Good morning,

This is the Texas Minute for Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Paxton Urges Action from Secretary of State on Non-Citizen Voter Registrations

• With early voting approaching in Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton is intensifying his efforts to verify the citizenship status of certain registered voters. Brandon Waltens has the story.
        
• Last month, Paxton urged Secretary of State Jane Nelson to seek assistance from the federal government in verifying the citizenship status of voter registrations. He emphasized that the federal government is obligated to help states identify non-citizens who have registered to vote. Nelson sent a request that was characterized by Paxton's office as insufficient.
            
• Yesterday, Paxton stressed the situation's urgency and implored Nelson to let him take action. Several hours later, Nelson responded to Paxton and said she was turning the matter over to his office.
        
• “Texans cannot afford to lose another second waiting for their vote and their voice to be protected from illegal ballots,” said Paxton. “Every election official in the state must join me in prioritizing this. Our state and our country are counting on you to expedite transparency and accountability to secure our elections and ensure non-citizens do not illegally vote.”

Texas Border Troops Encounter Dozens of ‘Special-Interest Aliens’

• Over the last week, hundreds of illegal aliens have been intercepted by state law enforcement officials at the southern border. Emily Medeiros reports that those encounters include "special-interest aliens," criminal convicts, and gang members.
       
• Last week, a large group of 230 illegal aliens were stopped in Eagle Pass. This group included 27 special-interest aliens from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, and India. SIAs are individuals who, based on an analysis of travel patterns, may pose a national security risk to the United States or its interests. These individuals are not necessarily linked to terrorist organizations and are not synonymous with suspected or known terrorists.
         
• In that same group, 41 other illegal aliens were arrested for criminal trespass. They were from Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Argentina, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic.

Meta Accused of Suppressing Voter Guide Information on Facebook

• An online voter information platform has alleged that Facebook’s algorithm is targeting and removing posts about its work. Will Biagini reports that iVoterGuide users are discovering that their posts regarding voter guide information are being removed by the tech giant.
        
• According to iVoterGuide's president, the speed and methodology of removal indicate targeting by Facebook. Debbie Wuthnow said nearly 100 users have reported that posts linking to the group's reports are being removed by the algorithm.
       
• iVoterGuide describes itself as providing non-partisan, factually documented research on candidates and issues.

Analysis: Dade Phelan Takes School Choice Hostage

• During the 2023 legislative session, House Speaker Dade Phelan worked with Democrats and a small cadre of Republicans to hold school choice legislation hostage. Examining recent moves by Phelan's allies, Daniel Greer reports a repeat performance is being planned for 2025.
      
• During the last session, House leadership stalled school choice legislation in committee, a tactic designed to weaken or kill bills the chamber's leadership opposes. Gov. Greg Abbott was persistent, calling numerous special sessions on the issue.
      
• By the time a school choice measure was finally presented to members of the Texas House, it had been hollowed out and attached to a massive infusion of cash into government schools.
      
• In recent days, Phelan loyalists have been pushing to start the school choice discussion with new funding for failing government schools that would be a boon for educator unions and administrators.
      
• Phelan's senior advisor, Rick Perry, told an Austin TV station over the weekend that school choice would need some “jello thrown on the wall” to pass during the next session.
      
• No, I don't really know what the former governor meant, either.

Pflugerville Library to Host LGBT Event 

• The Pflugerville Public Library is poised to host a pro-LGBT event this weekend, with its taxpayer-funded cartoonish flyer featuring a man wearing women's undergarments. Adam Cahn reports the library is encouraging children to attend the program.

Central Texas School Districts Seek Higher Tax Rates

• School district trustees in Liberty Hill, Manor, Marble Falls, and San Marcos have all put voter-approval tax rate elections on the November ballot. Addie Hovland has the details.  
      
• “Texas taxpayers can not afford higher taxes, and it is irresponsible for school districts to attempt to burden Texas families even more.” – Andrew McVeigh, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility

Quote-Unquote

"Dico tibi verum libertas optima rerum nunquam servili sub nexu vivito fili."

– William Wallace​

Translation: I tell you the truth. Freedom is what is best. Sons, never live life like slaves.

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