EPISODE 21 - Drunk (recent) history: 86th TX lege edition | We learn why "vote blue no matter who" is B.S. | Max Lars, Chief of Staff for the TX House Dem "Freshman of the Year "
We drinking game-ify our wrap-up of the 86th TX lege, so pour yourself a local craft beer (that you can now take home from the brewery, thanks to one of our highly fuck-able bills!) and join us. Plus, we get to talk with Max Lars, one of the 13 African American chiefs of staff who served in this legislative session -- the most in Texas history. Oh, and? He was the one running the office of the Texas House Democratic Caucus's "Freshman of the Year," John Bucy. *Fire emoji* Plus, we learn how to help sexual assault survivors get justice and avoid rioting in the streets.
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THIS WEEK’S GUEST:
Max Lars, Chief of Staff for Texas State Representative John Bucy, III (TX House District 136: Leander/Cedar Park)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertMLars
Awesome photos of the 13 African American chiefs of staff who served in the 86th Texas legislature: https://www.facebook.com/tamoria.jones/posts/10102117933886044
SH*T TO DO:
Join the campaign for sexual assault systems reform: https://webelieveatx.org/add-your-voice
Find your city council district (if you're in Austin): http://www.austintexas.gov/page/city-council-district-map
Texas Association Against Sexual Assault: http://taasa.org/
These Rape Victims Had to Sue to Get the Police to Investigate: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/23/us/rape-victims-kits-police-departments.html
Painful Splits Along the Way to Stopping Sexual Assault in and Around Austin: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2019-03-15/painful-splits-along-the-way-to-stopping-sexual-assault-in-and-around-austin/
Travis County District Attorney's Office Under Fire in New Court Filing: https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2019-03-04/travis-county-district-attorneys-office-under-fire-in-new-court-filing/
Margaret Moore, Travis County District Attorney: https://www.traviscountytx.gov/district-attorney/meet-the-da
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LINKS WE MENTIONED:
The Texas Tribune’s round-up of big bills that passed and failed: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2019/texas-legislature-bills-to-watch/
Here’s a good recap of the best & worst moments of the 86th TxLege from Progress Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/top-best-worst-moments-2019-texas-legislative-session
Equality Texas has a great summary of the victories and challenges the Texas LGBTQ+ community faced this session: https://www.equalitytexas.org/shifting-the-narrative-the-86th-legislative-session/
Beer-to-Go unanimously passed the TX Senate!: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/article/Cheers-y-all-Beer-to-go-unanimously-passes-in-13882991.php
Sales tax increase dies in Texas legislature: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Sales-tax-increase-dead-in-Texas-Legislature-13826589.php
Uninsured kids, moms and workers left behind by the TxLege: https://covertexasnow.org/posts/2019/5/27/fight-back-after-lege-ignored-uninsured-kids-uninsured-moms-other-uninsured-workers
The GOP Failed to Ban Paid Sick Leave and the Business Lobby is Livid: https://www.texasobserver.org/the-gop-failed-to-ban-paid-sick-leave-and-the-business-lobby-is-livid/?fbclid=IwAR23faKZDrZXupchTvDt7Oc8hmggXGEZNgaWPNmOpMGbm2E4zFg0mh8qDSg
Texas House, Senate pass school finance bill mandating teacher raises and cutting taxes: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/05/25/Texas-teacher-pay-raise-school-finance-HB3-passes/
Closing Thoughts on HB 3, the Big School Finance Bill: http://bettertexasblog.org/2019/05/closing-thoughts-on-hb-3-the-big-school-finance-bill%EF%BB%BF/
Texas legislature allows handgun open carry immediately after natural disasters: https://www.cbs7.com/content/news/Texas-legislature-allows-handgun-open-carry-immediately-after-natural-disasters-510540371.html
Bill banning Planned Parenthood contracts sent to Abbott: https://www.statesman.com/news/20190524/bill-banning-planned-parenthood-contracts-sent-to-abbott
We talk about Zaffrini’s bill to protect victims of financial abuse back in episode 2 of The Rabble: https://www.rousertx.com/the-rabble-pod/2019/1/22/episode-2-cardi-b-may-be-smarter-than-potus-were-not-crying-youre-crying-the-internets-giveth-and-the-internets-taketh-away-our-ability-to-vote
Analysis: Legislative resolve isn’t always what you think it is: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/04/05/texas-immigration-border-crisis-legislature-resolution/
Texas legislators strip last-minute $100 million request for border surge: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/05/26/texas-border-surge-funding-supplemental-budget/
Lawmakers approve legislation shielding most Texans from surprise medical bills: https://www.kut.org/post/state-lawmakers-approve-legislation-shielding-most-texans-surprise-medical-bills
Texas House Rep. John Bucy: https://www.facebook.com/BucyForTexas/