NORTH TEXAS (CBSNewsTexas.com) — A fourth special session looks more likely now that it has become clear that Gov. Greg Abbott’s taxpayer-funded education savings accounts for students who will attend private school will not pass during the third special session. Longtime Rep. Kay Granger of Fort Worth has announced she will not seek re-election next year. Plus, Jack Fink talks one-on-one with Democratic Sen. Colin Allred about his bid to unseat Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.
Jack covers these stories and more in this week’s edition of Eye on Politics (original air date: November 2).
Each week, CBS News Texas political reporter Jack Fink breaks down some of the biggest political stories making headlines in North Texas and beyond. Watch the latest episode of Eye on Politics in the video player above and stream new episodes live every Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m. on CBS News Texas.
Governor Abbott is likely to call the fourth special session
Gov. Greg Abbott will likely call Texas lawmakers back for a fourth special session. This week it became clear that his push for school choice, or school vouchers, will not pass the House before the end of the third special session.
Earlier in the week, there was a major U-turn from Abbott when he agreed to expand the special session agenda to include boosting public school funding and teacher raises in an effort to pass the school choice agenda in the House. House Republicans joined Democrats in opposing such a program.
On Wednesday morning, the governor said he did not believe there would be a need for another special session:
“There’s plenty of time to get everything done that we want to get done,” he said at an economic development event.
But his comments surprised some Republican lawmakers because none of the school or funding bills have been considered by a committee in the House.
Following Abbott’s remarks, Lt. Gen. Dan Patrick posted a statement on social media platform X, saying he agreed with Abbott “only if the House signs off on the proposed language in SB1, school choice, and SB2, teacher pay raises.” He went on to say that there is no time to start over with a new House bill.
I agree with @GovAbbott that there is still time, but only if the House signs off on its proposed language in SB1, School Choice, and SB2, Teacher Pay Raises. We took both the SB1 and SB2 to the House 3 weeks ago and they’ve been sitting there all this time with no movement. With… https://t.co/ce3eu8H1Ev
— Office of Lt. Governor Dan Patrick (@LtGovTX) November 1, 2023
The House is quiet, which means House Speaker Dade Phelan can call lawmakers back at any time. No word yet on when the governor might call a fourth special session.
End of an era for MP Kay Granger
After serving more than 25 years in Congress, Kay Granger announced this week that she will not seek re-election next year.
In a statement Wednesday morning, Granger said serving her community has been her greatest honor and that she is encouraged by the next generation of leaders in her district:
“It’s time for the next generation to step up and take up the mantle and be a strong and tough representative of the people.”
Granger served as several firsts: the first woman to become mayor of Fort Worth when she was elected in 1991. the first Republican woman to be elected in Texas, which was held in 1996, and the first woman in the Republican Party to chair the powerful Appropriations Committee of Parliament, which happened last year.
Watch the video below to learn more about the potential candidates to succeed her:
One on one with MP Colin Allred
This week, Jack spoke with Democratic Sen. Colin Allred of North Texas, who is hoping to unseat Republican incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz.
Along with questions about why he’s running for Senate, Jack asked Allred about the Israel-Hamas war and southern border security.
Watch the full interview below:
Other political titles
- The Texas Senate passed a bill barring private employers from requiring workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 this week. Once it becomes law, companies that violate SB7 could be fined up to $50,000. The bill now heads to the governor’s office.
- Federal judge blocks Biden administration from removing any razor wire settled by Texas — at least for now. The move prevents federal agents from removing the razor until a preliminary injunction hearing is held.
- We’ve learned that an international hacker group has targeted Dallas County in a cyber attack. This group is threatening to release sensitive information it claims it stole from the county’s computer system unless the county pays ransom until Friday.
- After years of delays, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will trial on charges of government securities fraud on April 15. Harris County Judge Andrea Beal announced the court date during a hearing Monday morning. It came eight years after Paxton was first indicted on the charges by a Collin County grand jury. Paxton pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree securities fraud and a third-degree count of failure to register with the state securities board.
- Donald Trump was in Texas this week. The former president and current presidential candidate was in Dallas on Wednesday, headlining a fundraiser. On Thursday, he stopped in Houston for a campaign event at an engineering firm. According to two recent polls, he leads the other candidates by more than 40 percentage points.