Most Conservative Legislative Session In 30 Years

The Economist: “If Texas is dancing the two-step, it is doing so with two right feet. Bills that might not have even been given a hearing in previous legislative sessions are passing both Republican-controlled chambers of the state legislature and being signed by the Republican governor, Greg Abbott.”

“This includes one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, which bans the procedure as early as six weeks and makes no exception for rape or incest. ‘Permitless carry,’ which enables those over the age of 21 to carry a handgun with them in public without going through training, fingerprinting or a background check, has also passed the legislature and will soon be signed into law. What once seemed a fringe preoccupation of a few lawmakers is now mainstream among Texas Republicans.”

“The same is true of a new voting bill, which puts restrictions on polling places and their hours of operation, and was expected to be signed into law… The session also underlined where the front-line in the culture-wars is now.”