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Briscoe Cain

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Briscoe Cain
Briscoe_Cain.jpg
Cain in 2017
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 128th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 10, 2017
Preceded byWayne Smith
Personal details
BornDecember 1984 (1984-12) (age 40)
Webster, Texas
Political partyRepublican
Children5
Residence(s)Deer Park, Texas, USA
Alma materUniversity of Houston-Downtown (BA)
South Texas College of Law (JD)
OccupationLawyer
Websitewww.briscoecain.com

Briscoe Cain III (born December 1984)[1] is an American attorney and Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 128.

Early life and education

Briscoe grew up in Deer Park, Texas, a suburb of Houston located in Harris County. At Deer Park High School, he was on the varsity cheerleading squad.[2] He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Houston-Downtown and a J.D. from South Texas College of Law.[3]

Political career

In December 2015, Cain successfully defended the religious rights of Beaumont police officers when the city banned them from having Bible study during lunch breaks.[4] In 2016, Cain obtained via a FOIA request invoices sent by a California bioscience company to four Texas medical schools. From these invoices he claimed the Texas schools were using tax dollars to purchase aborted fetal tissue, since Planned Parenthood was known to give fetuses to the California company. In a statement, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso said that it strictly followed federal and state guidelines.[5] Cain is the Texas legal counsel to Operation Rescue.[6]

Electoral history

In the 2016 Republican runoff election, Cain defeated seven-term incumbent Wayne Smith by 23 votes. In the 2016 general election, Cain defeated Libertarian candidate Ken Lowder.[7][8][9] Cain ran unopposed in the Republican primary election held on March 6, 2018. On July 5, 2017, Terry Sain of Baytown, Texas announced that he would be running against Cain in the 2018 Republican primary.[10] However, just before the December 11, 2017, deadline to file for a place on the primary ballot, Sain announced that he was no longer going to challenge Cain. Citing the difficulties of running a campaign as a reason he dropped out of the race, Sain told The Baytown Sun that running in the campaign "wasn't quite as easy of a road as I thought it was going to be."[11]

In the November 6, 2018, general election Cain ran unopposed.[12]

On November 18, 2019, Robert Hoskins of Baytown, Texas announced he would be running against Cain in the 2020 Republican Primary.[13] Hoskins, considered a moderate Republican, is a member of the Baytown City Council and a former member of the Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District board of trustees.[14][15] The race between Cain and Hoskins was considered to be one of the more high-profile primary contests during the 2020 Texas Republican Primary.[16] On March 3, 2020, Cain defeated Hoskins in the Republican primary election, when Cain received 11,752 votes (79.32 percent) to Hoskins' 3,064 votes (20.68 percent).[17][18] Cain defeated Democrat Mary Williams in the 2020 general election for District 128 representative.[19]

Voting record and interest group ratings

Since being elected in 2016, Cain has consistently ranked as the most conservative member of the Texas House.[20][21][22][23][24][25]

In 2019, Cain was again ranked as the most conservative member of the Texas House by Rice University's right to left index.[26]

In 2017, Mark Jones from Rice University in Houston released a study of votes in the 85th Texas legislature that indicated Cain was considered the "most conservative" legislator in the Texas House.[27]

Cain was named one of "The Worst Legislators of 2017" by Texas Monthly, describing him as "uninformed and ignorant" and stating "When we asked Capitol insiders for Worst list suggestions, [Briscoe Cain], almost universally, was the first one mentioned".[28]

Committee assignments

  • 87th Legislative Session[29]
    • Chairman, Elections
    • Business & Industry
  • 86th Legislative Session[30][31]
    • Chairman, Select Committee on Driver's License Issuance & Renewal
    • Elections
    • International Relations & Economic Development
    • Resolutions Calendars
  • 85th Legislative Session[32]
    • Defense & Veterans' Affairs
    • Juvenile Justice & Family Issues

Political positions

COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cain defied Governor Greg Abbott's closure of businesses by getting a haircut.[33]

Immigration

Cain is an outspoken supporter of the enforcement of immigration laws (particularly in relation to the U.S-Mexico border).[14][34] On the "Issues" page of his mixed-use personal and campaign website, briscoecain.com, Cain states, "I believe that increased border security is critical for increasing job opportunities for Americans and decreasing crime and taxes on Texas families".[35] Cain had also co-authored House Bill HB 4306, an unsuccessful proposal calling for the immediate commencement of several infrastructure projects relating to border security, in addition to the establishment of a fund specific to said projects by the Texas State Treasury department.[36]

