BG Reads | News You Need to Know (March 11, 2020)
[BG PODCAST]
NEW -> Episode 78 - Bingham Group Supports the Austin Sunshine Camps (LINK TO SHOW)
Founded in 1928 the Austin Sunshine Camps (ASC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that has opened a world of possibilities to the youth of Central Texas by providing free week-long summer camps to low-income families. (NOTE: Campers must qualify for the Texas public school free and reduced lunch program to be eligible to attend.)
Located inside Zilker Park near Barton Springs Pool, ASC serves campers 7 – 11 years of age. The camp program, under the supervision of experienced counselors, offers activities such as swimming in Barton Springs or Deep Eddy pool, fishing, canoeing, handicrafts, nature study, hikes, games, and a ropes course with a variety of elements including a team wall, and trust fall. Transportation to camp and three meals a day is included.
Bingham Group is a proud ASC supporter and is committing $10,000 to its annual fundraising campaign. (See also, 2019 ASC Annual Report).
Here is a breakdown of where funding goes:
One Child’s Camp Session for a Week ($500)
Canoe Rentals for 200 Kids ($100)
Food and Snacks for a Day ($25)
Camp bedding ($50)
Please consider a donation today through April 1st.
[AUSTIN METRO]
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt Resigns To Run For Texas Senate (KUT)
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt resigned her position on the Commissioners Court Tuesday, launching her campaign for the Texas Senate seat being vacated by Kirk Watson. Eckhardt wiped away tears as she told her colleagues, “I really love Travis County. … This is the most fun and challenging job I’ve ever had.”
“Today I am resigning from this great job, but I pledge that I will never resign from public service,” she said.
As expected, commissioners accepted Eckhardt’s resignation and voted unanimously to appoint former County Judge Sam Biscoe to take over in her stead until a new county judge is elected in November.
Biscoe appeared briefly at the commissioners meeting room while they were in executive session, but did not wait to see the vote. He told the Austin Monitor he would be happy to do the job for eight or nine months, but he would not want to do it for four years. Biscoe retired at the end of 2014, after serving as both a county commissioner and county judge.
Eckhardt, who served as an assistant county attorney and commissioner for Precinct 2, explained that she would be leaving the county after 20 years of service. “I started when I was 12,” she said, lightening the mood. But she expressed no illusions about how difficult life would be if she won the race, saying there would be “dark days in the Senate chamber.” … (LINK TO FULL STORY)
Travis County continues to monitor coronavirus risk for Rodeo Austin, other upcoming mass events (Community Impact)
Following the declaration of a local state of disaster in Travis County and the city of Austin regarding the novel coronavirus, county officials continue to evaluate the risks associated with mass gatherings, including Rodeo Austin, which is slated to run March 14-28.
The disaster declaration, which County Judge Sarah Eckhardt signed last week along with Austin Mayor Greg Adler, prohibits mass gatherings of 2,500 or more people to move forward without expressed approval from relevant city or county authorities. The Travis County Commissioners Court affirmed the declaration at a March 10 meeting, voting unanimously to extend the declaration until such time the body decides to rescind it.
At present, Rodeo Austin—held at Luedecke Arena, which has stadium seating for 6,400—plans to proceed, although local authorities are continuing to monitor the event’s risk, according to discussion at the March 10 meeting… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
UT Austin opens health clinic, weighs closure plan as it prepares for potential coronavirus spread (KUT)
UT Austin said Monday it’s preparing to move all classes online if COVID-19 cases are confirmed in the Austin area. The university is also advising students on how to avoid spreading the disease and how to travel safely over spring break… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[TEXAS]
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott asks health insurance providers to waive coronavirus costs (Office of the Governor)
March 10, 2020 - Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) today announced that they have asked health insurers and health maintenance organizations operating in Texas to waive costs associated with the testing and telemedicine visits for the diagnosis of coronavirus (COVID-19). Additionally, TDI is requesting that insurers report their actions related to consumer cost-sharing and access to services so that the department can ensure consumers are aware of their available benefits.
