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MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak
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FRIDAY || 6/13/2025 & SATURDAY || 6/142025
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“If something of importance is known in Texas, Matt knows it. With a decline in the number of credible news organizations, the Must Read Texas morning email is indispensable for anyone that wants to continue to be informed.” – Former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX)
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TOP NEWS
“Texas’ biggest political donor is calling out elected officials after striking out in the Legislature,” Houston Chronicle's Dylan McGuinness, Neena Satija and Matt Zdun – “Leaders for Texans for Lawsuit Reform, the biggest donor in Texas politics, say they have a simple strategy when trying to persuade state lawmakers: “We never make enemies,” President Lee Parsley said in late April. “We only make friends.”
But now that the Texas legislative session has concluded without lawmakers passing any of the group’s three high priority bills, TLR is taking a decidedly different tack.
In a blistering letter to members, Parsley called out by name the lawmakers he said stifled TLR’s agenda and all but promised to take them on in primary campaigns next March. He laid much of the blame on House Speaker Dustin Burrows’ shoulders.
The group’s political action committee “must redouble our efforts to elect strong, ethical, legislators who value a civil justice system that has integrity,” Parsley wrote in his letter to the group’s members last week.
Its signature priority, Senate Bill 30 – an effort to rein in medical costs in personal injury lawsuits – died after the House and Senate passed vastly different versions of the bill and could not reconcile the differences.
“I think it’s fair to say we may look at backing some primary challengers,” Parsley told the Houston Chronicle. “We’ll take a good look at what happened toward the end of session and decide how to engage politically, but the people who did not support TLR’s bill fully are certainly people who will be a focus for us.”
The legislative strikeout on these civil justice bills marks a low point for TLR, which won massive rewrites of the Texas civil justice code in the 1990s and early 2000s, spending millions to elect like-minded lawmakers and lobby them to pass the legislation. At its height, the group – led by Houston’s most prolific political donor, the homebuilder Richard Weekley – was largely seen as synonymous with the Texas Republican Party, positioning itself as the political voice of the state’s business community.
The group’s political action committee remains the top political spender in the state, spending $21.2 million on legislative races in 2024. The tone of its letter suggests the group could be on a warpath in the March primary elections. Instead of protecting incumbents, TLR could begin targeting members who bucked the group’s wishes.
“It did feel a little strange because TLR has basically gotten everything they wanted for a long time now, and the one time it seems like they didn’t, it feels like they’re throwing a tantrum about it,” said Andrew Cates, a Democratic legislative lawyer and former lobbyist in Austin. “Everybody else would have been licking their wounds and hanging back and trying to make nice.”
TLR’s letter alleged Burrows placed skeptical lawmakers on the key committees charged with shepherding SB30. It also called out state Rep. Marc LaHood, R-San Antonio, the main holdout on the House committee that forced significant revisions to the legislation; and state Rep. Mitch Little, R-Lewisville, who helped win passage of an amendment that TLR said made the bill “ineffective.” It named more than a dozen other Republican members as well, several of whom defeated TLR-backed candidates in last year’s GOP primaries.
Cates said the group’s criticism of Burrows was notable, since lobbying groups rarely take those kinds of disputes public. Burrows has been endorsed by President Donald Trump for another term, and speakers have broad power to block legislation in future sessions.
“The political capital is going to be really wasted if you come at him and miss,” Cates said.
When asked if TLR would support a primary candidate against the speaker, Parsley paused and said, “Not ready to comment on that.”
Other lawmakers responded to the accusations with barbs of their own. “Simply put, TLR lies,” LaHood wrote in a response on X.
Little told the Chronicle, “Obviously, they were upset with the outcome and looking for people to blame or attack, but I’ll just say on my part, I forgive them and I’m not offended by any of it. I understand that their policy agenda failed.”
