Good morning!

You cannot always choose your circumstances, but you can choose your attitude in them. One college graduate recently demonstrated that in a way that made me laugh.

But first, here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Tuesday, May 19, 2020
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• As Texas Democrats attempt to use the Chinese coronavirus as a pretext to increase voting by mail – a process often ripe for fraud – the state’s highest civil court has put a halt to those plans for the time being. Brandon Waltens reports the Supreme Court of Texas is scheduled to hear oral arguments tomorrow on the merits of the case. Until the case is resolved, SCOTX has barred expansion of mail-in voting. Attorney General Ken Paxton is leading the court fight against the Democrats.
      
• Between springing a Dallas businesswoman wrongly jailed for reopening her business and now protecting the integrity of the ballot box, the Supreme Court of Texas is doing more to uphold the rights and liberties of Texans than the other two branches of state government... combined.
      
• Private universities in Texas continue to announce spending cuts as they prepare for substantial revenue shortfalls, but Cary Cheshire reports the state-run institutions of higher education have yet to announce any cost-saving measures.
     
• A coalition of 226 conservative grassroots political leaders sent a letter on Monday to Gov. Greg Abbott, urging tax relief as part of the state’s response to the government-mandated economic shutdown. Brandon Waltens has the details.
       
• “Before the pandemic, Texans were already forced to pay for more government than they could afford, with a growing number of homeowners taxed out of their homes due to property taxes. Now, it is time to put Texas taxpayers first. Without immediate reforms, we can only expect these onerous levies to rise due to the economic destruction caused by the government-ordered shutdown.” – Coalition letter of 226 grassroots leaders
        
• While he did not address tax relief, Gov. Abbott on Monday did announce a relaxation of his rules shutting down the state’s economy. Cary Cheshire notes the governor’s new order allows massage parlors, tattoo shops, and child care facilities to reopen with additional guidelines effective immediately. This coming Friday he will allow bars, bowling alleys, zoos, and aquariums to reopen with limited capacity. Lastly, professional sports (without fans) and summer camps can reopen at the end of the month.
       
• “Texans have had enough with these made-up orders that don’t follow common sense. It’s time for Abbott to fish or cut bait; he doesn’t deserve any praise for piecemeal actions that put his lack of leadership skills on full display.” – Julie McCarty of the True Texas Project
      
• Robert Montoya explains why taxpayers are continuing to suffer under increasing property tax burdens even as local and state officials claim rates are being cut. “Just to keep homeowners’ tax bills from increasing—on average—from the previous year, local officials could have adopted the no-new-revenue rate. Too often, they don’t even do that.”

• In analyzing voting patterns, Jim Ellis finds evidence of a budding GOP rebound around the nation. 
        
• Honestly, you really must admire the unabashed sleaziness of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. He said this weekend first responders “will be the first ones laid off by cities and counties” unless the federal government sends them more money.
       
• Wisconsin’s Supreme Court minced no words last week in ruling against that state’s stay-at-home order: “unlawful, invalid, and unenforceable.” Our friends at The Federalist have the details. (For those who speak legalese, the court filings can be found here.)
       

• In this current crisis, liberty is being defended by hair dressers, barkeeps, and tattoo artists. It’s the self-proclaimed essential versus those lesser folk deemed non-essential. It is the elite versus the rabble. But if you’ve read about the ancient Maccabees, if you know our own American history, you know this is how it has always been.