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1.18.21 Capitol Action Report

LWV Texas | Published on 1/18/2021

 

Capitol Action Report
January 18, 2021 - News, Updates & Action
Voting & Election Update
League Action Papers
The 87th Texas Legislative Session Begins!
The word on the street is the two key issues of the 87th Texas Legislature will be voting & election laws and redistricting. It is no coincidence that the League of Women Voters of Texas members chose these two topics as the League priority issues for 2021. And, it's no surprise that we have the expertise to lead on these issues! Cinde Weatherby has been our expert onVoting Rights and Election Lawfor the past three legislative sessions. Stephanie Swanson, our expert onRedistrictinghas been organizing around the state with Fair Maps Texas for over a year in preparation for this session. You will be hearing more from them over the 140 days (plus!) of this legislature.

Welcome to the first issue of the2021 Capitol Action Report! The Texas League will keep you informed on the priority issues and the other urgent issues we will be following, specifically: Healthcare, Women's Health, and Climate Change. The Capitol Action Report will be issued each Monday of the session with updates on key bills and actions for you to take to support democracy in Texas.

Check out theTexas League Advocacy & Issuespages to see all of the League issues. Pay particular attention to theTake Actionpage. This will be the home for our Action Alerts. From the Take Action page, you can alsocontact your national, state, and local elected officialsas well aswrite a letter to the editorof your local paper!

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today we celebrate the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr. Speak out about things that matter. Take action with the League of Women Voters. Happy MLK Day!
Senate Passes Rules on Considering Legislation
The Texas Senate on Wednesday approved a fundamental alteration of its rules, lowering to 18 the threshold of support needed to bring a bill to the floor. This is the number of Republican senators now in the Senate, and it means they don’t need to work with any Democrats to bring up legislation. As late as 2015 the Senate had a two/thirds rule, which required 21 members and ensured some Democratic support.
Redistricting Rules Are Set by the Legislature
Stephanie Swanson, Redistricting Issue Chair

Shortly after gaveling in for the 87th Legislative Session, the Texas House and Senate adopted procedural rules for their respective chambers. The last decade of redistricting litigation was very contentious and resulted in findings of intentional racial discrimination and constitutional violations. The League of Women Voters of Texas was hopeful that the House and Senate would adopt rules that would allow a "fair and open" redistricting process to occur, just as a federal judge had called for. Unfortunately, it appears that they have adopted rules that are nearly identical to the ones used in 2011 that resulted in discriminatory maps being passed.Read more.
Your Texas League in the News

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Upcoming Events & Calendar
Texans for National Popular Vote Town Hall
Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, 1 – 2 PM Central Time

Co-hosted by LWVTX, the webinar is an introduction to the National Popular Vote in Texas, the states-driven initiative to ensure that every vote in every state counts in every presidential election. Speaker: Eileen Reavey,National Popular Vote’s, National Grassroots Director
Register Here.For those who cannot attend, the National Popular Vote organization is video taping this webinar.
Race and the Death Penalty
Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, 11:30 AM – 1 PM Central Time

Cosponsored by LWVTX, the purpose of the conference is to highlight the inherent systemic injustices within the application of the death penalty, and how race is a key factor in determining executions.Panelists will outline how race determines who will live or die and why this practice is irrevocably flawed and must be abolished in Texas and the United States.

Keynote Speaker: Sister Helen Prejean
Panelists: Megan Rollag, Executive Director of Racial Justice Coalition; Dr. Rick Halperin, Director, SMU Human Rights Program; Mr. Roderick Reed, brother of death row inmate Rodney Reed.
LWVTX Lobby Day
Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, 10 AM - 1 PM Central Time

Voting Rights & Redistricting - a National Perspective
Michael Liserves as Senior Counsel for the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program, where his work focuses on redistricting, voting rights, and elections.

Voting Rights & Redistricting -Impact on Communities of Color in Texas
Dr. Victoria M. Defrancesco Sotois Assistant Deanfor Civic Engagement atthe LBJ School of Public Affairs and a political analyst for NBC News and Telemundo.Her areas of expertise in the domestic policy landscape include immigration, Latinos, women and childcare, and economic equity.

You Can Take Action at the Texas Capitol
League Issue Chairs,Stephanie SwansonandCinde Weatherbywill address messaging, contacting legislators, taking action on Redistricting and Voting & Election Laws legislation.
LWVTX Vice President of AdvocacyJanet Imhoffwill highlight how Leagues take action.

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