(C) Texas Tribune This story was originally published by Texas Tribune and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . The Blast: A year in the Lege, now a year in the courts [1] [] Date: 2023-12 Dec 18, 2023 | View in browser By Renzo Downey and The Texas Tribune Politics Team 78 days until the primary election The Blast will have two more editions before the New Year — a 2023 retrospective on Wednesday and a look ahead to 2024 the following Wednesday. Look for The Blast to return to its regular schedule beginning Jan. 3, 2024. CUE THE LAWSUITS Gov. Greg Abbott has finally signed his illegal entry bill, and now the legal challenges can begin. Abbott signed Senate Bill 4 and other border policy measures in Brownsville today, finally capping off the long legislative year. During his news conference, Abbott took aim at Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, accusing Mexico, under his leadership, of fast-tracking migrants to Texas and subjecting them to torture, rape, assault and death. At the federal level, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, led Texas Congressional Democrats and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland asking him to sue Texas over SB 4. In the letter, Castro and Democrats, minus U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Laredo, called it an unconstitutional attempt to engage in federal immigration enforcement and reminiscent of “Operation Wetback” from the 1950s. Asked about the constitutionality of SB 4, Abbott encouraged a challenge. He argued SB 4 was written in a way that gets around the 2010 Arizona v. United States case in which the Supreme Court ruled states could not enforce immigration laws. “That said, it does open up the possibility for the Supreme Court to reconsider the Arizona case remembering that Justice Scalia wrote a dissenting opinion in that case pretty much laying out a pathway that he thought would be a legal way for a state to go about the process of enforcing immigration laws,” Abbott said. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, key lawmakers and some of the governor’s key personnel joined Abbott for the news conference. Notably, House Speaker Dade Phelan was not present. Instead, Phelan attended a previously scheduled event in Southeast Texas to tout $66 million in appropriations for ports in his district. Not that it has something to do with Phelan’s decision to skip the Brownsville presser, but Patrick and Phelan were beefing today over the audit Patrick demanded following the impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Patrick accused Phelan of breaking the law by not complying with the audit, and the speaker’s press secretary said in a statement that the House has already made its expenses public and that Patrick cannot unilaterally order a redundant audit. “It is highly inappropriate for a singular government official to use the State Auditor’s Office for his own political agenda and order independent agencies to do as he pleases, completely disregarding the appropriate legal processes,” press secretary Kim Carmichael said. Replied Patrick: “Speaker Phelan’s response only makes Texans more suspicious of what he’s hiding.” The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one. HIDDEN AD PHELAN GOES TO BAT FOR BURNS In a sign that House Speaker Dade Phelan has the backs of the members of his Republican caucus, even the anti-voucher members, the speaker is set to help fundraise for anti-voucher state Rep. DeWayne Burns next month. Phelan isn’t the hottest name right now in Texas Republican politics. Attorney General Ken Paxton is targeting Phelan for the House’s decision to investigate and impeach him earlier this year and has even backed one of Phelan’s district challengers. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has called on Phelan to resign, accusing him of failed and dysfunctional leadership. Some of the most conservative — and most vocal — members of the House Republican caucus similarly want him gone. With so much heat on Phelan, some embattled members may not want Phelan’s open support this cycle. Yet, Phelan will be the special guest at Burns’ fundraiser at The Austin Club on Jan. 16, a sign that he will still try to protect members of his flock who have crossed Gov. Greg Abbott. Burns was one of the last anti-voucher Republicans to pick up a primary challenger, but he now has two, Helen Kerwin and Lyndon Laird. So far, neither Abbott nor Paxton have endorsed either of Burns’ challengers, but there’s plenty of time for that to change. MORE ON THE NDAA AND WHAT’S NEXT After Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act last week, The Blast briefly reviewed the wins from U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, the Austin Republican and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, who is a key player on the NDAA. Let’s also take a look at what another key NDAA player from Texas, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, secured in the bill. The bill includes a 5.2% pay raise for troops and $230 million for military construction projects in Texas. It also includes a fast track for presidential permits to construct four international bridges between Texas and Mexico in Brownsville, Laredo and Eagle Pass. Four of Cornyn's bills made it into the final NDAA: the Sensible Classification Act; the Securing American Acquisitions, Readiness, and Military Stockpiles (ARMS) Act; the Cranes of Concern at our Ports (CCP) Act; and the Airport Infrastructure Resources (AIR) Security Act. Sensible Classification Act : Will increase oversight on security classifications for sensitive information and intelligence Will increase oversight on security classifications for sensitive