March 2, 2021

Michigan ranks low in government transparency. Ballot drive would extend FOIA

LANSING — Michigan is saddled with a failing grade on government transparency as one of just two states that exempts the governor and legislators from public records requests, but voters could have the choice to change that in 2022 if lawmakers don’t do it first.

Progress Michigan on Monday announced plans for an initiative that will propose “full repeal” of exemptions in the state’s Freedom of Information Act, which requires officials at all other levels of government to release emails and other documents to the public upon request.

Transparency advocates in the Michigan Legislature are expected to propose their own public records request legislation this month, but officials with the liberal advocacy group indicated they are tired of waiting for action in Lansing.

The Republican-House approved bills to ease transparency in 2017 and 2019, only to have them die in the Senate.

Read more: https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-ranks-low-government-transparency-ballot-drive-would-extend-foia

March 2, 2021

Michigan Gov. Whitmer's ex-health director got $155K separation agreement

LANSING — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration paid former Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon $155,506 as part of a separation agreement that prohibits him from discussing his departure.

Gordon and Mark Totten, chief legal counsel for the Democratic governor, both signed the agreement Feb. 22, exactly one month after the health director abruptly resigned his post in a move he first publicly announced on Twitter.

“In the interest of protecting deliberations among government officials, the parties agree to maintain confidentiality regarding (Gordon’s) departure from employment unless required by law to release such information,” reads the agreement, first reported Monday by The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press.

While confidentiality clauses and employee separation agreements are common in private industry, health department spokesperson Bob Wheaton said the document “speaks for itself” when asked by Bridge Michigan how often the state includes similar deals for departing employees.

Read more: https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-gov-whitmers-ex-health-director-got-155k-separation-agreement

March 2, 2021

Texas lawmaker: Rename part of I-35 the 'Steve Adler Public Restroom Highway'

An East Texas Republican wants to name a portion of Interstate 35 in downtown Austin with language mocking Mayor Steve Adler for the city's homelessness problem.

State Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City, filed a bill, HB 2471, Monday to designate the stretch of the interstate from Fourth Street to 11th Street the Steve Adler Public Restroom Highway. The area has been a magnet for tent encampments since the Austin City Council voted two years ago to repeal the city's ban on public camping.

In an interview with the American-Statesman, Slaton, a rookie lawmaker, said he came up with the idea after speaking with lobbyists, Republicans and Democrats who all told him they were fed up with Austin's homelessness problem. He said he recently moved to Austin for the session and had a hard time finding an apartment in an area he felt was safe.

"All they're talking about is the overall safety in Austin, and no one's excited about it," he said. "They think Austin's way different now and not for the better.

Read more: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/03/01/bill-would-rename-35-stretch-mock-austin-mayor-over-homelessness/6874329002/

Another Republican wasting everyone's time with crackpot legislation. It's not like people are begging to move to Royse City.

March 2, 2021

Felonies may not keep Arlington mayoral candidate from running. Here's why.

A two-time convicted felon is running for mayor in Arlington, and the city says he can remain on the ballot unless it is presented proof he did not have his “full citizenship rights restored.” But what exactly that means has caused confusion surrounding candidates’ eligibility in local races across the state.

Jerry Warden, who filed Feb. 11 in the crowded eight-person mayor race, holds a lifetime listing in the state’s sex offender registry after his conviction in 1996 of aggravated kidnapping and sexual abuse of a 24-year-old woman. A grand jury also found Warden guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in 1995, according to Tarrant County criminal records. He served time for both felony charges at the same time.

State election laws prohibit people with felony convictions from running unless they are pardoned or had their full citizenship rights restored. Warden signed off on his application that he had his rights restored. He said in a phone interview with the Star-Telegram that his rights were restored after he served his sentences.

Texas Election Code states that candidates must be pardoned from their felonies or “otherwise released from the resulting disabilities.” Lawmakers have in recent years proposed clarifying or eliminating the line.

Read more: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/arlington/article249522045.html

March 2, 2021

Supreme Court ends 12-year Fort Worth legal battle over $100 million in church property

A breakaway diocese in Fort Worth will retain the rights to $100 million in property and assets after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to weigh in on the case between the diocese and the national Episcopal Church, upholding a previous decision by the Texas Supreme Court.

The decision is the beginning of the end of a 12-year legal battle between the national Episcopal Church and the Fort Worth-area diocese. In 2008, Rev. Jack Iker led a revolt against the church, condemning the national Episcopal Church for socially liberal practices, such as the consecration of a gay bishop. About 15,000 local congregants from 48 churches followed his lead. Eight churches did not follow suit and remained loyal to the national Episcopal Church. Other churches’ congregations were split, forcing those in the minority to find other places to worship.

