Thread by @taygoldenstein

Long day ahead. More than 200 amendments to get through as the Texas House debates the biennial budget.

One by Rep. Jay Dean, R-Longview, was just adopted that authorizes @TCOLE to conduct a $121K study on police officer salaries in Texas + the U.S. by Nov 1, 2022. #txlege

Amdnmt by Rep. @jessicafortexas (D) that caps amount @TXAG can pay for outside legal expenses at $500/hr just passed 73-64.

Gonzalez said it was in response to Google lawsuit in which most senior attorneys could make up to $3,780/hr, per @TexasTribune. texastribune.org/2021/01/05/tex…

Note that AG Ken Paxton and his allies have argued in his criminal case that $300 an hour was too much for Collin County to pay special prosecutors, though the office has spent much more on other legal battles of late:
houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas…

https://twitter.com/taygoldenstein/status/1385288483577556994?s=20

Big focus on @TXAG this morning during budget discussion.

Amendment by @moodyforelpaso that requires the office to submit an annual report to #txlege showing rulings that allow withholding of information under the Public Information Act just passed.

.@TexasHDC chair @ChrisGTurner withdraws amdnmt that wld bar OAG from contesting election results outside TX. Says it led to Jan. 6 insurrection.

"It is a tragedy in our nation's history ... I hope this Legislature is clear that this can never be allowed to happen ever again."

Rep. Yvonne Davis, D-Dallas, pushed Turner to bring it to a vote, so members had to show up or down on the AG's Supreme Court challenge of 2020 results.

But Turner says he, like other members for other amdmts, had already said he'd withdraw it.

https://twitter.com/taygoldenstein/status/1385291572984483841?s=20

The series of OAG-related amendments continues...

Rep. Michelle Beckley (@ForHD65), D-Carrollton, proposes amendment that requires OAG to submit quarterly report to #txlege budget committees on $$ spent on election or voting-related litigation. It passes.

Amendment by Rep. @BradBuckleyDVM, R-Salado, passes that moves $500K from @TCEQ Information Resources fund to the Comptroller's disabled veterans assistance fund.

Rep. Rhetta Bowers (@RhettaForHD113), D-Garland, successfully brings amdmt that requires Comptroller to submit report comparing salaries received by men + women under same job classifications at state agencies by Aug. 31, 2022.

Point of order on amendment by Rep. Bryan Slaton (@BryanforHD2), R-Royse City, that would bar the state from spending to provide pandemic relief to "illegal aliens" sustained.

Spkr Phelan says that's bc it changes general law + it'd require Comptroller to investigate recipients.

Amendment by Rep. @ColeHefnerTX, R-Mount Pleasant, passes that requires state employee and teacher retirement funds to certify that they will NOT invest in companies that boycott fossil fuel companies + divests in ones that have.

Similar to this 2017 law:
houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/…

OK, I'm back after writing for a bit. Notable amdmts passed:

-Move $ from Gov's office to Mental Health Community Hospitals for inpatient psychiatric beds + Medicaid pymts, teachers' pension fund, property tax relief fund
-Increases Historical Commission diversity scholarships

More adopted amendments to Texas House version of budget:
-Requires electric vehicle charging stations at Capitol complex
-Funds facility in Bexar County for ppl w/ special needs
-Requires report on suicide among foster youth
-Requires study on COVID-19 testing+vaccination equity

More adopted amendments to Texas House version of budget:
-Increases alternatives to abortion funding
-Requires studies on veteran suicide + home and community-based services waiver program
-Raises Medicaid-funded community attendant wage by abt $1 to $9/hr