Good morning,

The current special session of the legislature was called by Gov. Greg Abbott specifically to implement an "Education Savings Account" program that was killed by the House. In the One Click Survey, we want to hear what you think the governor should do next.

This is the Texas Minute for Monday, December 4, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

PARTY ACTIONS

Texas GOP Censures Phelan Ally / Paxton Prosecutor

• Just weeks after he announced he would not be seeking re-election, the Republican Party of Texas has censured the lawmaker who led the failed impeachment against Attorney General Ken Paxton. Brandon Waltens has the story.
           
• State Rep. Andrew Murr (R–Junction) was first elected to the Texas House in 2014. He has been one of House Speaker Dade Phelan's closest allies and was tapped to lead a secret investigation and rushed impeachment against Paxton.
          
• Murr’s record led him to be censured by two county parties in his district. On Saturday, the State Republican Executive Committee concurred with the censure by a vote of 61-0, with two abstaining.
     

• The GOP also passed resolutions condemning anti-Semitism and supporting Israel.

Texas Democrats Side With Hamas

• Meanwhile, the executive committee controlling the state's Democrat Party voted Saturday to join Hamas and other anti-Israel forces in demanding a "ceasefire" in the Middle East.
       
• The Democrats' resolution comes nearly two months after Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israeli civilians, killing more than 1,200 people. In the fighting since the attack, Hamas has taken Jewish hostages to use as human shields. The Democrats have refused to recognize Israel's right to defend itself.

Texas Senate Passes Measure to Expedite Election Challenges

• With just days left in the legislative session, the Senate passed a last-minute change to state law expediting challenges to election contests in constitutional elections. It was filed on Friday, moved quickly through committee, and passed through the Senate within a matter of hours.

       

• The legislation, authored by State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), would lower the time period following an election during which a trial can be held from 180 to 50 days. It would also establish a 30-day deadline for challenges to be heard by appellate courts and the Texas Supreme Court.

      

• The legislation is in response to a series of six lawsuits filed following the November constitutional election, challenging the results based on the certification of the voting machines used. The results of this election—including property tax relief— cannot be certified until those lawsuits are resolved.
       

• While the issue is not on the current agenda for the special session, Governor Greg Abbott is reportedly prepared to add it if the Senate and House can agree on legislation.

UT Austin Terminates Pro-DEI Fellowship

• Ahead of a new state measure targeting “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” policies in Texas, a fellowship at the University of Texas at Austin pushing the left-wing political agenda has ended. Will Biagini has the details.
        
• The Public Voices Fellowship at UT Austin was part of The OpEd Project, focusing on five areas, including "Gender Justice," "Racial Justice," "Public Health Justice," "Climate Justice & Solutions," and "Media & Democracy Justice & Solutions."
     
• There were 14 fellows enrolled in the UT Austin program.

Vendors, State Argue Over Sexually Explicit Books

• Federal appellate judges will soon determine whether Texas can fully implement a new state law to protect children from sexually explicit content in school libraries. Erin Anderson has the story.

     
• The new law regulates library materials sold to schools and requires vendors to rate books containing sexual content as “sexually explicit” or “sexually relevant.” Vendors that fail to comply cannot sell books to Texas schools.
       
• A three-judge panel of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments last week from attorneys on both sides as Texas fights a legal challenge by book vendors over the law.
     
• Book vendors want the judges to reinstate a preliminary injunction granted by a trial court to temporarily stop the state from enforcing the law. The state, meanwhile, wants to begin regulating sexually explicit school library materials while the case is litigated.

Border Patrol Temporarily Suspends Vehicle Processing in Eagle Pass

• As more illegal border crossers continue to flood the southwest border, Emily Medeiros reports that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency is temporarily suspending vehicle processing at a port of entry in Texas as well as one in Arizona. 
        

• CBP announced that they will reduce and suspend vehicle processing due to a surge in encounters along the southwest border. The agency is redirecting personnel to assist border patrol agents with taking illegal aliens into custody and processing them.
       

• Only people traveling into the U.S. will be affected by the new suspension. Those who are traveling southbound into Mexico will still be able to travel without restrictions. 
       

• Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham says the suspension emphasizes the severity of the border crisis.  
        

• “At a time when Americans are seeing record-high inflation, the Biden Administration is prioritizing illegal immigration over lawful trade and travel,” Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham told Texas Scorecard. “If we had a President concerned with the lives of everyday Americans, we would eliminate the lures and incentives that created this humanitarian crisis and prioritize border security and American prosperity.”

UPDATE: A&M Administrator No Longer Employed After Arrest for Possession of Child Pornography

• A spokesperson for Texas A&M told Texas Scorecard that Clinton Harnden—who was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation at his College Station home after investigators found he possessed child pornography—is no longer employed by the university as of Friday afternoon. Sydnie Henry has the update.

Today In History

On Dec. 4, 1783, General George Washington gathered his officers together at a tavern in New York City to announce that he was resigning his commission and returning to private life at his home in Virginia. Less than five years later his country would call him out of retirement to serve as the first president under the Constitution.

Quote-Unquote

"I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy, as your former ones have been glorious and honorable."

– George Washington, to his officers​ on Dec. 4, 1783

ONE CLICK SURVEY

The current special session of the Texas Legislature (which ends Wednesday) was called by Gov. Greg Abbott specifically to enact "school choice" legislation favored by more than 85 percent of Texas GOP primary voters. It was passed by the Texas Senate but killed in the House.

Should Gov. Abbott call yet another special session on the issue or just focus on defeating the opponents in the primary election?

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