned,” Abbott said repeatedly, declining to even discuss what factors he is taking into account as he is planning for the special session.

Abbott clarified in a radio interview Thursday morning that he plans to call two special sessions. One will be in September or October on redistricting and COVID-19 funds, he said, while there will be another one beforehand on Senate Bill 7, the bail bill and other issues he will announce later.

Abbott has to veto or allow the budget in toto by June 20.  If he vetoes the budget, it's most likely the Dems (at least, probably more than a few Republicans, too) go to court to challenge his ability to do so.  What happens then is up to Abbott, but no result looks good for him, and as long as the money can't flow, I don't see the Lege doing anything about redistricting.  Abbott can veto, but he can't "un-veto."  It's a one way valve for him. If he turns it off, only the Lege can turn it back on; and they can't do it outside the regular session without Abbott putting it on the agenda of a special session.  And I suspect the Dems would rather go to court than to give the Governor that whip hand into the future.  So what's he gonna do?

"Stay tuned."

Isn't that cute?  He thinks he's all in charge, or something.  The best part is, he can’t cut off funding for the Lege: their pay is set by the Texas constitution, not state law. What he’s going to cut off is funding for the state agencies that research and draft bills. The very people you need for the massive task of redistricting. Remember what happens when the Feds run out of money? Why should Texas government be any different?

The House Speaker recommends chopping up the voting bill into smaller bills, so that some will pass.  Abbott and Patrick want all or nothing.  They could well end up with nothing.  They're actually pretty good at getting that from their efforts.