The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - June 12, 2024

Starting point is 00:00:00 Howdy, folks. Today is Wednesday, June 12th, 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 Association of American Physicians and Surgeons prevailed in asking a federal appeals court to revive their lawsuit against several professional licensing boards, as well as the Biden administration, alleging the government conspired to violate the free speech rights of certain doctors who criticized the government. The lawsuit names three professional licensing boards, the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Family Medicine, and the American Board of Obstet the American Board of Family Medicine, and

Starting point is 00:00:45 the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as defendants, as well as Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. All three boards are responsible for issuing specialized certifications in their respective practice areas. Without those certifications, doctors are largely unable to be employed at certain hospitals and are ineligible for payment through insurance networks. Next, a federal judge on Monday issued an opinion that found a Biden administration rule expanding the definition of sex under federal civil rights law to include gender identity

Starting point is 00:01:18 was unlawful and issued an injunction blocking enforcement of the rule in Texas public schools. The lawsuit, brought by the Texas Office of the Attorney General in Fort Worth Federal District Court, challenged the rule promulgated by the U.S. Department of Education that expanded the definition of sex under the category of protected classes to include sexual orientation and gender identity, specifically in public schools. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination in educational institutions on the basis of sex, a statutory definition the White House sought to expand via administrative rulemaking. Also, the Pflugerville Public Library hosted a trans clothing swap and social on June 8th,

Starting point is 00:02:02 aimed at children up to 8 years old. The event posting stated, quote, all gender diverse or expansive folks are welcome to take advantage of this, regardless of your transition status or goals. This is not the first event of its kind to be held at the Pflugerville Public Library. In other news, the Dallas City Council will be proposing a city charter amendment that will decriminalize low levels of marijuana possession. According to a press release from Councilmember Chad West, the proposal will be similar to a petition from Ground Game Texas called the Dallas Freedom Act. West stated, quote, Voters in our city and across the country want to decriminalize marijuana.

Starting point is 00:02:43 Our already burdened police should focus their attention on serious crime, not arresting people with small amounts of marijuana. Bringing this to voters through a city council proposed charter amendment instead of a petition will save city time and resources, end quote. The proposed amendment will be brought to the council during their June 26th meeting. Moving on, Texas insurance industry is a risky business, as the frequency and severity of weather events paralleling broader economic factors have caused ballooning premiums for ratepayers. Quote, We know that there are a lot of factors affecting the insurance market in Texas, and many of them we have no control over. State Representative Tom

Starting point is 00:03:22 Oliverson said in opening Tuesday's House Insurance Committee meeting, quote, We know that there are a lot of factors affecting the insurance market in Texas, and many of them we have no control over. Among the items on the agenda, which moved beyond the items with which the committee was tasked in the House interim charges, was an evaluation of the property and casualty insurance environment. Cassie Brown of the Texas Department of Insurance told the committee that premiums paid last year in the state of Texas have grown 30 times the amount in 1964, which were $9 billion in 2024. Also, Governor Greg Abbott announced the appointments of three inaugural justices for the 15th Court of Appeals, a new appellate court with sole intermediate jurisdiction

Starting point is 00:04:07 over disputes involving the state. Scott Brister, Scott Field, and April Ferris were appointed justices on the new appellate court for terms that begin on September 1st and run through the end of 2026. Brister will serve as the court's chief justice. Brister previously served on the Texas Supreme Court and on two other appellate courts. Field is currently a district judge in Williamson County, and Ferris currently sits on the first

Starting point is 00:04:32 court of appeals. Last but not least, Fort Worth has grown by more than 20,000 residents between 2022 and 2023, according to the latest Census Bureau data. The city grew from 957,000 residents to 978,000 residents, an increase of 2.2%. The only city in Texas to grow more than Fort Worth was San Antonio, which grew in population by 21,970 people, compared to Fort Worth, which grew by 21,365. 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.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - June 12, 2024

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