Good morning!

How many Americans will be unemployed if Biden and the congressional Democrats increase the minimum wage? That is our Number of the Day.

But first, here’s the Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Thursday, February 4, 2021

Modify your email preferences [[link removed]].

A new organization supported by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn wants to permanently end the deportation of illegal aliens who entered the United States as minors. Michael Swirsky has the details [[link removed]].

Formed by more than 30 colleges and economic development entities, the Texas Opportunity Coalition calls for legislation that would grant permanent legal status to “Dreamers.” That’s the term given to recipients of Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

Sen. Cornyn addressed the group in a pre-recorded video, endorsing their plan: “When President Obama announced this program eight and a half years ago, he did so through a short-sighted executive memorandum. After years of being yanked around from court ruling to court ruling, these young men and women deserve certainty and to be able to plan their future.” During his recent State of the State address, Gov. Greg Abbott briefly mentioned the use of emergency powers over the course of the last year, but stopped short of giving specifics – and certainly did not implicate himself in relation to any negative ramifications of those actions.

Gov. Abbott said: “We must ensure that in the event another pandemic ever strikes again, families and businesses will never again face the financial consequences they experienced in 2020. I will continue working with the Legislature to find ways to navigate a pandemic while also allowing businesses to remain open.”

Yet all of the business closures – even those ordered by local officials – were enabled by Gov. Abbott’s own executive orders. (That’s why the Republican Party of Texas’ executive committee added the restraint of such powers as a legislative priority.)

Our capitol correspondent, Jeramy Kitchen, explores legislation [[link removed]] that has been filed to prevent Mr. Abbott – or any future governor – from taking the actions Abbott took in 2020. Since all those measures must go to the governor for his signature to become law, it is unclear if the governor would willingly reduce his own power or that of his successors. The top legislative priority of the Republican Party of Texas, and fourth-ranked priority for Gov. Abbott, is election integrity. Yet exactly what that means has left citizens waiting to see what specific reforms lawmakers will deliver. Erin Anderson breaks down the issue [[link removed]].

The election integrity group Direct Action Texas has listed three broad categories: provide accurate voter rolls, bar Big Tech from interfering in elections, and clarify mail-in ballot procedures. The Texas Public Policy Foundation would also like to see the state require proof of citizenship when someone registers to vote. With conservatives and former President Donald Trump being targeted and banned by Silicon Valley’s largest social media corporations, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced his intentions to defend freedom of speech in his state by targeting Big Tech. While Texas’ Greg Abbott has been silent on the issue, Robert Montoya reports [[link removed]] a Republican legislator is trying to force action.

State Rep. Steve Toth (R-The Woodlands) announced he will file legislation “that mimics the bill Governor Ron DeSantis filed in Florida.”

“Social Media Tech Giants like Facebook are using government protection under Section 230 to wage war against constitutionally protected speech. This is war.” – State Rep. Steve Toth One easy way to fight the growing leftist tyranny of Big Tech is with your wallet.

I heartily recommend Texas-based Patriot Mobile [[link removed]] for cellular service. I’m a customer... and you should be, too! According to a new report from the Texas Education Agency, the state has distributed almost $40 million in additional funds to teachers who were designated as master, exemplary, or recognized teachers throughout Texas during the 2019-2020 school year. Meanwhile, the state agency distributed more than $2 billion from the federal government’s CARES Act as of December 26, 2020.

Yet, as Tera Collum reports [[link removed]], for all of this money being spent on “education” student success does not seem to be rising at the same rate because too little of it is actually going into the classroom.

This all makes sense when we remember that the principal activity of government schools is administrators employing adults, and not teachers educating students. (See the Friedman quote below.) In the newest installment of the Liberty Cafe podcast [[link removed]], Bill Peacock examines the effects of the Public Utility Commission of Texas’ intervention in Texas markets–particularly the electricity market.

I neglected to mention yesterday that it was the birthday of Texas Scorecard’s Robert Montoya – please join me in wishing him a great year ahead!

Number of the Day

1.3 Million

Number of Americans forecasted to lose their jobs if the federal minimum wage is increased to $15, as proposed by President Biden.

[Source: Congressional Budget Office [[link removed]]]

Quote-Unquote

“One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results.”

– Milton Friedman​​

Today in History

On Feb. 4, 1789, George Washington was unanimously elected the first president of the United States under the Constitution by the Electoral College. John Adams was elected as the first vice president.

Manage / Update Your Subscription [[link removed]] 🔒 Donate to Texas Scorecard 🔒 [[link removed]] Your Federal & State Lawmakers

U.S. Senator

John Cornyn - R

(202) 224-2934

U.S. Senator

Ted Cruz - R

(202) 224-5922

Governor of Texas

Greg Abbott - R

(512) 463-2000

Lt. Governor

Dan Patrick - R

(512) 463-0001

U.S. House, District

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



Texas Senate, District

Update your address so we can display 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 product of Texas Scorecard

www.TexasScorecard.com

(888) 410-1836

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).

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]