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☆ A new Texas law forces vendors to rate sexual content in schoolbooks. They’re not happy about it
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Nadia Bidarian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

But a new Texas law might require her to. The law’s primary author, Republican Texas State Rep. Jared Patterson, said its aim is simple: Get sexually explicit content out of schools. Republican Texas State Rep. Jared Patterson debates HB 900, which would ban sexually explicit materials from library books in schools. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman/APBut the burden of rating these books falls on book vendors. The law also applies retroactively to books sold to schools in the past, meaning that vendors must issue recalls for “sexually explicit” books still in circulation.

Persons: Charley Rejsek, they’d, “ We’re, ” Rejsek, Jared Patterson, Mikala Compton, “ We’ve, “, ” Patterson, ”, Shirley Robinson, ” Robinson, Ben Conn, Conn, Noble, ” Conn, wasn’t, Patterson, Valerie Koehler, Mary Cate Stevenson, Noah Nofz Koehler, doesn’t, she’s, ” Koehler, Noah Nofz Richard Bailey, Greg Abbott, Bailey, ” Bailey, Lewis Parry, ” Elizabeth Jordan, ’ Patterson, ” Jordan, can’t, Jordan Organizations: CNN, Republican Texas State, Austin American, Statesman, Resources, ”, Texas Library Association, Media Association, Barnes, Penguin, Library Company, Education, Willow, Interabang, Dallas County, Lewis Parry Interabang, Nowhere, Texas Education Agency Locations: Texas, Austin, ”, Houston, Houston , Texas, Dallas, Dallas , Texas, San Antonio

☆ Texas man at center of attorney general Paxton's impeachment faces federal charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Brad Brooks | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 9 (Reuters) - Federal prosecutors on Friday leveled charges of making false statements to financial institutions against a real estate developer who is at the center of allegations that led to the impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paul, who was arrested by the FBI on Thursday and jailed overnight, briefly appeared before a federal judge in Austin on Friday. Aside from his impeachment, he is under a separate corruption investigation by the Justice Department, according to the special prosecutors in Texas leading his state case. The Texas Senate will try Paxton on the 20 articles of impeachment lodged against him on or before Aug. 28. Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas; Editing by Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ken Paxton, Nate Paul, Paul, Gerry Morris, Paxton, Morris, Donald Trump, Brad Brooks, Daniel Wallis Organizations: FBI, Supreme, Senate, Justice Department, Texas Senate, Thomson Locations: Texas, Texas , New York , Connecticut, Ireland, Austin, Paxton, Lubbock , Texas

☆ FBI arrests Texas man at center of suspended attorney general Paxton's impeachment
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Brad Brooks | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 8 (Reuters) - FBI agents on Thursday arrested a real estate developer at the center of allegations that have led to the impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to jail records. Aside from his impeachment, he is under a separate corruption investigation by the Justice Department, according to the special prosecutors in Texas leading his state case. The Texas Senate will try Paxton on the 20 articles of impeachment lodged against him on or before Aug. 28. Paxton's wife, Angela, is a senator and chair of the Republican caucus in the chamber. Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas; Editing by Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ken Paxton, Nate Paul, Paul, Donald Trump, Paxton, Paxton's, Angela, Brad Brooks, Sonali Paul Organizations: FBI, Justice, Holdings, Supreme, Senate, Justice Department, Texas Senate, Republican, Thomson Locations: Texas, Travis, Austin, Paxton, Lubbock , Texas

The Texas Legislature impeached Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton on Saturday. Texas state Sen. Angela Paxton sits in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, on May 29, 2023. But the threshold for conviction in the Senate trial is higher, requiring a two-thirds majority of its 31 members. If that happens, Ken Paxton would be permanently barred from holding office in Texas. He had suggested before the House impeachment vote that all 31 senators would vote in the trial.

