Good morning,

On April 21, 1836, Texas’ independence from Mexico was secured by the victory at San Jacinto. 

Here is today’s Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Tuesday, April 21, 2020
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• Remember when the price of oil began to slip because Russia and Saudi Arabia were having a spat and flooding the market? That was then. The ongoing price-per-barrel collapse in recent days is being driven by a severe lack of demand, industry folks tell me. 
     
• With state and local governments forbidding travel in any meaningful way, the crude oil futures went negative yesterday – the first time that has ever happened. The impact of this on Texas’ economy cannot be overstated; yet it’s unclear if our state legislators are even paying attention.
      
• Cary Cheshire has written an insightful article about how the longer Gov. Greg Abbott lingers, the harder this hit will be to the Texas economy.
     
• Since Gov. Greg Abbott isn’t moving to meaningfully reopen the economy he shuttered, and instead appointed a “strike force” to figure it out, one wonders how he will plan for a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall come 2021? 

• Pastor Steve Riggle of Grace Community Church in The Woodlands writes that with skyrocketing unemployment across the nation and state, in his county there have been “five Corona-related deaths [and] fifteen suicides... Enough of the ridiculous!”
     
• “We waited for our governor to tell us he was ending the restrictions that have ruined our economy and our livelihoods. Instead, he made an announcement about an announcement and appointed a task force to further delay getting everyone back to work when he could have restored everything with a stroke of his pen. Since he as our governor put the restrictions in place by his edict, he should have simply removed them with some guidelines by the same process. Shockingly, his big action was to tell those struggling with mental and emotional health issues to go to the state parks with a mask on rather than opening the churches and suggesting they seek help there.” – Pastor Steve Riggle
     
• Members of the Texas House are starting to show they get it.
   
• “The longer we wait, the more damage is being done to Texans Livelihoods.” – State Rep. Kyle Biedermann (R-Fredericksburg), in a letter to Gov. Abbott
      
• “Open it all up. Let Texas lead the way. We don't need government to force in social distance or self quarantine.” – State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park)
   
• “‘People aren’t taking this seriously enough’ is NOT justification for inflating estimates, modifying the rules for cause of death and overstating the risks. The truth is the truth. People are much smarter than politicians and reporters think.” – State Rep. James Frank (R-Wichita Falls)
   
• The Texas House Freedom Caucus tweeted yesterday that Gov. Abbott must move “faster” in reopening Texas: “Texans are ready. Hospitals are ready. Businesses are ready.” It is unclear if Abbott is listening.

• If you’ve ever wondered what real, live stupidity in government looks like, look no further than Port Aransas, a small town on the Texas Gulf Coast. The mayor there has banned fishing. Why? Because they decided they can, of course! Our friends at The Texan have the details.
      
• In a new commentary, Rachel Bovard writes that America’s relationship with China and the World Health Organization must come under rigorous review. The former made the world sick, she writes, and the latter did nothing to stop it.

• On April 21st each year, on the anniversary of the battle of San Jacinto, Aggies – the students, graduates, and families of Texas A&M University – gather to reflect on their friendships and remember bygone days. The commemoration includes honoring those who have died over the last year by calling their names to muster one last time, and answering “here” on their behalf.
      
• Since none of us can be physically present this year, please allow me the indulgence of offering my deepest affection and appreciation to the 11 men who became my lifelong friends when we met as freshmen in the Corps of Cadets and Aggie Band that day in August 1988. To my brothers in the B-Company Class of ’92, thank you; Nick, David, Rudy, John, Art, Robert, Jason, Russell, J.P., Gary, and Jim, I am thankful beyond words that another year has passed with each of us still marching on.