Christianity

Briscoe, a non-denominational Christian, cited his faith as his biggest source of inspiration in life as part of a 2017 interview with UHD News.[37] Cain has additionally gone on record to state, "Yes I mix religion and politics.".[38] He has pledged as part of his 2020 campaign platform to protect the "guarantee of religious liberty", as well as "ensure that traditional Christian values are restored and strengthened".[35]

Voting Rights

Briscoe Cain assisted President Trump attempts to overturn the election results of 2020 United States presidential election following his re-election loss by using baseless claims of voter fraud.[39] In February 2021, Republican Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan appointed Cain as the chair of the Texas House Elections Committee.[39] The following bills that Cain co-sponsored were overwhelmingly accused as attempts to restrict voting access to voters of color by Voting and Civil Rights groups.[40][41][42][43][44][45][46] Cain defended the proposed restrictions as necessary to maintain the “purity of the ballot box".[47][48] Several companies that do business in Texas spoke out against the legislation.[49] In response, Cain proposed financial penalties to any business threatening to protest the Republican proposed voter restrictions.[50][51]

Controversies

Texas Southern University protest

On October 10, 2017, protesters at Texas Southern University (TSU) prevented Cain from speaking at a Federalist Society event on campus.[52] Cain was invited by the president of TSU's Federalist Society student chapter to speak to students at the traditionally black university. He planned to talk about the Texas Legislature's most recent special session. During that session Cain proposed an amendment to a budget bill which would prevent the state of Texas from paying for sex reassignment surgery and hormone therapy for inmates in prison, and he voted in favor of a proposed "bathroom bill".[53] Protesters claimed that Cain "has ties to the Alt-Right and is anti-LGBT" and drowned out Cain's attempts to speak. They were removed; as Cain began to speak again the school's president ordered the protesters be brought back in and canceled the event, saying the Federalist Society chapter was an unregistered student group and the event was "unapproved".[52][54] Cain said in a statement that the talk had been scheduled for months, and that he was "brought into a room in which the administration had specifically requested the talk occur. Then Black Lives Matter came in and bullied the administration into ending the event."[52] James Douglas, the interim dean of TSU's Thurgood Marshall School of Law, said the event had been cleared with him and that he was investigating the incident. He said, "We have a process here in the law school, and they went through our process. The speaker had a First Amendment right to be heard by the students that invited him." A student who had helped organize the protest said that "[w]ith his First Amendment right to espouse hate comes our First Amendment right" to protest.[55][56][52] Cain, a partner at a law firm where he practices First Amendment law, said he intended to sue the school and its president for infringing upon his First Amendment rights.[56]

Stephen Hawking tweet

On March 14, 2018, Cain tweeted about the death of prominent physicist Stephen Hawking. In his tweet, he stated "Stephen Hawking now knows the truth about how the universe was actually made. My condolences to his family." The tweet was largely perceived to be insensitive and was criticized by legislators on both sides of the aisle.[57]

Texas Democratic Convention prank

On June 22, 2018, Cain and three other men snuck into the Texas Democratic Party's state convention being held at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Forth Worth, Texas where Cain and three other men handed out 100 yard signs which read, "This home is a gun-free safe space" to convention attendees.[58][59] Eventually, convention goers recognized who Cain was, and he and the other pranksters were forced to leave.[60] When asked about the stunt, Cain said he distributed the signs as "irony" and stated, "It's amazing how many people took one and thanked us. They said they would put it in front of their house. I think it's funny. Nobody should put this in front of their house."[60][58]

Threats against Beto O'Rourke

Beto O'Rourke, former United States House of Representatives member and 2020 presidential candidate

In September 2019, Cain threatened Beto O'Rourke after O'Rourke called for gun control measures. Cain said, "My AR is ready for you Robert Francis [O'Rourke's first and middle name]."[61] O’Rourke labeled the tweet a "death threat", and replied to Cain with a tweet reading, "Clearly, you shouldn’t own an AR-15 — and neither should anyone else". Cain responded with a tweet, "You’re a child Robert Francis."[62]

Twitter gave Cain 12 hours to remove the post. After he did not, the company removed Cain's "My AR is ready for you" tweet, saying it was against the site's policy against violent threats.[61][62][63] Cain was suspended from Twitter for 141 days.

