Good morning,

What are you thankful for this year? Send me a couple sentences letting me know; I’ll use as many as I can in Thursday’s special edition of the Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Modify your email preferences [[link removed]].

Personally, I’m thankful for courageous pastors like Steve Riggle of the Houston-area’s Grace Church. He has been standing firm for the Gospel by standing up against the would-be tyrants using “public health” as an excuse to undermine our constitutional rights.

Pastor Riggle is organizing “ Sing It Louder [[link removed]]” to combat politicians’ restrictions on movement, assembly, and worship. He’s rallying Americans to gather on Sunday, Dec. 6, at city halls and courthouses to sing Christmas carols. Learn more on his website [[link removed]].

Steve Riggle’s premise is simple: When the politicians want us silent, we should sing all the louder. To which I say: Amen! I’m also thankful for the example of guys like A.J. Ares, who understand that winning a fight requires standing up and speaking out.

As Brandon Waltens reports [[link removed]], Llano High School junior A.J. Ares had signatures from 20 percent of the student body wanting to start a chapter of the national organization Turning Point USA. When Principal Scott Patrick said no, Ares refused to be sidelined or silenced.

With activists from the Llano Tea Party [[link removed]] backing him up, and getting legal support from the Florida-based Liberty Council [[link removed]], Ares fought back. The school was forced to back down last week and is now allowing the club to be formed.

Are you willing to fight the good fight? I hope so, because your free speech rights are under assault in Texas.

The State of Texas has taken the position that any Texan who asks too many questions of legislators is subject to legal attack.

In fact, the Texas Legislature through the speech regulators at the Texas (Un)Ethics Commission have decided that even a single communication – which any particular legislator dislikes – can trigger enforcement of the state’s opaque “ethics” laws. And once accused, you have to prove yourself innocent.

Let’s be clear: the Austin establishment wants to silence you.

Grassroots activists shouldn’t be required to hire lobbyists or pay a $750 fee to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to “petition” the government. Yet right now that’s the de facto policy of the Texas Legislature and the speech regulators at the Texas (Un)Ethics Commission.

The Legislature has weaponized state law against the grassroots, while enabling the Austin lobbyists – many of whom work for government bodies against the citizens. Through statute and agency rule, lobbyists working for multinational corporations and local governments can spend millions of dollars personally benefiting politicians without any real disclosure. Yet citizens can be threatened with fines (and even criminal) penalties if they have the temerity to exercise their First Amendment rights.

Will your state representative and state senator continue siding with the Austin lobby racket, or will they stand with the right of citizens to speak out? Are you sure? Have you spoken with them to know for sure?

Now, more than ever, citizens must stand up, speak out, and be willing to fight back.

On Monday, Nov. 30, the Legislative Budget Board will give Texans an early indication of whether lawmakers will responsibly address the state budget or engage in gimmickry to grow the size of government. How so? The LBB will meet [[link removed]] to set the “constitutional limit” on the budget.

In light of Texas’ economy, lawmakers should be cutting spending.

Who is on the Legislative Budget Board [[link removed]]? The members are: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, outgoing House Speaker Dennis Bonnen (R-Lake Jackson), State Sens. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills), Joan Huffman (R-Houston), Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound), Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood), and State Reps. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock), Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake), Mary González (D-San Elizario), and Oscar Longoria (D-Mission). Lubbock continues to be ground zero for pro-life Texans, where activists are fighting valiantly to protect the unborn. In the latest episode [[link removed]] of the Luke Macias Show [[link removed]], Luke shares the testimony of Shonda McCay Rodriguez, a woman who was attacked by Mayor Dan Pope for challenging the city’s narrative. In a new commentary, Marla Closen writes [[link removed]] that liberty is collapsing around us because too few citizens are choosing to speak out.

“If we continue to accept the gradual elimination of our liberties, we accept an authoritarian government planned for us by others.” – Marla Closen [[link removed]] End 2020 on a great note by attending the Conservative Leaders Gala [[link removed]] on Saturday, Dec. 5! This is the event for grassroots activists... because it is where grassroots activists are honored for fighting the good fight for a stronger Texas.

So get your tickets now [[link removed]] and join us for dinner on Saturday, Dec. 5! Number of the Day

45

Number of words in the First Amendment.

[Source: U.S. Constitution]

Quote-Unquote

“Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government; when this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved, and tyranny is erected on its ruins. Republics and limited monarchies derive their strength and vigor from a popular examination into the action of the magistrates.”

– Benjamin Franklin​

Today in History

On Nov. 24, 1835, Texas lawmakers formally created a special force known as the Texas Rangers.

Your State Lawmakers

Governor of Texas

Greg Abbott - R

(512) 463-2000

Lt. Governor

Dan Patrick - R

(512) 463-0001

Texas Senate, District

Update your address so we can show your state senator [[link removed]] -



Texas House, District

Update your address so we can display your state rep [[link removed]] -



Something not right?

Make sure we have your address right [[link removed]]!

A Note About District Offices At the bottom of almost every Texas Minute we list the federal and state officeholders for your address. These will be updated, where appropriate, with new names and contact information when they take office. For now, the incumbent (even one who was defeated or didn’t seek re-election) is still the officeholder. Manage / Update Your Email Preferences [[link removed]] Request A Speaker [[link removed]] Contribute [[link removed]] A product of Texas Scorecard

www.TexasScorecard.com

(888) 410-1836

PO Box 248, Leander, TX 78646

PO Box 700981, Dallas, TX 75370

PO Box 12862, Odessa TX 79768 Produced by Michael Quinn Sullivan and Brandon Waltens, the Texas Minute is a quick look at the news and info of the day we find interesting, and hope you do as well. It is delivered weekday mornings (though we'll take the occasional break for holidays and whatnot).

This message was originally sent to:

John xxxxxx |

If you ever stop receiving our emails, it might be because someone unintentionally removed you from the list. No worries; it is easy enough to reactivate your subscription immediately on our website.

[link removed]

Before you click the link below... If someone forwarded this email to you, clicking the link will end the subscription of [email protected]. Unsubscribe [link removed]