Good morning, 

Here is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, June 18, 2024.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Texas Leads Nation in Challenging Unreliable Energy Transition 

• Texas is leading a multi-state coalition challenging the Biden administration’s new rules forcing states to comply with a transition to unreliable energy sources. At issue, reports Luca Cacciatore, is a rule from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
       
• Texas argues the rule undermines the ability of the individual states to determine the most efficient composition of energy sources for their electrical grids.
           
• The Lone Star State is joined in this fight by Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Utah.
      
• The states argue the financial burden of transmission line construction should fall not on electric consumers, but instead on the developers of unreliable energy projects. The coalition also argues that the FERC has never been given the authority to revamp state energy grids.

'Lawsuit' Group Targets Free Speech Law Ahead of Legislative Session

• A political group originally formed to prevent lawsuit abuse is being criticized for seeking to dismantle a state law designed to protect citizens from abusive lawsuits. Brandon Waltens has the details.
        
• SLAPP —“strategic lawsuits against public participation”—are aimed at silencing individuals who speak out on controversial issues or people, typically by alleging they have engaged in defamation.
      
• Such lawsuits are often brought against conservatives by large corporate interests working in conjunction with establishment powerbrokers.
     
• The Texas Citizens Participation Act protects citizens from frivolous lawsuits that aim to silence their free speech, right to petition, or right to association. It allows individuals and organizations to quickly dismiss legal actions filed primarily to intimidate or burden them for exercising these rights.
       
• The Republican Party of Texas platform has been updated to protect the TCPA.
      
• Yet, Texans for Lawsuit Reform—which ostensibly exists to reduce the burden of lawsuits—is agitating for the TCPA to be weakened, which would lead to more speech-stifling lawsuits. In a statement to Texas Scorecard, TLR spokesperson Lucy Cafrelli said that while the organization supports the goals of the TCPA, they argue it is being used to delay legitimate cases.
       
• “Gutting the TCPA will only benefit people who want to abuse the court system to silence their critics,” said JT Morris of the Protect Free Speech Coalition.

Phelan Pal Under Investigation for 'Illegal Lobbying'

• A former state representative with close ties to embattled house speaker Dade Phelan is under investigation by the Texas Ethics Commission for potentially violating a 2019 ethics law he helped write. Adam Cahn has the details.
     
• At issue are donations former State Rep. Chris Paddie (R-Marshall) made from an old campaign account shortly before his resignation. According to the TEC, those donations violate a 2019 law prohibiting former lawmakers from lobbying for two years after donating to colleagues.
      

• Paddie had attempted to come back into compliance with the law by reimbursing the campaign account from personal funds.
     

• Paddie was the Phelan-appointed chairman of the powerful State Affairs Committee during his final session in the legislature in 2021. In that position, Paddie ran point on the Texas House’s response to that year’s winter storm-related power outages. Paddie passed what was widely perceived as watered, industry-friendly legislation. Lt. Governor Patrick blasted Paddie as a lawmaker, then banned Paddie from his office once he became a lobbyist.
      

• "If the guy who helped write the bill can’t figure out how to comply with it, what hope do ordinary Texans have if dragged in front of the TEC?" – Tony McDonald

Republicans Elected to Harris County Appraisal District Board

• In Saturday’s runoff election for the Harris County Appraisal District, Charles Blain reports Republicans Kyle Scott and Ericka McCrutcheon were handed a decisive victory over opponents Melissa Noriega and Pelumi Adeleke. 
      
• The two were elected in the first-ever election of board members for the Harris County Appraisal District.
      
• Though the positions were officially nonpartisan, Scott and McCrutcheon were endorsed by the Harris County GOP while their opponents were supported by the county Democrats.

Fort Worth Hires ‘Diversity’ Consultant

• Documents uncovered by Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French show that the Fort Worth City Council expanded funding for its Diversity and Inclusion Department by $150,000 to fund a business equity study. Emily Medeiros has the background.  
      
• The city hired Colette Holt and Associates, which focuses on “issues relating to inclusion, diversity, and affirmative action.”
       
• French told Texas Scorecard that it is clear the Fort Worth City Council has rejected the values of the community.
       
