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Good morning,

Here is the Texas Minute for Monday, May 29, 2023.

– Brandon Waltens

But first, on this Memorial Day, the Texas Scorecard team would like to remember our service members who have given the ultimate sacrifice, and give our thanks to all who have served.

House Approves Illegal Impeachment of AG Ken Paxton

Despite major opposition from conservative voices, the Texas House voted 121-23 to impeach [[link removed]] Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in a rare and rushed Saturday meeting.

House Speaker Dade Phelan, who traditionally abstains from most votes, registered an affirmative vote following Paxton’s call for his resignation due to apparent intoxication [[link removed]] on the House floor.

The vote was also Democrat-led, with 61 Democrats and 60 Republicans voting for the motion.

Saturday's impeachment, the first of a statewide official in over 100 years, centered around a settlement reached with four former employees of the Office of the Attorney General who say they were fired unfairly.

The move has gained significant opposition from conservatives like U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who called the process a "travesty."

Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said he would fight any Republican who voted for the impeachment resolution.

The issue will now be sent to the Senate for a trial where Paxton would be required to be convicted by two-thirds of the senators in order to be removed from office.

Texas Legislature Massively Increases State Spending

​​​​Just moments after the House impeached Attorney General Ken Paxton, they approved the largest spending increase in 20 years. Sydnie Henry [[link removed]] has the details.

The budget, now approved by both the House and Senate, increases spending to $321 billion, a 21.3 percent jump from the previous biennium’s appropriations.

Although lawmakers have been working with a historic budget surplus [[link removed]]—that is, they took too much in taxes from citizens—of nearly $33 billion, they have not allocated the majority of it toward new property tax relief.

According to Tim Hardin, the president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, “The property tax relief that has steadily improved throughout the session due to taxpayer pressure still falls short of the promised ‘largest property tax cut in Texas history.’”

Indeed, with the Legislature's regular session slated to end today, no agreement has been reached on property tax relief, meaning it must be addressed in a special session.

Harris County Dems Threaten to Sue over Election Integrity Legislation​​​​

Republican legislation inspired by a series of election fiascos in Harris County is drawing threats of lawsuits from local Democrat officials—before it’s even been signed into law.

Erin Anderson [[link removed]] reports that Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee announced the county plans to sue the state over two bills passed by Texas lawmakers: one that eliminates their elections administrator position and another that subjects the county’s elections office to state oversight.

County Judge Lina Hidalgo, County Commissioner Rodney Harris, and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner—all Democrats like Menefee—also backed the legal challenges.

Until 2020, Harris County elections were administered by the county clerk, while the tax assessor (a position Bettencourt once held) managed voter registration. Then, Hidalgo and the commissioners court decided to move all election duties to an appointed elections administrator.

Following the November 2020 election, Hidalgo pushed to appoint Isabel Longoria as the county’s first elections administrator, despite her complete lack of experience. A series of botched elections followed, including what some called “the worst election fiasco in Texas history,” forcing Longoria to resign in 2022.

The county then hired Clifford Tatum, a consultant from Washington, D.C., whose gross mismanagement of the November 2022 election sparked a criminal investigation and multiple lawsuits that are ongoing.

Texas Legislative Session to End with Unfinished Business

The regular legislative session is set to end today, but lawmakers should be prepared to come back for overtime [[link removed]].

At the beginning of the session, Gov. Greg Abbott announced 7 priority items. Only 3 of those priorities will be reach his desk.

While the legislature passed legislation addressing COVID mandates, the fentanyl crisis, and school safety, other priorities failed to reach the finish line, including:

Border security

Bail Reform

School Choice

Property Tax Relief

Special sessions can only be called by the governor, up to 30 days at a time, and on issues he chooses.

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– Ronald Reagan​

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