Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Announces Top 30 Priorities for the 2023 Legislative Session

Ok, so here you have it. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's Top 30 Priorities for the 88th (2023) Texas Legislative Session.  

Check out Senate Bill 16–Banning Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Higher Education; Senate Bill 17-Banning Discriminatory “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” (DEI) Policies in Higher Education; and Senate Bill 18-Eliminating Tenure at General Academic Institutions.

So I've heard that they'll clear out of the Senate where we expect this and then head over to the House where the battle will occur. I hope that our House Members will remain strong in valuing our diversity alongside equity and fairness in our state.

Contrary to Gov. Abbott's recent statement, DEI is NOT at all illegal as expressed by BBDP Board Member and former Austin American-Statesman editorial writer, Alberta Phillips, in the press release that BBDP sent out yesterday, 

“[W]e urge the media to be careful about how it covers DEI policies. It should not be taken as fact that DEI policies are illegal or unconstitutional.

If any government official says that this is the case, then the media should require that the statement be backed by evidence and facts, not just someone’s statement.

As a check on government, the media has an obligation to sort fact from fiction. The facts are that DEI policies are ways for People of color to apply for state jobs and admission to state universities. And on the part of state agencies and universities, DEI policies are simply goals—without the force of law or consequences—that aim to move the needle forward so that state agencies, public colleges, and universities reflect the people who pay the tabs to sustain them.”

Well said, Alberta.

I'm encouraged by the passion and commitment that was expressed at yesterday's press conference that you can view here. 

I very much encourage you to read Texas NAACP Chair Gary Bledsoe's statement in response. Watch out sports fans and business leaders. 

Anti-DEI is terrible for business, too. Nuff said.

-Angela Valenzuela

@TeamBlackBrown #TeamBlackBrown #BlackBrownUnity #DontLetDEIdie #GenZ #BlackBrownSolidarity

February 13, 2023

AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued the following statement today:

“Each session, the 31 members of the Texas Senate file thousands of bills. Some are duplicates because members often have similar priorities voiced to them by their constituents. The tradition has been for bill numbers 1 through 20 to indicate the Lt. Governor’s and the Senate’s priorities. In 2017, I increased the low bill numbers to 30. Senators like to get a low bill number because it shows their bill is also a priority of the Lt. Governor and has a great chance of passing. I believe Texans support our priorities because they largely reflect the policies supported by the conservative majority of Texans. Most will pass with bipartisan support.

“This session I could have used 50 low bill numbers because there are so many issues that need to be addressed. Just because a bill does not make the priority list does not mean it is not a priority for me or the Senate. We will pass over 600 bills this session. As I like to say, every bill is a priority to someone, otherwise we would not pass it.

“This year, several of our policy initiatives are already addressed in the budget as opposed to specific bills. One example is Texas border security funding. Since President Biden took office and implemented his open border policies, Texas has stepped into the breach. Texas should not have to use our tax dollars to do the Federal Government’s job, but it is vitally important that we maintain our law enforcement and National Guard presence. If we do not, the border crisis will get much worse.”

Lt. Gov. Patrick’s Priority Bills:

Senate Bill 1 – State Budget

Senate Bill 2 – Restoring Voter Fraud to a Felony

Senate Bill 3 – Increasing the Homestead Exemption to $70,000

Senate Bill 4 – Adding Additional Property Tax Relief

Senate Bill 5 – Increasing the Business Personal Property Tax Exemption

Senate Bill 6 – Adding New Natural Gas Plants

Senate Bill 7 – Continuing to Improve the Texas Grid

Senate Bill 8 – Empowering Parental Rights – Including School Choice

Senate Bill 9 – Empowering Teacher Rights ­­– Teacher Pay Raise

Senate Bill 10 – Adding 13th Checks for Retired Teachers

Senate Bill 11 – Keeping Our Schools Safe and Secure

Senate Bill 12 – Banning Children’s Exposure to Drag Shows

Senate Bill 13 – Protecting Children from Obscene Books in Libraries

Senate Bill 14 – Ending Child Gender Modification

Senate Bill 15 – Protecting Women’s College Sports

Senate Bill 16 – Banning Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Higher Education

Senate Bill 17 – Banning Discriminatory “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” (DEI) Policies in Higher Education

Senate Bill 18 – Eliminating Tenure at General Academic Institutions

Senate Bill 19 – Creating A New Higher Education Endowment Fund

Senate Bill 20 – Removing District Attorneys Who Refuse to Follow Texas Law

Senate Bill 21 – Removing Judges Who Refuse to Follow Texas Law

Senate Bill 22 – Assisting Rural Law Enforcement Funding – Increasing Pay and Needed Equipment

