ACCOUNT [[link removed]]

READ ONLINE [link removed]

Good morning,

Yesterday, we asked readers about election security in light of the Harris County audit... And y'all had answers! You will find those below.

Here is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, October 24, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Record-Breaking Levels of Illegal Alien Encounters Continue U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that encounters with illegal aliens in September were the highest ever recorded since the federal government began tracking the data in 2000. Sydnie Henry has the details [[link removed]].

The end of September also marked the end of the federal fiscal year (FY2023). There were 2,475,669 encounters with illegal aliens along the southern border over the last 12 months, surpassing the previous record of 2,378,944 illegal border crossers set in FY2022.

In response to the border crisis, Gov. Greg Abbott began Operation Lone Star. In lieu of federal action, Texas’ border security effort is costing state taxpayers billions of dollars in an attempt to curb the detriorating situation. Toth: Texas House’s Weakened School Choice Proposal Is Dead Despite Gov. Greg Abbott asking lawmakers to pass legislation providing education savings accounts for all Texas children, the Texas House leadership has floated legislation that comes far short of that goal. State Rep. Steve Toth (R-The Woodlands) has described the proposal as "not a serious" attempt and that it is "dead" before even being considered.

As Brandon Waltens reports [[link removed]], the Texas Senate has repeatedly passed variations of "school choice" legislation that would enable families to find educational settings most appropriate for their children. The House, under Speaker Dade Phelan, has rejected those.

The governor criticized the House's offering as not being what had been discussed.

The House proposal would increase teachers' pay while eliminating the state's accountability rating system. The "A-F" rating has been an indicator for parents of a school's academic achievement.

Toth took aim at the legislation’s expansion of the controversial State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness, or STAAR test. “Serious people that are serious about education know that we need to curtail the expansion of high stakes testing, not expand it.”

Toth added: “This is not a serious bill any more than Dade Phelan is a serious speaker.” Latinos for Trump President Launches Campaign Against Paxton Impeachment Manager Bianca Gracia, the president of Latinos for Trump, has announced she will be challenging State Rep. Briscoe Cain of Deer Park in the GOP primary. Soli Rice has the details [[link removed]].

Grarcia is highlighting Cain's role in leading the failed impeachment case against Attorney General Ken Paxton.

In her announcement, Grarcia criticized Cain for supporting Democrats serving as committee chairs in the Texas House and having "misled" constituents on issues. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson Launches Republican Mayors Association Freshly-minted Republican Eric Johnson, the mayor of Dallas, has launched a new organization to elect and retain more Republican mayors in urban cities. Emily Medeiros has the story [[link removed]].

Johnson announced his switch in party affiliation last month. When he did so, Dallas became the largest city in the United States to have a Republican mayor.

His new organization cites many failures cities face under Democrat leadership, including the defunding of the police, crumbling infrastructure, high taxes, homelessness, and rising crime.

Lubbock County Commissioners Prohibit Abortion Trafficking

Commissioners voted in favor of an ordinance that outlaws abortion [[link removed]], abortion-inducing drugs, and abortion trafficking within the unincorporated areas of Lubbock County.

Lubbock County joins Cochran, Goliad, and Mitchell in passing such an ordinance. REMINDER: Early Voting Continues Today Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, for Texas' 14 constitutional propositions. Here's a roundup of recommendations [[link removed]] made by grassroots and policy organizations on the propositions.

In many areas, citizens will be asked to cast ballots on new taxes and additional local debt [[link removed]].

Early voting continues through November 3. Support Texas Scorecard?

No paywalls. No government grants. No corporate sponsorships. Texas Scorecard only exists with the generous support of patriots like you!

$9 [[link removed]] $18.36 [[link removed]] $25 [[link removed]] $50 [[link removed]] Other 🔒 [[link removed]] Number of the Day

14

The number of constitutional amendment propositions on the ballot.

[Source: Texas Secretary of State]

Today in History

On Oct. 24, 1952, Samuel Huston College and Tillotson College merged to form the Austin-based Huston-Tillotson College.

Quote-Unquote

"When we give in to liberals, even an inch, we’re not compromising; we’re abdicating our rights and our honor. When our legislators do likewise, they are abdicating our rights and their honor."

– H.L. Richardson​

Y'All Answered [[link removed]]

An audit of Harris County's 2022 election by the Texas Secretary of State found "multiple failures," ranging from insufficient supplies at polling places to misreporting voter registrations.

Yesterday, we asked readers if Gov. Greg Abbott should add election security reform to the special session agenda. Just over 89 percent of readers said they want the issue addressed in the special session, while 10.6 percent said they do not.

Here is a sampling [[link removed]] of the responses we received...

