The Rabble Faves: Drinking game recap of the 2019 Texas legislative session
While The Rabble podcast is on break, we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes. Since the 86th Texas legislature gaveled in a year ago this week, we thought it was fitting to replay our wrap-up of the legislative session. We drinking game-ified it, 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 to hear about the highs and lows of what our state legislators accomplished in 2019. 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. This episode originally aired May 31, 2019.
PRESENTING SPONSOR:
Today’s episode of The Rabble is brought to you by the Austin American-Statesman.
Listeners of The Rabble can sign up for a Statesman digital subscription for the rousing price of just 99 cents for the first 4-weeks! Go to http://statesman.com/rabble.
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/