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Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Thursday, January 28, 2021

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Coming on the heels of the tech giant de-platforming a conservative social media site, Amazon is getting a handout worth $2.5 million from Amarillo taxpayers – courtesy of the city council.

Thomas Warren reports [[link removed]] the Amarillo City Council voted 4-1 on three separate items that set the stage for Amazon’s possible arrival in the Panhandle.

Councilwoman Elaine Hays cast the only vote against the three items. She cited free speech concerns with the company as one of her reasons for opposing the items.

“Amazon participated in a coordinated attack by the Big Tech giants to kill competition in the marketplace and censure conservative speech. That is very disturbing to me.” – Amarillo Councilwoman Elaine Hays

Whatever else they do this year, Texas lawmakers must address redistricting – the drawing of the boundaries that define legislative, judicial, and congressional districts. Our capitol correspondent, Jeramy Kitchen, explains [[link removed]] what it means and what is at stake. Test scores, rather than student learning, have become the priority in public education. That’s the assertion of classroom teachers in a year-long survey conducted by Teachers for Texas, reports Tera Collum [[link removed]].

The emphasis on testing comes from both federal and state forces. For example, the Every Student Succeeds Act was signed into law by President Obama in December 2015. In order to continue receiving federal funding, the ESSA requires states to assess students in their understanding.

Texas has long been a hot-bed of high-stakes testing. The current state-mandated test is known as the STAAR, the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness [[link removed]]. Implemented in 2012, it requires annual assessments for: reading and mathematics (grades 3-8), writing (grades 4 and 7), science (grades 5 and 8), social studies (grade 8), and end-of-course assessments in high school for English I, English II, algebra I, biology, and U.S history.

Teachers say they feel the STAAR is getting too much focus, ultimately taking away time from long-term learning. The high-stakes financial pressure on school districts, reports Collum [[link removed]], means teachers are forced to teach only the topics that are included on the STAAR, limiting the students’ education. In a continuing series, Texas Scorecard is exposing the lobbyists paid to whisper in lawmakers’ ears. Iris Poole introduces [[link removed]] Royce Poinsett, the eighth-highest paid lobbyist in Texas according to research by Transparency USA.

In the early 2000s, Poinsett served as senior advisor and legal counsel for Gov. Rick Perry and then for Speaker of the Texas House Tom Craddick.

Today, his lobby clients include a variety of businesses and associations. In addition, 12 percent of his revenue comes from representing taxpayer-funded entities such as the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority, the Fort Bend County Levee Improvement District No. 7, and Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 140. Austin’s Democrat mayor, Steve Adler, made a startling admission: the strategies he and the Democrat-run city council have used to address homelessness haven’t been working. Jacob Asmussen has the details [[link removed]].

“Going back to where we were we know doesn’t work – and what we’re doing now we also know doesn’t work.” – Austin Mayor Adler

The problems arising from the council’s push for far-left solutions are self-evident. Violent crime is spreading on the streets. Families are being taxed out of their homes. Iconic small businesses are closing. Homeless camps and filth are permeating the city.

But don’t think Adler is ready to embrace sensible policies that would reduce tax burdens and free the marketplace. This is Austin we’re talking about. Y’All Answered

Yesterday’s One Click Survey focused on growing talk of conservatives leaving the GOP in favor of a new party aligned with former President Trump and opposing the establishmentarian swamp. Respondents said “yes” by a 3-to-1 margin; 72.2 percent would go, and 27.8 percent would not.

“While I think the Republican party needs to be more united and free from RINOs, I fear a third party would only split votes during elections and allow victory for Democrats.” – Sharon Lovell

“I couldn’t click the YES button quick enough.” – Mark Henley

“I wouldn't join a third-party movement just yet, but not because of the splintering the vote argument. That's been used as a scare tactic for decades. At the risk of sounding like an abused spouse, I'm committed to giving the GOP one more chance. But if the people who have been motivated to truly put America first can't get things done within the GOP, I will be willing to wash my hands of the party.” – David Vargha

“Conservatives don’t need a ‘new’ party, we need 2 things: term limits for ALL elected officials and voters who vote for conservatives and not for liberals posing as Republicans.” – Steve Sullivan

“I answered yes I would join because that’s where my values more align, but I think a divided GOP would have even more difficulty in opposition with democrats.” – Cody Berry

“The two Parties have no Constitutional standing. The system feels like there are a group of self appointed individuals that are trying to control who will be allowed to run for the various offices in government. The Parties are another socialist tool to take away our Right to Self Govern. We do not need more parties. We need to do away with the ones we have.” – Rex Reeve

“A third party seems to be necessary at this point. True conservatives are fed up with a GOP that presents candidates that claim they will represent the people that elected them but return every few years with excuses as to why they didn't fulfill their promises and insist they need more time. In contrast, Donald Trump delivered!” – Roger Taylor

“History tells us that third parties NEVER work. However, the exception to that is MAGA. Trump has 78 million voters for a new party. Never has a third party had the assured backing of at least 70 million people. Therefore, I say full speed ahead.” – Eleanor Edmondson

“Voted no to 3rd party because I think it'll dilute our power. It would be better to take over the existing party. We've got to find true and strong conservatives that will not waver once in DC or Austin.” – Jerry Bledsoe

“As much as I despise the current GOP in its weak-spined swamp-dwelling form I want to retake the party in the primaries from the ‘Democrats in Republican name’!” – Jeff Martinez

“I definitely would turn to a 3rd party. Tired of GOP telling me that would hand elections to the Democrats. It is no longer good enough to vote GOP only because ‘they are not as bad as the other guys.’ The Dems and GOP are a uni-party, and the sooner we move on from this abusive relationship, the sooner we can build on the new party.” – Chris Crowe

Quote-Unquote

“A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency or simply to swell its numbers.”

– Ronald Reagan​

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Number of the Day

$54,122

Average teacher salary in Texas for the 2018-2019 school year (most recent available).

[Source: Texas Education Agency [[link removed]]]

Today in History

On Jan. 28, 1986, the crew of the space shuttle Challenger was killed when the craft exploded shortly after liftoff.

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PO Box 248, Leander, TX 78646 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).

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