Good morning,

In today's One Click Survey, we want to know what you think about the war in Ukraine.

This is the Texas Minute for Monday, June 3, 2024.

But first... Join me tomorrow (June 4) in Midland for the next installment of our Texas Scorecard LIVE events! Sara Gonzales, Luke Macias, and I will center our discussion on the results of the May runoff elections, as well as other major stories from across the state.

Only a couple of seats remain for this exclusive event, so RSVP now.

Won't be in Midland tomorrow? Don't worry, Texas Scorecard LIVE will be coming to your neck of the woods soon enough!

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Majority of House Republicans Rebuke Phelan Policy & Say ‘No’ to Democrat Chairs

• In a stinging rebuke to Speaker Dade Phelan, a majority of the Texas House Republican caucus has now publicly announced they do not want Democrats placed in leadership positions next session. Brandon Waltens has the story.
        
• The move is a blow to current Speaker Dade Phelan, who said he will not waver from his practice of placing Democrats in leadership positions.
        
• In a public letter, 46 current and incoming House members said that they "will only vote for a candidate for speaker" who agrees not to appoint Democrats.
      
• The caucus letter comes as a group of lawmakers have been circulating a Contract With Texas, a series of 12 proposed reforms to end the Democrat power-sharing that is prevalent in the House.
      

• Attorney General Ken Paxton also applauded the move, calling it a “step in the right direction.”

Texas Supreme Court Rules State Abortion Ban Is Constitutional

• On Friday, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the Human Life Protection Act banning most abortions in Texas is constitutional. Emily Medeiros reports the justices unanimously agreed to vacate a lower court's injunction blocking the law.
       

• The law has an exception allowing that if the mother’s life is at risk from the pregnancy, a doctor may provide an abortion. But the pro-abortion Center for Reproductive Rights sued the state, claiming the law was unclear.
        

• Writing for the court, Justice Jane Bland explained that the “injunction departed from the law as written without constitutional justification.” 

       
• The court's decision was applauded by John Seago, the president of Texas Right to Life. "Over the last decade, the Texas legislature worked diligently to ensure that our definitions of abortion and medical emergency are sufficient to protect life of children threatened by abortion, as well as mothers who may face tragic circumstances, like ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages, as well as medical emergencies."

Texas Senate Wants Big Tech to Answer on Election Influence

• The Texas Senate's State Affairs Committee has voted to issue subpoenas to Google, Facebook, and other social media companies to uncover the extent to which these behemoths influence elections in Texas by alternatively elevating and suppressing content.
       
• Daniel Greer explains that the action follows a marathon meeting last week in which experts, election workers, and citizens explained some of the troubling issues facing Texas elections.
       
• Besides big tech, senators are seeking to ascertain the election system's vulnerabilities to foreign adversaries. 
      
• The Secretary of State’s office has said that while outside foreign actors cannot manipulate votes, there are known issues with electronic poll books. This is the election infrastructure necessary to conduct countywide polling, a practice that some are starting to re-evaluate as audits have revealed a variety of vulnerabilities and other shortcomings.

Seven Indicted in Houston Public Corruption Scheme

• In a scheme surrounding the City of Houston’s water repair contracts, seven people have been indicted on 14 counts of public corruption, ranging from abuse of official capacity to tampering with evidence. Charles Blain reports the charges come after Mayor John Whitmire pledged to identify and remove corruption from city operations.
        
• Patrece Lee, the lead defendant, had access to $80 million of city funds for emergency waterline repair. Lee allegedly made agreements with companies to have them hire her as a “consultant” to receive a kickback in exchange for expedited payments and bigger city contracts. 
      
• She is also alleged to have received nearly $320,000 in payments from contracts steered to a company owned by her brother.

Houston ISD to Call for $4.4 Billion Bond

• After weeks of speculation, Houston Independent School District is moving closer to formally asking voters to approve a $4.4 billion school bond this November. This would be the largest debt issuance in the district’s history.

Former Texas Teacher Gets 30 Years in Prison for Producing Child Porn

• A former Texas teacher received the maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to producing child pornography—specifically videos showing her performing acts on a prepubescent child. Erin Anderson has the horrifying details.
      
• Sonya Conchita Murillo, 33, was a substitute teacher for the Marfa Independent School District in West Texas. She and her boyfriend were arrested on federal charges of exploiting children.
     
• The U.S. District Attorney overseeing the case said the sentencing was indicative of the "utterly horrendous predatory acts" committed by Murillo.

Today In History

On June 3, 1800, John Adams arrived in Washington, D.C. to measure the progress in constructing the new capital city. He would stay in a Georgetown tavern until the executive mansion—now known as the White House—was ready in November.

Quote-Unquote

"There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty."

– John Adams​

ONE CLICK SURVEY

Over the last two years, even as the border with Mexico has remained porous, the United States has sent more than $175 billion to help Ukraine defend its borders. Should the United States continue funding the Ukrainian war effort?

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