> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://bayou-city-sludge.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Crumbs for the plebes - URL: https://bayou-city-sludge.ghost.io/crumbs-for-the-plebes/ - Published: 2025-02-22T01:19:47.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-07T22:48:10.000Z - Description: And what would you do if Dan Patrick showed up at your lady party? - Author: Sara Cress - Tags: Newsletter, #Migrated-1794091451356, #Import 2026-11-07 22:47 Yesterday I watched the hearing on [SB26](https://legiscan.com/TX/text/SB26/?ref=bayou-city-sludge.ghost.io), which raises salaries for Texas public school teachers, introduced by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-The Woodlands). Now, of course I support increased pay for public school teachers, so it’s not clear how this bill could be bad. There were those who testified that the bill doesn’t also cover other roles like school nurses and librarians, etc. But for the most part, the testimony was positive, and the two Democrats on the committee voted yes, so it passed out of committee. The Republicans on the committee had a simply WONDERFUL time patting themselves on the back about this bill during the hearing. Such a wonderful bill! We love you, Senator Creighton! Creighton himself spent a long time whining about how the media is getting it all wrong about how much Texas Republicans care about public schools. THIS IS ABOUT OUR CHILDREN, they all said with beautiful tears in their eyes. No, you idiots, this is about the teachers. This is literally a bill about teachers, not your precious little Christian babies. Anyway, I remain wary. A friend and public school teacher said this: “While I am all for supporting teachers, I do feel like this is a distraction from the voucher debacle,” and I agree. There will be small “wins” for public schools and teachers this session that will allow reps to go back to their small towns and say, “look! We DO care about public education!” while passing the school voucher bill and taking loads of money from billionaires who want to turn your children into the next Hitler youth army. Take the House voucher bill, for instance, filed Thursday, [HB2](https://legiscan.com/TX/text/HB2/id/3132701?ref=bayou-city-sludge.ghost.io). Unlike the Senate bill, it would raise the [schools’ base state funding per student by $220](https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/20/texas-house-school-vouchers/?ref=bayou-city-sludge.ghost.io). Sounds good, right? > Rep. [James Talarico](https://www.texastribune.org/directory/james-talarico/?ref=bayou-city-sludge.ghost.io) of Austin, who is leading House Democrats’ efforts to stop the voucher bill, said the school finance proposal is “wholly inadequate” and does not bring state funding back to the levels of a landmark [2019 education bill](https://www.texastribune.org/2019/06/11/texas-gov-greg-abbott-signs-116-billion-school-finance-measure-law/?ref=bayou-city-sludge.ghost.io) when adjusting for inflation. That year, lawmakers increased schools’ base state funding by $1,020 compared to this year’s proposal which would increase it by $220. > > “It's insufficient and when you pair it with the voucher bill it's going to take far more money out of our schools than could ever be put in this session,” he said. So it does feel like Republicans are feeding the public crumbs of hope while sitting back and eating fat geese at every meal. --- Backtracking a bit to my post about the strategic bitcoin reserve bill this week, Business columnist Chris Tomlinson of the Houston Chronicle [wrote a piece](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/texas-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-patrick-20175398.php?ref=bayou-city-sludge.ghost.io) about how stupid this whole idea is: > Crypto bros now argue it is an asset class, like stocks, bonds and gold or other commodities. Yet economists agree that, unlike investments with a hard asset backing them, [cryptocurrencies only exist in people’s imaginations](https://www.barrons.com/articles/bitcoin-ecb-criticism-4e7cd011?ref=bayou-city-sludge.ghost.io). > > If national and state governments buy and hold cryptocurrencies, they are not only endorsing the industry and injecting billions into it, but they are also taking a stake in the game. The definition of a strategic reserve is that government officials use it to prop up markets in a crisis. The reserve commits Texas taxpayers to bailing out crypto. > > Texas Republicans are on a fast track to approving SB 21\. The bill will allow Hegar to hire a crypto firm to manage the strategic reserve in yet another giveaway to an industry that does [little more than waste electricity](https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2024/12/19/trump-2-0-and-the-rise-of-crypto-economic-nationalism/?ref=bayou-city-sludge.ghost.io). > > SB 21 needs to die. The comptroller already has the authority to invest in cryptocurrency assets overseen by the federal Securities and Exchange Commission. Hegar has all the authority he needs to buy crypto if it makes sense for Texas’s portfolio. > > Creating a special account where lawmakers order state officials to buy crypto or where tech bros can make donations to drive up prices is pure cronyism. What’s remarkable is that a Republican party known for fiscal conservatism would push such a foolish gambit. Yeah! It’s dumb! [Call your reps](https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home?ref=bayou-city-sludge.ghost.io) and tell them it’s dumb! --- In Twitter news: ![Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6d/51/6d51d957-e70d-452f-8661-3823af319edd/content/images/2026/11/f0c93871-f8d3-4695-b2af-7519694f3f78_2048x1349-jpeg-1.jpg) Hello, ladies. [“We had a great time and so much fun having Dan Patrick crash the Republican women’s House and Senate legislative dinner meeting.”](https://x.com/KatrinaPierson/status/1892975175416549733?ref=bayou-city-sludge.ghost.io) Good god, if Dan Patrick crashed my lady party he wouldn’t be smiling, I’ll tell you that much. Also, what Austin restaurants host these people because Austinites should call them out. Not that I’m surprised there are Republican restaurant owners in Austin, but you might want to know if the place you’re choosing for a nice dinner also hosts fascists. --- In Briscoe Cain news: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/6d/51/6d51d957-e70d-452f-8661-3823af319edd/content/images/2026/11/7c772abd-d3fc-4863-944e-1b7116282b5b_591x245.png) From the [FDA website](https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/ivermectin-and-covid-19?ref=bayou-city-sludge.ghost.io), which I’m sure will change as soon as I link to this info: > Here’s What You Need to KnowThe FDA has not authorized or approved ivermectin for use in preventing or treating COVID-19 in humans or animals.The FDA has determined that currently available clinical trial data do not demonstrate that ivermectin is effective against COVID 19 in humans.Animal ivermectin products are different formulations than those approved for humans. Due to the lack of testing of these formulations in humans, the safety of these products in humans is not known. Never use medications intended for animals on yourself or other people.Taking large doses of ivermectin can be dangerous.From the FDA’s perspective, with few exceptions, health care professionals may choose to prescribe or use an approved human drug for an unapproved use when they judge that the unapproved use is medically appropriate for an individual patient. If your health care provider writes you an ivermectin prescription, fill it through a legitimate source such as a pharmacy. --- There are a ton of [House](https://house.texas.gov/videos?ref=bayou-city-sludge.ghost.io) and [Senate](https://www.senate.texas.gov/events.php?ref=bayou-city-sludge.ghost.io) committee hearings scheduled for next week. I’m going to comb through them all this weekend to find out which bills are being discussed so I can report that back here so you can watch if interested. It’s fixin’ to get nasty, friends. --- Three Good Things: 1. I checked my blood pressure today and it wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be. Please check your blood pressure and get an EKG every once in a while! 2. Went for a very cold walk and told the story of [The Source Family](https://bigcityheat.substack.com/p/wtf-happened-to-los-angeles) cult to my husband because I watched the documentary last night. It reminded me that a friend and I wanted to launch a cult podcast a couple of years ago but the idea fell by the wayside. I continue to find comfort in the history of past cults and the way it parallels with MAGA weirdos. 3. Pill organizers. [Subscribe](#/portal/signup)