(C) Texas Tribune This story was originally published by Texas Tribune and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . The Blast: Oliverson’s moment of influence over the House [1] [] Date: 2024-06 Jun 12, 2024 | View in browser By Renzo Downey and The Texas Tribune Politics Team 15 days until the first presidential debate NEXT STEPS FOR THE HOUSE GOP CAUCUS As reported yesterday, the Texas House Republican Caucus executive committee has unanimously censored four of its most outspoken members for campaigning against incumbents during this primary cycle. The caucus says the matter is closed and shut, and they look to move on. By censoring Reps. Brian Harrison of Midlothian, Nate Schatzline of Fort Worth, Tony Tinderholt of Arlington and Steve Toth of The Woodlands, caucus leadership gave them a relative slap on the wrist for the offense. The committee passed up recommending fines, suspensions and expulsions. “There were certainly punishments that would have been more severe and, while we believe your actions warrant those, we recognize it is in the best interest of the Caucus to come together and move past your efforts to divide us,” the committee wrote in letters to the four. The letters also invited them to “set aside your grievances” to join the caucus in passing conservative policies next session. By settling on censorship, the executive committee avoids putting a suspension or expulsion vote before the full caucus, protecting members from a potentially unsavory vote and the inevitable conservative backlash that would have followed. In Toth’s case, it was his second offense. Despite claims that have been floating around social media, the punishment this time is more severe. In 2022, the executive committee recommended suspending three of four members whom they had investigated. However, the full caucus did not reach the two-thirds vote threshold to suspend the members. No fines were attached, and the caucus and executive committee did not censor those members, so they effectively got off scot-free. The executive committee is made up of Chair Tom Oliverson of Cypress, Vice Chair Lacey Hull of Houston, Treasurer Shelby Slawson of Stephenville, Secretary Jacey Jetton of Richmond and Policy Chair Jared Patterson of Frisco. Hull and Patterson are viewed as loyalists to House Speaker Dade Phelan. Jetton was a rising star in the caucus but lost his primary to Matt Morgan, who was backed by some of the feisty four. Oliverson and Slawson are both challenging Phelan for the speakership, which could have factored into their calculus for how to punish the four, although Oliverson says it did not. This is the type of situation that some members hoped to avoid earlier in the year when Oliverson — no longer a Phelan loyalist — ascended to the caucus chairmanship. That followed Chair Craig Goldman’s decision to step down and focus on his congressional bid. Now, Oliverson is wielding influence over the halls of the House. As a refresher, the Texas House Republican Caucus bylaws prevent prohibit members from campaigning for or financially supporting the opponent of another member. The caucus bylaws aren’t set in stone from cycle to cycle. Notably, Tinderholt served on the working group that drafted the rule in 2019. Last cycle, Goldman appointed Rep. Briscoe Cain of Deer Park to lead a committee to evaluate caucus bylaws ahead of the 2023 session. Part of Oliverson’s plan for moving on seems to include altering the incumbent-on-incumbent truce. Yesterday, he posted on social media that he’s heard from a lot of members who want to revise or eliminate the rule, and he expanded on that today. “I don’t like this rule, and I promise that the caucus will discuss changing or eliminating it in October at our retreat,” Oliverson wrote on the platform formerly known as Twitter. “But it is the rule right now and I can’t ignore it even though I’d like to.” The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one. HIDDEN AD “WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR A NEW LAW” FOR ADDED BALLOT SECURITY The state of our ballot secrecy is good enough for now. The Texas House Elections Committee met this morning to learn what elections officials have done to patch a recently illuminated vulnerability to ballot secrecy and what is left to fix the problem. Last week, Christina Adkins, director of the Secretary of State’s elections division, issued emergency guidance telling county officials to redact additional voting information from public records requests because “personally identifiable information” is more expansive than previously thought. That followed a Current Revolt story last month that featured a photo of what they claim is former Republican Party of Texas Chair Matt Rinaldi’s ballot. The Texas Tribune confirmed it was possible to track down a person’s ballot in certain instances. That particular vulnerability revolves around the amount of data points the state and counties made public about voters. By cross-referencing a voter’s precinct with the location where they cast their ballot, it’s possible for someone to isolate a voter’s ballot in low-turnout precincts. “In limited circumstances, through publicly available records, you may be able to identify a specific person’s ballot,” Adkins noted in committee. The emergency fix, which Adkins called a “short-term solution,” will be a good enough solution in most cases. However, low voting precincts, like precincts with 10 or so voters, will always have vulnerabilities under current law. Adkins testified that the Secretary of State has looked at everything they can to protect such locations. Adkins and the committee addressed solutions, including drawing precincts so there are enough voters per precinct, roughly 20, to shroud individuals’ information. Another solutions would be grouping precincts with a small number of voters into aggregate precincts for ballot data reporting purposes. Those solutions could address the vulnerability on the front end, before it reaches the point where officials would need to redact information. “We have to wait for a new law,” Adkins said. “Our office does not have the authority.” The other potential vulnerability is a purported algorithm that can crack the random and encrypted ballot number to tie voters to any ballot, regardless of turnout. Adkins said the Secretary of State has been trying to get their hands on the supposed algorithm, but they’re locked in a lawsuit with the individuals who claim to have it. “If this algorithm does what it purports to do, what these individuals say that it does, we actually have authority … we could address this,” Adkins said. “Our hands are tied till we can see it.” The push for election transparency started around the 2020 election, she told the committee, when former President Donald Trump cast doubt on the outcome of the election he lost. The committee also heard from voting system manufacturers, who said their systems are safe and that there are safeguards to isolate ballot records from timestamps and other data that could tie a ballot to a voter. At this point, members of the