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Good morning, 

This is the Texas Minute for Thursday, January 30, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Abbott Issues Executive Orders to Back Trump’s Border Crackdown

• Gov. Greg Abbott issued a series of executive orders yesterday directing state agencies to assist the Trump administration in securing the southern border and enforcing immigration laws. Brandon Waltens has the details.

      
• Abbott’s orders reveal a sharp shift from the policies of the previous federal administration, which largely ignored Texas’ pleas for federal border enforcement. Under former President Joe Biden, Texas was forced to take steps to secure the border on its own, from constructing its own border wall to deploying the National Guard at state expense.
      
• Now that President Donald Trump is back in the White House, the relationship has shifted to one of partnership with the federal government.
      
• “Just like President Donald Trump and his Administration, Texas will do what is necessary to keep our country safe.” – Greg Abbott

In DOGE Push, Keith Self and Ted Cruz Set CFPB Funding at $0

• Under legislation filed by U.S. Rep. Keith Self (R-TX), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s statutory funding cap would be set to $0, effectively eliminating the agency by cutting off its financial resources. Ted Cruz is carrying a companion measure in the Senate.
        
• Their legislation aligns with the Byrd Rule in the Senate, ensuring it is eligible for inclusion in a budget reconciliation package. The reconciliation package is seen as critical to President Donald Trump's "DOGE" agenda in cutting inefficiency in government.
      
• The CFPB, established in 2010, currently draws its funding directly from the Federal Reserve, bypassing Congress’ power of the purse. The CFPB has been criticized for wielding unchecked power over the financial services industry, with regulations that stifle innovation, negatively impact small businesses, and increase consumer costs.
       
• “The CFPB has long operated as an unaccountable and burdensome agency that has stifled economic growth through regulatory overreach.” – Keith Self

RELATED NEWS

• Chris Woolsey believes the city would benefit from a committee focused on government efficiency. He said too many locally elected officials “point the finger of blame” at Austin or Washington, D.C., yet they fail to solve what problems they can at home.

Patrick Announces His Top 25 Priorities for the Senate

• Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has announced the first 25 of his top 40 priority measures for the 89th Legislative Session. In addition to passing school choice legislation, Luca Cacciatore reports the lieutenant governor also wants to ban consumable THC products and address lingering problems with the state's electrical grid.
      
• Border security also tops the list with legislation requiring Texas law enforcement officials to work with federal agencies in deportation efforts. Patrick is also pushing for lawmakers to create the Dementia Prevention & Research Institute of Texas.
      
• Patrick's priorities also include increasing the homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000 for everyone and to $150,000 for seniors.

Do Your Legislative Priorities Align With Those of Your City?

Recording: School Districts Employ ‘A Lot’ of Convicted Felons

• A parent’s recording has caught a state education investigator admitting that multiple felons are working in school districts statewide, and school employees’ records are regularly expunged of misdemeanor or felony charges. Robert Montoya has more on this exclusive story.
      
• Texas Scorecard has reviewed the recording. The name of the parent is being withheld to protect the family from retaliation.
       
• When asked about these claims, the Texas Education Agency revealed that state law requires the agency to “destroy criminal history information after the information is used for the investigation of a school employee (either certified or uncertified).”
      
• “There are, what, 300,000 plus teachers in the state,” explained TEA investigator Michael Franks to the parent. “The number of convicted felons that work in districts across the state, there’s a lot of them.”
      
• Aileen Blachowski of Texas Education 911 said the state has a “two-tiered system of justice” protecting educators.

Lampasas ISD Teacher Resigns Amid Allegations of Misconduct With Student

• A teacher in Lampasas Independent School District is under investigation by local law enforcement following allegations of inappropriate conduct involving a student. Erin Anderson reports parents received a notification this week about the investigation from Lampasas school officials.
        
• The notice stated that the staff member had resigned, but school officials did not disclose the accused teacher’s name due to “privacy laws and the nature of the investigation.” The teacher in question reportedly worked with students at both the middle and high school.
        
• Although Lampasas ISD officials allowed this teacher to resign, state law requires superintendents to report any allegations of teacher misconduct involving a student to the Texas Education Agency within seven business days. As of Wednesday, the TEA was not investigating the teacher.

Quote-Unquote

"Keep your faith in God, but keep your powder dry." – Oliver Cromwell​

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