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In less than a week, State Rep. Dustin Burrows has managed to (1) blow up the House GOP caucus rules that he wrote, (2) conspire with Democrats to again control the speakership, (3) lie to lawmakers and major donors about his support, (4) falsely use a state title in fundraising emails, (5) unify statewide and local GOP party operations against him, and (6) draw the ire of the unflappable Gov. Greg Abbott. Wow...

This is the Texas Minute for Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Abbott: House Speaker Must Come From Republican Caucus

• Gov. Greg Abbott has now made it explicitly clear he wants the next House speaker to have been chosen by members of the Texas House Republican Caucus. Sydnie Henry reports the governor was forced yesterday to issue two statements related to the rump candidacy of Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock).
        
• Burrows has been seeking support from Democrats and a small faction of Republicans to secure the gavel in January after losing the House Republican caucus nomination vote last Saturday to State Rep. David Cook (R–Mansfield).
       
• Notably, of the Republicans who opposed Abbott’s school choice push in the 2023 regular and special sessions, all are currently backing Burrows instead of their caucus nominee.
        
• "I worked this entire year to elect conservative candidates who will pass conservative laws, including school choice. To achieve that goal we need a Texas House Speaker chosen by a majority of Republicans in accordance with the Republican Caucus Rules," wrote Abbott on 𝕏.
      
• More than a dozen GOP opponents of school choice lost their primary elections, with many of their challengers receiving strong public support from Abbott.
      
• "Any Republican Speaker candidate who attempts a coup d'état to steal the Speaker’s gavel with a majority of Democrats and only a handful of Republicans will never be accepted by Republican voters." – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

RELATED NEWS

• The controversy stemmed from a text message sent by the American Opportunity PAC featuring an image of Abbott with the caption “Support Burrows.”
           
• The American Opportunity PAC, which surfaced only weeks ago, has yet to disclose its donors. However, filings with the Texas Ethics Commission show its treasurer was appointed by political consultant Mitch Carney. He is the son of Abbott’s chief political advisor, Dave Carney. Worth noting here: the younger Carney served as an advisor to Abbott’s 2022 re-election campaign.

Illegal Alien Smuggler Arrested at Residence in Colony Ridge

•  A Guatemalan national was arrested this week for his role in a human smuggling operation that led to the deaths of more than 50 people in Mexico. Valerie Muñoz reports the man was arrested at his residence in Colony Ridge, a controversial land development north of Houston criticized for marketing to illegal aliens and attracting cartel activity.
       
• Jorge Agapito Ventura and four other Guatemalan nationals were linked to the smuggling of at least 160 people in a semi-trailer truck that crashed in Chiapas, Mexico. It resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people and many others injured.
      
• An investigation by The Daily Wire revealed that Ventura owns four properties in the Colony Ridge development and bought one as recently as September 30.

Energy Expert Warns Texas Grid More Fragile Than During 2021 Winter Storm

• A University of Houston professor has warned that Texas’ energy grid is more vulnerable now than it was during the rolling blackouts induced by Winter Storm Uri in February 2021. Will Biagini has the story.
        
• Despite spending billions of dollars making changes, UH energy fellow Ed Hirs finds Texas has still not fixed its grid.
       
• “In 2002, Texas dispensed with a reliable end-to-end electricity supply chain that the consumer could count on in the heat of summer and cold of winter,” Hirs wrote recently in Forbes. “It has been replaced by a 100% government operated grid under which consumers pay more, get less, and no one can be held accountable.”
       
• The Electric Reliability Council of Texas recently projected that there is an 80 percent likelihood of rolling blackouts if a storm the size of Winter Storm Uri were to bombard the state this winter. Comparatively, Hirs points out that there was only a five percent chance of rolling blackouts during Uri in February 2021.

Legislation Would Mandate Schools Inform Parents of Employee Misconduct

• Legislation filed in the Texas House would require public and charter schools to inform students’ parents and guardians when a district employee has been charged with certain criminal offenses. Emily Medeiros reports the measure was authored by State Rep.-elect Hillary Hickland (R-Belton).
       
• Those charges would include the sale, distribution, or display of harmful material to a minor, as well as murder and child endangerment charges. Notification would also be sent for any charges that would result in the individual being required to register as a sex offender. 
      
• The law would require the district to include in the notice the employee’s name and position, whether the employee continues to be employed by the school or district, the length of the employee’s employment, and the offense for which they are being charged. It must also include a statement that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Laredo Educator Arrested for Production of Child Pornography

• A lecturer at Texas A&M International University has been arrested for producing videos involving sexual exploitation of minors.
      
• Carlos Jobany Castaneda Lechuga was identified by federal agents from videos allegedly released on the dark web that were apparently filmed inside his home. The adult male is seen with different minor children in the videos.
      
• Lechuga was listed as a lecturer at TAMIU as recently as Monday, but his name has now been removed from the website. He has also been offering music lessons targeted toward children.

Texans Protest Pornographic Books at Houston ISD Meeting

• Texans from across the state protested inappropriate books found in children’s libraries at the Houston Independent School District board meeting this week. Sydnie Henry and Addie Hovland have more details.
      
• Notably, several speakers were shut down by the school board when quoting profane and vulgar language in the books, with the Houston ISD Board president reminding the speakers that “there are children in the room.” 
      
• The irony was not lost on those in attendance. Ashley Martinez, who tried to read selections from one book, asked: “Ma’am, this book is in the school, and I can’t speak it out here? How does it make sense if my 13- and 14-year-olds can access this book?”

Conservative Leader Award 2024

Stephen Sullivan of Denton

Previously announced 2024 Awardees...

Quote-Unquote

"Can Texas cease to cherish the memory of those, whose dying words gave a pledge of their devotion to her cause?"

– Jack Shackelford, commander of the Red Rovers​

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