Senate Bill 23 – Creating A Mandatory 10-Year Prison Sentence for Criminals Committing Gun Crime

Senate Bill 24 – Expanding Alternatives to Abortion

Senate Bill 25 – Creating New Scholarships for Registered Nurses

Senate Bill 26 – Expanding Mental Health Care Beds Across Texas – Focus on Rural Counties

Senate Bill 27 – Creating A New Business Specialty Court

Senate Bill 28 – Addressing Texas’ Future Water Needs

Senate Bill 29 – Banning Local COVID-19 Mandates

Senate Bill 30 – Supplemental Budget

Black Brown Dialogues on Policy (BBDP) Launches With a Fresh Vision for Black Brown Unity—beginning with Support for DEI Policy in Higher Education

Friends:

I am very pleased to say that our Black Brown Dialogues on Policy organization debuted yesterday with a website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts—in solidarity with the Texas NAACP, LULAC, the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus yesterday at the Texas State Capitol, expressing deep concerns with harmful anti-DEI bills. For context, here are Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's recent anti-DEI statements:

Gov. Greg Abbott tells state agencies to stop considering diversity in hiring

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Texas GOP will 'wipe out' college diversity hiring programs

Anti-DEI House Bills we are challenging: House Bill 1607, House Bill 1006, and House Bill 1046

Anti-DEI Senate Bills we are challenging [that have yet to be filed, but are the governor's priorities]: Senate Bill 16–Banning Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Higher Education; Senate Bill 17-Banning Discriminatory “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” (DEI) Policies in Higher Education; and Senate Bill 18-Eliminating Tenure at General Academic Institutions

As we are in the process of organizing a Virtual Town Hall that will give voice to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as support for Ethnic Studies. You can stay current by liking and following all of our social media accounts: website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

You can view yesterday's press conference here.  

You can learn more about us here. 

We're asking everybody to sign the pledge we've posted on our website to "Stand and Fight for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Higher Education."

Below are the news items from yesterday. I applaud the journalists who framed this in terms of Black and Latino—or Black and Brown where this is a large, inclusive, intergenerational, Gen Z-inclusive, intersectional tent. We're all in this together and that's what we seek to promote.

Join the movement!

-Angela Valenzuela, co-convener 

Black Brown Dialogues on Policy

@TeamBlackBrown #TeamBlackBrown #BlackBrownUnity #DontLetDEIdie #GenZ #BlackBrownSolidarity

Black and Latino lawmakers slam Gov. Greg Abbott for order limiting diversity considerations in hiring

The lawmakers called on major sports organizations to not host championship games in the state until the governor rescinds his guidance to agencies and universities.

BY KATE MCGEE FEB. 14, 2023

Black lawmakers outraged at Gov. Abbott's call for state agencies to end DEI hiring

Megan Menchaca

Austin American-Statesman

BY KATE MCGEE FEB. 14, 2023

‘Advancing white supremacy’: Black, Latino lawmakers denounce Gov. Abbott’s DEI stance

The NAACP of Texas called for sports leagues to boycott high-profile events in the state.

Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, spoke Feb. 14 in a press conference held by Black and Latino lawmakers, along with other civil rights groups, criticizing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for a letter calling for an end of DEI practices at state agencies and universities.(Staff)

Black Latino Lawmaker Slam Gov. Abbott for order Limiting Diversity Considerations in Hiring [youtube video]

Black Latino Lawmakers Slam Gov. Abbott for order Limiting Diversity Considerations in Hiring [KHOU 11 TV Houston]

Friends,

Compliments of KHOU 11 Houston Television, check out this news report on yesterday's press conference in opposition to Abbott's order that seeks to limit diversity in hiring.

Also check out the ‘NAACP Statement of Demands directed to Governor Abbott, asking him to withdraw his policy memo in opposition to DEI in Texas.'

-Angela Valenzuela

@TeamBlackBrown #TeamBlackBrown #BlackBrownUnity #DontLetDEIdie #GenZ #BlackBrownSolidarity

Backlash grows against DeSantis decision to block AP African American studies class #StopTheBlackAttack

DeSantis' decision to disallow the teaching of AP African American Studies in Florida schools takes me back to when John Huppenthal did this to Mexican American Studies (formerly called "Raza Studies") in the Tucson Unified School District. 

Referencing this court case in which I served as expert witness on curriculum, Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump is correct in noting the unconstitutionality of robbing youth of their right to this curriculum. The teacher and student plaintiffs in TUSD won this case in 2017, following a 7-year court battle. I blogged about it for at least a couple of years (note: keyword search "MAS," "TUSD," "TUSD Ethnic Studies," and "Tucson" to locate posts).

