The Senate passed House Bill 9, filed in response to last year’s nationwide protests against police brutality, on a 25-5 vote. Gov. Greg Abbott has already indicated his support.
Bryan Mena
Bryan Mena was a reporting fellow in 2021, based in Washington, D.C. A graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso, he previously worked as a business reporting intern at the San Francisco Chronicle, a multimedia reporting intern at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and an editorial intern at El Paso Inc. Bryan was the editor-in-chief of The Prospector at UT-El Paso and editor of the Tejano Tribune at El Paso Community College.
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Politics
Three congressional Republicans from Texas reprimanded for violating U.S. House’s mask mandate
U.S. Reps. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, and Chip Roy, R-Austin, were given first warnings. U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Irving, received a $500 fine for violating the House’s mask mandate a second time.
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Politics
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy reportedly considering bid to replace Liz Cheney in GOP leadership role
The Austin Republican has expressed skepticism about installing Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York as the new GOP conference chair, suggesting she’s not conservative enough.
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Politics
Liz Cheney ousted from GOP congressional leadership ranks with no overt resistance from Texas Republicans
Two Texas Republicans — U.S. Reps. Lance Gooden and Chip Roy — were vocal about their desire to remove Cheney before Wednesday’s closed-door vote. But most members of the delegation kept their cards close to their chests.
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Immigration
U.S. Supreme Court rejects Texas-led lawsuit seeking to protect a Trump immigration policy
The court declined to hear a Texas-led case that seeks to uphold a Trump-era “public charge” policy that could limit how many immigrants qualify for green cards.
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Politics
Ted Cruz changes course and votes to support bill to address hate crimes against Asian Americans
The junior senator from Texas initially slammed the bill as “a messaging tactic” but supported it in the final vote because he said an amendment made it more palatable.
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Politics
Beto O’Rourke is still campaigning. But for what?
The Texas Democrat has spent 2021 so far block walking in South Texas and advocating for voting access before the Texas Legislature. If that means anything for his political future, he isn’t saying.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Ted Cruz among a small number of Republicans opposing bill to address hate crimes against Asian Americans
The junior senator was among only six Republicans who opposed advancing a bill that would expedite the processing of hate crimes against Asian Americans by the Justice Department.
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Politics
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar joins lawsuit accusing Donald Trump of inciting Capitol riot
The suit says Trump and his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, violated the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act.
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Politics
Ted Cruz has rejected most of Biden’s cabinet picks so far. John Cornyn has taken a different approach
Texas Democrats accused the two Republican senators of “putting Party and politics over country and the welfare of all Americans.”