AUSTIN, Texas- This Week in Texas Elections included the edge off of March Madness, and in elections, we saw some smash rebounds, some touchdowns, and perhaps a dozen frame smashers.  ,
RUDY KOSKI: Let’s get the articles then from our section, and we’ll begin first with Brad Johnson with the Texan News. Brad, what’s your article?  ,
Ben JOHNSON: Speakership. Game of Thrones is on.  ,
RUDY KOSKI: Brian Smith with Saint Edward’s University. Brian, what’s your title?  ,
BRIAN SMITH: Out in the West Texas city of El Paso, there’s problems at the borders.  ,
RUDY KOSKI: And political researcher Mark Wiggins, what’s your article for the week.  ,
Dot Williams: The Ides of March bring the second coup effort in the Texas House.  ,
RUDY KOSKI: Well, the Texas year started off with the fresh Texas immigration protection laws, SB4 getting the natural light and therefore a painful stop from the Supreme Court and then the Fifth Circuit of Appeals. Mark, what are you hearing about this constitutional injury has been going on?  ,
Dot Williams: Rudy, I think this may eventually mind up to the Supreme Court. And then what happens is truly anybody’s guess.  ,
BRIAN SMITH: Mark was place on because you have so much at sing right then. And one is the precedent of Arizona versus the United States. More than a decade since that determination and a very unique court that’s moved to the right.  ,
RUDY KOSKI: Now here in Austin, Governor Greg Abbott said Texas may continue to demand refugees who cross between ports of entry with breach, with or without SB4. Brad, you were at that function where the government said that, he got a great answer to that, right?  ,
Robert JOHNSON: Throughout the last few decades. And I’m certain continuing on this year, there’s the battle in the court of public opinion. And I think the government is totally winning that right then.  ,
RUDY KOSKI: Yeah, that topic actually ramping up Thursday in El Paso, workers overrunning the Texas National Guard, the New York Post posting photos from that event. And as that turmoil was going on, President Biden was around in Texas not to see the frontier, but to enter donations in Dallas and Houston. You know, Mark Biden is proving that Texas is a great ATM, yet for Democrats who may not win the state culture.  ,
MARK WIGGINS: Yeah, I do n’t think Democrats have any illusions about flipping Texas for Biden. Rudy. But, you know, the function and the infighting within the state Republican Party has a lot of Democrats talking about making great sports down vote in November.
RUDY KOSKI: Well, Governor Greg Abbott also doubled down cashing in on his revenge journey, regarding school choice, he justified his attempts to depose fellow Republicans by claiming polls show voters support school choice. The problem is, is that the same polls, those same polls, show people do n’t like vouchers. There’s definitely a great difference between the two. But, Brian, it looks like, Abbott is also winning this communication conflict, right?  ,
BRIAN SMITH: Best. There is n’t support for specific certificates in the index, but the concept of school choice has more support. Abbott did a great job of endorsing and recruiting candidates who support his scheme, and for him to find what he wants. He does n’t need a majority of Texans, just a majority of legislators.  ,
RUDY KOSKI: House Speaker Dade Phelan is among those House users being targeted because of tickets and college selection and Paxton followers targeting him. Now he has a proper opponent for his status as Speaker, with Tom Oliverson from the Houston place announcing that he is throwing his hat into the circle. Brad, is this one of those occasions when Phelan an alliance is as a social Judas? Or is he just sort of, you know, doing a backup schedule for when shift does arise?  ,
Robert JOHNSON: I think he sees a street to work. And he jumped second. And, you know, that kind of units the foundation for all future Phelan opponents that leap into this culture.  ,
BRIAN SMITH: Yeah. They need to learn the lesson from the federal GOP. That Speaker war in Congress was terrible for the group.  ,
Tag WIGGINS: And the opponent in this case is is very strongly connected to the lieutenant governor. I think that does n’t escape notice from the House membership.  ,
RUDY KOSKI: The Speaker pointed that out in a new interview that he did this year. Then on Capitol Hill, Texas, Congressman Chip Roy spent the week blasting the new resources package that only passed on Friday to avoid a government closure. That Bill has been was quickly tracked with a whole lot of meat in it, a lot more meat than what you see in a South Austin barbecue joints.  ,
MARK Williams: Well, Rudy, this act is 70 % defence spending. You know, at a time when the world is a conflagration, and we all see it. And it includes a 5 % increase for company members. You know, we know there are problems at the borders. This would get 2000 Border Patrol agents. But, you know, it’s kind of had pass legislation.  ,
Robert JOHNSON: Welcome to the fresh reality. Same as the old fact. We have n’t, passed a expenditure without a continuous quality since the 1990s, I think.  ,
BRIAN SMITH: And we’re seeing as Chip Roy is we’re really finding his voice in Congress, and he’s in a bit safer place than he was four years ago. But, he can be one of those people to put those weapons against his own group.  ,
RUDY KOSKI: All straight. This cover up This Week in Texas Elections with one term for the week. And we’ll start off with Brad. What’s your phrase?  ,
Robert JOHNSON: Rat culture.  ,
Dot WIGGINS: Treachery.  ,
BRIAN SMITH: Calipari.  ,
RUDY KOSKI: A guide to Kentucky going along. All straight. And that wraps up our Month in Texas Politics.  ,