Good morning,

Some in the Legislature are continuing to call for Texas to either pause or abolish the use of the death penalty. In the One Click Survey below, we're asking for your thoughts.

This is the Texas Minute for Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Texas Supreme Court Allows Gun Ban

• The Supreme Court of Texas opted to allow the State Fair of Texas’ new firearm ban to take effect, rejecting Attorney General Ken Paxton's lawsuit. Brandon Waltens has the details.
      
• Fair organizers announced new safety regulations, which included a blanket ban on all firearms, even for licensed carriers. More than 70 state lawmakers have called on the City of Dallas and the State Fair of Texas to remove the ban.
     
• Paxton said his fight to protect the Second Amendment is far from over. "While Texas clearly prohibits this type of gun ban, I will be working with the Legislature this session to protect law-abiding citizens’ Second Amendment rights on public property."
          
• The State Fair of Texas runs through Sunday, Oct. 20.

Analysis: Texans Are Already Taxed Like Kamala Harris Is in Charge

• Kamala Harris has made waves with her latest attention-grabbing policy proposal: a tax on unrealized gains. But as Daniel Greer explains, Texans are already paying a version of that tax.
   
• In a state where income tax has been constitutionally outlawed, Texas has relied heavily on property taxation to fund government functions. The taxation on that property isn’t levied when it’s sold but rather annually, based on a perceived increase in value—that’s what might be called an unrealized gain.
     
• Unrealized gains are the theoretical increases in an asset’s value that haven’t been realized through a sale. Texas property taxes, levied annually based on the appraised value of a home, function similarly.
       
• "Homeowners are taxed not on their income or actual gains, but on the current market value of their home, even if they have no intention of selling it. This is akin to taxing someone for the increase in their stock portfolio without them ever selling a share. The rising home values in Texas mean that many homeowners see their property tax bills soar, even though they have not 'realized' any profit from their property." – Daniel Greer

A&M to Deactivate ‘LGBTQ’ Studies Minor and Social Justice Certificate

• A Texas A&M spokesperson has confirmed that the university will deactivate 38 certificates and 14 minors, including the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies minor.  Valerie Muñoz has the story.
         
• State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) repeatedly called DEI courses and the LGBTQ studies minor an "outrageous abuse of tax money" and examples of "taxpayer-funded indoctrination."
       
• Two sociology professors at A&M defended the program, calling the classes a necessary addition to the educational opportunities offered to the students.
            
• Significantly, though, a university statement cited low enrollment as the reason for deactivating the programs. 

'Make America Healthy Again'

• Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is supporting efforts to expose "Big Food" and "Make America Healthy Again." Addie Hovland reports that the commissioner is concerned about a chronic health crisis arising from valuing cheapness over quality in food.
       
• "As the agriculture commissioner of one of the biggest farming and ranching states in the country, I am excited that Robert F. Kennedy Jr has joined the Trump campaign and is adding his important voice," said Miller. "I have long advocated for policies that help make Americans healthier."
     
• In a recent commentary for Fox News, Miller warned that, just like "Big Pharma," "Big Food" does not care about people’s health. They only care about financial gain.

Paxton Sues Austin Over Taxpayer-Funded Abortion Travel

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the City of Austin to stop taxpayer money from funding women’s travel for out-of-state abortions. The city has budgeted $400,000 to "support Austinites traveling to access abortion... including support for airfare, gas reimbursements, hotel stays, ride reimbursements, childcare stipends, companion travel, and food."
        
• The lawsuit claims that the City of Austin’s spending on abortion travel violates the Texas Constitution by aiding in the "logistical support" of abortions, which are unlawful in Texas. Paxton said there is not a "clear public benefit" in funding out-of-state travel for women to abort their unborn children.
         
• "Austin should not pay to kill its own innocent citizens, nor should taxpayers be forced to participate in this violence." – Kimberlyn Schwartz, Texas Right to Life

Democrat Candidate Accused of Not Paying Vendors

• Luca Cacciatore reports on a lawsuit that accuses a Democrat running for the Texas House of failing to pay her vendors and subcontractors in the business she operates.
        
• House District 80 candidate Cecilia Castellano, who operates Azteca Designs and Construction, allegedly failed to provide proper compensation for work done by one of her subcontractors. According to the lawsuit, Castellano's business went out of its way to avoid making payments.
            
• Castellano faces former Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin, a Republican, in an open-seat election to replace retiring incumbent Democrat Tracy King.
          
• Castellano and one of her aides are currently under investigation for potential voter fraud in their recent Democrat primary victory. 

Teacher Arrested Twice for Crimes Involving 12-Year-Old Student

• An El Paso teacher accused of sexually grooming and abusing a student was arrested twice in one week by Socorro Independent School District police and charged with multiple felony sex crimes. Erin Anderson reports the abuse started when the student was 12.
        
• Llojan Almaraz has taught math at Clarke Middle School in Socorro ISD since 2021. Explicit text messages found on the student’s phone allegedly show the teacher telling the girl he wanted to treat her like a "sex slave."
     
• The grooming reportedly began with the teacher contacting the student on a school-approved sports messaging app designed for coaches, student-athletes, and parents.

Available Now
EXPOSED, Season 8 Episode 2: The Connectivity Conceit

• Season 8 of our podcast series EXPOSED is out. This season, the podcast explores the fragility of Texas' power grid.
       
• Episode 2 is titled "The Connectivity Conceit." Join Daniel Greer as he explores a power grab that would nationalize Texas’ grid. He finds that the move could lead to more blackouts, not fewer.
        
• Find EXPOSED on your favorite podcast app or at the Texas Scorecard website.

Today In History

On Sept. 30, 1869, Elisha Pease resigned as governor of Texas as an act of protest against the Reconstruction policies imposed on the state by the federal government. Having moved to Texas in 1835 and fought in the Texas Revolution, he had helped write the new Republic's constitution. During the Civil War, Pease was pro-Union and then helped organize the Republican Party in Texas. However, he disliked the radical and despotic policies of the Union's military leadership in Texas.

Quote-Unquote

"Remember the first rule of gunfighting... 'have a gun.'"

– Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper​

ONE CLICK SURVEY

Some Democrat lawmakers have been seeking to abolish the death penalty in Texas, while some Republicans—like Jeff Leach of Allen—have pushed for a moratorium to study the implementation of the punishment. 

What do you think Texas should do?

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