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Good morning –

Whatever position you take on the school choice movement, Thursday's budget debate in the Texas House is going to be revealing.

Here is the Texas Minute for Wednesday, April 5, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

POLL: Trump Support Surges Among Texas Republicans

New polling reveals the indictment of former President Donald Trump by a New York district attorney may be helping his chances at re-election in 2024 [[link removed]].

According to a poll [[link removed]] commissioned by the Defend Texas Liberty PAC, 52 percent of Republican primary voters said they would vote for Donald Trump in the Republican primary election. That is up nine points [[link removed]] from February.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis earned the second most support, with 20 percent of Republicans saying he was their first choice for president – that's down 7 percent from last month. Other candidates polled received support in the low single digits [[link removed]].

Senate Blocks Medical Mandates, Future Shutdowns

State and local government entities will no longer have the power to restrict personal freedoms as they did during the height of the Chinese coronavirus pandemic scare under legislation endorsed by the Texas Senate. Soli Rice reports [[link removed]] the reform legislation passed the Senate 20-10, but has an uncertain path in the Texas House.

Beginning with the excuse of the COVID pandemic, state and local governments around the country have continued chipping away at personal freedoms under the guise of protecting personal health.

To prevent future power grabs, State Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) filed Senate Bill 29, with the other 18 Republican state senators signing on as co-authors. The issue was designated as a priority for both Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott. GOP Speaker Pro Tem Moves To Block Abbott's School Choice Push

As the Republican-led Texas House stalls on conservative priorities, State Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) has signed on to a Democrat's proposal intended to block the implementation of school choice. Katy Marshall has the details [[link removed]].

Ahead of Thursday's debate on the biennial budget, members of the Texas House have filed amendments for debate that would alter the proposed use of taxpayer dollars. One such amendment has been introduced – and passed – for several sessions running that blocks Texas from paying for school choice programs, including vouchers, education savings accounts, and tax credit scholarships.

Geren’s public opposition to school choice is notable, as he was appointed by House Speaker Dade Phelan to serve as the speaker pro tempore—the No. 2 position in the chamber.

Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and the Republican Party of Texas have all named school choice as legislative priorities.

ANALYSIS: ‘Education Freedom’ Faces House Test

No issue has been more widely supported for so long, yet left completely ignored [[link removed]] by the Texas Legislature, than that of “school choice” and “education freedom.”

In previous years, without a serious push on school choice, members of the Texas House have biennially engaged in the ritualistic sacrifice of “school choice” to appease the gods of government growth and public education. They had nothing to fear.

This year, with an active proposal on the table and the governor heavily promoting results, the situation is more dicey for lawmakers [[link removed]].

School choice opponents have privately expressed frustration with the budget amendment being filed because, in 2023, there is still two months of session to fight it off an active proposal. They worry (correctly) this budget amendment might paint targets [[link removed]] on their weak GOP allies at which Abbott and others can shoot ... for two months … and potentially flip.

History says the good money is against education freedom in 2023, but history has never had the fight in Texas aligned [[link removed]] quite like this.

Republican House members will have to decide what they fear more: Abbott, Patrick, and the GOP base… or the Democrat-supporting teacher unions.

Despite Senate Opposition, House Advances Crony Gambling Proposal Even with the odds against them in the Senate, Brandon Waltens reports [[link removed]] legislation to expand gambling in Texas is rolling through the House.

Gambling proposals presented by House lawmakers include two facets: casino gambling and online sports betting. This week, the House State Affairs Committee rolled the dice on both.

While supporters of the legislation claim gambling would bring in additional revenue to state government, opponents have highlighted the financial and social cost of such ventures. The Republican Party of Texas platform opposes any expansion of gambling, including legalized casino gambling and sports betting.

The casino measure would create a new state agency charged with picking eight regional monopoly enterprises run by out-of-state corporations aligned with labor unions.

Cronyism... Government monopolies... Labor unions... What could go wrong?!

During a recent appearance on The Mark Davis Show, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the bill does not have support among Senate Republicans [[link removed]].

“Unless I have 15 to 16 Republicans, meaning it’s a Republican-driven bill because we’re a Republican-driven state, I’m not bringing a bill to the floor,” explained Patrick [[link removed]]. “I need Republican consensus; otherwise, it’s a Democrat bill."

UPDATE: Senate Moves To Rein in Radical District Attorneys

District attorneys who refuse to enforce state laws would face penalties from the state under legislation adopted by the Senate. Sydnie Henry reports [[link removed]] all the chamber's Republicans and two Democrats voted for a measure that will bar prosecuting attorneys from limiting or prohibiting the enforcement of any criminal offense – whether they do so by adopting and enforcing actual policies, or simply by demonstrating by pattern or practice.

It now goes to the Texas House.

Quote-Unquote

"Show me the man and I’ll find you the crime."

– Lavrentiy Beria

Chief of Soviet security

during the Stalin era

Number of the Day

5,890,347

The number of votes Donald Trump received in Texas in the November 2020 general election, out of 11,315,056 ballots cast.

[Source: Texas Secretary of State [[link removed]]]

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