“I started to answer yes to this question because election security is one of the top issues I hear from grassroots activists around the state (right next to border security). But what's the point of adding more election security legislation when governments and individuals get away with completely ignoring the legislation we already have? The Harris County situation, like many others, was mostly a case of not following existing election law. Maybe we don't need more laws, as much as we need enforcement of existing laws.” – Fran Rhodes

“Not only Election security, he needs to get them to reaffirm the law that gives the state A.G. authority to prosecute election fraud!!” – Tony Anderson

“As a Delegate to the 2022 Republican Convention, I spoke firsthand with other delegates, some from Harris County who were also election clerks. They confirmed witnessing cheating and underhand tactics in Harris County. We need stronger safeguards in every county.” – Dianna Allen

“Election integrity is at the heart of maintaining our republic and liberty. This fiasco in Harris county is extremely disturbing.” – Roger Taylor

“We should not have more election security legislation until the laws already in place are enforced. Voters want to know what the SOS’s office is going to do about the infractions that were listed in the audit report. It is my understanding that the SOS’s office does not even respond in a timely manner to requests to remove non-eligible voters in Harris County off of the rolls. How difficult can that be? Having laws that are not enforced is a really bad idea.” – Roxann Bilger

“Without faith in the meaningfulness of our efforts at the polls, the long experiment of a representative republic is at an end.” – John Bolgiano

“Why add another topic to the special session while ‘dictator‘ Dade Phelan is in charge?” – Donita Satterwhite

“I answered No to adding election security reform to another special session. Not because I do not want election reform or think it is not important but because the House is corrupt and holds Texans like all of us in contempt. If we demand it, they will refuse it, period.” – Daniel Salerno

“Of course we should add it to the special session. I am not sure our elected officials realize this, but without election integrity and border security, we do not control our country.” – Gary Alford

“There were many questions about the legitimacy of the last two elections. We have got to have voter integrity if we ever hope to have honest elections.” – Cathy Hess

“I do not trust the TX 88th legislative session with election security reform. The governor should scrap all special sessions with the 88th and reboot with the 89th.” – Hanslin Peterson

“It should be added but as long as Phelan and the Democrats control the House nothing of real reform will ever pass.” – Pamala Millisor

“What difference does it make if they do more? Nothing ever happens to anyone who breaks the current laws, so the only value in additional laws, just like no CRT to be taught in schools, will accomplish nothing but virtue signaling for a do-nothing Governor and House.” – Jack Duk

“Yes, we need more security in regards to Election Integrity!” – Carol Dean

“Even though I voted YES, I really don't know if adding 'election security reform to the special session agenda' would help. Having worked as Election Judge, Precinct, Chair, and Poll Watcher, what I find most damaging to our elections is lack of HONEST volunteers. Even here in Conservative East Texas, we can't find them. We have Precincts that don't even have Republican Precinct Chairs...forget Poll Watchers!” – John R. Makow

“Until fraud and malfeasance concerning our voting system carry massive penalties the temptation to cheat is too tempting.” – Tobie Hall

“Voting and vote counting isn’t rocket science. Need mandatory prison time for voter fraud of any kind.” – John Hawes

“Yes! But expect nothing of value from the corrupt RINO House.” – H J Bronson

“I voted no only because it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money. The Texas House doesn’t pass anything the voters request. They have their own agenda. We voters need to correct this problem.” – Jim Stewart

Update Your Subscription & Information [[link removed]]

John xxxxxx



[email protected]

Directory of Your U.S. & Texas Lawmakers [[link removed]]

This information is automatically inserted based on the mailing address you provide to us. If you'd like to update your contact information, please visit our subscriber portal [[link removed]].

U.S. Senator [[link removed]]

John Cornyn (R)

(202) 224-2934

U.S. Senator [[link removed]]

Ted Cruz (R)

(202) 224-5922

Governor of Texas [[link removed]]

Greg Abbott (R)

(512) 463-2000

Lt. Governor [[link removed]]

Dan Patrick (R)

(512) 463-0001

State Board of Education [[link removed]], District

Update your address ( )

Main (512) 463-9007

U.S. House [[link removed]], District

Update your address ()

Congressional Switchboard (202) 225-3121​​​​​​​

Texas Senate [[link removed]], District

Update your address ()

Capitol Switchboard (512) 463-4630​​​​​​​

Texas House [[link removed]], District

Update your address ()

Capitol Switchboard (512) 463-4630​​​​​​​

Speaker of the Texas House

Dade Phelan (R)

(512) 463-1000

Something not right?

Make sure we have your address right [[link removed]]!

Request A Speaker [[link removed]]

A product of Texas Scorecard

www.TexasScorecard.com

(888) 410-1836

PO Box 248, Leander, TX 78646

Presented by Texas Scorecard, the Texas Minute is a quick look at the first news of the Lone Star State so citizens can be well informed and effectively engaged. It is available weekday mornings in your inbox!

This message was originally sent to:

John xxxxxx |

Be sure to put “ [[link removed]]” on your safe-senders whitelist.

If you ever stop receiving our emails, it might be because someone to whom you forwarded the email unintentionally removed you from the list. No worries; it is easy enough to reactivate your subscription immediately by visiting:

[link removed]

Before you click the link below... If someone forwarded this email to you, please don’t! Clicking the link will end the subscription of [email protected].
Unsubscribe [link removed]