Good morning,

Despite promises from Gov. Greg Abbott, and assurances from other Republican lawmakers, there have yet to be penalties assigned to the Democrats who obstructed the constitutional quorum required to conduct business in the Texas House for more than a month this summer.

That issue leads today's Texas Minute, and is the basis for our One Click Survey.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Modify your email preferences.

• But First… Get your tickets now for the Conservative Leader Awards dinner! This is an event like no other in Texas, where citizens are honored for leading the grassroots movement that makes the Lone Star State shine brighter than ever. Learn more about the dinner, and get your tickets today!

Real Penalties For House Democrats?

• “I want to be clear: I have never seen an issue that so firmly unites Republicans across the political spectrum as this one does,” said Matt Rinaldi, chairman of the Republican Party of Texas.
     
• He was referring to the desire for Democrats to be penalized for breaking the constitutionally-defined quorum requirements and stalling legislative business for more than a month. Rinaldi’s comments came at a Capitol press conference yesterday afternoon in support of a House measure that would strip those Democrats of their chairmanships. Brandon Waltens has the story.
      
• The move was supported this weekend by a unanimous vote of the Republican Party’s executive committee, as well as the Texas Young Republicans and the Texas Federation of College Republicans.
      
• Also attending the press conference were several Republican House members, including Cody Vasut (R-Angelton) who has authored the measure that would penalize the obstructionist DEMs.
     
• But if you are expecting action from the current crop of Republicans in the Texas House, don’t hold your breath. Remember: the entire time the Democrats were gone Republicans could have imposed penalties, yet no one challenged Speaker Phelan as he protected the Democrats.

• Notably absent from the press conference: The chairman of the House Republican Caucus, Jim Murphy of Houston, or anyone from House Speaker Dade Phelan’s leadership team.
     
• That is because they are all backing a measure by Drew Darby (R-San Angelo) that does not apply any penalties to the quorum-breakers. Darby would change the rules going forward to apply a small fine that could be paid with campaign contributions.

Flip-Flopping On Mask Mandates

• Just two weeks ago, State Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Allen) filed legislation to strictly prohibit Texas school districts from imposing mask mandates. In a whiplash-inducing case of political flip-flops, Leach announced last night he would instead be working with the chairman of the House Public Education Committee – quorum-busting Democrat Harold Dutton of Houston – on… a mask mandate for public schools. Jeramy Kitchen has the story.

      
• Leach is now fine with school district mask mandates if they provide for a parental opt-out. This will inevitably be a bureaucratic process meant to discourage and frustrate parents, with a strong dose of officially-sanctioned bullying against the kids who opt out.

Ban on Pill-Induced Abortions

• On Monday, the Texas House gave approval to Senate Bill 4, a ban on “pill-induced” abortions on children more than 49 days old. Jacob Asmussen has the details. The proposed law does not protect babies under 49 days gestational age.

     
• The House passed the same version that left the Senate, meaning it could soon be before the governor for his signature.

Special Crawl

• With less than a week remaining in the second special session of 2021, only versions of two other items off Gov. Greg Abbott’s 19-point agenda have passed both chambers. Check out the write up by Brad Johnson at The Texan.
      
• One of those is election integrity legislation, which has repeatedly passed the Senate but only finally passed the House late last week. Even then, a poison-pill amendment was inserted by Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park), which had originally been authored by Democrat John Bucy of Cedar Park during the regular session. That amendment sparked an immediate negative response from State Sen. Byran Hughes (R-Mineola). A final version of the legislation, removing that amendment, is expected to be in front of both the House and Senate in short order.
      
• The other issue relates to property “tax relief” – yet nothing passed so far by the legislature constitutes across-the-board relief for all taxpayers. The measures currently moving are targeted bills for specific groups, like senior citizens. Jeramy Kitchen explains what’s there… and what’s missing.

Amarillo Council Backs Down

• The Amarillo City Council members pulled back a plan to issue $35 million in new debt for a new city hall following a citizen-led petition and litigation against the plan. Thomas Warren has the details.

Fighting Sex Trafficking

• In the latest installment in a series on sex trafficking in Texas, Robert Montoya examines how Texans – and the state and local officials they elect – can effectively act against sex traffickers while helping the victims and those who rescue them.
      
• “[Ninety] percent of what actually stops trafficking is your average person saying something,” said Heather Schott of The Justice Reform. “I believe if every day we’re paying attention to things around us … that just doesn’t look right, that doesn’t feel right … that we can make a major dent in this world of trafficking.”
     
• Part 1 of the series looked at how widespread sex trafficking is in the Lone Star State and how it targets men, women, and children. Part 2, was focused on the victims, and Part 3 on finding refuge for them.

ONE CLICK SURVEY

Quorum-busting Democrats have not been penalized for obstructing Texas’ legislative sessions this summer. Who do you hold responsible for that?
    

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

John xxxxxx of