The Seething Hate Republicans Legislate By

Republicans latest attack on democracy will render cities powerless.

Earlier this week, the Kansas Reflector reported that the Kansas GOP was planning on making Kansas so hostile to anyone who disagrees with them, isn’t a Christian, and isn’t white that they flee the state. And if they don’t flee, the Kansas GOP will take up arms and kill them. The Kansas GOP plans to turn their state into a “Conservative sanctuary.”

If you’ve been paying attention to Republicans in the last few years, this rhetoric probably comes as no surprise. While Texas Republicans haven’t started hurling death threats at half the state yet, they’ve been less than secretive about their hatred toward us.

Yesterday, the Senate passed the so-called “Death Star Bill,” prohibiting cities from setting ordinances concerning worker’s rest breaks, fair chance hiring, paid sick leave, eviction protections, and tenants’ rights to organize.

During the debate, Senator Sarah Eckhardt asked Brandon Creighton why the Republicans were stripping local control away from cities. He responded, “Because they (cities) are progressing, and our state government is Conservative.”

This wide-ranging authoritarian measure kills all local control and renders city governments essentially useless. I wrote about HB2127 last month when it passed the House (Republicans Pass Sweeping Authoritarian Bill). This week it was time for it to be heard in the Senate. Unfortunately, it passed.

All that’s left now is for Abbott to sign it into law.

Senator Creighton named it the “Death Star Bill” for obvious reasons.

But I’m not sure anyone told him that Darth Vadar and the Empire were the bad guys.

Or perhaps, this was the admittance of being the wretched hive of villainy, hurting people just for the sake of it. And, like so many other things the Texas GOP does, this bill overrides the will of the voters and implements a far-right agenda.

Over 17 million Texans live in a city in a blue county, and this bill erodes their power. It should be noted that Brandon Creighton lives in a rural area.

The Republican state government hasn’t done anything for Texans in the decades they’ve been in control. Because of that, cities have stepped up, by the will of their voters, and passed policies to address health and safety, livability, and environmental protection. Now, the Conservative state government wants to block them from doing so. Why? To own the libs.

Texas cities won’t be able to pass labor or environmental laws—one more anti-democratic measure under the Republican’s belt. People will die as a result of this bill. Texans will suffer as a result of this bill.

Republicans are the party of big government.

The “Death Star Bill” passage in the Texas Senate represents a shift towards centralized power by the fascist state government. This wide-ranging authoritarian measure renders city governments useless by prohibiting cities from enacting ordinances that protect workers, tenants, and the environment. With millions of Texans living in the towns within blue counties, this bill significantly diminishes their power and undermines their ability to address critical issues.

The motivations behind this legislation are rooted in political gamesmanship rather than serving the people's best interests. Unfortunately, the consequences will be felt by individuals and communities in every corner of the state. This bill stands as yet another anti-democratic measure in the Republican’s pursuit of a narrow and divisive agenda, furthering the disconnect between the state government and the needs of the people it should serve.