Good morning,

We reported last week that a significant number of Texas lawmakers want the Capitol highly restricted during the 2021 legislative session... what do you think? That’s today’s One Click Survey.

First, here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Wednesday, August 26, 2020
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• In what has become an all too familiar story of family separation, Robert Montoya writes about the experience of a recently widowed Texas woman suffering from dementia who is forbidden from seeing her daughter and grandchildren. What’s stopping their reunion is Gov. Greg Abbott’s coronavirus response mandates.
      
• “My dad passed away with the virus,” Marcy Renneberg told Texas Scorecard. “He ended up passing away on July 22.” Gov. Abbott’s nursing home mandates has kept her from her parents; now, she’s only able to visit her lonely mom from behind a window.

• Brad Johnson, writing for our friends at The Texan, looks at how former Vice President Joe Biden’s energy plan – a mix of progressive and more moderate proposals – could impact Texas.
   
• Let me put it this way: if you like fewer jobs and higher prices, you’ll love what Biden is planning for the economy...

• In the midst of an economic crisis, San Antonio school officials are planning to stick their residents with a record amount of debt. Jacob Asmussen reports San Antonio ISD is putting a $1.3 billion bond up for a public vote in November. The district already has a whopping $1.6 billion debt, which amounts to approximately $32,000 per student.
   
• Remember: bond debt is paid by higher property taxes.

• Even as the Amarillo City Council is pushing ballot proposals to issue $275 million in tax-funded debt and extend their terms by two years, Thomas Warren reports activists are rallying to defeat these proposals in November. 
   
• At least Amarillo is putting the extension of terms on the ballot. You might recall that Round Rock officials tried to simply postpone their 2020 election – with the mayor and two city council members effectively getting an extra year in office. Attorney General Ken Paxton said that would be against the law. 

• John Browning has been appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to Texas’ 5th Court of Appeals in Dallas, positioning him as the incumbent to retain the Republican seat on the Democrat-dominated court. Earlier this month, grassroots GOP activists selected Browning as their party’s nominee to replace the late Justice David Bridges on the ballot. Erin Anderson has the details.
   
• Six North Texas counties – Collin, Dallas, Hunt, Grayson, Kaufman, and Rockwall – are served by the 5th Court of Appeals.

ONE CLICK SURVEY

In light of the “ongoing” coronavirus pandemic scare... When the Texas Legislature convenes into the constitutionally mandated regular session in January, should the Capitol be open to the public or only to those with appointments?