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2.8.21 News, Updates & Action

LWV Texas | Published on 2/8/2021


Capitol Action Report


February 8, 2021 - News, Updates & Action




2021 LWVTX "Priority Issues"
Support LeagueAction at the Texas Capitol.Donate Now!
The Governor's Priorities
Janet Imhoff, Vice President Advocacy

Governor Abbot outlined his “emergency items” in his State of the Union Address on Feb. 3rd. This means bills on those issues alone can be considered and voted on in the first 60 days of the session.All other bills must wait until after March 12th.

His issues are:
  • Ensuring “election integrity”
  • Punishing local governments that “defund the police”
  • Changing the bail system “to keep dangerous criminals off the streets”
  • Expanding broadband internet access
  • Providing civil liability protection for businesses that were open during the pandemic

Elections: The League has no position on the last two items, but we do on the first three.Election LawsIssue Chair Cinde Weatherby (LWV Austin) will be on the lookout for hearings on any bills that make the election process more difficult and/or less fair.
Local Governments:Our Issue Chair forState/Local RelationsisJanis Richardson(LWV Lavaca County). She will be watching for bills that would harm the ability of local governments to do what is best for their communities.Our position “supports more flexible structures and adequate powers at the local level.”

Bail:Issues about the bail system are in the hands ofCriminal JusticeIssue Chair Melinda Grayson. Our position on bail would allow those who commit non-violent, economic crimes, and are so poor they are unable to pay bail costs, to be released on their own recognizance.She will be watching for billsrelated to this issue.


Action Alerts:We have three Action Alerts on ourTake Actionpage:
  • Fair and Open Redistricting
  • Improvements Needed to Voter Registration and Vote-by-Mail
  • Time to Expand Medicaid


Rep. Lyle Larson (R-San Antonio) has written an op-ed in the Austin American Statesman endorsing Medicaid expansion.Read ithere.
2021 Lobby Day: A Great Success!

Take Action! That's what the LWVTX Lobby Day is all about. Check out the amazing new advocacy tools on theLWVTX Take Action Centerand let your Texas legislators know you support safe, fair, and secure voting for all citizens and a fair and open redistricting processhere.

Over 270 League members and supporters from all around Texas joined us on Saturday, Feb. 6th for the 2021 LWVTX Virtual Lobby Day. Special thanks to our nationally recognized expert speakers: Michael Li, Victoria DeFrancesco-Soto, and Melanye Price, as well as to our own League issue and Texas advocacy experts Janet Imhoff, Stephanie Swanson, and Cinde Weatherby.

In case you missed it, we have a video! The video and all of the material shared are posted on theLeague Advocacy webpage.
Your Texas League in the News

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