Coronavirus in Texas: Dan Patrick says economy can be fully reopened in "not too distant future"

Wednesday's biggest developments:

• Texas reports 34,422 cases and 948 deaths
• Texas asks federal government for $6.4 billion to offset unemployment payouts
• Austin health official sees coronavirus clusters among construction workers
• H-E-B responds to price gouging allegations in federal lawsuit

Dan Patrick says economy can be fully reopened in "not-too-distant future"

[3:49 p.m. ] Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick held a tele-press conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss the findings from the task force he established in early April on “recommendations for re-starting the economy” once businesses start reopening. Dallas businessman Brint Ryan, the chair of the task force, was also on the call. A few highlights:

• “We strongly believe that the Texas economy can be safely and effectively reopened and restored to 100% in the not-too-distant future,” Patrick said. When asked by a reporter an exact date for when that could happen, Patrick said, “The real answer to that question is unknown,” and that it depends on “our data.”
• Ryan said “personal responsibility and accountability” are going to be “crucial” in reopening the economy. “We know that screening and hygiene and those types of things begin at home,” he said.
• Patrick offered to pay the $7,000 levied on Shelley Luther, the Dallas-area hair salon owner who received a seven-day jail sentence for defying orders to close, by the city of Dallas. “I’m sure someone will let me know if Shelley up there in Dallas has her $7,000 or not yet, and whatever it is we’ll make up the difference or pay it if she doesn’t have any money for that fine,” he said.

Read the full report from Patrick’s “Texans Back to Work Task Force” here. — Alex Samuels

Civic orgs, Democrats ask state appeals court to enforce voting-by-mail ruling

[2:47 p.m.] After Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said litigation to expand voting by mail hasn’t changed eligibility for absentee voting, the voters, civic organizations and Texas Democrats fighting the state in court are asking a state appeals court for emergency relief.

In a motion filed late Tuesday, the plaintiffs who sued to expand voting by mail during the coronavirus pandemic asked the 3rd Court of Appeals of Texas to either enforce a lower court's ruling that expanded eligibility for voting by mail or to issue an order stating that ruling remains in effect.

The motion comes days after Paxton sent a letter to county officials that was at odds with a state district judge's ruling that a lack of immunity to the new coronavirus qualified voters to ask for mail-in ballots under a provision of the Texas election code that allows for absentee voting based for people with disabilities.

In his letter, Paxton said the ruling did “not change or suspend” the state’s eligibility requirements and again raised the prospect that “third parties” could face criminal sanctions if they advise voters who typically do not qualify for mail-in ballots to request one under those circumstances.

In their filing with the state appeals court, the plaintiffs argued Paxton was "acting in open defiance" of the lower court ruling, citing the attorney general's letter as a "striking assertion of unbridled executive power." — Alexa Ura

Texas reports 34,422 cases and 948 deaths

[12:45 p.m.] Texas reported 1,053 more cases of the new coronavirus Wednesday, an increase of about 3% over the previous day, bringing the total number of known cases to 34,422. No new counties reported their first cases Wednesday; over 85% of the state’s 254 counties have reported at least one case.

Harris County has reported the most cases, 7,128, followed by Dallas County, which has reported 4,623 cases. See maps of the latest case numbers for each county and case rates per 1,000 residents.

The state has reported 42 additional deaths, bringing the statewide total to 948 — an increase of about 5% from Tuesday. Harris County reported four additional deaths, bringing its total to 144 deaths, more than any other county.

As of Wednesday, 1,812 patients are known to be hospitalized in Texas. That’s a decrease of 76 patients from Tuesday. At least 438,938 tests have been conducted. — Chris Essig

Texas asks federal government for $6.4 billion to offset unemployment payouts

[11:52 a.m.] Texas will ask the U.S. Department of Labor for $6.4 billion in federal advances to offset the cost of unemployment relief payouts during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a Politico report.

Of the nine states that are seeking $36 billion total in advances, Texas’ ask — for May, June and July — is the third largest, according to Politico. Illinois is requesting $11 billion in May and June, and California is asking for $8 billion over the same time period.

More than 1.5 million Texans have filed claims for unemployment in the six weeks since officials began shuttering businesses across the state, with 254,199 Texans filing new claims last week. — Sami Sparber

H-E-B accused of price gouging eggs in federal lawsuit

[11:40 a.m.] H-E-B is being sued in federal court after a group of shoppers accused the store, along with two other Texas-based grocery stores and 18 other businesses nationwide, of price gouging eggs because of the coronavirus.

Shoppers said H-E-B and the other companies nearly tripled the price of eggs after Gov. Greg Abbott’s March 13 disaster declaration, according to an Austin American-Statesman report.

“As in any time of economic turmoil, there are those who seek to profit from the misery of millions,” reads the lawsuit, filed March 30 in Austin, according to the Statesman. “Defendants, who are producers, wholesalers, and retailers of eggs, comprise one such set of actors seeking to unfairly profit from the increased consumer demand for eggs in the midst of the ongoing crisis.”

An H-E-B spokesperson called the lawsuit "baseless" and said the grocery story chain “denies these meritless allegations.”

“While producers’ egg prices did dramatically increase, H-E-B often absorbs such price increases to protect Texans who need eggs,” Dya Campos, director of public affairs and governmental affairs, said in a statement. "H-E-B lost money on eggs rather than passing the cost increases along to its customers. … It is shameful that we have to deal with this baseless lawsuit, filed without even the barest of investigation into our prices.” — Sami Sparber

Austin-area health official says clusters of positive cases are emerging among construction workers

[5 a.m.] Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott told city officials Tuesday that clusters of coronavirus cases have emerged among construction workers, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

“The people who are getting sick right now are generally people who are working right now,” Escott said. “That risk is going to increase the more people who are working.”

The paper reported that health officials didn't release exact figures of positive cases by industry, but they plan to account for patients' occupations as the economy continues reopening. — Brandon Formby