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Yesterday, we asked readers about local governments that refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement. Today, you'll find the responses.

This is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, January 28, 2025

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Abbott Deploys Texas Tactical Border Force to Support Federal Authorities

• As the Trump administration continues sweeping measures to undo damage at the southern border caused by the Biden administration’s policies, Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas military to work with federal authorities to secure the border. Will Biagini has the details.
       
• The Texas Tactical Border Force was deployed on Monday morning to help U.S. Border Patrol agents put the area on lockdown. The force includes more than 400 soldiers, C-130s, and Chinook helicopters to support thousands of National Guardsmen at the border. 
          
• “Texas has a partner in the White House we can work with to secure the Texas-Mexico border.” — Greg Abbott

‘Unprecedented’ Move: House Leadership to Raise Office Budgets Without a Vote

• Brandon Waltens reports that the Texas House leadership is ducking a vote on the usual housekeeping resolution. Instead, the speaker and his team plan on increasing office budgets—including a new $4,000 monthly stipend for Democrat vice-chairs—without letting members vote on it.
      
• The housekeeping resolution—HR 3 this cycle—is a routine resolution passed at the beginning of each session that addresses things like staff pay and other internal matters. Speaker Dustin Burrows confirmed yesterday that the members would not be allowed to vote on the matter.
      
• The resolution was originally slated to be voted on over a week ago.
       
• State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) told Texas Scorecard that the move was “unprecedented” after going through decades of House journals. 

RELATED NEWS

• Hugh Brady, who worked in the Obama White House, was first appointed as parliamentarian by former Speaker Dennis Bonnen in 2019. Brady also served as the parliamentarian for the Travis County Democrats. 
           
• In an unprecedented move last week, Burrows' allies in the House blocked debate and forbade amendments to the chamber's new rules. While ostensibly "banning" Democrats from chairmanships, the rules supercharged the vice-chair positions' power and reserved those for the Democrats. 

Early 'State of the State' Announced to Accelerate Legislative Priorities

• Gov. Greg Abbott has announced plans to deliver his State of the State Address on the evening of Sunday, February 2. This year’s address—scheduled for the 20th day of the session—is earlier than his 2023 speech, which took place on the 38th day.
       
• The State of the State Address is a significant event, as it allows the governor to outline his emergency items and prioritize them for immediate legislative action. The legislature is generally prohibited from passing bills during the first 60 days of the 140-day session, but exceptions are made for the governor’s emergency items.
      
• Abbott has not yet announced which issues will be designated as emergency items, but school choice is expected to be a priority.

Senate Proposal Would Halt Texas Energy Market Distortions Caused by Federal Subsidies

• Legislation proposed by Sen. Kevin Sparks (R-Midland) would address distortions in the electricity market caused by federal subsidies for wind power. Luca Cacciatore has more details.
            
• Sparks' legislation would mandate reforms by the Public Utility Commission and ERCOT to ensure market efficiency, reduce taxpayer burdens, and improve grid reliability.
       
• Sparks said federal subsidies like the Renewable Electricity Production Credit have “distorted the market and impacted Texas, leading to grid instability, price volatility, and costly infrastructure upgrades.”

Ted Cruz Introduces Legislation to End Taxes on Tips

• U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has introduced legislation to support the Trump administration’s campaign proposal to eliminate the federal income tax on cash tips. Emily Medeiros has the details.
      
• The "No Tax on Tips Act" would exempt tips—including cash, credit and debit card charges, and checks—from the federal income tax by allowing qualified taxpayers to claim a 100 percent deduction when filing their tipped wages up to $25,000.
     
• The legislation requires the Treasury Department to publish a list of occupations that traditionally and customarily received tips on or before December 31, 2023. Only those working in occupations on that list would qualify for the exemption.
       
• "I’ve long believed the GOP should be the party of bartenders, of waiters and waitresses, and this bill is an important step to ensure we are addressing the economic needs of working Americans." – Ted Cruz

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Quote-Unquote

"National security begins with border security." – Donald Trump​

Y'All Answered

A new directive from the U.S. Department of Justice has ordered local and state governments to comply with federal immigration initiatives. The DOJ warns that anyone who interferes with immigration enforcement will face legal action.

Yesterday, we asked readers if cities and counties in Texas that refuse to comply with the Trump administration’s immigration policies should lose access to state and federal funding. More than 97.5 percent of readers believe funding should be cut, while 2.4 percent do not.

Here's a sampling of the replies we received from folks after they participated in the survey.

• “Texas cities must comply with state laws. Yes, cut off their funding and see how quickly they shape up!” – Deb Spencer
      

• “We cannot cure stupid, but we can refuse to fund it!” – Art Cameron
      

• “Illegal immigration is illegal. We should do what we can to help people become legal or ship them out. My parents and grandparents were legal immigrants. They came to this great country legally and became citizens.” – Velta Worley
      

• “Cut off all federal funding, and let it be known they will be arrested for not following the Constitution and the law.” – Elyce Mouskondis
      

• “Not only cut off their federal funds, arrest the officials involved in harboring illegal aliens.” – Lloyd Smith
      

• “Yes, they should lose funding and further, local officials that facilitate non-compliance should be brought under legal scrutiny and prosecuted.” – Roger Taylor 
      

• “I believe I heard once that elections have consequences…” – Lori Lundy
      

• “Government funding is the taxation of citizens minus the cost of bureaucracy, with the remainder redistributed to support political agenda. While I strongly support reversing the tide of illegal immigration, I oppose using funding to blackmail local government.” – Richard Steenson
      

• “I have 5 simple words: DO NOT REWARD BAD BEHAVIOR!” – Julie Chisholm
      

• “It is important to note the distinction between obstruction of federal law enforcement, e.g., tipping off illegal immigrants about an ICE raid, and merely not cooperating with the feds, e.g., withholding local police backup. Local officials who obstruct should be prosecuted. Those who don't use their local resources to cooperate probably are within their rights, but stopping federal funding for those cities would give them an incentive to change their policies.” – Jerry Harben
       

• “By harboring criminals, they are breaking the law and are criminals themselves.  They should not be entitled to any state and federal funding.” – Glenda Piacenti
     

• “Stupid decisions have consequences. Hit them where it hurts—in the pocketbook!” – Susan Perry
      

• “Any municipality that does not comply with ICE should lose federal and state funding. If you can’t comply with the laws, we can’t continue to help them.” – Tommy E. Parson
      

• “Money talks. The laws of the USA must be enforced to preserve our country.” – Kathy Lane
      

• “All these people involved in helping illegals should be prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law.” – Daniel Langston
     

• “Taxpayers should not be funding lawlessness. Cut them off and see what happens.” – Marilyn Harris

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