The Harris County Attorney, Christian Menefee, appeared on Politics Done Right to explain the damage the Texas Legislature is causing to county voters.
Christian Menefee on the derelict Texas Legislature
Christian D. Menefee is the chief civil lawyer for Harris County, the largest county in Texas. He manages an office of 250+ attorneys and staff who represent the county, its 60 elected officials, and its 18,000+ employees in all civil matters and lawsuits. Elected at 32 years old, he is the youngest person and the first African-American to serve as Harris County Attorney.
Prior to taking office, Christian practiced at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, focusing on complex commercial litigation and bankruptcy matters in federal court and representing clients in matters involving the US Department of Justice, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and other government agencies. Christian began his career at Norton Rose Fulbright, where he focused on business litigation in federal and state courts, investigations under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and other matters involving the SEC.
Mr. Menefee said that the attack on cities and counties like Houston and Harris, respectively, started long ago. The former Speaker of the Texas Legislature said he wanted the session to be the worse for cities and counties. He said the Republican Legislature was on a crusade to roll back the voting laws in these areas that made voting more accessible. Now they attempting to codify them in this legislative session in a manner where the bills only affect carved-out areas that affect Democrats.
When asked if he could do anything about it legally, he said that he would sue where he believed it could make a difference. However, the Texas constitution gives great latitude for the legislators to impose their will on counties, so much for localized government.
When asked why aren’t the Democratic representatives, even though in the minority, are not exciting their base to react, he said they are waiting to try to water down bills without further inflaming Republicans in the Legislature.
The reality is that Texans must go out there and elect politicians that represent their values. The crop in Austin cares nothing about constituents. After all, after more than 13 years, they are still allowing Texans to die by not accepting the Medicaid Expansion to the Affordable Care Act.
