Texas
Analysis: Texas lawmakers listen to the voters who show up
/static.texastribune.org/media/files/7aefc806d47ad38f42fa0345db081df0/DTX%20Early%20Voting%20Feb%2025%20ST%20TT%2008.jpg "Analysis: Texas lawmakers listen to the voters who show up")
Editor’s observe: If you would like an electronic mail discover at any time when we publish Ross Ramsey’s column, click on right here.
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Elected officers take heed to voters, and Texas authorities might achieve this a lot better if voters have been extra demanding.
And if there have been extra Texans voting.
Have a look at how disaster concentrates political consideration on problem-solving — and the issues politicians work on when voters aren’t alert.
Within the 2019 legislative session, after a 2018 election through which voters despatched a “get severe” message to state officers, public schooling and property taxes have been the topics on the high of the listing, just below voters’ dissatisfaction with then-President Donald Trump.
Within the session earlier than, lawmakers have been distracted by different points — political points — just like the “toilet invoice” that got down to regulate which loos transgender Texans could be allowed to make use of. It didn’t cross, however sufficient voters have been sad sufficient to get the elected class in line.
The state’s high officers didn’t say particularly that they wouldn’t be engaged on one other toilet invoice, however they mentioned they’d consider severe “meat and potatoes” points. And that’s what they did, passing laws designed to gradual the expansion of property taxes and remodeling public college funding to place extra of the load on the state and fewer on native colleges. It wasn’t property tax aid, as some had promised — taxes aren’t taking place, simply rising at a slower tempo — but it surely was severe work.
All that occurred in between these two periods was an election that noticed Democrats taking a chew out of the Republican majority within the Legislature and Republicans in statewide workplace holding on, however with smaller margins of victory than that they had seen in an extended, very long time.
Voters communicate, and politicians hear. That exact suggestions loop truly works, whether or not you assume votes depend or not. The turnout within the 2018 election was 53%. That’s mediocre, except you take a look at current historical past. Turnout is increased in presidential election years, when the hoopla of a nationwide race pulls in voters who usually aren’t concerned about different elections. However 2018 was an off-year election, just like the one this 12 months. And within the earlier off-year cycle in 2014, turnout was 33.7%. 4 years earlier than that, 38% of the registered voters confirmed up.
The message in 2018 was within the outcomes of the elections, but in addition within the excessive curiosity degree of the voters. And the response of the elected class was just like the distinction between regular freeway site visitors and freeway site visitors when the state troopers are out in drive.
When fewer of us are watching, lawmakers pursue their very own political ends.
In the event you’re working within the Legislature and the listing of voter calls for is slight, you may flip to private pet tasks and political points that repay with main election voters — that comparatively small variety of partisans who present up in March, when greater than 4 out of 5 of the state’s registered voters are off doing one thing else.
It’s not sophisticated. Elected officers of all stripes hear intently to their voters so these voters received’t ship them dwelling. Not all the time, not each one, and never each time, however on common, voters toss out the dangerous eggs.
However which voters, and which sorts of dangerous eggs? Common elections draw the most important crowds, as a result of that’s the place statewide races are determined, and people are the massive, noisy pileups that seize consideration. However most legislative races are determined within the primaries, when most of us don’t vote.
The political maps drawn by legislators kind the state into Republican and Democratic districts, and as you’ll anticipate from a Legislature with a GOP majority, there are extra Republican districts than Democratic ones. Lawmakers themselves determine which celebration has the most effective and infrequently overwhelming likelihood to win in every district. They’re often chased by hordes of litigants, however this 12 months, the courts have to date allow them to be, leaving the Legislature’s preferences in place for this election cycle.
That leaves the actual option to the first voters from every celebration, and since they’re doing the actual selecting in Texas congressional and legislative races, they’re the voters these elected officers take heed to. They’ve protected themselves behind a minority of the voters, they usually spend their official time on points vital to that group.
Solely 17.5% of the state’s registered voters confirmed up for the March primaries this 12 months. They’re usually demanding, spurring the folks they elect to control in a selected means. What adjustments the end result is when these small electorates swell, giving a few of the quieter voters in every celebration an opportunity to be heard.
Votes do depend.
SAN ANTONIO – A Bexar County state senator filed a bill that would lower the interest rate for overdue child support payments.
Senate Bill 629 would drop the interest rate from 6% to 3%. The bill was filed by state Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D – Bexar County).
In an analysis, she said, in part, “lowering interest rates would make repayments more achievable, encouraging consistent payment behavior, especially among low-income earners.”
“We’ll get more payments because the payments are more affordable,” Zaffirini said during a committee meeting this session.
She’s gotten some support. Quentin Riser, an assistant professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison, spoke in favor of the bill.
“This is not about letting anyone off the hook,” Riser said. “It’s about making repayment possible.”
But this bill has had backlash. John Gabriel, a senior visiting judge, wrote a letter to Sen. Zaffirini’s office in opposition.
“I didn’t think it was good policy, so I wanted to let her know,” Gabriel said.
Gabriel said he did not get a response.
Steven Sinkin, an attorney who specializes in the collection of past-due child support for all ages, said he was shocked to read the bill.