Persons: Ken Paxton, —, Paxton, Donald Trump, Sen, Angela Paxton, Eric Gay, Speaker Dade, Gov, Dan Patrick, Trump, Patrick, Nathan Howard The, Patrick wouldn't, Austin, Nate Paul, Bryan Hughes, Hughes, Paul, Republican Ken Paxton, NICHOLAS KAMM, Trump's, Republicans didn't, Matt Rinaldi, Paul . Four, US Justice Department's, Paxton's Austin, Phelan, James " Pa, Ferguson, O.P, Carrillo, ___ Bleiberg Organizations: Texas Legislature, Republican, Service, The Texas Legislature, GOP, Chamber, Texas Capitol, Senate, Speaker, AP, Getty, Republicans, Texas Senate, Texas, Washington Post, US Justice, Democratic, FBI, Legislature, Trump, Gov Locations: , Texas, Texas, Austin , Texas, Washington, Dallas

☆ Texas Governor Names Interim Attorney General After Paxton Impeachment
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( David Montgomery | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Why It MattersIn announcing his choice, Mr. Abbott cited Mr. Scott’s past experience as a former deputy attorney general who “knows how the Office of Attorney General operates.”Mr. Scott served as Mr. Abbott’s top deputy for civil litigation when the Republican governor served as attorney general before becoming the state’s chief executive in 2015. Mr. Scott also served on an interim basis as Texas secretary of state, the chief elections officer appointed by the governor, for just over a year before stepping down in December 2022. During the political turbulence following Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory over Donald Trump, Mr. Scott briefly represented the former president in an unsuccessful lawsuit against the certification of Pennsylvania’s vote after other attorneys quit. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, and the litigation chief Chris Hilton, who has made news recently by denouncing lawmakers’ moves toward impeachment. “That was true regardless of who the secretary was, including John Scott,” Mr. Taylor said.

Persons: Abbott, “, Mr, Scott, Abbott’s, ” Mr, Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Paxton, Judd Stone, Antonin Scalia, Ted Cruz, Chris Hilton, Sam Taylor, John Scott, Taylor, Gov, Dan Patrick Organizations: Republican, Human Services, Daily, The Texas Tribune, U.S, Supreme, The Texas Senate, Senate Locations: Texas, Ted Cruz of Texas

☆ Texas governor names interim attorney general to replace impeached Paxton
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Brad Brooks | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 31 (Reuters) - Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Wednesday appointed an interim attorney general to fill in for Ken Paxton, who was impeached last week on allegations of corruption and other irregularities. Abbott said in a written statement that he had appointed John Scott, an attorney and former Texas secretary of state under Abbott, as interim attorney general. Scott also served as the Texas deputy attorney general for civil litigation from 2012 to 2015, during Abbott's own final term as attorney general. Paxton, 60, by law was suspended from his attorney general post after he was impeached by the Texas House of Representatives on Saturday. The Texas Senate will try Paxton on the 20 articles of impeachment lodged against him.

Persons: Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, Abbott, John Scott, Scott, Paxton, Angela, Brad Brooks, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Texas, The, The Texas Senate, Justice Department, Justice, Thomson Locations: Texas, The Texas, Lubbock , Texas

☆ Texas Senate Sets Start Date for Attorney General Ken Paxton Impeachment Trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Shannon Najmabadi | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ Texas Senate to deliberate on impeached AG Ken Paxton
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Rich Mckay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

After hours of debate on Saturday, the House voted 121-23 to impeach Paxton, which immediately suspended him from office awaiting a final decision from the Texas Senate, where his wife, Angela Paxton, is a senator. "The ugly spectacle in the Texas House today confirmed the outrageous impeachment plot against me was never meant to be fair or just," he said, calling it a political sham. "I look forward to a quick resolution in the Texas Senate, where I have full confidence the process will be fair and just," he said. Trump, on his social media platform Truth Social, defended Paxton and wrote: "Free Ken Paxton." Paxton, who had previously served in the House and Senate, has staked out a position on the far right on divisive cultural issues.

LUBBOCK, Texas, May 27 (Reuters) - The Texas House on Saturday voted to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton, a conservative firebrand and ally of former President Donald Trump who has been accused by his fellow Republicans of abuse of office. The Texas Senate is in recess until 1 p.m. CDT (1800 GMT) on Sunday, according to its website. "I look forward to a quick resolution in the Texas Senate, where I have full confidence the process will be fair and just," he said. "Attorney General Paxton continuously and blatantly violated laws, rules, policies and procedures," Representative David Spiller said ahead of the vote. The five-member Texas House General Investigating Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to recommend that Paxton be impeached and removed from office.

