Good morning,

Greg Abbott has threatened to arrest quorum-busting Democrats. Nancy Pelosi has threatened to arrest Republicans who don’t wear masks. Today’s One Click Survey asks who you think will make the first arrest.

But first, here is the Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Tuesday, August 3, 2021
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Biden Sues Lone Star State

• The Biden administration filed a lawsuit late last week against the State of Texas. As Brandon Waltens reports, the suit targets Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order prohibiting private companies and nonprofits from transporting illegal aliens from the southern border into other parts of the state.
   
• The governor’s order directs the Texas Department of Public Safety to stop any vehicle upon reasonable suspicion that it is transporting illegal immigrants, and reroute such vehicles back to their point of origin or a port of entry. DPS has also been granted the authority by the governor to impound a vehicle that violates the order.
     
• The new battle with the federal government is the latest in a recent pivot towards border security from Abbott, who has ramped up his rhetoric on the issue in recent weeks after being pressed on the issue by 2022 Republican primary challengers Don Huffines, Chad Prather, and Allen West.

Texas DSHS Pays For COVID-Jab Promotion

• State officials are using taxpayers’ money to press Texans into getting a COVID–19 shot. Robert Montoya has the story.
   
• As previously reported by Texas Scorecard, local Texas officials in Democrat-controlled counties have already been helping carry out the Biden administration’s door-to-door effort to increase the number of individuals who’ve received a COVID–19 vaccination. New documents show just how much is being spent by Gov. Greg Abbott’s Department of State Health Services to assist in the COVID jab push.
     
• DSHS announced at the end of July the agency would be giving $10 million of federal taxpayers’ money to “local organizations working to promote COVID–19 vaccinations in Texas.”
   
• Educational and government agencies, faith-based organizations, associations, community coalitions, and nonprofits are encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to those targeting “communities of color, Texans with disabilities, and rural communities.”

Senators Focus On… College Football

• After completing their work on the special session agenda, a special committee formed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick met for several hours yesterday discussing college sports. Specifically, Jacob Asmussen reports, the select committee was focused on college football at a time when so many major issues have been left undone by state lawmakers.
     
• The hearing came in the wake of a decision by the University of Texas to leave the “Big 12” sports league and join Texas A&M in the Southeastern Conference.
       
• The move by the Longhorns (done in concert with the University of Oklahoma) leaves smaller sports programs – like those at Baylor and Texas Tech – in what their boosters fear will push them into second-tier leagues with a smaller media presence… and a lot less money.
        
• The committee’s hearing was filled with lawmakers questioning Big XII Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, as well as hours of testimony by administrators from schools such as Texas Tech, Baylor, and Texas Christian. They testified their own programs and local economies would be harmed by UT’s departure from the Big XII.
      
• Since the Texas House hasn’t been conducting any business, and the Texas Senate  got all their work done, it’s really hard to criticize the senators for taking up a “less important” issue in the scarce hours left in the special legislative session.

Crime Victim’s Family Speaks Out

• Austin’s spike in violent crime – driven by the Democrat city council’s various policies, including defunding the police – has included new gang violence. In mid-June, 25-year-old tourist Douglas Kantor from New York was killed in a gang-related mass shooting.
   
• Adam Cahn reports on a statement issued by Kantor’s family in conjunction with the efforts of the citizen-led Save Austin Now to restore funding for public safety.
     
• I believe [the shooters] thought they were going to get away with it because the police were defunded, and there was no [anti-]gang unit to prevent this from happening,” said Kantor’s brother.
   
• In 2020, the Democrats on the Austin City Council cut police funding by a third.

Shirts, Hats, Mugs, & More for Liberty!

• Even though it hasn’t had an official opening yet, you can browse the Texas Scorecard Store – and even make purchases! – as we get it fully up and running.
      
• Let everyone know you are a citizen who is keeping score and taking action!

ONE CLICK SURVEY

Which will happen first… Will U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrest a Republican for violating her Capitol mask mandate, or will Texas Gov. Greg Abbott arrest a quorum-busting Democrat?

Once you’ve clicked an answer, reply to this email with any thoughts you’d like to share!

Today In History

On Aug. 3, 1923, Vice President Calvin Coolidge became the President of the United States following the death of Warren Harding. He was elected in his own right to the presidency in 1934, but refused to seek another term in 1928.