information and intelligence Securing American ARMS Act : Will allow the Department of Defense to quickly restock its supplies after providing aid to an ally that is attacked Will allow the Department of Defense to quickly restock its supplies after providing aid to an ally that is attacked CCP Act : Will ask the government to evaluate threats posed by cranes manufactured abroad, particularly those made by China’s Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company Will ask the government to evaluate threats posed by cranes manufactured abroad, particularly those made by China’s Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company AIR Security Act: Will prohibit federal dollars from being used to purchase jetways manufactured by companies that threaten American national security “We live in a dangerous world, and maintaining our paramount strength and the deterrence that flows from that is absolutely imperative,” Cornyn said in a statement. “The NDAA will support our troops, strengthen our military readiness, and implement a raft of reforms to strengthen national security.” Cornyn and McCaul have steadfastly supported aid for Ukraine and Israel. But Congress and the White House are still hammering out Ukraine funding after Republicans, including Cornyn and McCaul, insist negotiators pair that funding with border security legislation. The Ukraine-border debate is the current deadlock in Congress. Speaking on Fox News Sunday yesterday, Cornyn called on negotiators to enact policies that will “stem the flow of mass migration across the border.” “Senator Schumer thinks there is going to be a deal cut behind closed doors and jam it through the Senate and then jam the House,” Cornyn said. “That’s not going to happen.” The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one. HIDDEN AD campaign roundup Presidential: State Sen. Brandon Creighton endorsed former President Donald Trump today. The Conroe Republican had traveled to Tallahassee last December to meet with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ to discuss school voucher legislation and had helped host DeSantis fundraising events in Texas. “I stand with Donald Trump because he stands with Texas,” Creighton said in a statement. HD-97: Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare endorsed Cheryl Bean in the three-way primary to replace state Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth. Bean is endorsed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. HIDDEN IMAGE Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will appear before a Travis County district court Wednesday at 2 p.m. for a court date in the whistleblower lawsuit. HIDDEN IMAGE Gov. Greg Abbott appointed State Board of Education member Aaron Kinsey as the new board chair, succeeding member Keven Ellis in a two-year term. “Dr. Ellis’ steadfast commitment to public education helped us build opportunities to ensure a brighter future for all Texas children, and I thank him for his service to our state,” Abbott said in a statement. “Aaron Kinsey’s previous service in the Air Force and depth of experience as a business leader will be a boon to the SBOE as he assumes this important role.” appointed State Board of Education member as the new board chair, succeeding member in a two-year term. “Dr. Ellis’ steadfast commitment to public education helped us build opportunities to ensure a brighter future for all Texas children, and I thank him for his service to our state,” Abbott said in a statement. “Aaron Kinsey’s previous service in the Air Force and depth of experience as a business leader will be a boon to the SBOE as he assumes this important role.” Abbott appointed Cody Huggins of Georgetown, a principal at Scout Ventures, to the Credit Union Commission for a term set to expire in February 2027. The governor also appointed former Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames and reappointed Karyn C. Brownlee of Coppell and Texas Trust Credit Union president and CEO Jim Minge , each to terms set to expire in February 2029. of Georgetown, a principal at Scout Ventures, to the Credit Union Commission for a term set to expire in February 2027. The governor also appointed former Beaumont Mayor and reappointed of Coppell and Texas Trust Credit Union president and CEO , each to terms set to expire in February 2029. The governor appointed Robert Moreno of El Paso to the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors for a term set to expire in September 2029. He also reappointed Ademola “Peter” Adejokun of Arlington and Kiran Shah of Richmond to equivalent terms. The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one. HIDDEN AD HIDDEN IMAGE Dallas Morning News reporter Aarón Torres was on the scene in Brownsville for Gov. Greg Abbott’s news conference: HIDDEN IMAGE HIDDEN IMAGE (Dec. 18) Former state Sen. Don Adams, D-Jasper (Dec. 19) U.S. Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Sherman SPONSOR MESSAGES The Beer Alliance of Texas - Texas Beer Distributors contribute $34 billion in total economic impact value for the Texas beer industry. Austin Community Foundation mobilizes ideas and resources to strengthen Central Texas. Learn more at austincf.org/giveback. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas understands what it means to be a partner from the beginning, elevating together the way we manage and improve our health to fulfill our oldest promise: to be forever by your side, rising together, through it all. Bcbstx.com Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute's vision is for Texas to be the national leader in treating all people with mental health needs. or unsubscribe from ALL Tribune emails. 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