Daily Dispatch 11/2/23: Abbott's Voucher Deal With House AWOL, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: That monumental deal on school vouchers announced a couple of days ago by Governor Greg Abbott has thus far failed to materialize at the Capitol: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/01/texas-house-dade-phelan-school-vouchers-greg-abbott/ While a timely op-ed by D/FW spiritual leaders gives even more insight on why vouchers are a bad idea for Texas: https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/other-voices/article281275983.html#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16989219205135&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.star-telegram.com%2Fopinion%2Fopn-columns-blogs%2Fother-voices%2Farticle281275983.html ...However, harsh anti-immigrant legislation is alive and well, and moving towards Abbott's desk: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/11/01/texas-senate-panel-oks-bill-creating-penalties-for-illegal-immigration/71409977007/ What's that smell? Donald Trump is back in Texas today: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2023/11/01/468393/trump-shows-solid-polling-lead-in-texas-ahead-of-his-latest-visit/ John Cornyn makes a dumb joke - and offends Native Americans across the country: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/cornyn-native-american-comment-18459825.php ...Which reminds me - it's Native American Heritage Month! https://progresstexas.org/nahm-celebrations-across-texas-2023 ERCOT plans protocol changes that will make it MORE likely that rolling blackouts will be implemented in emergency power demand situations: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-01/texas-grid-will-make-triggering-power-emergencies-easier The top official in Loving County, the least-populated county in Texas, faces criminal charges for cattle rustling: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/texas-county-judge-skeet-jones-suspended-cattle-18462750.php And congrats to the Texas Rangers, who broke a league-leading streak of NOT winning the World Series last night: https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/mlb/rangers/texas-rangers-world-series-parade-when-where-details/287-f2de72ec-322f-47df-9d6d-83edb3f5dbf4 Thanks for listening! Don't forget to VOTE - find out handy voting guide and consider supporting our work at https://progresstexas.org/.