Convenience Big Store: Dan Crenshaw not on board with border security bill

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Crenshaw breaks from leadership

Just when it looked like House Speaker Kevin McCarthy finally had the votes for the big border security bill in D.C. on Thursday, another problem has emerged.

This time it is U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, who has said he can't support the bill as of now because of "glaring problems" in the legislation.

"Of all the things to leave out of a border security bill, you leave out the cartels? Really?" Crenshaw said.

Crenshaw said he wants an amendment to do more to target the cartels who are responsible for the influx of fentanyl into the U.S.

You might remember it was just a few months ago, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, was calling the legislation un-American because it could have hurt legal asylum seekers with legitimate claims. They eventually got him back on board and now Crenshaw is not ready to back it.

Such is life in Congress when you have a narrow majority. It takes only 5 Republicans to oppose a bill to potentially kill it.

Just before sending tonight's newsletter, I got word Crenshaw met with McCarthy today. Will let you know how it went once I know.

Jeremy Wallace
Texas politics reporter
jeremy.wallace@houstonchronicle.com

Who's up, who's down

Up: Richard E. Cavazos.

The name of Fort Hood in Killeen was officially changed today to honor the late four-star Army General from South Texas. Reporter Sig Christenson has the details on Cavazos' career.

Down: Bryan Slaton.

Yea, he was the Down yesterday, but the report on the Republican's alleged behavior is so bad that it deserves another day. Taylor Goldenstein has the latest on a vote to officially expel Slaton, a former youth minister, for having an inappropriate sexual relationship with an aide, providing alcohol to underage interns and trying to cover it all up.

What do you think? Hit reply and let me know.

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Jury finds Trump liable for sexual abuse, awards accuser $5M

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Elon Musk, Greg Abbott celebrate Tesla lithium refinery project

The automaker is building the plant to help produce the batteries it needs to step up production of its electric cars in Texas and elsewhere.

Pick of the day

That's how many votes are so far determining two different elections in Texas over the weekend – one near Galveston and the other in Waco. The Galveston News reports a college bond election hinges on the counting of 13 provisional ballots. And the Waco Tribune-Herald is reporting a school board race there is still counting late-arriving mail-in ballots to decide the winner.

What else I'm reading

The Dallas Morning News pays tribute to the victims in Allen. Nice to see the names and ages of the victims - as young as 3 - in a large font on the front page. Plus they have a good write-up about who the victims are.