On January 31, 2020, the day the social media company lifted its suspension of Cain's Twitter account, Cain tweeted a screenshot of the interaction between him and O'Rourke writing, "But seriously @twitter, y’all banned me for this."[62] When asked if he regretted the tweet, Cain was unapologetic stating, "I don't regret it."[64]

Personal life

Cain is married with five children.[65] On April 25, 2019, during a Texas House session to recognize Autism Awareness Month, he stated that he has been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, and struggles maintaining eye contact as a result.[66] He serves with the rank of captain in the Texas State Guard.[67]

References

  1. ^ "Rep. Briscoe Cain". txdirectory.com. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  2. ^ "Deer Park cheerleaders chosen, prepare for upcoming season". Houston Chronicle. May 27, 2002. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  3. ^ "Meet Briscoe Cain". briscoecain.com. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  4. ^ Scott, Brandon (December 19, 2015). "City changes stance on BPD officers Bible study". Beaumont Enterprise. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  5. ^ Curtis, Genevieve (January 29, 2016). "Local medical school accused of purchasing fetal tissue from abortions". CBS 4 News. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  6. ^ "Pro Life heros Indicted by Harris County Grand Jury". Brsicoe Cain for State Representative. January 26, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  7. ^ "Texas 128th District State House Results: Briscoe Cain Wins". The New York Times. December 13, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  8. ^ Hollis, Matt (January 8, 2017). "District 128's new rep ready for duty". The Baytown Sun. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  9. ^ Svitek, Patrick (June 3, 2016). "Challenger's Win Over Rep. Wayne Smith Stands After Recount". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  10. ^ Matt, Hollis (July 6, 2017). "Baytown council member to take on Cain". The Baytown Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2017. Baytown City Councilman Terry Sain launched his campaign Wednesday for the Texas House District 128 seat held by Briscoe Cain. Sain is a 20-year resident of Baytown but has lived in the area since 1975.
  11. ^ Matt, Hollis (December 12, 2017). "Former Baytown councilman drops state House bid". The Baytown Sun. Retrieved December 13, 2017. But on Monday, Sain explained that running in the campaign "wasn't quite as easy of a road as I thought it was going to be."
  12. ^ "See the results of the Texas 2018 midterm election here". The Texas Tribune. November 6, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  13. ^ Fleming, Mark (November 19, 2019). "Councilman launches state House bid". The Baytown Sun. Retrieved February 14, 2020. On Monday, Republican Robert Hoskins announced his candidacy for State Representative District 128, the seat currently held by Briscoe Cain.
  14. ^ a b Scherer, Jasper (February 12, 2020). "Cain backed by GOP House colleagues while challenger wins support of local officials". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 14, 2020. Councilman Robert Hoskins, who is running as a moderate alternative to the incumbent lawmaker with the backing of nearly every mayor in the east Harris County district
  15. ^ Scherer, Jasper (February 12, 2020). "Cain backed by GOP House colleagues while challenger wins support of local officials". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  16. ^ Pollock, Cassandra (March 3, 2020). "Two Texas House Republicans facing fierce competition in their bids for reelection". Channel 2 KPRC-TV. Retrieved March 9, 2020. Other House incumbents, of course, also faced legitimate primary challenges — and in two of the more high-profile contests, Republican members — Jared Patterson of Frisco and Briscoe Cain of Deer Park — had commanding leads over their opponents.
  17. ^ Pollock, Cassandra (March 3, 2020). "Three Texas House members are heading for runoffs". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 9, 2020. And in two of the more high-profile contests, Republican members Jared Patterson of Frisco and Briscoe Cain of Deer Park won their races handily Tuesday night.
  18. ^ "Texas primary 2020 results: Watch live updates here". The Texas Tribune. March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  19. ^ "Editorial: Mary Williams". Ballotopedia. November 3, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  20. ^ Farzan, Antonia Noori; Epstein, Kayla (September 13, 2019). "'My AR is ready for you,' Texas Republican lawmaker tells Beto O'Rourke over mandatory buybacks". Washington Post. Retrieved January 16, 2020. First elected to the Texas legislature in 2016, Cain was ranked the most conservative lawmaker in the state's House of Representatives the following year . . .
  21. ^ Sherer, Jasper (January 14, 2020). "In Harris County, Democratic incumbents draw far more primary challengers than Republicans". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 16, 2020. Still, that primary has not attracted a significant amount of attention, perhaps because Cain — by some measures the most conservative Texas House member . . .
  22. ^ Taylor, McKenzie (June 6, 2019). "Did Your Representative Become More Liberal or Conservative this Session? Here's a List". The Texan. Retrieved January 16, 2020. For the second session in a row, Jones ranked Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) as the most conservative member of the House.
