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, 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: “OPEN THE ECONOMY NOW.”
     
• State Rep. James White (R-Hillister) tweeted 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. 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.
     
• On the other hand, Jacob Asmussen reports 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 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, 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 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 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.