Good morning, 

What the Supreme Court paused one day, it brought back to life the next... Only to have it put back on hold... Confused? 

This is the Texas Minute for Wednesday, March 20, 2024.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

After Supreme Court Allows Texas New Border Security Law, It Gets Blocked Again...

• Just a day after keeping Texas' new border security law on hold, the U.S. Supreme Court announced yesterday that the Lone Star State could enforce the measure while the Biden administration's effort to stop it moves through the judicial process. Just as everyone was celebrating the win, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals put the law back on hold.  Brandon Waltens has the details.
     
• Senate Bill 4 was set to go into effect earlier this month, creating a state crime for entering the country illegally and paving the way for state law enforcement to arrest and prosecute illegal aliens. 
      
• In a 6-3 decision on Tuesday, the Supreme Court denied the Biden administration’s request to halt enforcement of the law. That should have been that, allowing Texas to begin enforcement immediately. 
      
• But then, late last night, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals based in New Orleans announced that it was putting the law on hold once again. A hearing is scheduled for this morning before the New Orleans-based court of appeals.

Craig Goldman’s Fundraising May Violate Federal Election Law

• Congressional hopeful Craig Goldman, who currently serves in the Texas House, could be violating federal campaign finance laws by helping fundraise for embattled House Speaker Dade Phelan.
       
• Goldman is listed on the host committee for a high-dollar fundraiser scheduled for Phelan in Dallas next month. That could be an issue for Goldman, as he currently finds himself in his own runoff election for the congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Kay Granger. 
      
• Federal election law prohibits candidates for federal office from participating in non-federal fundraisers unless the communication for the event contains a particular disclaimer... which was absent from the Phelan invitation.
      
• Additionally, federal candidates raising money for non-federal races may not solicit funds in excess of the federal limit of $3,300 per individual. The invitation, though, shows host levels as high as $50,000.
      
• “This is a huge screwup on Goldman’s part and it leaves the donors and other participants in the event exposed for potential federal campaign finance violations,” said Tony McDonald, a Texas campaign finance attorney. “The only safe bet for the participants in this event is to scale their donations back to no more than $3,300.”

Texas School Fund Divests $8.5 Billion From BlackRock

• In recent years, major investment firms have been boycotting energy companies under the banner of “Environmental, Social, and Governance” investing. The state of Texas is fighting back, pulling $8.5 billion in assets from global asset manager BlackRock. 
       

• State Board of Education Chairman Aaron Kinsey announced Tuesday that BlackRock was not in compliance with a new Texas law that prohibits state funds from being given to organizations that boycott energy companies. As a result, the state will divest its Permanent School Fund from BlackRock. 
   
• "BlackRock’s dominant and persistent leadership in the ESG movement immeasurably damages our state’s oil & gas economy and the very companies that generate revenues for our PSF." – Aaron Kinsey

Dan Patrick Endorses More Candidates Ahead of Runoff Elections

• Will Biagini covers the endorsements made by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick ahead of the May 28 runoff election.
   
• Patrick is supporting Katrina Pierson in her bid to oust incumbent Justin Holland from House District 33. He has also endorsed Alex Kamkar in the open primary House District 29 race.
     
• In Congressional District 23, Patrick has endorsed incumbent U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales over firearms YouTube influencer Brandon Herrera.

UNT: Marxism and Taxpayer-Funded Woke Classes

• As part of an ongoing investigation into higher education in the Lone Star State, Robert Montoya and Quinn Sullivan have found that taxpayers are funding a “Marxist Geographer” and paying for textbooks that advance leftwing propaganda at the University of North Texas.
     
• For example, Dr. Waquar Ahmed is an associate professor in UNT's Department of Geography and the Environment. He is listed as engaging with "socialist feminist theories" and "favors feminist and queer approaches" to research.

Quote-Unquote

"Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the Democrats believe every day is April 15."

– Ronald Reagan​

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