Good morning!

I have a quirky question in today’s One-Click Survey. Think of it as a quick trip into escapism...

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Modify your email preferences [[link removed]].

UP FRONT: Yesterday’s Texas Minute referenced hospital and emergency rooms seeing reduced patient volumes. While the article I linked to was correct, the blurb had a typo that led to a missing word and some possible confusion. Here’s the right takeaway: St. David’s Healthcare has closed three of its central Texas stand alone facilities, including two emergency rooms, due to a decline in patient demand. According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation [[link removed]], the worst-case scenarios now have the peak-day of the Chinese coronavirus on April 19, rather than May 6. Texas is now projected to need 7,104 hospital beds of the 28,633 available. Their latest modeling shows it’s actually lower than that even. But the establishment media and Democrats don’t care about the science; they have an economy to tank.

So when will Gov. Abbott let Texans get back to work?

As noted above, the public health threat has been significantly downgraded. As Brandon Waltens reports [[link removed]], some are arguing healthy populations should soon be able to work, with at-risk and sick Texans remaining at home, while everyone continues to follow CDC guidelines of social distancing and prolific hand-washing.

Our general counsel Tony McDonald writes [[link removed]] that the orders and proclamations from Gov. Greg Abbott and local officials might (or might not) be in our best interest, but that we should not pretend they’re constitutionally authorized.

In a republic, he writes [[link removed]—not+“proclaimed”+by+the+governor+or+by+local+officials.&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftexasscorecard.com%2Fblog%2Fblog-lets-not-pretend-this-is-constitutional%2F&original_referer=[link removed]], laws are adopted through the legislature—not “proclaimed” by a governor or local officials. State law says the governor may suspend “certain laws and rules” during a declared disaster, but Article I, Sec. 28 of the Texas Bill of Rights [[link removed]] states plainly that only the Legislature can suspend laws. Even in extreme circumstances, McDonald writes, the Texas Constitution explicitly states that the Bill of Rights cannot be suspended.

“[The current] situation does, however, serve as a reminder that the Constitution is but a document. It is not self-executing. In addition to our duty to support our neighbors in this time of need, we have a job in front of us: educating them about principles of liberty and law and order.” – Tony McDonald [[link removed]]

Dallas commissioners voted yesterday to limit County Judge Clay Jenkins’ power to unilaterally issue emergency orders in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Jenkins (a Democrat) has been widely criticized by Dallas County residents for issuing orders that will harm families and small businesses. Erin Anderson as the story [[link removed]].

We’ve heard about non-essential businesses, but Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra – a Democrat – wants citizens in his county to “report” non-essential customers shopping at stores. “Take pics. Get proof,” Becerra wrote on Facebook. Jacob Asmussen has the story [[link removed]].

Non-essential customers.... Quick! Prove you really, really, really need those things in your shopping cart! The City of Wylie’s municipal elections are being postponed until November, reports Erin Anderson [[link removed]]. Most municipalities around the state appear to be likewise shifting their elections in response to the Chinese coronavirus pandemic.

I had the pleasure to chat with my friend Mark Meckler on his new podcast [[link removed]]. Our conversation focuses on grassroots activism in the time of coronavirus.

Meckler has coined a phrase related to the posture the nation’s grassroots have adopted: “Attitude of Defiance and Commonsense Compliance.” What he means by that is taking a heightened suspicion regarding the overbearing government orders and mandates, while doing the prudent and reasonable things necessary to protect our families, neighbors, and communities.

I’m waiting for the political pivot when all these state and local officials who decimated our economy breathlessly announce their own heroic actions to “bring it back.” Not unlike the helpful arsonist who carries a fire extinguisher.

Please join me in wishing a very happy birthday to my sister-in-law, Natasha! ONE-CLICK SURVEY

If someone today, with coronavirus and all that is going on, said they would give you free airline tickets to fly tomorrow somewhere in the U.S. you have always wanted to go... Would you?

No Way, But Thanks. [[link removed]]

... or ...

My Bags Are Packed! [[link removed]]

After you answer, send me a quick note telling me why not, or where and why!

Number of the Day

7,104

The latest data shows the initial coronavirus models were wrong. In Texas, under even the worst-case scenario, roughly 7,104 hospital beds are projected to be needed to treat virus victims – far below the 28,633 beds that are immediately available.

[Source: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation]

Quote-Unquote

“Freedom has cost too much blood and agony to be relinquished at the cheap price of rhetoric.”

– Thomas Sowell​

Your Federal Lawmakers

U.S. Senator

John Cornyn - R

(202) 224-2934 [tel:(202)%C2%A0224-2934]

U.S. Senator

Ted Cruz - R

(202) 224-5922 [tel:(202)224-5922]

U.S. House, District

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​ Michael Quinn Sullivan

CEO, Empower Texans

Texas Scorecard & Texans for Fiscal Responsibility

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PO Box 12862, Odessa TX 79768 The Texas Minute is a quick look at the news and info of the day that we find interesting, and hope you do as well. It is produced on week days and distributed at 6 a.m. (though I'll probably take the occasional break for holidays and whatnot).

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