"We must ensure no Texan is denied access to testing resources relating to coronavirus," said Governor Abbott. "Texans who are concerned that they may have coronavirus should seek medical attention in the most appropriate setting, and telemedicine is a good first medical encounter for anyone experiencing mild symptoms. Consulting a physician from home is a practical way to avoid getting sick, prevent the spread of the virus, and help ensure that emergency rooms are available for those who truly need them. We appreciate the collaboration of health insurers operating in Texas to enhance our state's proactive approach to addressing any potential outbreaks of COVID-19. The State of Texas is unwavering in our commitment to protecting the health and safety of all Texans."… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
"I did a horrible job," House Speaker Dennis Bonnen says of meeting that led to his political downfall (Texas Tribune)
In his first interview since he announced his retirement, House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, on Tuesday said he was sorry for how he handled a secretly recorded meeting that led to his political downfall. He also suggested he did next to nothing wrong amid the fallout and defended his reason for participating in the 2019 get-together with a fellow lawmaker and a hardline conservative activist.
“If you listen to the recording, I did a horrible job,” Bonnen told Lubbock radio host Chad Hasty, referring to a June meeting with Empower Texans’ Michael Quinn Sullivan and state Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock. “I screwed up badly … I did a really poor job in that meeting and I’m very sorry for that.”
In July, Sullivan revealed he had secretly recorded the meeting and for months played it for certain Republicans before he publicly released it. The recording largely proved Sullivan’s allegations, including that Bonnen offered his group media access to the House floor if its well-funded political action committee targeted 10 Republicans in the 2020 primary… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
San Antonio’s largest demographic underrepresented on city boards and commissions (San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio’s Latino community makes up nearly two-thirds of the city’s population but when it comes to the boards and commissions that help create the city’s laws and determine its future, Latinos are vastly underrepresented.. Out of about 800 people currently serving on the city’s boards, commissions and committees, only a third identified as Latino or Hispanic, according to data from the San Antonio City Clerk’s office.
The numbers are stark: 64 percent of the population is Latino, but they’re only 33 percent of the city’s appointed panels. “We need to ask who is not at the table on these boards and commissions,” City Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran said. “We need to look at who is not represented and ask ‘Why not?’” There are about 90 city boards and commissions, many of which are instrumental in setting policy and making decisions that affect daily life in San Antonio. Panels such as the Zoning Commission, which conducts public hearings related to what kinds of businesses and residences can be located in which neighborhoods; the Arts Commission that recommends who gets city money for art projects and decides what can and can’t be exhibited in city facilities; and the Citizen Advisory Action Board, which discusses and votes on complaints filed against police officers… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
[NATION]
Sanders assesses path forward after more big Biden wins (AXIOS)
The big question for Bernie Sanders after Tuesday night's losses: Is there a path back to the Democratic nomination, or is Joe Biden's trajectory unstoppable?
The state of play: Notably, Sanders did not comment on the results. Pressure ramped up on him to concede and Biden carefully began to turn his remarks to the general election after extending his delegate lead in "Super Tuesday 2," with wins in Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri and Idaho… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
White House likely to pursue federal aid for shale companies hit by oil shock, coronavirus downturn (Texas Tribune)
The White House is strongly considering pushing federal assistance for oil and natural gas producers hit by plummeting oil prices amid the coronavirus outbreak, as industry officials close to the administration clamor for help, according to four people familiar with internal deliberations.
President Donald Trump has touted the growth of oil and natural gas production under his administration, celebrating their rise in politically crucial swing states such as Pennsylvania. But many oil and gas firms were hammered Monday by the price war that broke out between Saudi Arabia and Russia, driving oil prices down in their steepest one-day drop in almost 30 years.
White House officials are alarmed at the prospect that numerous shale companies, many of them deep in debt, could be driven out of business if the downturn in oil prices turns into a prolonged crisis for the industry. The federal assistance is likely to take the form of low-interest government loans to the shale companies, whose lines of credit to major financial institutions have been choked off, three people said… (LINK TO FULL STORY)
The Bingham Group, LLC is an Austin-based full service lobbying firm representing and advising clients on municipal, legislative, and regulatory matters throughout Texas.
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