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We asked readers what they thought about governmental bodies collecting dues on behalf of labor unions in Texas. You will find the results below.

This is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Reminder: Uncle Sam has been busy spending your money (and the money of your great-great-grandchildren). So, the bureaucrats in D.C. want you to remit your taxes today.

School Choice Showdown Set for Wednesday in Texas House

• A major school choice proposal backed by Gov. Greg Abbott is set for debate on the floor of the Texas House tomorrow, reports Brandon Waltens.
    
• The legislation—Senate Bill 2—advanced out of the House Public Education Committee on a 9-6 vote earlier this month and is now scheduled for full debate. It would establish education savings accounts of up to $10,000 per student to help families cover private school tuition, textbooks, transportation, and other qualified expenses. 
      
• Lawmakers have set aside $1 billion for the 2026–27 school year, enough to fund up to 100,000 students out of the more than five million enrolled in Texas public schools.
       
• The issue has been a central plank of Gov. Abbott’s agenda. He actively campaigned against incumbent Republicans last year who opposed similar measures. Debate on the House floor is expected to be lengthy and contentious.
       
• Some Capitol sources have speculated that Democrats could stage a walkout to break quorum in a bid to delay the measure, as they did in 2021 to stall debate on election integrity laws.

Officials Continue Investigations Into North Texas Islamic ‘City’

• A real estate development planned by the East Plano Islamic Center continues to draw scrutiny from Texas' statewide elected officials. Sydnie Henry has the story.
       
• U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has now joined the fray by calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate EPIC for potential religious discrimination. He is raising concerns that a “master-planned ‘community of thousands of Muslims’” could violate the Fair Housing Act of 1968 by discriminating against Christians, Jews, and other non-muslim minorities. 
      
• Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have already announced a series of legal probes into the activities of EPIC over the past couple of weeks. Paxton announced yesterday that his office has expanded the search for information by requesting records from local city officials in Plano, Richardson, Wylie, and Josephine.

Senators Approve Increasing Public Participation in Judicial Oversight

• A constitutional amendment that would increase public membership in the state agency tasked with investigating allegations of judicial misconduct has passed out of the Texas Senate. Luca Cacciatore has the details.
      
• The amendment, authored by State Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston), would substantially alter the makeup of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
      
• Huffman’s proposal would change the commission to include two individuals who serve as a justice or a judge from a higher court, two members of the public licensed to practice law, seven members of the public who do not practice law, and two individuals who serve as a Justice of the Peace or a municipal court judge.
      
• The constitutional amendment would also end the commission’s ability to issue private sanctions against public officials. Instead, all sanctions would have to be made public.

Coalition Urges Hearing on Retail Decency Act

• A coalition of more than 100 Texas leaders, organizations, and citizens is urging lawmakers to take action on legislation aimed at shielding children from sexually explicit products in public retail environments. Authored by State Rep. Hillary Hickland (R-Belton), the law would establish boundaries on how and where obscene devices and related paraphernalia are marketed and displayed.
      
• The legislation was sent to the House Committee on Trade, Workforce, and Economic Development, but the chairman—State Rep. Angie Chen Button (R-Garland)—has not yet set it for a hearing.
     
• The coalition warns that some stores have begun openly displaying adult-themed items near products intended for children—such as toothbrushes, candy, and stuffed animals—or advertising them with bright colors and cartoon imagery. 
       
• Christin Bentley, who chairs the Texas GOP’s “Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids” subcommittee, has said that the legislation is not a ban on adult products.

‘Climate Justice’ Plan Proposes Using NGOs To Work Around State Law

• Harris County commissioners have voted to enact a “climate justice” plan. As Jospeh Trimmer reports, county officials openly acknowledge that it conflicts with state law. As such, they are directing county staff to work around legal barriers by using non-profits to achieve their plan's goals.
     
• Among other things, Harris County's “climate justice” plan proposes a new greenhouse gas tax, promotes DEI, and recommends income-based property taxes and rent controls. All of those things are outside the power of the county.
      
• For example, the commissioners want new income-based property tax assessments to levy different tax rates on property owners in the name of “climate justice.” It would also see businesses pay additional taxes to fund programs and projects in local communities supposedly impacted by pollution.
      
• The county plans would also create a network of paid community liaisons to promote the Democrats' “climate justice” initiatives to voters.

Quote-Unquote

"Republicans believe every day is the Fourth of July, but the Democrats believe every day is April 15."

– Ronald Reagan​

Y'All Answered

While Texas is a right-to-work state, some school districts and other governmental bodies will, nonetheless, automatically deduct union and association dues from employees' paychecks. This represents a significant subsidy to labor unions by having the government serve as their "dues collector."

Yesterday, we asked readers if government agencies should be collecting union and "association" dues from employees' paychecks. Fewer than 5 percent of readers believe unions' dues should be collected by government agencies, while 95.6 percent want the practice ended.

Here's a sampling of the responses we received...

• “It’s not the taxpayers responsibility to take deductions from pay checks for an organized 3rd party bargaining. If they insist these funds be collected by the state’s administration, then I insist the state takes $10 for each 'deduction requirement' for processing fees. No one get free rides in this dog and pony show…” – Jane Kappes
    

• “Government Unions, like Taxpayer Funded Lobbying, are counterproductive to a ‘free’ society. Therefore, both these abominations should cease to exist.” – David Clark
      

• “If the government is doing it, then it's a tax.” – Glenda Piacenti
     

• “If the Unions want membership and therefore money, let them find ways to collect for themselves and not involve the government!” – Roger Taylor 
      

• “Why is this even a thing? With the graft and corruption within our state, and having Unions with their fingers in the pie? What could possibly go wrong?” – Laura McGee
      

• “Unions prop up the weak and incompetent while giving their dues to Democrats–are there any better reasons to cut off the automatic dues deductions?” – Steven K. Howell
      

• “Unions serve no purpose other than to raise costs, inflate pay, and destroy businesses. If we're looking at bringing back manufacturing from overseas, let's go ahead and ban unions, because they're a big part of why a lot of these big companies left.” – Allison Love
      

• “It's not for the association but for the employee's convenience that dues are paid through payroll deductions.  Neither the school districts/employers nor the employees have to deduct through payroll, but choose to for the convenience of the employee.” – Rhayma Keith
      

• “When the government collects union dues, it just shows they are in bed together.” – Ron Deshazo
      

• “If I had a dollar for every time I've said ‘not government's job,’ I'd be a wealthy woman. This is one more. Make unions collect their own dues!” – Fran Rhodes
      

• “Government employees at every level should not be members of any union.” – Charles Fink
      

• “That's why our government is so big. We subsidize just about everything that we shouldn't, here and overseas.” – Madeline Bentivegna
      

• “Why are civil ‘servants’ unionized in the first place?” – Fe Bencosme
      

• “Texas government should have no official role in the affairs of any trade union, labor union, employees’ association, or professional association.” – Ted Shaw
      

• “As Texas is a right-to-work state, the unions must exist upon their own merit, not supported by government entities.” – Laura Morton

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