• “The more we dig into the radical leftism that has infested the City of Fort Worth, the more we find. Between taxpayer money being wasted on a radical DEI department, embracing anti-family and anti-morality pride celebrations, to now wasting money on an illegal affirmative action consultant.” – Bo French
       
• A city spokesperson defended the expenditure, saying that it helps the council “to optimize taxpayer funds by supporting local small businesses, particularly underutilized firms, through participation and capacity-building in city contracts.”

Quote-Unquote

"Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech."

– Benjamin Franklin​

Y'All Answered

Last week, 43 Republican members of the Texas House signed on to the “Texas Commitment,” promising action on policy items that the GOP-dominated legislature has ignored for years. Of those Republican legislators, it is reported that 26 still support allowing Democrats to hold committee chairmanships in the chamber.

Yesterday, we asked readers if Democrats should be appointed to chair committees overseeing state policy in the GOP-dominated House. Just 3.61 percent of readers think Democrats should be given chairmanships; 96.39 believe only Republicans should drive state policy in the Texas House.

Here is a sampling of the replies we received...

• “Plain and simple, it is really stupid to appoint the opposition a chair position.” – Wayne Crist
      

• “We have to work together. Texas is a two-party state, and we must keep it that way. What if the Democrats win and want to block Republicans from committee leadership? Share your toys and work together!” – Elizabeth Hilburn
     

• “What's the point of electing Republicans if they, in turn, allow Democrats to determine what legislation comes to the floor?” – Lloyd Smith
     

• “I know Democrats are basically good people, but they don’t agree with any Republican ideals; therefore, Democrat chairpersons should never be allowed.” – Barbara McClure 
     

• “Republican voters need to figure out the difference between a conservative and a Luke warm right of center uniparty Republicrat. It seems that everyone that runs as a Republican in Texas claims the title of conservative, but here we are with twenty-six showing their true colors, and those colors are not conservative. Some of the Republican voters need to get a study guide.” – Mike Masterson
     

• “Those members who vote to allow Democrat chairs will be the next target in 2026. The true conservative voters in Texas have had enough!” – Tina Bartley
     

• “The balance of power helps to keep zealots in both parties in check. Democrat centrists as committee chairs, who are selected by Republicans anyway, is a necessary pill to swallow.” – Steve Cox
     

• “The Republican Party of Texas leadership needs to take action against any representatives that supports this ‘Commitment,’ which is the Austin establishment's rejection of the people's voice and an attempt to hold on to power.” – Ji Andre
     

• “Allowing Democrats to be Chairs of committees is essentially nullifying the GOP majority.” – Kenneth Gardner
      

• “If the Democrats ever elect a Speaker in the Texas House, how will the GOP members feel about being shut out not because of the content of their character, but because of the color of their convictions?” – Neville Newman
      

• “No means no means no! Not gonna change.” – Julie McCarty
      

• “Looks like we have 26 more RINOs to primary. Good of them to identify themselves.” – David Peters
     

• “Too long have we allowed our Republican legislators to continue to ignore the grassroots, the party, and the majority of voters so that they can have power and have their pockets lined with other people's money.” – Tobie Hall
     

• “The Republican voters have spoken stating we don’t want democrats heading up committees. The people voted into office should represent the people instead of their personal agendas. When will this nonsense end?” – Sandi Stephens
     

• “What’s the point of having a Party and a Platform if you let people with opposite platforms have the power?” – Kathy Parker
      

• “Why appoint Democrats? We have enough ‘Phelan’ Republicans to keep the state in flux.” – Joe Zimmer, San Antonio, TX
      

• “No! ‘DemoRats’ should not be allowed to chair committees in a ‘Republican’ -controlled chamber, just as the 'DemoRats’ would not share power if they were in control.” – Jeff Holle
     

• “I don't understand why this is an issue. It's totally naive to assume Republicans would receive the same consideration should (God forbid) the Democrats take control.” – Cindy Armstrong
      

• “Elections (should) have consequences…” – Charles McCord
     

• “This is a no-brainer! What is the point of electing Republicans only to put Democrats in charge?” – Sandra Ludwig
      

• “There is no reason why someone running on the Republican ticket should ever be in favor of Democrats chairing anything.” – Carroll Knight
      

• “I am so sick of these meal-mouthed Republicans who run for office, get in, and then do their own thing rather than what they were voted to do.” – James Ijames
      

• “If Republicans are going to allow Democrats to run the legislature, then why do we have or require a Republican Party?” – David Theis, Jr.

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