Folks in Florida are justifiably outraged, calling out DeSantis' gravitation toward these divisive, "red-meat" issues as objectionable when according to State Sen. Shevrin Jones (D) he should be "addressing issues that matter to Floridians like 'crumbling schools, dilapidated buildings in our communities” and high property insurance costs.'"

“These are the issues that‘s being ignored because we have to deal with the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0 by people who don’t know and don’t care about what’s happening in Black communities, but they desire to referee how you teach our history,” Jones said. 

This IS Jim Crow 3.0, or as we say in Texas among Mexicans for whom this is

also true, "it's Juan Crow." Check out the signage on stopping the "Black Attack" rally that took place yesterday at the state capitol in Tallahassee.

In the meantime, we continue with our own similar struggles in our own state of Texas with a Governor like DeSantis who has similar political aspirations and ideological perspectives.

If any good comes out of this, it's that we come to appreciate in deep and meaningful ways the importance and viability of Black Brown unity.

Sí se puede! Yes we can!

-Angela Valenzuela 

#EthnicStudiesNow #SaveAfricanAmericanStudies #StopTheBlackAttack

Backlash grows against DeSantis decision to block AP African American studies class

By Lori Rozsa

Updated January 26, 2023 at 10:13 a.m. EST|Published January 25, 2023 at 7:37 p.m. EST

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump stands with Elijah Edwards, 14, a student at Sail High School during a “Stop The Black Attack” rally in Tallahassee on Wednesday. (Octavio Jones/Reuters)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is facing mounting backlash regarding his administration’s decision to prohibit an Advanced Placement high school course on African American studies, with Black leaders rallying in the capital, a prominent civil rights lawyer threatening to sue and state lawmakers urging him to reverse the decision.

Attorney Ben Crump accused DeSantis of violating the federal and state constitutions Wednesday by refusing to permit the course. His legal team noted that a federal judge found a 2010 law in Arizona that banned a Mexican American studies program from Tucson schools unconstitutional and officials “motivated by racial animus.”

Continue reading here. 

Watch Quanell X's Brilliant Defense of Undocumented Immigrants, calling for Black Brown Unity

Friends:

A friend recently shared this Fox News video from 5 years ago of a major disagreement on undocumented immigrants between Attorney Michele Byington and Houston community activist Quanell X. As per my earlier post today, this video for me is a boost in the arm as we struggle against anti-diversity bills House Bill 1607 and House Bill 1006 in the Texas State Legislature.

I like and appreciate how Quanell X not only refuses to take the bait of falling into the anti-immigrant trope, but how he pivots and calls for Black-Brown unity.

That's what's needed. Once this happens in all places everywhere possible, this will be a game-changer.

-Angela Valenzuela

L.A.’s coalition game: Alliances drive city politics. Despite the vitriol on that tape, Black and Latino leaders have long united on major goals.

Here is a fairly thorough piece in last week's Los Angeles Times on a three-decades old alliance between Latino and Black leaders in Los Angeles that's been impacted by the racist vitriol of Council Member Martinez and her colleagues, Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León where they worked behind closed doors with a labor leader to map out an electoral strategy.

Do read for yourself. I'm encouraged by what nevertheless has been an intentional process of working together as Black and Brown communities for a better L.A. No question about it. Such alliances are what must continue to happen in L.A. and everywhere possible.

-Angela Valenzuela

L.A.’s coalition game: Alliances drive city politics. Despite the vitriol on that tape, Black and Latino leaders have long united on major goals.

RICHARD ALATORRE, the son of an East L.A. beautician and repairman, served 13 years in the state Assembly and was a close ally of California’s first Black speaker, Willie Brown. (Wally Skalij Los Angeles Times) MICHAEL WOO, the L.A. City Council’s first Asian member, was infuriated by district maps drawn up by Alatorre. Woo served from 1985 to 1993. (Al Seib Los Angeles Times) COUNCILMEMBER Nury Martinez addresses the crowd as then-Council President Herb Wesson, center, and Councilmember Gil Cedillo listen at a 2019 rally. (Genaro Molina Los Angeles Times) 

By Jessica Garrison, Ruben Vives, Marisa Gerber, Angel Jennings and David Zahniser | Los Angeles Time | October 16, 2022

Jorge Nuño learned the hard way how race, power and politics work in Los Angeles.

Nuño, 45, the son of immigrants from Jalisco, Mexico, grew up in South Los Angeles near Vernon Avenue and Main Street, then built a successful graphic design business and a printing business, launched a multiracial youth services nonprofit, and threw himself into grass-roots organizing among both Black and Latino groups in his neighborhood.

With this background, he decided to run for City Council representing the 9th District — its constituents majority Latino — expecting his campaign would garner at least some interest from the city’s traditional Latino establishment.