  23. ^ Wermund, Benjamin; Zelinski, Andrea (September 13, 2019). "Texas Republican lawmaker to Beto O'Rourke: 'My AR is ready for you'". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 16, 2020. Cain ranks as the most conservative member of the Texas House . . .
  24. ^ Hogue, Andy (December 20, 2019). "Stuck In Line At The DMV? Texas's Most-Conservative Legislator To Helm Committee To Reduce Wait Times". The Hayride. Retrieved January 16, 2020. Cain has the distinction of being the most conservative House member . . .
  25. ^ Kampis, Johnny (May 21, 2018). "Critics say Texas universities don't protect free speech". Texas Monitor. Retrieved January 16, 2020. Cain, among the most conservative members of the Legislature . . .
  26. ^ Jones, Mark (June 4, 2019). "The 2019 Texas House, from right to left". Texas Tribune. TribTalk. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  27. ^ Jones, Mark P. (June 29, 2017). "The 2017 Texas House, from left to right". The Texas Tribune. TribTalk. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  28. ^ "The Best and Worst Legislators 2017". Texas Monthly. June 20, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2018. When we asked Capitol insiders for Worst list suggestions, his name, almost universally, was the first one mentioned. During one floor debate, when a fellow legislator fell ill with a serious intestinal ailment, Cain objected to the usual procedure of granting the lawmaker an excused absence and called for a record vote. He was the only no vote. But one particular moment, during the budget debate on the House floor, best exemplifies Cain's uninformed and belligerent performance this session.
  29. ^ "87th Legislature Regular Session - Committee Assignments - Rep. Briscoe Cain". Texas Legislature Online. Committee Assignments: Texas Legislature Online. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  30. ^ "86th Legislature Regular Session - Committee Assignments - Rep. Briscoe Cain". Texas Legislature Online. Committee Assignments: Texas Legislature Online. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  31. ^ https://www.texastribune.org/directory/briscoe-cain/
  32. ^ "85th Legislature Regular Session - Committee Assignments - Rep. Briscoe Cain". Texas Legislature Online. Committee Assignments: Texas Legislature Online. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  33. ^ Goldenstein, Taylor (May 5, 2020). "Texas Republican lawmakers Briscoe Cain and Steve Toth get haircuts, defying Abbott's order". HoustonChronicle.com. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  34. ^ https://www.chron.com/news/article/Two-Texas-lawmakers-call-for-2-5B-in-state-funds-13611042.php
  35. ^ a b "Issues". briscoecain.com. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  36. ^ "Texas Legislature Online - 86(R) History for HB 4306". capitol.texas.gov. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  37. ^ "Gators in the Capitol: Briscoe Cain and Mary Ann Perez". news.uhd.edu. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  38. ^ @BriscoeCain (October 7, 2013). "Yes I mix religion and politics" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  39. ^ a b Ura, Alexa (February 4, 2021). "Republican who helped Trump campaign challenge Joe Biden's win will lead election work in Texas House". The Texas Tribune.
  40. ^ Ura, Alexa (May 7, 2021). "Texas GOP's voting restrictions bill could be rewritten behind closed doors after final House passage". The Texas Tribune. But both the original SB 7 and the original provisions of HB 6 were opposed by civil rights groups who raised the prospect that the legislation violates federal safeguards for voters of color. Republicans' efforts to further restrict voting in the state come as their presidential margins of victory continue to thin and Democrats drive up their votes in diverse urban centers and growing suburban communities.
  41. ^ Ura, Alexa (March 22, 2021). "Texas Republicans begin pursuing new voting restrictions as they work to protect their hold on power". The Texas Tribune. Senate Bill 7 is part of a broader package of proposals to constrain local initiatives widening voter access in urban areas, made up largely by people of color, that favor Democrats.
  42. ^ "New GOP-led voting restrictions move forward in Texas". CBS News/AP. April 1, 2021. The bill is one of two major voting packages in Texas that mirrors a nationwide campaign by Republicans after former President Donald Trump made false claims about election fraud. Voting rights groups say the measures would disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minority voters.
  43. ^ Wines, Michael (April 1, 2021). "Texas lawmakers advance a bill that would make voting more difficult, drawing comparisons to Georgia". The New York Times. Critics of the Senate bill said most of its provisions were less about making voting secure than about making it harder, particularly for urban voters and minority voters, two groups that tend to vote for Democrats.
  44. ^ Barragán, James (April 1, 2021). "In overnight vote, Texas Senate passes bill that would make it harder to vote". Dallas Morning News. [President of the Texas Civil Rights Project] said many of the bill's provisions would disproportionately affect voters of color. The extended voting hours in Harris County, for example, were mostly used by voters of color. Fifty-six percent of voters who cast ballots in late night hours were Black, Hispanic or Asian, according to the Texas Civil Rights Project.
