Good morning –

The third special legislative session of 2023 convenes this afternoon. Among the items on the agenda, Gov. Greg Abbott wants to ban private employers from mandating the COVID vax. This week's One Click Survey asks your opinion.

Here is the Texas Minute for Monday, October 9, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Comptroller Hikes Surplus Estimate

• While Texans face economic difficulties, the state is expected to collect more than $18 billion in surplus funds following the 2024-2025 biennium. Katy Marshall has the details.
      
• Comptroller Glenn Hegar increased the estimated funds available for lawmakers to spend ahead of the start of the third special session. This new estimate means that the state will be left with $18.29 billion in surplus funds at the end of the current budget cycle.
     
• Texas’ Economic Stabilization Fund—also known as the rainy day fund—will accrue $23.77 billion, absent any additional legislative appropriations.
      
• Texans for Fiscal Responsibility called on lawmakers to apply any additional surplus funds to property tax relief.

November Propositions Round Up

• There are 14 constitutional amendments on the November ballot that must be approved by a majority of Texas voters for the underlying legislation to take effect. Election Day is Tuesday, November 7. Sydnie Henry provides an explanation of the propositions.

       
• Three grassroots groups have issued recommendations on the propositions: Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, True Texas Project, and the Huffines Liberty Foundation.

Patrick Addresses House’s ‘Ill-advisedly Concocted’ Impeachment

• Despite the impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton being long over, having been exonerated by the Senate, the House leadership is still trying their case in the public. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has issued his most scathing criticism of the House Impeachment Managers yet. 
       
• The House Managers have blamed partisanship in the Senate for the decision in Paxton’s favor.  
     
• Patrick has denied the accusations. Late last week, he compared the performance of the House Managers to “a tee-ball player tripping over their shoelaces.”
      
• The lieutenant governor laid blame specifically on House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) and the House Managers for “hastily and ill-advisedly” concocting and debating the impeachment articles.
      
• “The House Managers’ shoddy work, poorly constructed and vaguely written articles, poor procedures, and shortcuts on fairness and due process resulted in a presentation before the Senate that collapsed like a house of cards.” – Dan Patrick

Paxton Endorses Challengers to ‘Liberal RINO Republicans’

• Fresh off of his acquittal on all impeachment charges by the Texas Senate last month, Attorney General Ken Paxton is setting his sights on the upcoming primary election, endorsing a slate of challengers to Republican House members. Brandon Waltens has the story.
      
• Among the first round of endorsements made by Paxton is one for David Covey, who is challenging House Speaker Dade Phelan in his home district.
     
• “I have had enough, and I know conservative voters have had enough. I’m making these endorsements to begin restoring a conservative majority in our state House. I look forward to campaigning with these candidates in the days ahead,” said Ken Paxton. 

Parker County GOP Supports Censuring Dade Phelan

• Following the Orange County GOP voting to censure their own state representative, House Speaker Dade Phelan, several other counties have supported the move.  The latest to do so, reports Emily Medeiros, is Parker County.

      
• The Parker County resolution states that Phelan abused the power of his office by opposing three or more core principles of the RPT. 
      
• Last month, the Republican Party of Texas voted 58-2 for a resolution calling on Phelan to resign as speaker.

ONE CLICK SURVEY

As the third special session convenes, lawmakers are being asked by Gov. Greg Abbott to prohibit private employers from issuing COVID-19 vaccines as a condition of employment.

Should private employers be allowed to require a COVID jab?  

Once you’ve clicked an answer, reply to this email with any thoughts you’d like to share!