Instead, word filtered down: No way.

“What I heard was that no Latino [power brokers] are going to come support any candidate coming out of South L.A.,” he said, “because there is a coordination between Black and brown caucuses about keeping it Black” through the tenure of the current councilman.

Nuño lost that election to the incumbent, Curren Price, a Black former state lawmaker who also grew up in South L.A. He said he simply did not understand the complicated alliances brokered by Black and Latino politicians and their allies in labor.

“Naive to the game,” he said of himself back then.

City government has been thrown into crisis by the racist rhetoric of a secretly recorded conversation in which three Latino councilmembers — Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo, and Kevin de León — plotted electoral strategy with a labor leader. The language was so outrageous that President Biden waded into city politics, calling on them all to resign.

Nuño said he too was sickened by the racism, but he said he was also struck by what the conversation revealed about the complex way politicians use race to exercise power in a sprawling multicultural city. Even as she said terrible things about Black people, including comparing a colleague’s Black child to a monkey, Martinez kept circling back to one of her major political goals: helping Price — a Black councilman representing a district that is now fourth-fifths Latino — hold on to his seat against a Latina challenger.

Politics in Los Angeles has always been organized along racial lines. But those lines are not as stark as the crass and hateful language on the recordings might lead many to conclude. Instead, in a city where more than 100 languages are spoken, leaders have put together coalitions to win elections and move their legislative priorities through the City Council, where eight votes are required to approve anything. And in the last three decades, the center of those coalitions has often been an alliance between Latino and Black leaders.

That alliance, which often includes strong backing from organized labor, has achieved major progressive goals, winning one of the highest minimum wages in the country, for example, and pushing initiatives to benefit renters, immigrants and neighborhoods long beset by environmental hazards. For much of the last few decades, Black and brown leadership provided vital focus on social issues in core areas of L.A., as many whites moved to suburbs and wrote off older neighborhoods in the central city as no-go crime zones.

But the foundations of that alliance are threatened by the shift of the demographics it was built on: the Latino population has grown rapidly for generations while the number of Black people has continuously decreased. Over the last four decades the Latino share of the city’s population has grown from 27% to 48%, while the Black share has dipped from 17% to just below 9%.

A critical factor in keeping the alliance alive and essential: high Black voter turnout to counterbalance the decline in numbers of residents. Martinez, Cedillo, De León and Herrera have been as skillful as any at building and maintaining these Black-brown coalitions, which made the racist tape all the more shocking.

“I think that is exactly why people are so offended, because that is not who we are,” said Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who is Black and represents South Los Angeles’ 8th Council District. He predicted that “coalition politics in Los Angeles comes back stronger than ever now.”

“The path to prosperity in Los Angeles is through a Black-brown coalition,” he said.

The framework for modern coalition politics built across racial lines in Los Angeles, and, in many ways, the nation as a whole, was forged in the early 1970s when Angelenos elected Mayor Tom Bradley, the son of former sharecroppers and the grandson of slaves.

His election, making him the first Black mayor in Los Angeles, but also one of the first in any major city in the nation, became a defining narrative in American politics — a win credited to his broad support among many groups in the city, but anchored by Black and Jewish voters.

Until the 1950s, Los Angeles was a city that offered essentially no political access to Black, Latino, Asian and Jewish Angelenos, according to Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of Cal State L.A.’s Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs.

The first real break in that status quo, he said, came with the election of Edward Roybal to the City Council in 1949, making him the first Latino to serve in the role in nearly 70 years. (In an interview years later, Roybal recalled that at his first City Council meeting, he was introduced as “our new Mexican councilman who also speaks Mexican.”)

In one of the first and most powerful examples of the Black and Latino communities working together to advance common political goals, Roybal in 1962 supported the appointment of Gilbert Lindsay , who was Black, to take over his seat when he left for Congress.

“Progressive politics in Los Angeles is fundamentally coalition politics,” said Sonenshein.

Nowhere is that more true than in South Los Angeles, the sprawling land of farms and agricultural fields that gave way to white suburbs before it became a Black space and then, in more recent decades, a majority Latino area.

Between the 1940s and 1970s, hundreds of thousands of Black people moved to the area amid a labor shortage and a manufacturing boom in the wake of World War II .

Housing covenants prevented Black Angelenos and other minorities from living in other parts of the city, while in South L.A. banks and insurance companies denied loans and insurance policies, keeping the area economically depressed and increasingly dilapidated. When Black people finally defeated housing discrimination policies in court, some moved into the middle class. But South L.A. just became impoverished and neglected, served by substandard schools and hospitals, patrolled by a hostile police force, and otherwise largely ignored by City Hall.