The breakaway diocese is now part of the more conservative Anglican Church of North America. As a conservative church leader, Iker disagreed with the Episcopal Church’s practices of ordaining women as priests, overseeing same-sex unions and the consecration of a gay bishop.

Contrary to status quo, the Anglican Church group wished to leave the official church but still retain $100 million worth of property, buildings and investments. The national church pushed back, arguing that the property belonged to them.

Read more: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article249433970.html

March 2, 2021

Second Fort Worth police officer fired for 'racially insensitive' social media post

The Fort Worth Police Department fired an officer Monday for making a “racially insensitive” social media post, according to the police department.

The officer is the fourth person to be fired by Chief Neil Noakes since February.

On Feb. 5, another officer found the social media post by Officer Kelly Kujawski, according to a news release. Internal Affairs investigated and Noakes reviewed the findings of the investigation. He and the chain of command determined Kujawski violated general orders and brought unfavorable criticism upon the department.

She was fired on Monday for violating the department’s social media policy. The press release did not specify what Kujawski posted on social media.

Read more: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article249617248.html

March 2, 2021

Texas telephone companies team up in lawsuit against Public Utilities Commission

More than 50 Texas telephone companies and co-ops have sued the state’s Public Utilities Commission for reductions it made in payments from a fund meant to guarantee phone service to rural residents.

The lawsuit alleges the Texas Universal Service Fund shrank as a result of PUC inaction, leading to a 70 percent cut in payments to phone service providers.

Since 1987, the fund has subsidized carriers to offset high costs of providing phone service to rural areas that account for 55 percent of Texas’ land mass, an area larger than Montana. Currently, the fund doesn’t subsidize broadband service.

The legal dust-up is more than a spat over a fund based on 34-year-old legislation. It’s part of a protracted battle between landline and wireless telephone companies, a sign of how technology is changing how people communicate and how laws struggle to keep up.

Read more: https://www.mysanantonio.com/sa-inc/article/Texas-telephone-companies-team-up-in-lawsuit-15979359.php

March 2, 2021

'It's unsurprising': Joaquin Castro points out the lack of Latino representation at Golden Globes

A San Antonio Congressman is sticking up for the Latino community.

While the nation watched the Golden Globes Sunday evening, Joaquin Castro noticed a lack of Latino actors, writers, and creators in the award show. And, he took to Twitter to share his thoughts.

"Latinos are almost completely missing at the @goldenglobes – it's unsurprising and unacceptable," the San Antonio native politician said. "The film industry must address the pernicious lack of opportunity and representation of Latino Americans. The stories that Hollywood tells affect how entire communities are perceived."

https://twitter.com/JoaquinCastrotx/status/1366226278706262017

Castro added in a comment on his tweet that he uses the word "pernicious" because the status quo is toxic, harmful, and dangerous to Latinos in American society. In another tweet, he noted Hollywood as a system is very "insular," "exclusionary," and "regressive." Castro said some individuals in the system are progressive, but pointed out the system as a whole is among the least progressive industries in America.

Read more: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Joaquin-Castro-calls-out-Golden-Globes-15988060.php

March 2, 2021

Jimmy Kimmel Live: Trump Emerges for Crazy Self-Love Fest at CPAC

March 2, 2021

Lawyer for TX AG's office repeatedly tries to block testimony and evidence at whistleblower hearing

by Kate McGee, Texas Tribune


The first hearing in a whistleblower lawsuit against the Texas Attorney general’s office mostly consisted of objections Monday as the agency’s lawyer opposed the vast majority of questions lawyers asked two former agency employees who testified.

Attorney William Helfand repeatedly lobbed those protests after he unsuccessfully tried to get the judge in the case to dismiss the lawsuit outright. But Travis County District Judge Amy Clark Meachum said Monday she wasn’t yet ready to determine whether the lawsuit should be dismissed. She instead permitted testimony on a request for a temporary injunction that would allow two of the whistleblowers to have their jobs in Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office back.

At one point, Helfand also filed an appeal to halt the temporary injunction testimony from happening.

“It’s starting to feel like you might be just elongating things for the purpose of elongating them rather than actually in good faith responding to arguments,” Meachum told Helfand before she allowed the hearing to continue.

-snip-

The four plaintiffs are seeking reinstatement and compensation for lost wages and future loss of earnings. They also are seeking damages for emotional pain and suffering. If they win, the taxpayers will cover most of the litigation costs.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/03/01/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-whistleblower-hearing/

I wouldn't want to return to my job knowing that I would face a hostile work environment. Most likely those whistleblowers would be assigned to duties that would make them want to leave state employment.