The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - March 20, 2026

Starting point is 00:00:04 Howdy folks, today is Friday, March 20th, and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Managing Editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, at least four Islamic schools were allowed to participate in the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program this week. The announcement comes after a federal judge extended the deadline for student applications for the TIFA program from March 17th to March 3rd. 31st, claiming that the lack of Islamic schools might have deterred parents who would have otherwise applied. U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett had previously written that it was troubling that Islamic schools had not been admitted under the program amid ongoing lawsuits filed against acting comptroller Kelly Hancock by parents in schools, including Bayonne Academy and a Houston parent.

Starting point is 00:00:56 In January, Attorney General Ken Paxton sent a legal opinion to Hancock confirming Hancock's ability to block funding to Tifa for schools, quote, illegally tied to terrorists or foreign adversaries. In March, Bayonne Academy filed a lawsuit arguing the Comptroller's actions were unconstitutional. Quote, government may not deny a generally available benefit because of a school's religious character, because of the faith it teaches, or because public officials disfavor the religious community seeking equal treatment. The Houston parents lawsuit dealt specifically with the Houston Quran Academy in Spring. He alleged that defendants Paxton, Hancock, and Texas Education Commissioner Mike Marath, quote, have systematically targeted Islamic schools for exclusion based on their

Starting point is 00:01:44 religious identity, having perceived Islamic ties, and alleged connections to organizations, end quote, which Governor Greg Abbott has deemed foreign terrorist organizations, such as the Council on American Islamic Relations. In other news, Republican Congresswoman Monica de la Cruz and Democrat Bobby Polito are headed for a matchup in South Texas, with Polito seeking to unseat De La Cruz in Texas Congressional District 15 in November's election. De La Cruz in a post on X called Polito a Kinsenera Act and a part-time Texan. Polito has run with the bit, responding, quote, I'll take that as a compliment. Polito, a Latin singer and Latin Grammy winner, has criticized De La Cruz for her efforts in helping a member of the Gamas Kuea family in McA

Starting point is 00:02:32 get out of immigration detention, accusing De La Cruz of not working quickly enough to release the family. In 2022, De La Cruz flipped the district. This year, Democrats have their election hope set on the South Texas territory that encircles McAllen and stretches northward to flank the right side of San Antonio. Polito beat out fellow Democrat Ada Queer in the March primary elections with 68% to Quayar's 32%. In a comment about Polito's win, De La Cruz said that Quayar, quote, was cheated by an establishment that spent over a million dollars to push her aside. Last but not least, the nation's largest public sector union will have an official role in labor negotiations with Harris County employees under a new policy adopted by the commissioner's

Starting point is 00:03:18 court in a three-to-one partisan vote on Thursday. Commissioner Rodney Ellis, who introduced the change, said, quote, it's a simple matter that in Texas, I think that all workers deserve representation. Under the new policy, certain county employees will select a qualified labor union to serve as a consultation agent. The union will meet with certain employees and certain management representatives at least once a month to discuss and recommend changes to county personnel policy and procedure. The county will also be required to notify the consultation agent when eligible employees file a grievance and the union will represent them in grievance or disciplinary matters. sources familiar with the matter say the American Federation of State, County, and municipal employees is expected to be selected by county employees for the consultation services. Ellis insisted the policy is not a collective bargaining agreement, which is prohibited for public sector unions under Texas statute.

Starting point is 00:04:18 Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit the Texan. News and subscribe to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts. Thank you.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - March 20, 2026

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