The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - September 17, 2024

Starting point is 00:00:00 Howdy folks, today is Tuesday, September 17th, 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, Senator Ted Cruz is up this morning with two new television ads hitting Congressman Colin Allred over his previous votes against legislation that would have prohibited biological males from competing in women's sports. The two ads, one titled Agony of Defeat and the other, Boys and Girls, have more than $6.7 million behind them in a coordinated buy with the Republican Party of Texas. They'll begin airing in Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and the Wake O'Brien media market. Allred's voting records cited in the ads include his April 2023 vote against the Protection of Women and Girls Sports Act, his opposition to the March 2023 Parental Bill of Rights, part of which would have required parental consent to change a child's sex-based accommodations at school, and his support for multiple versions

Starting point is 00:01:11 of the Equality Act that would have expanded the Civil Rights Act's protection to include sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Next, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has released its August update on immigration and border security, with encounters between ports of entry along the southwest border being 68% lower than the same month a year prior. Since President Joe Biden issued an executive order in June aimed at deterring illegal immigration, CBP notes, encounters between ports of entry have decreased by more than 50 percent. Border encounters in El Paso, Del Rio, Laredo, Big Bend, and the Rio Grande Valley have all seen declining numbers over the past year. In other news, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has appealed the district judge's dismissal of a lawsuit he filed against Bayer County's mailed-out voter registration plan, a program the county allegedly expedited before court proceedings. Paxton issued a written warning to Bayer County on September 2nd threatening to use all available legal means if it proceeded

Starting point is 00:02:23 with hiring a third-party company to mail out unsolicited voter registration forms. The contract would cost the county $392,000. The following day, the Bexar County Commissioner's Court voted to continue with its proposal allocating taxpayer funds for civic government solutions to print and distribute thousands of voter registration forms to unregistered voters in locations based on targeting agreed to by the county, ultimately defying Paxton's warning. The Office of the Attorney General sued Bayer County on September 4th, stating, Bayer County has irresponsibly chosen to violate the law. This program is completely unlawful and potentially invites election fraud. Also, with the election less than two months away, a kerfluffle has arisen between members of the Tarrant County Republican Party.

Starting point is 00:03:16 Party Chairman Beau French issued a call-to-action letter last week before the Commissioner's Court voted on a list of early voting sites. He urged Republican residents of Tarrant County to support the list of sites that, quote, will make our polling locations more accessible to the general public by lowering the number of college campuses used as polling locations. After the original voting list, the one that included the college campus locations, passed by a vote of 4-1, French sent an email criticizing fellow Republican Commissioner Manny Ramirez for, quote, siding with the Democrats to give preference to polling places for the November election that will help liberals win.

Starting point is 00:03:58 Republican Gary Fickus also voted for the early voting locations. Only Republican County Judge Tim O'Hare voted against them. In addition, a federal district court in San Antonio has blocked the enforcement of some provisions of recently passed solicitation and electioneering ordinances in the city of Kerrville. Liberty Action Network, its director Terry Hall, and volunteer Rachel Vickers filed a motion for a preliminary injunction, challenging the electioneering and solicitation ordinances on constitutional grounds. U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez agreed with the plaintiffs on a few of the provisions, but upheld others. Last but not least, a liquefied natural gas pipeline fire in the Houston area,

Starting point is 00:04:43 producing enormous flames and smoke to fill the sky, caused evacuation and shelter-in-place orders to be issued on Monday. The video of the pipeline fire was originally posted by Storm Chaser Houston. The LaPorte Office of Emergency Management stated on social media that emergency responders are on the scene and recommended, quote, evacuation of surrounding areas. The fire was first reported to the city of La Porte Fire Department at 9.55 a.m. 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 - September 17, 2024

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