Davis Announces; Email Snag?; Appeals Court Won’t Halt Texas Voter Law;
VP Biden Calls Park Ranger who was Confronted by U.S. Rep. Neugebauer
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Good afternoon from Austin.
The University of Texas football team remains undefeated in Big XII play — barely.
Here’s the brief:
DAVIS ANNOUNCES FOR GOVERNOR
State Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) announced for Governor yesterday afternoon in Haltom City.
These are the two stories to click about her announcement:
> TT’s Justin Dehn and Alana Rocha report in a local TV news -style piece on the announcement.
> AP’s Paul Weber reports on the likely match-up between State Sen. Davis and Republican gubernatorial candidate and Attorney General Greg Abbott (R-TX).
DAVIS CAMPAIGN EMAIL MISTAKE
Politico reports that the Davis campaign mistakenly sent supporters, via email, to an opposition website rather than her own.
Her site: http://www.WendyDavisTexas.com
Opposition site: http://www.WendyDavisForTexas.
APPEALS COURT WON’T HALT TEXAS VOTER LAW
Chron’s Harvey Rice reports:
GALVESTON – A district judged erred by partially blocking the enforcement of new Texas voter registration laws while a lawsuit alleging that the laws suppress voting goes forward, a federal appeals court has ruled.
A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit of Appeals said in a 2-1 opinion issued Thursday that there was not enough evidence to allow a preliminary injunction preventing the enforcement of five registration law provisions.
“Appellees have not established a strong likelihood of prevailing on the merits of their claims,” wrote Judge Edith Jones, joined by Judge Jerry Smith.
Judge W. Eugene Davis dissented, saying the state laws conflict with federal election laws.
“In short, I would affirm the district court’s thorough, well-reasoned opinion,” Davis wrote, referring to U.S. District Judge Greg Costa.
An emergency three-judge panel blocked Costa’s injunction before the November elections last year, leaving the final decision to Jones’ panel.
The lawsuit, which alleges that Texas laws make it difficult to register voters and that they violate the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, will go forward, civil rights attorney Chad Dunn said.
“I can assure you the case is gong to continue,” Dunn said. “Texas is now the only state in the country where it is a criminal offense to run an organized voter registration drive.”
The plaintiffs can challenge the panel’s ruling by asking for a review by all 22 judges on 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, known as an en banc hearing. They also can appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court or accept the ruling and focus on the lawsuit, Dunn said.
Dunn represents two Galveston County residents and the nonprofit voter registration group Voting for America, an affiliate of the nonpartisan Project Vote based in Washington, D.C. The lawsuit names Texas Secretary of State John Steen.
The Texas Attorney General’s office, representing the state in the case, issued a statement saying it was “pleased that the courts have once again reaffirmed the Texas Legislature’s ability to adopt common-sense election laws that are designed to instill confidence in our electoral process and prevent election fraud.” It called the lawsuit a political stunt.
The lawsuit says that the laws make it impossible for Voting for America to register voters in Texas, although it is able to do so in other states. Abbott’s office argues that the laws prevent vote fraud.
The five provisions blocked by Costa make it illegal for Voting for America to use non-Texas volunteers as deputy registrars, prevent deputy registrars from registering voters from another county, forbid payment to deputy registrars, forbid the photocopying or scanning of voter registration applications, and forbid sending completed voter registration forms by mail.
VP BIDEN CALLS PARK RANGER CONFRONTED BY U.S. REP. NEUGEBAUER
DMN’s Emily Wilkins reports:
The Park Ranger told she should feel ashamed by Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, got an apology — from Vice President Joe Biden.
“I’m proud of you,” Biden told her during a phone call, according to a post on his official Twitter feed last night.
Neugebauer’s confrontation with the ranger occurred while a group of veterans were visiting the WWII Memorial. Although park rangers did not stop veterans from seeing the memorial, they have kept the public out during the government shutdown, as all national parks, museums, monuments and memorial are closed.
The Park Service announced that veterans seeking to visit the WWII Memorial through the Honor Flight Network will not be barred — good news for a group of Texas veterans planning to visit this afternoon.
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, and a dozen or more other Texas lawmakers plan to meet them at the memorial, an aide said.
Neugebauer’s office has not responded messages seeking comment on the incident, footage of which has spread rapidly online.
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#txlege
– House Natural Resources chairman Allan Ritter (R-Nederland) has announced he will not seek reelection.
– TT announced they have hired QR’s John Reynolds.
2013 / 2014 / 2016:
– TT’s Alexa Ura reports on the race to replace State Sen. Davis.
– The Chron reports on the potential candidacies of State Sen. Carols Uresti (D-San Antonio) to run for Attorney General and State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) to run for Lt. Gov.
Other stories of interest:
– A Travis County grand jury has decided not to indict Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg.
– The largest oil producing counties in Texas are in the Eagle Ford.
Lighter clicks:
– The perfect doctor’s note.
– Big XII: Officials made correct call on disputed late UT touchdown.
– Condi Rice to join College Football Playoff panel?
Your Daily Source of Inspiration:
– An inspiring column from SAEN’s Josh Brodesky.