☆ GOP turns on Texas lawmaker investigated for having sex with a teenage intern after he resigned but didn't apologize
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rep. Bryan Slaton, 45, resigned after a Texas House investigative committee recommended he be expelled. The committee said Slaton had sex with a teenage intern and then pressured her and others to keep the conduct a secret. Some of Slaton's fellow Republicans expressed outrage at his conduct and his resignation, which notably lacked an apology, according to the Texas Tribune. Texas House of Representatives. Slaton also asked a fellow lawmaker to "support" him and keep the situation a secret, the investigation report said.

A Reuters review of testimony, previously unreported public documents and interviews with elected leaders, lobbyists and attorneys detail mounting challenges to many pending anti-ESG bills. The tussles have financial implications for some of the largest investment firms that manage billions of dollars for state pension plans. Lauren Doroghazi, senior vice president at government relations consultant MultiState Associates, said the debates show lawmakers coming to terms with the anti-ESG bills' practical impact. Several public pension systems raised concerns about it, including the largest, the $182 billion Texas Teacher Retirement System (TRS). For instance, if federally-regulated local banks faced new national rules on an issue like climate change disclosures, banks would need special permissions from local officials to keep public business in Utah he said.

CNN —The Texas Senate passed a bill Thursday requiring each public school classroom to display a copy of the Ten Commandments, a move that drew backlash from civil liberty advocates who say lawmakers should not dictate what religious materials students are exposed to. The legislation, which passed the state Senate on a 17-12 vote, will now head to the state’s House of Representatives. “This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 school year,” the bill reads. Senate Bill 1396 also passed with a 17-12 vote. “Parents should be able to decide what religious materials their child should learn, not the (Texas legislature),” the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas said in a statement.

☆ A Texas-Sized Energy Fiasco
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

What a mess. Renewable subsidies have distorted and destabilized the Texas electric grid, which resulted in a week-long power outage during the February 2021 freeze. To prevent more blackouts, Republicans in the Lone Star State now plan to subsidize gas power plants. The Texas Senate last week passed putative energy reforms to “level the playing field,” as Lt. Gov. Texans will now spend tens of billions of dollars to bolster natural-gas plants that provide reliable power but can’t make money because of competition from subsidized renewable energy.

☆ Financial executives and Texas Republicans spar over climate actions
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 15 (Reuters) - Financial executives and Texas state senators clashed over company concerns for climate change at a hearing on Thursday, a rare in-person confrontation as Republicans ramp up attacks on the use of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in investing. Texas Republicans at the hearing, which was webcast, questioned whether the participation of BlackRock Inc (BLK.N) and State Street Corp (STT.N) in industry efforts to cut emissions put too much pressure on portfolio companies. Even as they take heat from energy-producing U.S. states, asset managers have faced pressure from climate activists and Democrats to take more environmental action. With some $8 trillion under management, BlackRock has been singled out by Texas for alleged over-pressuring of its important energy sector. A number of State Street funds were also designated.

☆ BlackRock executive and Texas Republicans spar over climate actions
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Dec 15 (Reuters) - A BlackRock Inc (BLK.N) executive and Texas state senators sparred over the firm's membership in an investment group aiming to limit climate change at a hearing on Thursday. Republicans at the hearing, which was webcast, questioned if BlackRock's membership in the Climate Action 100+ committed it to putting too much pressure on portfolio companies to take steps to reduce emissions. BlackRock Senior Managing Director Dalia Blass said the firm had maintained its independence within the group. “We have one bias, and that's to get the best risk-adjusted returns for our clients," Blass said. Reporting by Ross Kerber Editing by Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Live Election Results: Texas State Legislature
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Polls close in the state at 7 p.m. local time. Given the state has multiple time zones, the first polls close at 8 p.m. EST and the last polls close at 9 p.m. EST. The Texas House and Senate are currently under Republican control and are not seen as particularly competitive. Given the state has multiple time zones, the first polls close at 8 p.m. EST and the last polls close at 9 p.m. EST. Texas House of Representatives election results:Texas Senate election results:

Bottone’s protest highlighted the hypocrisy of fetal personhood logic that gives fetuses rights in cases of abortion but not in other contexts. To end abortion in all instances, with no exceptions for rape, incest, fatal fetal abnormalities, or the life of the mother. Kansas had one as well, but voters there overwhelmingly voted to preserve abortion rights in their state in August. Wendy Davis, a Texas state senator at the time, speaks during her 13-hour filibuster of an abortion bill in Austin, Texas, in 2013. What might the penalties be if a pregnant person consumes alcohol or uses drugs while pregnant?

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