Burrows’ office did not respond to requests for comment. But Little said TLR’s claim that Burrows led the effort to tank the legislation is “not true in any way.”" Hou Chron ($)
TOP NEWS
“Texas DPS arrests man in connection with threat against lawmakers at 'No Kings' protest” AAS ($)
#TXLEGE
“Gov. Greg Abbott to sign property tax relief bill in North Texas Monday” DMN ($)
STATE GOVERNMENT
“Gov. Greg Abbott already plotting out how he'll get his next legislative victory” SAEN ($)
“Texas AG challenges 23andMe bankruptcy over genetic data” AAS ($)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick uses statewide tour to make his case for Texas THC ban” SAEN ($)
“Group aiming to recall Mayor John Whitmire have set timeline for gathering signatures” Hou Chron ($)
2025
“Despite late scare, Gina Ortiz Jones easily won mayor’s race because of party politics” SAEN ($)
2026
“Aaron Reitz, former top DOJ official and Paxton aide, launches bid for Texas attorney general” Texas Tribune
“U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales draws GOP primary challenge from Cotulla rancher Susan Storey Rubio” Texas Tribune
TEXANS IN DC
“U.S. Senate moves to reimburse state border security expenses in its Big Beautiful Bill” DMN ($)
NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE
> TX TRIB: "See how your representatives in the Texas Legislature voted on this year’s major bills" TX TRIB
> HOU CHRON: "Gov. Greg Abbott is deploying 5,000 Texas National Guard troops to anti-Trump protests" HOU CHRON
> HOU CHRON: "Freeport leader fired as secret recording surfaces of threat to kill councilman" HOU CHRON
> TX TRIB: "Texas clarified when abortions are OK and aligned with RFK Jr. on health this legislative session" TX TRIB
> MRT: "Gov. Abbott deploys over 5,000 Texas National Guard troops ahead of planned 'No Kings' protests" MRT
> AAS: "Texas commits $50M to research psychedelic treatments for PTSD, opioid addiction" AAS
> EP TIMES: "Here are the new Texas laws that will affect trans and LGBTQ+ people" EP TIMES
> AAS: "Lakeway MUD: Balancing demands on Texas’ Colorado River" AAS
> HOU CHRON: "How Houston is preparing for thousands of No Kings Day protesters" HOU CHRON
> EP TIMES: "Texas lawmakers pushed bills aimed at illegal immigration. Here’s what passed and what failed." EP TIMES
> KXAN: "Abbott signs business-boosting bills in virtual ceremony with Houston leaders" KXAN
> SAEN: "Gov. Abbott deploys over 5,000 Texas National Guard troops ahead of planned 'No Kings' protests" SAEN
> KXAN: "‘Slap in the face.’ Nephew of General Cavazos upset over army base’s name change back to Fort Hood" KXAN
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "ICYMI: San Marcos ramps up river rules, eyes visitor fee" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> MRT: "Alert: Texas governor says over 5,000 Texas National Guard members deployed across the state ahead of planned weekend protests" MRT
> AAS: "Gov. Abbott deploys 7,000 personnel to anti-ICE protests: Texas lawmakers critical" AAS
> AAS: "Abbott to 'surge' DPS troopers, National Guard soldiers across Texas" AAS
> DMN: "Dallas will auction troubled city-owned Oak Cliff hospital tapped for homeless services" DMN
> HOU CHRON: "Where are No Kings protests planned for Houston, surrounding suburbs?" HOU CHRON
> DMN: "Ross Perot Jr. named board chair of U.S. Chamber of Commerce" DMN
> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Check out 3 government updates in Hays County" COMMUNITY IMPACT
> THE TEXAN: "Paxton, Cruz Alum Aaron Reitz Launches Bid for Texas Attorney General" THE TEXAN
> AAS: "What is 'No Kings' day? What to know about Texas protests on June 14, Trump's birthday" AAS
> SAEN: "Wednesday’s protests were peaceful; Abbott’s guard deployment was unnecessary" SAEN
> TPR: "Several countries expected to recognize Palestinian state" TPR
> MY RGV: "McAllen ISD to consider $290M bond election in 2026 after Texas bills fail" MY RGV
> THE TEXAN: "Here's a Look at Mayoral and City Council Runoff Elections in Dallas-Fort Worth" THE TEXAN
> SAEN: "Despite heavy security, march downtown San Antonio peaceful" SAEN
EXTRA POINTS
Recent Texas sports scores:
Fri
> MLB: Texas 3, Minnesota 1
> MLB: at Houston 10, Chicago (WS) 3
> WNBA: Las Vegas 88, Dallas 84
Sat
> MLB: Texas 5, Chicago (WS) 4
> MLB: Houston 3, Minnesota 2
> MLS: Austin 2, New York (RB) 1
> MLS: Montreal 3, Houston 1
> MLS: Dallas 4, Kansas City 2
Sun
> MLB: Texas 2, Chicago (WS) 1
> MLB: Houston 2, Minnesota 1
Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 9:05pm: MLB: Houston at Oakland
HOUSTON ASTROS: “Mauricio Dubón’s walk-off single lifts Astros over Twins 2-1, sweep 3-game series" AP
TEXAS RANGERS: "Kumar Rocker gets assist from pickle juice in win as Rangers top White Sox 2-1" AP
HOUSTON ROCKETS: "Houston Rockets to keep center Steven Adams in first big move of offseason" Hou Chron ($)
HOUSTON DYNAMO: "Prince Owusu scores 2 goals, Montreal snaps 5-game winless streak, beats Dynamo 3-1" AP
DALLAS FC: "Luciano Acosto scores 2 goals, Dallas snaps 6-game skid, beats Sporing KC 4-2" AP
AUSTIN FC: "Biro, Vázquez each score a goal, Austin snaps 8-game winless streak, beats Red Bulls 2-1" AP
TEXAS A&M TRACK & FIELD: "Texas A&M earns share of NCAA men's track title with dramatic finish in 4x400 relay" Hou Chron ($)
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