Good morning,

I know it seems a long way off, but we’re making plans for the Conservative Leaders Gala on Saturday, Dec. 5. We hope you will save the date. Yes, we’re really ready to be hanging out in person with our friends and allies!

But first, here is today’s Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Thursday, April 30, 2020

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The government-mandated shutdown of the Texas economy has forced 1,937,838 Texans into unemployment, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.

As Cary Cheshire reports [[link removed]], the state has already paid out more than $2 billion in unemployment claims. He explains that because those payments are funded by a tax levied by the state on a per-employee basis, Texas entrepreneurs can likely expect an increase in their unemployment insurance tax burden.

So a small business owner is forced to layoff employees because of government actions, and then government comes along and increases the unemployment tax burden on the business. I think that’s called “adding insult to injury.”

While lawmakers with dreams of legislative leadership posts or invites to gubernatorial parties continue applauding Gov. Abbott’s timid approach to reopening Texas, a growing number of Republican officeholders – seeing unemployment numbers and a cratering economy for what it is – are expressing public frustration with the “take it slow” approach.

State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) put it bluntly [[link removed]]: “OPEN THE ECONOMY NOW.”

State Rep. James White (R-Hillister) tweeted [[link removed]] at Gov. Abbott: “Respectfully, ENOUGH!!! You are the only one that can STOP this!!! ENOUGH!!! Tx is supposed to be the #1 state for business & for women entrepreneurs. Throughout Tx we have sting operations & DA investigations! ENOUGH!!!”

If you aren’t familiar with Rep. White’s reference to sting operations, check out this article from our friends at The Texan [[link removed]]. It describes how the City of Laredo’s police department conducted a sting operation last week to nab two women who were offering beauty services out of their homes. And, no, that’s not code for some sort of illicit behavior; they were just offering typical beauty salon services.

The same government power that can be exercised to force others to stay home and not do the work they love, can be utilized to force you from your home to do work you will hate. Be careful about what government actions you rush to praise. In Hood County, just west of Fort Worth, Republican County Attorney Matt Mills has announced his office will not prosecute anyone for “violating these unjust and unconstitutional orders” issued by Gov. Abbott restricting business operations. People can still get arrested in Hood County for operating a barbershop or gym, but they won’t be prosecuted. Matt Stringer has the details [[link removed]].

On the other hand, Jacob Asmussen reports [[link removed]] Austin City Councilman Greg Casar – a self-proclaimed socialist – has said that regardless of the state slowly reopening the economy, he and his city council “will not hesitate” to strictly enforce new, more strident shutdown measures in the future.

Just because the government has shutdown businesses doesn’t mean they cannot still offer tax-funded goodies for businesses they like. Thomas Warren reports [[link removed]] the City of Canyon’s governing commission voted this week to provide an “incentive package” for the opening of a new coffee shop.

In this week’s edition of Texas Scorecard Radio [[link removed]], Tony McDonald interviews Texas Homeschool Coalition’s Jeremy Newman about what might be the most consequential case regarding parental rights ever before the state’s supreme court. In a new commentary, policy analyst Bill Peacock notes [[link removed]] civil rights are under assault during the coronavirus lockdown.

As if in response, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio sent a message to “the Jewish community” that he has “instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups.” Sounds like [[link removed]] Mayor de Blasio is following the teachings of his fellow socialist and Führer, Adolf Hitler, in rounding up “dirty” Jews who pollute the general population.

Notice how the NYC mayor hasn’t taken any specific shots at Muslims..

Programming Note: This will be the last day to include the “Coronavirus Case Data” as a daily Texas Minute feature. If the news or events dictate, we’ll highlight those numbers and sources appropriately.

Today In History

On April 30, 1789, George Washington was sworn in as the first president under the U.S. Constitution.

Quote-Unquote

“The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.”

– George Washington

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Case Data

Current as of 5:05pm, 4/29/2020

​ Texas Data

Population: 28,995,881

Total Tests: 314,790

Reported Cases: 27,054​

Patients Recovered: 12,507 (estimate)

Total Fatalities: 732

Source: Texas State Department of Health Services

​ ​ Federal Data

Population: 328,239,523

Reported Cases: 1,005,147

Patients Recovered: 83,233​*

Total Fatalities: 57,505​

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;

coronavirustracker.us*

​ ​ Texas Unemployment

New coronavirus-related claims [[link removed]] for the week ending...

Feb. 22: 7,053

Feb. 29: 7,393

March 7: 6,368

March 14: 16,176

March 21: 158,364

March 28: 276,185

April 4: 313,832

April 11: 273,567

April 18: 325,100

April 25: 437,300

So far this week: 116,500

TOTAL: 1,937,838

Source: Texas Workforce Commission

​ ​ Influenza Data; 2017-18*

Total U.S. Cases (estimated): 45 million

Total U.S. Hospitalizations: 810,000

Total U.S. Fatalities: 61,000

* Most recent available.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [[link removed]]

​ Your State Officials and Lawmakers

Governor of Texas

Greg Abbott - R

(512) 463-2000

Lt. Governor

Dan Patrick - R

(512) 463-0001

Attorney General

Ken Paxton – R

(512) 463-2100

Comptroller

Glen Hegar – R

(512-463-4600

Land Commissioner

George Bush – R

(512) 463-5001

Commissioner of Agriculture

Sid Miller – R

(512) 463-7476

Railroad Commissioners

Wayne Christian – R

Christy Craddick – R

Ryan Sitton – R

(512) 463-7158

Texas Senate, District

Update your address so we can show your state senator [[link removed]] -



Texas House, District

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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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