Daily Dispatch 1/14/24: Welcome To The Jungle! 89th Texas Legislature Opens Today, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: The 89th Texas Legislature opens today! First act in a likely long and dramatic drama: the selection of a House Speaker, which may not go the way anyone thinks: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2025/01/13/jason-villalba-the-texas-speaker-race-can-still-usher-a-surprise/ ...Ken Paxton, in his zeal to unify Republicans in support of Mansfield Rep. David Cook, ironically supports a lawmaker who supported Paxton's impeachment in 2023: https://www.kvue.com/video/news/politics/texas-legislature/texas-ag-ken-paxton-in-leander-to-support-david-cook-for-texas-house-speaker/269-19634f2b-2da5-4708-be82-e5b92157cfe5 Even the wonkiest of wonks might need a little refresher as the notoriously arcane Texas lawmaking process commences: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/13/texas-legislature-2025-bills-laws-how-works/ Will Texas expand Medicaid this session? Even that idea's staunchest backers don't think so: https://www.keranews.org/health-wellness/2025-01-07/texas-medicaid-expansion-legislature-republicans-outlook Will Texas enact a private school voucher program? That idea's opponents appear to be more united than its proponents: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/school-vouchers-texas-abbott-20024641.php Will Texas take significant steps to protect the environment? Enviroment Texas' Luke Metzger sure hopes so: https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2025/01/10/texas-legislature-issues-investing-in-clean-energy-combating-plastic-pollution/ Will Texas legalize online sports betting? Lt. Governor Dan Patrick seems uninterested, but is certainly not immune from the influence of billionaires: https://www.lonestarlive.com/life/2025/01/dan-patrick-stands-in-way-of-texas-legalizing-online-sports-betting-despite-growing-support.html Loads more to follow - see our Advocacy Department's preview: https://progresstexas.org/preview-2025-texas-maga-legislative-session ...And our series of interviews with Democratic lawmakers: https://progresstexas.org/blog/texas-legislative-preview-series-progress-texas-podcast The merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Grab your goodies at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.