Voting rights ‘worth going to jail for,’ says Senfronia Thompson
In a virtual press conference with Texas House Democrats from Harris County, members gave updates about their activities in the nation’s Capitol. The lawmakers fled Austin last week in order to break quorum and prevent Republican legislation that would restrict access...
Texas city backs down from anti-abortion ordinance
Yesterday, an anti-abortion ordinance in Edinburg, the third largest city in the Rio Grande Valley, which would have outlawed abortions and made the town a “sanctuary city for the unborn,” failed at the city council. Numerous abortion advocates testified during a...
Musings: The pandemic isn’t over.
Just in case you’ve missed the news, I’d like to begin my column this week with a very specific warning: Across the United States, coronavirus cases are surging. In Texas, we’re feeling that problem more than most states, as we continue to badly lag in our vaccination...
At long last, Abbott gets sucker-punched for voter suppression
Texas Democrats have shown incredible restraint. The minority party has fled the state to break quorum only three times, disrupting legislation that would help keep Republicans in power on every occasion. That’s no fickle standard — it may even be too...
Op-Ed: Texas Democrats are taking a stand for our democracy
Texas Democrats have left the building, and they have my full support. Breaking quorum is an extreme but legitimate action that lawmakers can take in order to stop egregious legislation. Republicans have tried to spin this many different ways, but let’s be clear –...
After DACA ruling, immigration activists demand action from Congress
On Friday, Judge Andrew Hanen delivered a ruling that many immigration advocates had been both fearing and anticipating: DACA is officially “unlawful.” The news immediately reverberated around the country as lawmakers, and even the White House, vowed to deliver on...
The People’s Lawyer, Lee Merritt on his run for Texas AG
Last week, Dallas Civil Rights Attorney Lee Merritt launched his bid for attorney general of Texas against Republican incumbent Ken Paxton. The Texas Signal spoke with Merritt about the launch of his campaign, key issues in the Texas legislation, and his...
The voting rights bills Texas Democrats are fighting for in Washington
By leaving the state and breaking quorum, Texas Democrats have halted the GOP’s assault on voting rights, for now. However, this is merely a delaying tactic. In order to completely halt voter suppression, federal legislation will be needed. Texas Democratic lawmakers...
Op-ed: Joe Manchin it’s time to stop obstructing Biden’s agenda
Senator Joe Manchin, one of the most conservative Democrats in the Senate, has become a household name thanks to his signature brand of obstructing any attempt by President Biden to improve the material conditions of Americans. The mainstream media and pundits on TV...
Erin Zwiener: Mother, quorum-breaker, democracy defender
Four days ago, more than fifty Texas House Democrats made national headlines when they broke quorum and traveled to Washington, D.C., to put Republicans’ voter suppression tactics in the national spotlight. One of the most outspoken members of the group has been Rep....
‘I’m not just gonna sit here and take my whoopin’: Alex Dominguez brings his Valley swagger to D.C.
If Alex Dominguez is anything, he’s fiery. A leading voice in the Texas Democratic Caucus, the District 37 representative out of Brownsville has proven time and again that he’s not afraid of a fight. Here, he shares the latest developments about House Democrats’ D.C....
Op-Ed: Biden should invest in Texas communities by closing immigration detention centers
Last month, the Department of Homeland Security announced plans to end the contracts for two immigration detention centers in Georgia and Massachusetts after allegations of abuse. While this is welcome news, it must be just the beginning of the administration’s...
Jasmine Crockett zeroes in on Senate holdouts against voting rights legislation
On Thursday, Texas Signal spoke with State Rep. Jasmine Crockett about what’s happening in Washington. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity. How have your meetings with the senators been going? I know that you’ve met with several,...
Saturday marks Abbott’s deadline for federal unemployment benefits
Following a decision by Gov. Greg Abbott, federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits are ending Saturday — more than 70 days before the federal benefits actually expire. That includes a weekly $300 unemployment supplement that continues to be relied on by...
An inside look at Texas Democrats in Washington with Trey Martinez Fischer
On Wednesday evening, the Signal spoke with state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, a San Antonio Democrat and longtime veteran of the Texas House who has joined fellow Texas Democrats in Washington to break quorum and fight for voting rights legislation. The...