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Good morning!

This is the Texas Minute for Thursday, August 7, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Thirsty Data Centers are Challenging Texas' Water Infrastructure Texas has become a hotspot for tech companies, attracting businesses that need large campuses to meet national demand. Data centers, already known to be putting a strain on the electric grid, are set to place a heavy demand on water. McKael Kirwin has the details [[link removed]].

According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, 64 public water systems are currently limiting water usage in order to avoid shortages.

While most water policy concerns center around agricultural demands and municipal shortages, the impact of data centers is receiving more attention. One study finds data centers are set to use 49 billion gallons of water by the end of 2025, rising to 399 billion gallons by 2030.

As data centers need water for cooling around the clock, daily consumption for mid-sized facilities can run from 300,000 to 5 million gallons per day. Paxton Investigating Beto O’Rourke PAC for Alleged Bribes to Runaway Democrats Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched a formal investigation into Powered by People, the political organization founded by former Democrat Congressman Beto O’Rourke. Paxton alleges the group may have engaged in an “illegal financial influence scheme to bribe runaway Democrats who fled Texas to break quorum.” Brandon Waltens has the story [[link removed]].

In an interview with Chris Salcedo, Paxton suggested the group may have violated multiple Texas laws, including bribery statutes, campaign and officeholder finance rules, coercion of a public servant, and abuse of office.

The move comes as Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott increase pressure on absent lawmakers, many of whom remain out of state. Paxton has already threatened legal action to vacate the seats of members who do not return by Friday, the deadline set by House Speaker Dustin Burrows. Abbott has filed a lawsuit to remove from office State Rep. Gene Wu, the chair of the House Democrat Caucus. Majority of Senate Democrats Leave Texas in Protest of Redistricting The redistricting standoff in Texas deepened yesterday when most Senate Democrats skipped the day’s legislative session [[link removed]], traveling to Massachusetts. There, they held a press conference with Gov. Maura Healey in opposition to the Republican-led redistricting effort.

Their absence left only 21 of 30 senators present, barely reaching the two-thirds quorum required to conduct business.

Only two Democrats—Judith Zaffirini of Laredo and Chuy Hinojosa of McAllen—were in attendance, joining all 19 Republicans in the chamber. In a rare move, the Senate voted 2–19 against excusing the absences [[link removed]] of the missing Democrats, a largely symbolic but pointed rebuke. Such a vote is uncommon, but it reflects the more serious tone that lawmakers have taken toward this quorum break compared to earlier incidents.

For what it's worth, Massachusetts' governor promised to draw lines in her state punishing Republicans... even though her state hasn't had a Republican member of the U.S. House in three decades. The Texas senators hanging out with her in Boston had nothing interesting to say. Pardoned by Gov. Abbott, Daniel Perry Faces New Travis County Trial In what passes for justice in Travis County, a pardoned man is being tried again by prosecutors eager to notch a political victory to appease a rabidly leftwing base. Joseph Trimmer and Travis Morgan report [[link removed]] on the new trials of Daniel Perry.

During a July 2020 protest in downtown Austin, Perry shot and killed a Black Lives Matter protester. The fact that Perry feared for his life as protesters swarmed his vehicle was discounted by the Travis County prosecutors and jurors, and he was sent to prison. He was pardoned by Gov. Greg Abbott in May 2024, but Travis County prosecutors are now seeking to try him under new charges.

The Travis County Attorney's Office is now prosecuting Perry for “deadly conduct,” a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.

Earlier this week, Perry's legal team sought to have the trial moved due to the local notoriety of the case. The judge refused, claiming the case was known nationwide, so changing the venue wouldn't matter. Houston ISD Boasts Major Academic Gains Michael Wilson reports [[link removed]] that the Houston Independent School District’s preliminary 2024–2025 accountability ratings find major academic progress. There are no F-rated schools, while 74 percent have earned A or B grades—up from 35 percent two years ago.

The number of top-rated schools rose from 93 to 197. Only 18 schools received a D, down from 121 rated D or F last year. Comptroller Candidates Funded by Taxpayer-Funded Lobbyists With taxpayer-funded lobbying on the agenda for the current special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott, the issue has also become a point of debate in the ongoing race for Texas Comptroller [[link removed]].

Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock, appointed out of the Texas Senate to the post this summer, has received $298,111 from lobbyists and firms involved in taxpayer-funded lobbying since taking office in 2006. Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick, who announced her bid earlier this summer, has received $216,433 from firms and PACs tied to taxpayer-funded lobbying since 2012.

Former State Sen. Don Huffines of Dallas has accepted $32,750 from the same types of donors since his time in office starting in 2014.

Huffines and Craddick both oppose the practice. While Hancock did not answer questions about the topic, he was one of seven Republicans earlier this year who joined Senate Democrats in weakening a proposed ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying.

“To stop government corruption, taxpayer-funded lobbying must end. Texans should never be forced to bankroll lobbyists who fight against our conservative values and shield corruption.” – Don Huffines 🔒 Support Texas Scorecard 🔒 [[link removed]] SHOWS Today in History

On August 7, 1782, George Washington created the “Badge for Military Merit” that would be presented to soldiers for “any singularly meritorious action.” It passed into disuse, but was revived in 1932 as the “Order of the Purple Heart.”

Number of the Day

3

The number of soldiers known to receive the "Badge of Military Merit" during the War of Independence.

[Source: National Purple Heart Hall of Honor [[link removed]]]

Quote-Unquote

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." – Elmer Davis​

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