The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - January 7, 2025

Episode Date: January 7, 2025

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Howdy folks, today is Tuesday, January 7th, and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Assistant Editor Rob Lausches, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, the argument over the Texas House Republican Caucus's speaker endorsement is a lot like Schrodinger's cat. The bylaw is both alive and dead depending on who one asks and until one opens the box that is the 2026 primary. Both sides of the speakership race have strong feelings about the validity and enforceability of the bylaw that states House Republicans must vote for the caucus-endorsed candidate for speaker on the chamber floor. The events of December 7th, the caucus meeting, the walkout, the stalemate, and the victory

declarations have given both those backing State Representative David Cook and those backing Representative Dustin Burroughs the ammunition they seek to make their cases. Regardless, the bylaw is non-binding, and the only string tying it together is the threat of retribution against those who violate it via a primary challenge, which for all intents and purposes appear in the cards for a chunk of the GOP caucus. Next, Governor Greg Abbott has selected James Sullivan to fill the empty seat on the Supreme Court of Texas and elevated Justice Jimmy Blacklock as its new Chief Justice. Blacklock secured a second term as a Supreme Court Justice in November, picking up 59% of the vote. He was first appointed to the High Court by Abbott

in 2017 after serving as General Counsel to the Governor since 2015. A court seat was left vacant after Chief Justice Nathan Hecht announced he would be retiring after the conclusion of cases on December 5, 2024. In other news, despite a state prohibition on so-called sanctuary city or sanctuary county policies, multiple jurisdictions in Texas have been providing legal services for illegal immigrants facing deportation, but one state lawmaker is proposing a ban on the practice. In December, Rep. Giovanni Capriglione filed House Bill 1554 to ban any state or local government agency, including colleges or universities, from providing such services at taxpayer expense. HB 1554 would also prohibit political subdivisions

from seeking reimbursement for legal services in immigration-related civil proceedings. Deportation proceedings are expected to ramp up after President-elect Donald Trump takes office later this month, as he has promised to begin rigorously enforcing federal immigration laws on day one. Following his election victory, Trump nominated Caleb Vitello as Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and named former ICE Acting Director Tom Homan as his border czar to oversee the deportation of millions of illegal immigrants. Also, legislation filed by Congressman Keith Self would direct the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to move the Washington, D.C. headquarters of U.S. Customs and Border Protection

to a location in Texas, a proposal that could likely see approval from the incoming Trump administration. Under the legislation, if passed, the Secretary of DHS would be directed to work with the Texas Land Commissioner, currently Don Buckingham, to select a location best suited to ensure the agency can respond to the crisis at the southern border. The prospective site within the state is to be determined. Trump has announced his intent to nominate South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as the Secretary of DHS. If confirmed, the proposed law would task her with overseeing the move. Last but not least, State Representative Brian Harrison introduced a bill in November 2024

that would allow the recall of Texas' U.S. Senators through a majority vote by the Texas legislature, which would partially override the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, arguing that it would restore the, quote, design of our founders, end quote, for the Senate. House Bill 1267 states that the 17th Amendment, which switched the election of U.S. Senators from being by the state legislatures to a popular vote in each state, quote, significantly diminished, end quote, the 10th Amendment guaranteed autonomy of the states and the people. If the bill passes and is used to recall a U.S. Senator, the individual's position would be immediately terminated and their

office would become vacant. Thanks for listening. To support The Texan, please be sure to visit thetexan.news and subscribe to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts.