(C) Texas Tribune This story was originally published by Texas Tribune and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . The Blast: Ten Commandments over Texas? [1] [] Date: 2024-06 Jun 21, 2024 | View in browser Renzo Downey is out until Thursday. This edition of The Blast is brought to you by Isaac Yu and the rest of the Tribune politics team. 6 days until the first presidential debate THOU SHALT DISPLAY THE 10 COMMANDMENTS A new law in Louisiana mandating the display of Ten Commandments in public classrooms is now the envy of some on this side of the Sabine River. The legislation, signed by the Louisiana governor on Wednesday, requires the biblical edicts be posted in “large, easily readable font” in all publicly funded classrooms, from kindergarten to college lecture halls. The bill's conservative proponents are already anticipating challenges, prompting Gov. Jeff Landry to declare: “I can't wait to be sued.” Meanwhile, some Republicans in Texas lament that their neighbors passed the law first, after a similar bill died in Austin during the last legislative session. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick vowed on social media that the state Senate, which he oversees, would once again pass a Ten Commandments mandate in 2025. “Texas WOULD have been and SHOULD have been the first state in the nation to put the 10 Commandments back in our schools,” Patrick wrote on the platform formerly known as Twitter. The Texas version of the legislation, Senate Bill 1515, passed in the Senate last year but did not receive a vote in the House. Democrats in both chambers fiercely opposed the idea, saying it would be an insult to non-Christian Texans and erode the separation of church and state. There are a few differences: the Texas bill only applied to K-12 schools, not colleges. And Louisiana's law requires posters no smaller than 11 by 14 inches. As is often the case, Texas wanted bigger: SB 1515 would have required the posters be at least 16 by 20 inches. With Patrick's vow, the Ten Commandments appear highly likely to re-emerge as a flashpoint in Austin as the GOP continues to push for laws that infuse Christian nationalism into public education. Patrick also took a shot at Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, saying the bill had been “killed” by Phelan. The embattled speaker barely survived his primary last month against a challenger backed by Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Donald Trump. Asked whether he'd support the legislation in the coming session, Phelan deferred to the will of the body. “It has been Speaker Phelan's practice for the membership of the Texas House to drive the agenda of the chamber,” said Kim Carmichael, Phelan's press secretary. “Next session, Speaker Phelan looks forward to working with all House members to set the agenda for a successful 89th Legislative Session.” — Isaac Yu and Jaden Edison The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one. HIDDEN AD PRIORITY FOR A WOULD-BE SPEAKER Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, said on social media Thursday that he would prioritize legislation to end “taxpayer-funded lobbying” if he was elected House speaker. “Sounds like a Speaker priority to me,” he wrote on the platform formerly known as Twitter in response to a post by Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, saying he wanted to end the practice next session. The right wing of the Texas GOP has long sought to end the practice of cities and counties paying lobbyists and firms to advocate for their causes at the Capitol. Opponents say municipal money should be spent on municipal government, not lining the pockets of lobbyists. But city and county leaders say employing professionals who know the Capitol helps their municipalities advocate for legislation they need and to fight against bills that would be bad for their residents. The practice also saves far-flung municipal officials money that would otherwise go toward traveling hundreds of miles to the Capitol and staying in hotels. The issue was a hot-button item in 2019 and 2021 but did not gain much attention in the last legislative session. The Senate has consistently passed bills to end the practice, but those efforts have stalled in the House. Oliverson, who hopes to wrest the speaker's gavel from current Speaker Dade Phelan, is using this announcement to make a play for members of the GOP Caucus who would want to see the practice ended. Oliverson has promised to run a more conservative chamber and to bar Democrats from leading committees in a GOP-dominated chamber. This would draw a stark contrast from Phelan, who has continued the long-standing tradition that members of both parties can chair committees. — James Barragán DE LA CRUZ’S EYEBROW-RAISING EARMARKS South Texas Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg, directed over $2 million in federal funds to an organization dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence. But the owner of the organization, Della Fay Perez, was arrested for stealing half a million dollars from the victims of a Ponzi scheme, Politico reported Thursday. The theft was unrelated to De La Cruz’s work, and the congresswoman wasn’t implicated in the scheme. But Democrats are leaping on Perez’s past support for De La Cruz’s campaign. Perez has appeared at campaign and official events for the congresswoman, including the opening of her district office last year. She also gave De La Cruz over $2,000, according to Politico. “As we say in the Valley, ‘Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.’ By showing us who she’s friends with, Monica is showing us what she values, and it's not us, the people of South Texas," said Michelle Vallejo, the Democrat challenging De La Cruz in the race. De La Cruz told Politico the organization was properly vetted by the House and that she was “surprised” by the allegations against Perez. Perez stepped down from leading the group last month. “I look forward to continuing to see Angels of Love help victims of abuse overcome adversity,” De La Cruz’s statement continued. De La Cruz and Vallejo are facing off in the most competitive congressional district in Texas. The pair competed for the seat last cycle, with Republicans and Democrats pouring millions into the race. — Matthew Choi HARRISON CALLS FOR HOSPITAL HEARING Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, on Wednesday asked the Legislature to investigate Texas Children's Hospital and the Biden administration over transgender care. Harrison's request came after a nurse at Texas Children's Hospital said the hospital had billed gender transitioning care to the federal health insurance program Medicaid. She later posted video footage alleging that she was visited by several FBI special agents. Texas law prohibits taxpayer funds from being used to pay for such care for children. The nurse claimed that the FBI agents “promised they would make life difficult” for her, according to the New York Post. Harrison said the Legislature should immediately intervene. “The Texas House must not sit idly by as the lawless Biden Administration potentially aids and abets CHILD ABUSE and MEDICAID FRAUD at Texas Children's Hospital by prosecuting whistleblowers,” Harrison said in a statement. “I am formally asking Speaker [Dade] Phelan to order an emergency interim hearing and launch an investigation - with subpoenas - into federal officials and hospital leadership.” — Zach Despart CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP TX-SEN: A good week for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz: the latest poll shows him leading U.S. Rep. Colin Allred by double digits. Cruz's super PAC also picked up a $1 million donation from billionaire casino tycoon and Dallas Mavericks owner Miriam Adelson. The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one. HIDDEN AD HIDDEN IMAGE U.S. Rep. and Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul , R-Austin, led a delegation of five other reps to India this week, meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Dalai Lama . Modi called it “a very good exchange of views.” U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, brought Asst. Labor Secretary for OSHA Doug Parker to Austin for a town hall with Texas workers to talk extreme heat. Casar launched a “thirst strike” last year to bring attention to the issue. HIDDEN IMAGE Rep. Colin Allred will mark the two year-anniversary of the Dobbs decision with former State Sen. Wendy Davis and others at a press conference next Monday at 3pm at the Austin Women’s Health Center. TribFest comes to Congress Avenue for a street fest. Join us at Open Congress on Saturday, Sept. 7. Open Congress brings TribFest to downtown Austin’s iconic Congress Avenue for a one-of-a-kind street fest. Enjoy must-see interviews, stellar programming, exciting interactive experiences from Festival partners and more. Open Congress is free and open to the public — no Festival ticket required! RSVP to join us. The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one. HIDDEN AD HIDDEN IMAGE A rather colorful depiction of State Rep. John Kuempel's (R-Seguin) loss in last month's primary runoff elections. HIDDEN IMAGE HIDDEN IMAGE (June 22) State Rep. Keith Bell, R-Forney (June 22) State Rep. DeWayne Burns, R-Cleburne SPONSOR MESSAGES Available now from UT Press: Home, Heat, Money, God by Kathryn E. O'Rourke and Ben Koush is a thematically focused analysis of modern architecture throughout Texas with gorgeous photographs. TxANA is the statewide association of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, advancing patient safety and the profession of nurse anesthesia across Texas and at the Capitol. Get to know our work at txana.org. Texas State Technical College has Texas covered. With ten campuses across the state, students can learn the skills necessary to start a great new career. Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute's vision is for Texas to be the national leader in treating all people with mental health needs. 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