Convenience Big Store: Texas’ biggest political donor may be looking for payback in the primaries

June 13, 2025

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🌧️ Temperature check: High of 85; low of 78. Justin's take: Expect more rain this morning before drier weather returns during the latter half of the day.

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Good morning, Houston!

In case you missed it, here's what you should know to start your day:

Need to know: Gov. Abbott is deploying 5,000 Texas National Guard troops and 2,000 DPS to "maintain order" at anti-Trump protests across the state this weekend.
Top of the chart: The most-read story on our site yesterday was about the arrest of Texans safety Jimmie Ward.

Now, more news to start your day.

1

After coming up empty in the Texas Legislature this year, the state's biggest political donor, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, put out a blistering statement blaming House members for stifling its agenda. The letter blamed a slew of House members, including Speaker Dustin Burrows (top) and freshman Rep. Mitch Little (bottom).

Photo by: Photo Illustration By Susan Barber, Houston Chronicle

Texas' biggest political donor is calling out elected officials after striking out in the Legislature

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 tactic.

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.

This story is part of an initiative with ProPublica and The Texas Tribune to report on how power is wielded in Texas.

2

Harris County sends roughly 1,300 inmates out of state.

The county paid roughly $58 million this year to outsource the housing of inmates in Jefferson County, as well as two facilities in Louisiana and one facility in Mississippi. Three Harris County inmates have died after being transferred to a privately owned correctional facility in Louisiana.

3

Facing indefinite legal delays, commissioners vote to end Harris County's guaranteed income program.

The news came after the program, initially called Uplift Harris and later revamped as the Community Prosperity Program, drew multiple lawsuits and allegations of "lottery socialism" from conservative lawmakers.

4

Gov. Greg Abbott is already plotting how he'll get his next legislative victory.

Abbott said he's learned an important lesson over the last four years about the power of his office and how he can successfully force big issues over the finish line.

5

Houston ISD's state-appointed board unanimously approved a $2.1 billion budget for the 2025-26 school year.

Four new board members greenlit the budget just two weeks after their appointment to the board by the state's education commissioner.

6

The poor performance of Conroe's $147 million hotel and convention center caused another credit downgrade for the city.

A new report from global financial experts paints a bleak outlook for the hotel with a third credit downgrade and possible bankruptcy as the city's only recovery path.

7

Aaron Reitz, a former Trump DOJ official and Paxton aide, joins the race for Texas Attorney General.

"We are in a fight for the soul of Texas, our nation, and Western civilization itself," Reitz said in a statement. "I've spent my entire career in the trenches with the toughest conservatives in America. I've taken enemy fire from the Left in the courtroom, at the negotiating table, and in the political arena — because if we lose Texas, we lose the Republic."

🧠 Point of View

A couple days ago, I asked you all what you thought of immigration officers arresting several individuals who showed up for their hearings at an immigration court in southwest Houston this week. Most of those who wrote in were against the arrests. Here's what some of you said:

"Arresting people while they are at their immigration hearings is wrong. They are trying to do it the right way. Why not let them continue? It seems like there is nothing an immigrant can do to get status and they consider every immigrant a criminal. I think it's easy pickings for the ICE agents. They are wrong if they follow the law and wrong if they do not." — Dr. Letitia Wright

"These are people who are following the laws as they were told, showing up for their court appearances. But Trump and ICE have changed the rules without informing those affected. We are becoming a nation ruled by lawless thugs and bullies. And it is our fault, because we put them in office." — Dave Johnson

"Immigrants who are following immigration laws and orders by attending their hearings are clearly NOT a danger to the U.S.A. If they were determined to be a danger by immigration officials, they'd have been marked for deportation not given future appointments dates for further review." — Jannette MacDonald

⚾ Sports

Cougars: The two-time defending Big 12 champion will play 18 conference games in 2025-26 after playing 20 last season. See their full schedule.
Texans: Who's rising and falling after Houston Texans' offseason program? Beat reporter Jonathan M. Alexander shares the latest on who is trending up and who is trending down on the team.

🗣️ Opinion

Columnist Regina Lankenau writes about how Trump's courthouse arrests are turning immigration compliance into an ICE trap.
Texas' medical marijuana industry hired some of the most powerful Republican lobbyists to push a ban on hemp-derived THC, writes columnist Chris Tomlinson.
The Texas governor's actions and X posts are middle-school-level trash talk, the Editorial Board writes. Our country needs adult leadership.

🎟️ Things to do this Weekend

People laugh and scream as they hit the splash pool after riding The Twister at Typhoon Texas where the water park is celebrating Christmas in July all week Wednesday July 25, 2018 in Katy. (Michael Ciaglo / Houston Chronicle)

Take advantage of one of these Father's Day deals.
Cook chef Anita Jaisinghani's surefire steak recipe.
Attend a performance or workshop at Houston's inaugural Fade to Black festival.
Eat world-class barbecue in a tiny Texas town.
Buy tickets to see Shakira at the Toyota Center.

📅 Events at the Chronicle

EVENT: How to buy a home in Houston with local experts

Chronicle readers are invited to join a live virtual event featuring experts who will guide potential homebuyers in achieving comfort, affordability, and long-term value.

Father's Day is this weekend. And whatever you have planned to do for or in remembrance of your father this year, it's probably not as crazy (or adventurous) as what Kelly Dryer is planning for her late father, an aerospace engineer who helped investigate the Challenger space shuttle disaster.

I hope all you dads are well celebrated this weekend.