This summer, a quiet saga has been playing out in Texas that I think more people should know about. To my mind, it dismisses the exhausted line I hear so often whenever folks talk about national politics: “Democrats, Republicans, they’re all the same.”
The stage is set in Austin and Dallas — two urban blue spots in the sea of red voters who keep reelecting Sen. Ted “Heads-to-Cancun-While-My-State-Freezes” Cruz. Both cities have laws requiring 10-minute breaks every four hours for construction workers to drink water and protect themselves from the sun.
In the middle of a June week of triple-digit temperatures, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a state law eliminating those rules. Actually, it would limit Texas cities’ ability to pass or enforce almost any progressive laws without state authorization — and, though it was set to take effect Sept. 1, it remains in legal limbo after a state judge ruled it unconstitutional.
Leaving aside the hypocrisy of Republicans fighting for “states’ rights” but against cities’ “home rule,” getting rid of water break requirements during the hottest summer ever recorded on Earth is sheer madness.
Out of all the states, Texas holds the #1 spot for the most workers who die from hot temperatures — at least 42 workers died in Texas between 2011 and 2021 from environmental heat exposure, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Republican proponents of this law say that patchwork local ordinances cause headaches for business owners. How can folks possibly be expected to make a profit without killing a few dozen workers here and there?!
In San Antonio, the city council had been preparing to adopt its own water break rules. After Texas passed this law, San Antonio scaled its efforts back: the local ordinance, which requires 15-minute breaks every four hours when the heat index reaches 95 degrees or hotter, now only applies to city contractors.
This fight in Texas illustrates with blazing clarity the difference between the Democratic and Republican parties. Texas Republicans are willing to turn a blind eye to working-class people, or common sense, if it means throwing a bone to businesses. And if you think that doesn’t matter — tell it to a construction worker in San Antonio after their fifth hour under the sun.
Republicans always consider the bosses over the workers. My reaction to the water breaks law was horror. This definitely was NOT the summer to cut down on water breaks. They should have been increased, not cut out.
All well in the great state of Texas. Republican officials still being bought and paid for by Big Oil donors. Hurrah!
I want Abbott to just sit in the sun for 4 hours with no water and see just how he feels for just 3 days. I bet ne never makes it past day one. Sorry excuse for a human.
That wouldn’t be enough. Even though he’s used to sitting in his wheelchair all day having someone wheel his sorry around. Have him wheel him self all day in the hot sun with no water break. Then he would have some sense of what these construction workers have to go through. The sad thing also is the employers of these construction workers wouldn’t have to wait for a law to pass for this to take effect. just a simple sense of compassion for the men and women that work so hard at increasing their profits. Every person working hard in the sun for different reasons or another deserve a water break.
A partisan jerk with no tennis balls to think for themselves wrote this.
I played high school football in West Texas from 1966 through 1968, when coaches thought players who needed to drink water during mid-August two-a-day practices were weak. That stopped shortly after there were several heat related fatalities around Texas!! I guess the governor is totally unaware of heat related illnesses and deaths.
Governor, let parents know that you stand for protecting the lives of Frontline construction workers and others.
Come on now that fool is very aware of the issue. Republican Texas lawmakers could care less for the common folk. They turn away from every law that protects the common person, especially the common minority.
Let’s see how the government in Texas works if their air conditioning goes out. They would shutdown the offices until it’s repaired. Let’s move their meetings outside. Though while they will be sitting on their…. And not physically working anything but their mouths, maybe, doubtful but maybe, they will realize that staying hydrated when you are working out doors is important and necessary.
Abbott and Republicans care about the end product for businesses regardless of who dies in the process.
Not sure why people are surprised by what’s happening. This what you keep voting for. Not what I voted for. As a Republican, if you support, it makes you no better that Abbot.
Abbott and his cronies are all in the pocket of big business, labor unions, the NRA. They will do nothing for ordinary Texans. Slowly but surely they are taking away all our rights.
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Put business profits first. Workers qe can replace. Our country is not run by the people its run by special intrest groups. TRUMPISM is alive in tx. Just look what Gov. Abbott is doing.
Who keeps voting for this Abbott dude to stay in office.?. I’m from AZ & moved to Tx..As a Hebrew man, I enjoy the Sun & pretty much all activities done outside.!. It gives me more energy as if I’m charging up.! Nevertheless, he & his colleagues instituting these one sided & deadly laws all in favor of business(greed) is unconstitutional & wrong.. #GETOUT
Anything to better the well being of the common minority is strictly forbidden. There aren’t enough white people involved for these laws to be passed. Anything that involves the killing of minorities or those with a lower income is necessary in the eyes of the Texas Republican law makers.