Good morning,

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Thursday, April 9, 2020

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Based on subscriber requests, the Texas Minute will start including case-count tracking data from state and federal coronavirus task forces at the bottom of each day’s email.

Socialist Democrat Bernie Sanders has suspended his presidential campaign. Good riddance. Now if only he’d leave the U.S. Senate...

As my friend Aaron Harris sarcastically tweeted [[link removed]]: “Now that grocery stores’ shelves are empty, economy is ruined @BernieSanders looks across the land and concludes his work here is done. So long comrade.”

As new models show a brighter projection of the impact of coronavirus in Texas than previously predicted, many Texans have been left wondering when they can get back to work. Brandon Waltens asked [[link removed]] Gov. Greg Abbott that at a press conference yesterday. Abbott says he’s looking to Washington D.C. for guidance.

“The perception I have from what the President is talking about is that the standards they come up with probably will not be ‘one size fits all’ concerning every state.” – Gov. Greg Abbott

The confluence of the Chinese coronavirus and the Russia/Saudi Arabia oil dispute has severely impacted Texans at all levels. Many small businesses are being impacted by local governments ordering their operations shut down – regardless of the business’ ability to operate safely.

On the latest edition [[link removed]] of Texas Scorecard Radio, Tony McDonald chats [[link removed]] with policy analyst Bill Peacock about how the downturn is expected to impact the state budget... and the implications for taxpayers.

Earl M. wrote yesterday to say “any small business that cannot survive a business downturn of a few months in length without loans and financial support from the government probably should not be in business in the first place.” That’s an interesting perspective. Let me know what you think of Earl’s point. Continuing to look at ways state lawmakers could save money during the economic downturn, Cary Cheshire examines [[link removed]] the state’s public universities. A 25 percent across-the-board cut in budgeted 2021 general revenue funding for public universities and system administrations would save nearly $250 million while still leaving many of them with more funding over this biennium than they had previously.

If you have ideas or suggestions for cutting government spending, send them our way using the email address: [email protected].

Plano ISD is the latest to see the elected school board members hand over significant powers to the unelected superintendent under the pretense of addressing coronavirus issues. Erin Anderson reports [[link removed]] the superintendent can now, among other things, purchase goods and services without following normal competitive purchasing requirements.

I’m starting to wonder why we elect school boards. Functionally, most of the time, they serve as rubber stamps for superintendents – but now even that pretense is going away. Maybe we should just elect superintendents and call it day?

In a new commentary, Elizabeth McClung urges [[link removed]] policymakers not to compromise morals and ethics in the search for a coronavirus vaccine.

Please join me in wishing a very happy birthday to my baby sister, Julia – though, at our age, that adjective is a little, er, old.

If you are on Facebook [[link removed]], join me and Texas Right to Life’s Jim Graham at 3pm today for the Jim & Michael Show [[link removed]]. The show archive will be on our YouTube channel [[link removed]] shortly after we conclude. Yesterday’s One-Click Survey asked how folks would respond if given the opportunity to take a free flight anywhere in the U.S., despite the current realities. As you might imagine, 59.8 percent gave a practical “No way, but thanks.” Those on the other side offered some flights into escapism.

Phil P. says he’d like to meet his newborn grandson in Oregon, while Michelle D. wants to head to Key West, FL, for some scuba diving.

You’d find Brandon P. winging his way to “Jackson Hole–gorgeous, secluded and may just find a spot to buy and get away from it all.”

Jane K. says she’d like to check out Bangor, ME, or Juneau, AK... both of which sound nice! Meanwhile, Linda H. has visited 46 states and wants the chance to check out the remaining four: “Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii.”

That sentiment is shared by Alex H., who admitted to having a “wanderlust bug and an itch to explore every corner of this great country & the world.”

And then there was Bo G., who said he’d be happy to fly to a church service! Amen, brother!

On the other side, JonPaul wrote he wasn’t sure what the point would be: “Everything is closed down... I can’t wait for this nonsense to end.”

Bill B. added his professional opinion: “I worked for 43 years in the airline industry. If I never see anything with wings, larger than a fruit fly, it will be fine by me. I'll take the train.”

And Mike B. put it well: “Why would I want to go anywhere? I’m in Texas.” Number of the Day

167

Number of Texas counties reporting at least one case of Chinese coronavirus, as of noon yesterday. There are 254 counties in Texas.

[Source: Texas State Department of Health Services]

Today in History

On April 9, 1865, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the Civil War.

Quote-Unquote

“All the marvelous achievements of Western civilization are fruits grown on the tree of liberty.”

– Ludwig von Mises​

Your Federal & State Lawmakers

U.S. Senator

John Cornyn - R

(202) 224-2934

U.S. Senator

Ted Cruz - R

(202) 224-5922

Governor of Texas

Greg Abbott - R

(512) 463-2000

Lt. Governor

Dan Patrick - R

(512) 463-0001

U.S. House, District

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Texas Senate, District

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Texas House, District

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Case Count

Current: 4:25pm, 4/8/2020

Texas Data

Population: 28,995,881

Lab Confirmed Patients Currently In Texas Hospitals: 1,491

Reported Cases: 9,353

Total Fatalities: 177

Texas State Department of Health Services

Federal Data

Population: 328,239,523

Total Cases: 395,011

Total Fatalities: 12,754

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Managed / Update Your Email Preferences [[link removed]] Request A Speaker [[link removed]] Contribute [[link removed]] Michael Quinn Sullivan

CEO, Empower Texans

Texas Scorecard & Texans for Fiscal Responsibility

​www.EmpowerTexans.com

www.TexasScorecard.com

(888) 410-1836

PO Box 248, Leander, TX 78646

PO Box 700981, Dallas, TX 75370

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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