Good morning, 

Here is the Texas Minute for Wednesday, July 19, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Texas Now Repelling Invasion in Eagle Pass

• A shift in operational policy from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has led to the Department of Public Safety blocking illegal aliens from entering the country and encouraging them to turn around. As Sydnie Henry reports, this marks a dramatic change from the old policy of guiding illegal aliens to U.S. Border Patrol agents. 

      
• Border security experts say the actions taken by DPS under Abbott's orders are a step forward in securing the state.
      
• Not everyone is happy. Mexico's president, Manuel Lopez Obrador, is now asking Mexican Americans to vote against Abbott.
       
• Someone might want to tell Mr. Obrador that the governor isn't up for re-election until 2026.

Sen. Schwertner Has DWI Charge Dismissed

• After being arrested and charged by Austin police for allegedly driving while intoxicated, State Sen. Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown) learned yesterday all charges have been dismissed. Brandon Waltens has the details.
      

• The arrest happened in the early hours of February 7. Schwertner, who has served in the Texas Senate for 10 years, was arrested at 2:12 a.m. and brought to the Travis County Jail. After being released on a no-cash personal recognizance bond, Schwertner said he was “deeply sorry” and “apologetic” to his constituents and family, adding that he “made a mistake.”

      

• Now his lawyer, Perry Minton, says the charges have been dismissed by the Travis County attorney’s office.
      

• There has been no word from the Travis County prosecutors on their decision.
       

• Schwertner chairs the Senate’s Business and Commerce Committee and was elected by his colleagues to serve as president pro tempore of the Senate in May.

Jackson Amendment Prohibits DoD From Funding Abortions

• Because the Department of Defense began reimbursing service members for abortion procedures, U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) successfully led an effort in the House to end the practice. Emily Medeiros has the story.

      
• With more than 70 co-sponsors, the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act was amended to prohibit the DoD from paying for expenses relating to abortion services.
       

• After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, the Biden administration has encouraged federal agencies to create rules and adopt policies expanding abortion access and putting American taxpayers on the hook for the bills.
      

• In his amendment, Jackson states that the secretary of defense has no legal authority to implement any policies in which funds are used to kill innocent life.
      

• Kim Schwartz of Texas Right to Life told Texas Scorecard the amendment is an essential step in fighting Biden’s abortion agenda.

🎧 LISTEN: Salcedo Interviews Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

• In the latest edition of Chris Salcedo's podcast, he conducts a wide-ranging interview with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick about the results of the 2023 legislative session.
   
• In their discussion, Patrick offers a glimpse into the backroom machinations that resulted in this month's property tax relief legislation.
      
• The Salcedo Storm is available every weekday on Texas Scorecard's website and everywhere you listen to podcasts.

County's Library Policy Protects Kids from Adult Content

• In response to months of community concerns, Montgomery County officials voted to limit kids’ access to sexually explicit books in the county’s public libraries. Erin Anderson reports officials also expanded the library system’s ability to buy books based on traditional values, which parents say are absent from county library shelves.

       
• “It is not okay to have our children reading pornography,” said Martin Etwop, a Conroe resident. “We’re not banning books; we’re saying find the appropriate location.”
       
• Commissioners also instructed library officials to group books in the children’s collection by genre so books with sexual themes are easily identified. They then put in place a policy prohibiting children under 18 years old from checking out books with adult content.

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