Good morning, 

This is the Texas Minute for Wednesday, February 7, 2024.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

ICE Nabs a Dozen Illegal Aliens Convicted of Crimes Against Children

• Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have arrested a dozen illegal aliens with previous charges and convictions relating to child exploitation. As Emily Medeiros reports, the multi-state operation included arrests in Washington, Oregon, and Texas.
       
• In Harlingen, six illegal aliens were arrested with outstanding charges—and even convictions—for crimes ranging from murder and homicide to assaults against children. In the Pacific Northwest, six illegal aliens convicted of crimes related to child exploitation were picked up by ICE.
       
• Selene Rodriguez, a policy director for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, told Texas Scorecard that the increase in human trafficking can be linked to the Biden administration’s failing border policies and to the Mexican cartels. 

Dade Phelan Blamed for COVID-19 Vaccine Ban Loopholes

• Despite promises to the contrary, the Texas legislature failed to pass a measure banning all COVID-19 vaccine mandates during the 2024 session. The reason for that, asserts State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian), is House Speaker Dade Phelan. Luca Cacciatore has the story.
        
• According to Harrison, Phelan and the House parliamentarian Hugh Brady were responsible for watering down two measures that supposedly banned the mandates. Brady, a Democrat, was a lawyer in the Obama White House before being hired by Republicans to serve as parliamentarian.
       
• While some have claimed legislation was passed to prevent state government from making COVID-19 vaccines and masking compulsory, Harrison explains the actual text contains special provisions excluding a significant number of state-controlled entities from the new rules.
       
• Harrison said Phelan and Brady turned a blind eye to loopholes in the legislation and blocked amendments to close them.

School Freedom Fund Releases TV Ad 

• Pro-school choice PAC School Freedom Fund has released a TV ad in House District 21 in support of David Covey, who is challenging Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan. But rather than focus on education issues, the ad highlights Donald Trump’s endorsement of the challenger. Sydnie Henry has the details.

Former Houston Mayoral Aide Sentenced for Bribery

• A long-serving aide to Democrat mayors in Houston has been sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison on bribery charges. Charles Blain reports the man worked for several city politicians, most recently for former Mayor Sylvester Turner. 
        
• In 2020, William Paul Thomas accepted a $13,000 bribe so that a bar could remain open during the COVID lockdowns. Reportedly, Thomas also received a Porsche from an airport vendor in exchange for getting fines and fees dismissed.

School District Focuses on Budget Shortfall

• Facing a $28 million budget shortfall, trustees in the Keller Independent School District are looking to cut the budget. But rather than blame chronic overspending in public education, the board president blamed state lawmakers for not providing enough funding.
      
• Texas taxpayers pay nearly $15,000 per student in public education. Lawmakers increased state funding by several billion during the 2023 legislative session, spending more than $93.6 billion.
      
• Since 2017, Keller ISD has grown its non-instructional administration by 46.4 percent. Meanwhile, the district has grown instructional faculty by 10.7 percent.

Quote-Unquote

"Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor liberty to purchase power."

– Benjamin Franklin​

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