Texas
Texas Democrats in Congress balance climate concerns and fossil fuel constituencies as they consider landmark bill
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WASHINGTON — Texas’ oil and fuel Democrats have a balancing act to play.
On one hand, they characterize a few of the nation’s most necessary hubs for the worldwide oil and fuel trade, with important swaths of their constituencies employed within the sector. On the opposite, they belong to a celebration that has put combating local weather change on the forefront of its agenda.
The handful of Texas Democrats contains members of the highly effective Home Vitality and Commerce Committee and representatives from a few of the high oil producing, refining and transporting areas of the state. They proceed a convention of talking out in protection of their house state’s oil and fuel sector even when it places them at odds with their very own social gathering orthodoxy.
It has been a stress on show as Democratic management hemmed and hawed for the previous yr on an enormous legislative package deal that might be the largest funding in combating local weather change within the nation’s historical past.
The landmark laws is predicted to hit the Senate ground this weekend after which make its technique to the Home later subsequent week, the place Texas Democrats may play a crucial function in its success or failure. Not all Texas Democrats within the Home are able to commit, and each vote counts in such a thinly divided Home. (5 defections are sufficient to tank a invoice within the decrease chamber.)
The invoice, dubbed the Inflation Discount Act, gives a set of tax incentives to encourage extra wind, photo voltaic and different clear vitality expertise and to verify components for these sectors are manufactured in the USA. It additionally contains tax advantages to assist customers make their properties extra vitality environment friendly and swap to electrical automobiles. Democrats predict it will probably scale back the nation’s carbon emissions by 40% by 2030.
“It”s honest to say that it is a recreation changer,” stated Tom Buttgenbach, CEO of 8minute Photo voltaic Vitality, which has photo voltaic initiatives all through Texas.
It’s the most recent iteration of President Joe Biden’s Construct Again Higher agenda, which died final yr over the objections of West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, one other Democrat identified for breaking with the social gathering on vitality points. Manchin and Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., surprised Washington and elated local weather activists late final month once they revived the laws because the Inflation Discount Act, a compromise that additionally expands well being care and company taxes.
Along with incentives for a transition to scrub vitality, the invoice additionally features a controversial charge mechanism that might cost fossil gas corporations for his or her methane emissions. Texas’ oil and fuel operations are chargeable for an enormous share of the nation’s methane, significantly within the Permian Basin, which emits 1.4 million metric tons of the fuel per yr, in line with an evaluation revealed by the Environmental Protection Fund. Methane is greater than 25 occasions stronger than carbon at warming the ambiance.
A number of Texas Democrats raised issues final yr with early drafts of the methane charge provision, saying it may hurt the state’s oil and fuel trade simply as shopper costs spike and world vitality markets face volatility over the battle in Ukraine. And Reps. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, each of whom characterize the oil producing areas of South Texas, are nonetheless retaining their playing cards near the chest on the ultimate invoice.
“My precedence is guaranteeing this invoice wouldn’t elevate vitality costs or hinder American vitality jobs at such a crucial time,” Gonzalez stated in a press release to The Texas Tribune. “These are the individuals and values I characterize and can proceed to combat for.”
Cuellar’s workplace additionally demurred when requested if he plans to assist the invoice.
“The Congressman will likely be reviewing the invoice as soon as the ultimate model comes over to the Home from the Senate,” his workplace stated in a press release.
Different vocal members shut with the trade — U.S. Reps. Lizzie Fletcher of Houston, Marc Veasey of Fort Value and Colin Allred of Dallas — stated they intend to vote for the invoice.
However that assist comes as they’ve advocated towards earlier iterations of the methane charge and labored to make it extra according to what the trade felt was lifelike.
The oil and fuel trade initially criticized the methane charge because it appeared within the Construct Again Higher invoice as heaping undue monetary burden on the sector. Fletcher and Veasey, who each sit on the influential Vitality and Commerce Committee, wrote to social gathering leaders final September echoing trade complaints.
