Good morning! 

Yesterday’s One Click Survey struck a nerve, apparently. Several thousand participants and hundreds of replies… nearly unanimous in their sentiment.

Find the results at the end of today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Wednesday, July 28, 2021
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Vacate Their Seats?

• Can the governor declare the seats of the quorum-busting Democrats vacant and call for a special election? That’s the question State Rep. James White (R-Hillister) officially put to Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) in requesting legal guidance on the issue. Brandon Waltens has the details.
        
• Though some attorney general opinions take months to gather, White asked for an “expedited response” given the time frame, adding, “in times such as this we need the cooling saucer of reasoned and constitutional deliberation and not the cauldron of ideological fervor.”
     
• Were the seats to be declared vacant, special elections would then be called to replace the absent members.
      
• For more than two weeks, legislative business has been stalled in the Texas House because more than 50 Democrats fled to Washington, D.C. – denying the constitutionally required quorum. While the governor and House Speaker have made threats about arresting the missing Democrats and forcing them to the chamber, nothing has actually been done.
       
• Earlier this week Speaker Dade Phelan (R) finally issued a single arrest warrant for a single Democrat legislator known to be in D.C. In a peculiar twist, Phelan’s warrant required the arrest only to be made in Texas.

Now Abbott Sends Texas Troops To The Border, With Orders

• Following revelations that little has actually been done to secure the state’s southern border, Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the Texas National Guard to “assist [the Texas Department of Public Safety] in enforcing Texas law by arresting lawbreakers at the border.” Robert Montoya has the details.
       
• After a long silence on the border situation, Abbott made an abrupt public pivot on the issue earlier this year – coinciding with the emergence of primary political opposition. Before this latest action, Abbott’s rivals in the Republican primary for governor mentioned using the Texas National Guard in their own border security plans. 
         
• Earlier this month, a Republican county attorney on the border said Abbott’s office hasn’t delivered on promised assistance. Meanwhile, video emerged of government agents literally opening a gate allowing illegal aliens to cross into Texas from Mexico.

CD6 Voters Pick Ellzey

• Republican State Rep. Jake Ellzey (Waxahachie) won Tuesday’s special runoff election for the North Texas congressional seat left by the late U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, defeating Ron’s widow Susan Wright. As Erin Anderson notes, Ellzey’s victory sets up yet another special election – this time for the Texas House seat he is leaving.
      
• Both Republicans, Wright and Ellzey were the top two finishers in a May 1 special election among 23 candidates.
     

• Ellzey has served just six months as a first-term state representative from Ellis County. Before running for the legislature in 2020, he finished second to Ron Wright in the 2018 GOP primary for the CD 6 seat. He drew support from fellow Republican state lawmakers, U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), and former Gov. Rick Perry, as well as from Democrats casting “anti-Trump” votes in the all-Republican runoff.
      

• Susan Wright, a long-time Republican activist in Tarrant County, had wide support from conservative organizations and elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels—including an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.

CDC Wants You Masked Indoors, Again, Probably Forever

• New guidance from the Biden Administration calls for even “vaccinated” people to wear masks indoors. 
     
• “You absolutely should not follow the new CDC recommendations. They are not based in science or good policy. Live your lives.” – Matt Rinaldi, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas
        
• My take? The CDC wants everyone cowering in fear of everything for all time. Serfs conditioned to be afraid of everything are far easier to control than self-governing citizens.

Amarillo Voters Want A Say…

• More than 10,000 Amarillo voters have signed a petition seeking to have a say on building a new city hall with taxpayer-funded debt. Thomas Warren reports the effort was spearheaded by Amarillo businessman Craig Gualtiere. Rather than seek voter approval, the city council is trying to fund the project through “certificates of obligation” – a form of civic debt that bypasses the city’s taxpayers.
      
• Whether or not people support building a new city hall, Gualtiere wants the people to decide. “I believe it is critical for Amarillo residents to have the right to vote on this project,” he told Texas Scorecard. “After all, we will be the ones footing the bill for decades to come.”

🔥 Paid Fellowship Opportunity 🔥

• Do you know someone between 18 and 25 years old with an interest in public policy, effective civic engagement, political accountability, and Texas history? Then you must tell them about the Texas Scorecard Fellowship! Program details, an F.A.Q., and the application can be found at  https://texasscorecard.com/fellowship/
         
• Our fellowship program has three tracks. While individuals will be exposed to all three, applicants will apply for a particular area of emphasis: writing, research, and administration & management. Apply now for slots in the Fall 2021, Spring 2022, and summer 2022 programs. 
   
• Applicants need only demonstrate a commitment to foundational conservative principles, strong character, and a committed work ethic in order to be competitive. This fellowship does not require applicants to be enrolled in a college or university. Fellows will be paid a $2,000 monthly stipend for the duration of their fellowship.
      
• At the end of the program, the ideal participant will leave equipped with the knowledge and skills to effectively and meaningfully communicate through multiple media formats the public policy process of the State of Texas. 

Y’All Answered

Yesterday we asked readers if Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) was working for or against grassroots; was he helping the quorum-busting Democrats or the grassroots Republicans? In response, 99.25 percent of readers said Phelan is helping the quorum-busting Democrats; less than one percent thought Phelan was serving the grassroots.

• “It’s a publicity stunt for Democrats but Phelan and Abbott as well! They could have stopped it plus both are using it to campaign for re-election.” – Wanda Dietel
   
• “I hate to sound paranoid, but until I hear a reasonable explanation for why Speaker Phelan does some of the things he does I have to conclude that he is not on the side of grassroots Republicans.” – Roxann Bilger
     
• “I honestly do not believe either side wants to do anything or pass any legislation.” – John Hatchel
   
• “Phelan and his democrats are like fence jumping cows. We need to get rid of them and their bad behavior so they don't teach the rest of the herd their bad habits. Phelan's permission slip to leave color is that of chicken manure.” – Jim Hughes
   
• “Phelan is a disgrace to the Republican Party.” – Mary Philio
   
• “Phelan has demonstrated from the very beginning that he seems to harbor a hatred for anything conservative.  To that end, it certainly appears he is doing nearly everything within his power of the speakership to create more train wrecks and sabotage any and all forward progress.” – Andrew Cox
     
• “What an embarrassment these blowhards in Austin are. I am embarrassed to say I am from Texas. Both sides of the aisle just talk a good game and do nothing.” – Shirley Sclafani
   
• “Phelan's gotta go. Maybe he can hitch a ride to D.C. with his pals.” – Curtis Schrum
   
• “Why are all the other Texas Legislators silent?” – Scott Stein
   
• “Speaker (Phelan) needs to be impeached for not performing his duties.” – Kevin Ray
   
• “For all the good that Dade Phelan is doing Texas, why doesn’t he just join his dem friends in DC. Maybe he can take some Dr. Pepper and salsa with him!” – Danny Pevoto

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