The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - November 13, 2024

Starting point is 00:00:00 Howdy folks, today is Wednesday, November 13th, and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans reporter Cameron Abrams, and here's the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, Texas legislators, and legislators-to-be, set a new record on the first day of pre-filing Tuesday, filing 1,500 bills for the 2025 session. Among those filed, none of which are yet priorities in either chamber, are various border-related proposals, the revival of a high-profile social issue, and the much-discussed prohibition against hostile nations from purchasing Texas land. First off the block was State Rep. Terry Leo Wilson, whose House Bill 160 would eliminate in-state tuition for anyone

Starting point is 00:00:53 without legal status in Texas. Texas law currently requires any state residents, including those who are not lawful residents, to be granted the lower tuition rate. It's something that's been fought over in the courts for years. State Rep. Ryan Guillen filed two border compact bills, one with Mexican states and another with American states. State Rep. Keith Bell filed one that would lower the homestead appraisal cap from 10% to 5%. And State Rep. Will Metcalf filed another that would make permanent the 20% appraisal cap for small-sized businesses that was part of the legislature's property tax deal last year. Education will be a top priority for Texas lawmakers and Governor Greg Abbott heading into the 89th legislative session with a number of important education-related bills submitted on the first

Starting point is 00:01:45 day of filing. Topping the list is Rep. Briscoe Cain and his, quote, Texas Parental Empowerment Act of 2025. HB 212 is the first school choice legislation to be filed this year, with likely many more to come. The Texas legislature gained a number of pro-school choice members following the general election. Abbott said following the night of November 5th that he has 79, quote, true hardcore school choice proponents now in the Texas House. Next, Senator John Thune won the race for the U.S. Senate GOP leader in a closed-door vote on Wednesday morning, a position that will become the chamber's majority leader in January. Thune defeated Senator John Cornyn on a second ballot.

Starting point is 00:02:30 According to reports, the first round of voting went 23 for Thune, 15 for Cornyn, and 13 for Senator Rick Scott. On the second ballot, Thune won 29 and Cornyn's 24. Thune said in a statement, quote, I am extremely honored to have earned the support of my colleagues to lead the Senate in the 119th Congress, and I am beyond proud of the work we have done to secure our majority in the White House. This Republican team is united behind President Trump's agenda, and our work starts today. In other news, the Texas House Republican Caucus will meet on December 7th to select an endorsed speaker candidate, a process created in 2018 following the retirement of Speaker

Starting point is 00:03:11 Joe Strauss. Strauss came to power in 2009 with a lopsided and Democratic-heavy coalition, but he reached 76 when then-Speaker Tom Craddock could not after three terms of his own reign. Things are different enough these days, as inter-party mingling and power-sharing are frowned upon by the bases of both parties, and the political ghost of Strauss still lurks over the lower chamber to this day, providing both the rallying cry for and the warning against trying to nominate a Speaker wholly within one party caucus.

Starting point is 00:03:42 Incumbent Speaker Dade Phelan's opponents have decided the time is here for him to get the boot, and there are varying reasons cited for that desire. For now, Republican challenger Rep. David Cook has 45 publicly named supporters, and that's enough to block Phelan from receiving the caucus endorsement. Last but not least, former Texas Congressman and Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe has been selected to be the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in President-elect Donald Trump's second administration. Ratcliffe previously served as Director of National Intelligence during the first Trump administration in late 2020. He was first elected to Congress to represent Texas' 4th Congressional District in 2014 and has also served as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas under the U.S. Department of Justice. A sharp critic of Iran,

Starting point is 00:04:31 Ratcliffe described their alleged hacking scheme targeting the Trump campaign's emails and the firing of ballistic missiles through terrorist proxies at U.S. Navy ships as, quote, acts of war. 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 - November 13, 2024

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