“The tax adjustments being proposed will additional reduce home manufacturing and endanger home refining capability whereas rising demand from the Group of the Petroleum Exporting International locations,” the Democrats wrote to Home Democratic management on Sept. 13. Cuellar and Gonzalez additionally signed the letter, together with Allred; Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston; and then- Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville.
A number of of the largest oil and fuel trade teams, together with the American Fuel Affiliation and the Unbiased Petroleum Affiliation of America, despatched an analogous letter to congressional management in regards to the methane charge the identical day.
Garcia’s workplace didn’t reply to the Tribune’s question on whether or not she would assist the ultimate laws, however she voted for the primary Home model and has indicated assist for measures bringing down gas and well being care prices in public statements. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, one other Houston Democrat who has been a vocal advocate for the state’s oil and fuel sector, wrote on Twitter that she would assist the invoice, citing its well being care advantages, significantly for the uninsured.
Cuellar ended up becoming a member of the remainder of the Texas Democrats in voting for the primary iteration of the Construct Again Higher invoice, which handed the Home in November on social gathering strains. However he by no means reneged on his misgivings in regards to the methane charge and stated on the time he would attempt to get the Senate to ax it.
“The proposed methane charge will have an effect on vitality independence, enhance fuel costs, and damage job alternatives,” Cuellar tweeted in December. “We should assist local weather pleasant insurance policies whereas defending jobs.”
Cuellar and Gonzalez each face aggressive races in South Texas, the place Republicans are tapping into the area’s social conservatism, sturdy vitality focus and border proximity to make headways. U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, flipped the thirty fourth Congressional District in a particular election this summer season after an inflow of GOP money. And Republicans have lengthy made the methane charge out to be a punitive tax on the nation’s oil and fuel trade, which Cuellar regularly factors out accounts for over 40,000 jobs in his district alone.
However not all oil and fuel Democrats are in the identical boat. Whereas Cuellar’s and Gonzalez’s districts embrace quite a few smaller oil and fuel corporations and impartial drilling operations, Fletcher’s business-focused Houston district homes company heads of multinational oil majors, and he or she usually brings world financial views to her personal social gathering’s discussions on vitality coverage.
Throughout an April Home Vitality and Commerce listening to with the highest executives of the nation’s greatest oil corporations, Fletcher pushed again on the party-line back-and-forth between Democrats, who accused oil corporations of greedily inflating costs, and Republicans, who accused the Biden administration of actively killing oil manufacturing.
“I’m so dissatisfied that a lot of the questioning immediately has centered round scoring political factors and blaming others relatively than taking a critical have a look at the challenges we face and their drivers, in addition to how we are able to really handle them,” Fletcher stated throughout the listening to.
When the Home voted in Might on a invoice to fight gasoline price-gouging by oil corporations and decrease prices for customers, Cuellar and Gonzalez voted for the invoice whereas Fletcher was certainly one of solely 4 Democrats to vote towards it. Main trade teams rejected the premise of the invoice, saying oil corporations had been topic to complicated world market forces in setting costs relatively than maliciously milking Individuals of additional cents per gallon — a degree Fletcher reiterated in justifying her vote.
“I labored actually constructively with [fellow Democrats] to make sure that our data and expertise from right here in Texas is mirrored within the insurance policies to cut back emissions and obtain local weather objectives,” Fletcher stated in an interview. “And that the vitality provisions that we had been speaking about by way of this coverage had been workable with how the vitality trade really operates.”
Texas Democrats usually discover themselves in an educating function on how the vitality trade works, Allred stated.
“I’ve actually been part of my clutches, if you’ll, on the Home ground, the place like, Lizzie and I, possibly Henry, are explaining to our colleagues why sure issues are literally good which might be occurring within the oil and fuel sector or why it’s not so simple as form of nationwide speaking factors might sound,” Allred stated.
Fletcher’s and Veasey’s seats on the Vitality and Commerce Committee additionally gave them main roles in modifying the methane charge to make it extra honest for particular person drilling corporations and creating the model that ended up within the remaining Home invoice textual content handed by the decrease chamber final yr.