committee and officials in the room seemed doubtful of claims that an algorithm has broken ballot secrecy wide open. State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, drilled Election Systems and Software official Chris Wlaschin on why someone would potentially lie about the algorithm. “I have a personal opinion on that, sir. I think that this group’s agenda, they don’t like vote centers or countywide voting. Some of these groups don’t like technology between a voter and their ballot, and they want hand marked, hand counted, paper ballots,” Wlaschin said. “That’s the only reason I can imagine why somebody would pursue this line questioning the validity of the security of the technology.” GEORGE H.W. BUSH CENTENNIAL GAME During tonight’s Congressional Baseball Game, lawmakers honor the late President George H.W. Bush on what would have been his 100th birthday. Texas members of the Republican roster for tonight’s 91st annual game put together a video to celebrate President 41. The video aired during the pregame show and includes all five Texas Republicans playing in the game. “We know you loved baseball, and it’s a special day for all of us to celebrate you and to celebrate this great nation,” says U.S. Rep. August Pfluger, R-San Angelo. Bush played in the game when he was a congressman from 1967-71. “He was the ‘baseball president,’” says Republican team coach U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Willow Park. “He played in this congressional game, and he’s part of the legend of it.” “Nobody represents Texas better than he did. Nobody represents America better than he did,” added U.S. Rep. Jake Ellzey, R-Waxahachie. The video begins with Bush’s grandson and former Land Commissioner George P. Bush in the batting cage (TIL George P., a former Rice University Owls Baseball walk-on, bats lefty). Both chambers of Congress have also adopted resolutions honoring Bush. Pfluger carried the resolution in the House while U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, carried it in the Senate, with support from U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and others. The resolution recognizes the Bush family’s move to West Texas in 1948 (Odessa, then Midland) and his rise to the nation’s highest office, beginning with his election as chair of the Harris County Republican Party in 1963. The resolution touts Bush’s legislative achievements, like signing the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Clean Air Act, and his international affairs achievements, overseeing the Gulf War and the start of the post-Soviet world. Plus, it honors his career as a Navy pilot during World War II, including when he escaped capture — and execution — on Chichijima in the Pacific. It also gives credence to Williams’ “baseball president” claim. It mentions that Bush captained the Yale baseball team, despite graduating in two and a half years, and that he played in the first two College World Series. As vice president, Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitches at the 1981, 1986 and 1988 Major League Baseball All-Star games, including at the Astrodome in 1986. As president, he threw the Opening Day first pitches each of his four years, including in Toronto in 1990. He is also the most recent president to have thrown a first pitch as president during the regular season, having done so three times. Bush, who died in 2018 at the age of 94, threw at least 13 ceremonial first pitches in his lifetime, at least two more than FDR despite only being elected to one term to FDR’s four. Only his son, George W. Bush, has thrown more ceremonial first pitches in his lifetime. W. also pitched perhaps the most famous ceremonial first pitch, a strike to Yankees catcher Todd Greene to start Game 3 of the 2001 World Series, less than two months after the Sept. 11 attacks. This year’s Congressional Baseball Game roster includes U.S. Rep. Greg Casar of Austin with the Democrats, and Ellzey, Pfluger, and U.S. Reps. Morgan Luttrell of Willis, Nathaniel Moran of Tyler and Pete Sessions of Waco. The game began at 6 p.m. central time. At publication time, Republicans lead 4-0 in the bottom of the first inning. 3 more big reasons to join us for TribFest Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming; U.S. Sen. Jon Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania; and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will take the stage at Just in: Former U.S. Rep., R-Wyoming; U.S. Sen., D-Pennsylvania; and Oklahoma Gov.will take the stage at The Texas Tribune Festival , Sept. 5–7 in downtown Austin. Hear their insights into the 2024 elections, the workings of Congress, politics and policy challenges across the U.S., and so much more. Look for the Executive Ticket package, which includes premium seating at the opening and closing keynotes, access to the Executive Lounge and a luncheon with other insiders like you, exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities, priority entry at designated venues and more. Buy tickets HIDDEN IMAGE The Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee will meet at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Preserving Texas history Minimizing damage from federal policies on LNG exports, supply chain, net-zero carbon and other air emission provisions Examining local option hotel occupancy taxes View the list of upcoming meeting notices here and here. HIDDEN IMAGE University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell announced today that the university will require most staff to return to the office full-time beginning in the fall semester, with some exceptions for administrative-type work. “We are here because of our students, and your consistent presence will help provide a more complete and engaging learning experience for students throughout campus,” Hartzell wrote. HIDDEN IMAGE D.C.-based PR and marketing firm Touchdown Strategies has acquired Austin-based strategic content agency YSPK. YSPK’s founder and creative director, Joel Walker, is joining Touchdown Strategies as senior vice president of the firm’s new digital and creative services team. The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one. HIDDEN AD HIDDEN IMAGE We don’t normally give someone repeat tweets, but this Tyler Norris find is too good to pass up: HIDDEN IMAGE HIDDEN IMAGE (June 13) State Rep. Carl Sherman, D-DeSoto SPONSOR MESSAGES UT Arlington to hire 100 new tenure-stream faculty over the next five years through its RISE100 investment. Texas Mutual has contributed over $4 billion and counting to strengthen the Texas economy. NEW from UT Press: Chuco Punk: Sonic Insurgency in El Paso by Tara López dives into the rebellious sonic history of the city, drawing on more than seventy interviews with punks. [END] --- [1] Url: https://mailchi.mp/texastribune/the-blast-oliversons-moment-of-influence-over-the-house Published and (C) by Texas Tribune Content appears here under this condition or license: Used with Permission: https://www.texastribune.org/republishing-guidelines/. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/texastribune/