  45. ^ Coronado, Acacia (May 30, 2021). "EXPLAINER: How Texas Republicans aim to make voting harder". Associated Press. Advocates say the changes would disproportionately affect minorities and people with disabilities.
  46. ^ Gardner, Amy (May 30, 2021). "How the new Texas voting bill would create hurdles for voters of color". Washington Post. While Senate Bill 7 would have wide-ranging effects on voters across the state, it includes specific language that critics say would disproportionately affect people of color — particularly those who live in under-resourced and urban communities.
  47. ^ Montgomery, Dave; Corasaniti, Nick (May 12, 2021). "Exchange Over 'Purity' of Vote Puts Texas G.O.P. Firebrand in Spotlight". The New York Times.
  48. ^ Knowles, Hannah (May 9, 2021). "A Texas bill drew ire for saying it would preserve 'purity of the ballot box.' Here's the phrase's history". Washington Post. Retrieved May 29, 2021. The word "purity" has a long and racist legacy in the South, historians said. "Purity of the ballot box" is more obscure — several scholars said they were not aware of it being used for discrimination, and it was enshrined in the Texas Constitution of 1876, which did not bar Black people from voting. To others, though, it conjures century-old justifications for excluding Black voters and rules that have disproportionately kept minorities from casting ballots.
  49. ^ Corasaniti, Nick; Gelles, David (May 4, 2021). "Business Coalitions Speak Out Against Voting Restrictions in Texas". The New York Times.
  50. ^ Gardner, Amy (May 29, 2021). "Texas Republicans finalize bill that would enact stiff new voting restrictions and make it easier to overturn election results". Washington Post. Cain, the chief House sponsor of one of the voting bills this year, proposed financial penalties against entities that publicly threaten "any adverse action against this state" in protest of election legislation.
  51. ^ Gardner, Amy (April 22, 2021). "As the voting-rights fight moves to Texas, defiant Republicans test the resolve of corporations that oppose restrictions". Washington Post. And on Wednesday, state Rep. Briscoe Cain (R), the chief sponsor of one of the voting bills, proposed financial penalties against entities that publicly threaten "any adverse action against this state" in protest against election legislation.
  52. ^ a b c d "Protesters at TSU prevent state representative's speech". KHOU11news. October 10, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
  53. ^ "House budget amendments seek to ignite controversial topics". The Texas Tribune. April 3, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  54. ^ Caron, Paul L. (October 10, 2017). "Protesters Force Cancellation Of Speech By State Representative At Federalist Society Event At Thurgood Marshall Law School". TaxProf Blog. Retrieved December 29, 2017. The Federalist Society chapter president said that while the Society is a law school organization under the Student Bar Association, it was not registered with the main campus's student government association, but that he would register it if asked to. Dallas Morning News
  55. ^ "'Racist' vs. 'thuggish': Canceled GOP speech at Houston HBCU turns into war of words | Higher Education". Dallas News. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  56. ^ a b Morris, Angela (October 20, 2017). "At Law Schools, Rowdy Protests Provide Teachable Moments". Connecticut Law Tribune. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  57. ^ "Texas State Rep. Cain: 'Stephen Hawking now knows the truth about how the universe was actually made' - AOL News". Aol.com. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  58. ^ a b Kennedy, Bud (June 22, 2018). "'I think it's funny': Republican prankster booted from Texas Democratic convention". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  59. ^ Hancock, Jamie; Milburn, Forrest (June 23, 2018). "Republicans prank Texas Democrats with 'gun-free safe space' signs at their convention". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  60. ^ a b Zelinski, Andrea (June 23, 2018). "Republicans prank, troll Democrats at state convention". The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  61. ^ a b Gstalter, Morgan (September 13, 2019). "Twitter takes down Texas GOP lawmaker's AR tweet about O'Rourke". The Hill. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  62. ^ a b c Cobler, Nicole (January 31, 2020). "After Twitter suspension, Briscoe Cain shares offending post again". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  63. ^ Abrahams, Tom (September 14, 2019). "Texas lawmaker on 'AR' tweet to Beto: It was not a threat". ABC 13. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  64. ^ Staff (September 28, 2019). "Briscoe Cain says his "My AR is ready for you" tweet benefited him, Beto O'Rourke". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  65. ^ "Power Players: Rep. Briscoe Cain". Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  66. ^ McGaughy, Lauren (April 25, 2019). "Texas lawmaker reveals he has Asperger's during Autism Awareness Month speech". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  67. ^ Fikac, Peggy (September 10, 2017). "State lawmakers on the front lines of Harvey response". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
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