The most recent iteration of the invoice that the Senate takes on this weekend contains even additional adjustments to the methane charge to win over fossil gas pursuits, together with doubling the quantity of grant cash out there for smaller drilling operations in locations like South Texas to satisfy emissions targets. It additionally gives an opt-out in case the Environmental Safety Company creates new methane tips for the trade after a number of of the charge’s critics stated it could be redundant with pending EPA guidelines.
Sen. Tom Carper, D-Delaware, one of many chief architects of the methane charge, negotiated with Manchin for months after the preliminary Construct Again Higher package deal collapsed on the behest of Biden and Schumer to craft the model palatable to the West Virginian, a Senate Democratic aide stated.
“When designing the methane emissions discount program, we did so in a manner that might reward these within the oil and fuel trade that embrace this expertise and take early motion after which, over time, cost those who don’t,” Carper stated in a press release. “This system has a little-to-zero affect on customers and can scale back the quantity of home vitality wasted yearly.”
These adjustments gained better assist from trade, with the Interstate Pure Fuel Affiliation of America calling the adjustments “appreciable enhancements” to the Home model. Fletcher, who’s in common contact with a few of the greatest oil and fuel curiosity teams, advised the Tribune that the trade seems largely on board with the brand new methane charge.
Gonzalez additionally stated in his assertion to the Tribune that there are “definitely enhancements to the Methane Charge and the general impact this invoice has on the vitality trade” however added that “there are nonetheless some regarding provisions.” James Rivera, a spokesperson for Gonzalez, didn’t go into what these provisions had been however stated, “We’re carefully following what is occurring within the Senate. In the long run, we simply need to be certain that this helps South Texans.”
Nonetheless, Allred and Veasey stated they had been assured their fellow Texas Democrats would assist the invoice, with Veasey saying there was “one thing there for everybody.” The invoice mandates oil and fuel lease gross sales in federal waters, which is a serious win for the trade after months of complaints that the administration was dragging its toes on leasing new tracts. And past vitality, the invoice additionally expands the Inexpensive Care Act program for 3 years and lowers prescription drug costs.
“On the finish of the day, it’s going to be one thing that we are able to all be happy with, and it’s one thing that President Biden made an enormous a part of his agenda,” Veasey stated when requested if he was nervous about any defections in his caucus. “So I’ve no issues in any respect in that space.”
Disclosure: The Environmental Protection Fund has been a monetary supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan information group that’s funded partly by donations from members, foundations and company sponsors. Monetary supporters play no function within the Tribune’s journalism. Discover a full listing of them right here.
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Texas
North Texas SC Defeats Real Monarchs 2-1 | North Texas SC
![North Texas SC Defeats Real Monarchs 2-1 | North Texas SC](https://images.mlssoccer.com/image/private/t_q-best/mls-dal/kgku7fjddjmtowjeilna.png)
Herriman, Utah (June 30, 2024) – North Texas SC (8-1-5, 33 points) obtained its fifth road win of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season after defeating Real Monarchs (4-9-1, 14 points) 2-1 from Zions Bank Stadium. Second half goals from Enes Sali and Isaiah Parker sealed the comeback win for North Texas.
FIRST WIN IN THE GARBINI ERA
Interim head coach Michel Garbini earned his first win since being appointed interim head coach on June 11. Garbini made his North Texas SC interim head coach debut on June 22 in North Texas’ 3-3 draw versus Austin FC II.
NORTH TEXAS HEAT
With tonight’s 2-1 win over Real Monarchs on the road, North Texas SC is on a six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1). The team has scored 16 goals and conceded only six in the last six matches since starting the unbeaten run.
THREE IN A ROW
Forward Enes Sali scored his fifth goal of the season in the 63rd minute of the match via a penalty kick. Sali is the first North Texas SC player to score in three consecutive matches this season. Two of the three goals scored were away from home.
PARKER FLYING DOWN THE WING
FC Dallas 2022 SuperDraft Pick Isaiah Parker netted his first goal of the 2024 season. Parker’s last goal for North Texas was on September 3, 2022, against MNUFC2 in a 2-1 win. He became the eighth different goal scorer for North Texas SC this season.