“It’s lowering the consequence, lowering the incentive, lowering and the protection for the women and children of the state,” Sinkin said. “Who are we helping? It is really incomprehensible.”
One of Sinkin’s clients is Veronica Posada. She’s working to collect child support from the father of her children and from her own dad, who didn’t pay her mother for years. She’s able to do this because there aren’t time limits for this kind of collection in Texas.
“I can’t understand their logic,” Posada said, talking about the bill. “You have families out there like mine. For 25 years, we didn’t collect child support because he thought it wasn’t necessary.”
She’s not the only San Antonio mom with concerns.
Josie Schlather it’s “a burden to fight, and it’s a burden not to fight.”
“There’s no loan that you can get that‘s 3% and it’s principal first,” Schlather said. “I have a daughter, and I have sons who witness all of this behavior. When you have obligations, you meet them and you honor them and you don’t get away with something because you can.”
KSAT reached out to Zaffirini for an interview, but she was unable to accommodate before the deadline.
“The rationale for filing my Senate Bill 629 is twofold: Representatives of the Office of the Attorney General requested the change, and national data, particularly from Wisconsin, show it works,” Zaffirini said in a statement, in part. “By making repayment more realistic, my bill would help more Texas families receive the support they deserve.”
KSAT reached out to the AG‘s office. A spokesperson said, “the OAG provides assistance strictly as a resource to all legislators and at no time should this be viewed as supporting or opposing specific legislation on any matter.”
The companion bill of SB 629 is HB 4213. It passed through to the Senate with an amendment. Instead of the proposed 3% interest rate, it says “the interest rate determined under Section 304.003, Finance Code.” KSAT is told that’s a higher rate than 6%.
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Copyright 2025 by KSAT – All rights reserved.
An air quality alert issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for two of Texas’ most populous metro areas is advising residents against idling in drive-thru lanes due to elevated ozone levels.
Why It Matters
With a combined metropolitan population of over 10 million, the recommendation affects a significant portion of the state’s urban population.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that even short-term exposure to elevated ozone can lead to breathing difficulties, lung inflammation, and worsening of conditions such as asthma.
What To Know
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued Ozone Action Days for both the Dallas-Fort Worth and the San Antonio areas for Tuesday, an air quality alert published by the NWS said.
According to officials, atmospheric conditions were forecast to be favorable for producing high levels of ozone pollution.
“You can help prevent ozone pollution by sharing a ride, walking or riding a bicycle, taking your lunch to work, avoiding drive through lanes, conserving energy, and keeping your vehicle properly tuned,” the alert read.
Elsewhere, air quality alerts were also in effect for the western two-thirds of Minnesota, including the Twin Cities Metro, following previous alerts issued for the day prior.
“Mostly sunny skies, warm temperatures and low humidity will provide a favorable environment for two types of pollutants (volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides) to react with sunlight in the air to produce ground-level ozone,” the alerts for the state said.
“Ozone will remain elevated on Wednesday as sunny skies, warm temperatures and dry conditions persist.”
In the northeastern part of the state, an air quality alert had also been issued due to the ongoing Camp House, Jenkins Creek, and Munger Shaw fires, which had each burned over 1,000 acres as of Monday night. Smoke was expected to impact areas near and downwind of the blazes, with smoke being observed as far north as the Canadian border, the alert said.
What People Are Saying
AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham previously told Newsweek: “Ozone is a secondary pollutant, meaning it’s not emitted directly from sources but is formed through chemical reactions. These reactions require sunlight and higher temperatures, making warmer months more prone to ozone formation. When air is stagnant, pollutants don’t get dispersed, allowing ozone to build up to unhealthy levels.
“Ozone pollution is often more severe in urban areas where there are higher concentrations of pollutants from sources like cars, power plants, and industrial activities.”
Professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine Jonathan Grigg, with Queen Mary, University of London, previously told Newsweek There are “very clear links” between inhaling particles and earlier death from both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Additionally, he added that conditions such as asthma are also exacerbated by exposure to air pollution.
What Happens Next
At the time of writing, Ozone Action Days for Texas were in effect through Tuesday. The next ozone action day, if required, would be issued by 3 p.m. Tuesday.
HOUSTON – If you’ve ever wanted to be on the front lines helping the community, why not consider a career as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)?
SEE ALSO: New, elegant shared office workspaces debut in Houston’s River Oaks
The National EMS Academy, a sister company of Acadian Ambulance, is cutting its training costs by a substantial amount.
Ordinarily, the tuition for its 12-week course is $1,600, but for a limited time is discounted to only $400 at all 5 Texas National EMS Academy’s campuses.
These include its Austin, Beaumont, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio locations.
After completing the course, Acadian Ambulance EMTS who train to become paramedics can get reimbursed for their training costs.
SEE ALSO: Texas has created more jobs than any other state in last year, data shows
And if you’re not looking to stay in one place, once you complete the course and pass the National Registry exam, you’re eligible to work at any of the Acadian Ambulance locations in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
Registration is now open for classes starting on May 26.
To learn more about the National EMS Academy’s Texas program, visit their website by clicking here.
Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
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