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Daily Brew: July 21, 2021
July 21, 2021
Welcome to the Wednesday, July 21, Brew. Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:
- Show your love of Ballotpedia
- California voters to decide measure next year regarding single-use plastic packaging
- Texas House Speaker removes absent Democrat as speaker pro tem
Show your love of Ballotpedia
If you're like me, you enjoy catching up on the day's political news with a strong cup of coffee next to you. And if you're also like me, you find every opportunity to tell folks about Ballotpedia. Now, I can enjoy my morning coffee and let others know about Ballotpedia with my new mug—purchased from the Ballotpedia Store!
Launching today, the Ballotpedia Store has mugs, tote bags, and t-shirts, all designed to help you show off your Democracy. We plan to regularly update the store with new items, and we'll let you know when those launch.
Do you have an idea for a t-shirt? Let me know!
Check out all the items in our store!
California voters to decide measure next year regarding single-use plastic packaging
The California Secretary of State’s office certified a measure on July 19 requiring the state to adopt regulations designed to reduce the use of single-use plastic packaging. The ballot initiative—that voters will decide in 2022—would also enact a maximum one-cent per item fee on single-use plastic packaging and foodware. The revenue from this fee would go to the California Department of Resources, Recycling, and Recovery (CalRecycle), the California Natural Resources Agency, and local governments.
The ballot initiative requires CalRecycle to adopt regulations that would, among other things:
- require producers to ensure that single-use plastic packaging and foodware is recyclable, reusable, refillable, or compostable by 2030;
- require producers to reduce the amount of single-use plastic packaging and foodware sold in California by at least 25 percent by 2030;
- require producers to use recycled content and renewable materials in the production of single-use plastic packaging and foodware;
- establish "mechanisms for convenient consumer access to recycling," including take-back programs and deposits; and,
- prohibit food vendors from distributing expanded polystyrene food service containers.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, "Eight states—California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon and Vermont—have banned single-use plastic bags." Vermont also banned the use of expanded polystyrene food containers except for packaging of uncooked fish, meat, and poultry.
Proponents of the measure originally intended to place the proposal on the 2020 ballot but delayed their efforts due to the coronavirus pandemic. Supporters submitted 871,940 signatures to the secretary of state's office in August 2020. A complete check of all signatures determined that 666,664 were valid, exceeding the requirement of 623,212.
This is the fourth citizen initiative certified for the ballot in California for 2022. Others include:
- an initiative to legalize sports betting at American Indian gaming casinos and licensed racetracks;
- an initiative to increase the cap on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits; and
- a veto referendum to repeal the ban on flavored tobacco sales.
Learn more about stories like this by subscribing to our State Ballot Measure Monthly newsletter. The latest edition covers all the latest news and came out on Friday—click here to read it!
Texas House Speaker removes absent Democrat as speaker pro tem
Here’s an update on what’s happening in Texas regarding the ongoing state legislative special session. ICYMI, Democratic legislators left the state on July 12 and traveled to Washington D.C. ahead of expected votes on election-related legislation. Supporters say the legislation includes updates to improving election integrity. Opponents say the bills amount to voter suppression.
Texas House of Representatives Speaker Dade Phelan (R) announced he had removed Joseph Moody (D) as speaker pro tem on July 15, effective immediately. The speaker pro tem performs the duties of the speaker when the speaker is absent.
Moody had served in the position for two sessions. According to the Texas Tribune, “Moody’s appointment to the position was seen as an olive branch by Republicans,” and he was "one of Phelan's top allies in the Democratic Party."
The rules of the Texas House of Representatives require that two-thirds of the 150 legislators—100 members—must be present to establish a quorum, or the minimum number of members required to conduct official business. According to the rules, “Until a quorum appears, should the roll call fail to show one present, no business shall be transacted, except to compel the attendance of absent members or to adjourn.
Members of the Texas House may move for a Call of the House in order to secure and maintain a quorum to conduct business, like voting on legislation. House rules say, “All absentees for whom no sufficient excuse is made may, by order of a majority of those present, be sent for and arrested, wherever they may be found, by the sergeant-at-arms or an officer appointed by the sergeant-at-arms for that purpose, and their attendance shall be secured and retained.” Since the legislators left the state, it is unclear whether or how Texas law enforcement officers could compel them to return.
It's the second time Texas House Democrats have staged a walkout this year. The first took place on May 30, when all 67 members of the Democratic caucus left the chamber during consideration of another package of election-related legislation. This prevented the House from passing the legislation ahead of the regular session’s conclusion on May 30.
Forty-five states require a majority of legislators present to establish a quorum. Four states—Indiana, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas—require that two-thirds of legislators are present. Massachusetts requires two-fifths of state senators or three-eighths of state representatives to be present for a quorum.