JUNE RECORD
North Texas SC finished the month of June unbeaten with a 3-0-1 record. The three wins came on the road and the draw at home. North Texas holds an all-time record of 11-5-4 when playing in June since 2019.
UP NEXT: KICKING JULY OFF BY HOSTING THE TWOSIES
North Texas SC hosts MNUFC2 on Wednesday, July 3, at Choctaw Stadium. The match kicks off at 7:45PM CT and will be available to watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Texas
Reports: Texas A&M baseball hiring Washington head coach Jason Kelly as next pitching coach
![Reports: Texas A&M baseball hiring Washington head coach Jason Kelly as next pitching coach](https://gray-kbtx-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HP7WNBYWKFBWBI2O4BEAHN3HZY.png?auth=1618de782b14d532e5fe34908415eec4945ea4307aed48afd260a0177a282673&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Texas A&M baseball is set to hire Washington head coach Jason Kelly as its next pitching coach, as first reported by The Eagle.
Kelly’s hire comes hours after former pitching coach Michael Earley signed to become the Aggies’ head coach.
Other reports are out that A&M is targeting Texas pitching coach Caleb Longley to join the staff.
Kelly spent the past two years as the head coach for the Huskies after seven seasons as the Huskies’ pitching coach.
In Kelly’s first season at the helm of the UW program, Washington had a 17-12 league record was good for third in the standings. The Huskies garnered a 35-20 overall record, earning the 12th NCAA Regional bid in program-history. The 35 wins were the second most by a first-year head coach for the Huskies.
Six players from Kelly’s inaugural UW squad were selected in the 2023 MLB Draft, the second time Washington has had at least five players drafted since 2014. Kiefer Lord, taken 86th overall by the Baltimore Orioles, became the highest-drafted Husky since 2015. Case Matter (Texas Rangers), Stu Flesland III (Colorado Rockies), Johnny Tincher (Cleveland Guardians), Will Simpson (Oakland Athletics) and Coby Morales (New York Yankees) also heard their names called.
In 2024, Washington had a 19-31-1 record and missed the postseason.
Copyright 2024 KBTX. All rights reserved.
Texas
Peyton Manning Reveals His Relationship with Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning
![Peyton Manning Reveals His Relationship with Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2856,h_1606,x_0,y_25/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/name_image_likeness/01j1kt3ns76syxy0mgd0.jpg)
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning is set to begin the 2024 college football season as the backup to Quinn Ewers. More than likely, fans will have to wait until next season to see him in action.
Despite being a backup quarterback, Manning is one of the most popular names across the nation.
A lot of his popularity comes from him being the nephew of former NFL superstars Peyton and Eli Manning. However, he has also shown massive potential for the future.
Many fans are curious about just how much the young Manning works with his uncles. Peyton Manning, especially, is viewed as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play football.
In a recent quote during the Manning Pass Academy, Peyton opened up about his relationship with Arch.
“I’m well-documented on how proud we are of Arch. I try to be a resource to him. He and I worked out several weeks ago together.”
Clearly, Peyton has been a key mentor for the young quarterback. While he has been a mentor and a resource, he doesn’t seem to be taking a very active role in Arch’s development.
At this point in time, no one knows exactly what to expect from Manning’s future. Until he’s on the field and playing, no one knows if he will live up to the hype.
Even though he hasn’t played much as a college football player, he has found plenty of success.
His success has come off-the-field, in the form of the NIL market.
Right now, Manning ranks No. 3 among all NIL athletes. The only two athletes ahead of him are Shedeur Sanders and Livvy Dunne.
Currently, the young quarterback has received an NIL valuation of $2.8 million. That is an insane number for a player who has only thrown five passes as a college quarterback.
All of that being said, Manning is staying ready for an opportunity to play. He knows it likely won’t be this season, but he’s one injury or a slow start from Quinn Ewers away from possibly seeing playing time.
Expect to see the young quarterback continue racking up impressive NIL money. He has stayed the course and has handled his situation perfectly. A bright future awaits him with the Longhorns when his number is finally called.
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