Good morning, 

Interestingly, the people who answered “yes” and “no” to yesterday’s One Click Survey were – at least in their responses – often saying versions of the same thing.

You’ll see what I mean at the end of today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Wednesday, September 15, 2021
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Quorum-Busting Democrat Donates Pay To Planned Parenthood

• Republicans in the Texas House had the opportunity to deny pay and “per diem” cash to quorum-busting Democrats, but they chose not to apply any penalties. And so, as a consequence, Democrat State Rep. Michelle Beckley of Carrollton has been able to give the $10,000 in taxpayer money she “earned” to Planned Parenthood. Jeramy Kitchen has the details.
      
• “Therefore, I will be donating $10,076.89, my per diem from the 1st and 2nd Special Session received as a member of the Texas House of Representatives, to Planned Parenthood of Denton County in order to do my part to support their efforts to keep Texas women healthy.” – Michelle Beckley
     
• Beckley has announced she won’t be running for re-election and is instead seeking the Democrat nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-Irving) in the 2022 general election.
   
• Beckley only had the money to give Planned Parenthood because Republicans’ refused to penalize her and the other quorum-busting Democrats.

Debating Abortion

• In the latest edition of his podcast, Luke Macias has a provocative debate on abortion with attorney and Democrat donor Adam Loewy.
     
• They don’t pull punches, but discuss their very different perspectives in a thoughtful and respectful way. Yes, it is possible.

Councilman Wants To Protect Citizens From Federal Vaccine Mandate

• Situated about an hour south of Dallas is the town of Corsicana, Texas. This community of roughly 24,000 could lead the way in the movement for medical privacy. Councilman Chris Woolsey has authored a resolution stating that Corsicana won’t infringe on the individual right to choose whether to get the COVID vaccine. Griffin White has the details.
   
• “The illegal, unconstitutional assault by the federal government this afternoon on our basic right to security in our person is frightening,” said Woolsey. “No Corsicana taxpayer dollars should go towards enforcing these mandates.”
   
• Woolsey’s resolution was put forward ahead of the council meeting earlier this week, but Corsicana Mayor Don Denbow didn’t include it on the agenda. He has not explained why.

Special Election Field

• Three Democrats and two Republicans will compete to replace former State Rep. Leo Pacheco in House District 118, which includes part of San Antonio and areas south and east of the city in Bexar County. Erin Anderson reports early voting starts next Monday for the September 28 election. 

Cool Patch Giveaway!

• So… I ordered some cool Texas Scorecard logo patches as a fun gift for the team ahead of our annual retreat this week – but I could only order them in a big batch. That means I have a lot of extras…

Y’All Answered

Yesterday we asked readers if state government should be able able to stop private employers from requiring a COVID-19 vaccine. This comes in the wake of the Biden Administration mandating COVID shots for all federal branch employees and for individuals working for large companies.

Of those participating in the survey, 74.7 percent answered “yes” – state government should be able to stop private employers from requiring the vaccine – while 25.3 percent answered “no.”

Here’s a sampling of the responses we received…

• “The question is damned if I do (yes); damned if I don’t (no). Yet Government must not be permitted to dictate private business or personal decisions or choices. So I voted ‘No.’” – H. J. Bronson
       

• “While I didn’t like the state mandate to require masks in 2020 and thought it was unconstitutional, I can easily say that I do support the state from prohibiting private businesses from imposing unconstitutional restrictions on private citizens. The govt should protect our freedoms not restrict them. So, state action should always support more freedom not less! ” – Debbie Monroe
      
• “PRIVATE employers can make any requirement they want as regards vaccines, stupid as they may be. But EMPLOYEES can refuse to comply and leave the employers short-staffed in perpetuity, which is what I would hope.” – Charlene Roberson
     
• “While my desire for freedom from being forced to have a vaccine or lose a job cries out for me to answer YES to this question, my deeper desire for government to keep it’s hands off of all freedoms forces me to answer NO! ” – Rebekah Jones
      
• “I believe the state should tell businesses they do not have to follow the federal mandate, but that if they, on their own, decide they want their employees to all be vaccinated then that is their choice.  Of course it will be my choice to never spend a dime with any business that does this.” – Jim Andrade
      
• “Government telling a private business what to do is Fascism.” – Marianne Dawes
     
• “While the State Government should stay out of private business for the most part, they still have an obligation to protect citizens from questionable and unjust business practices forced upon individuals.” – Danny Lee
      
• “Private employers should be free to impose whatever rules they dictate as appropriate.  It is then up to the employees to make the free choice of whether to remain in their employment.  The government is not to be our savior, it is a necessary evil.” – Rex Reeve
      
• “It is entirely certain that the state does NOT have that kind of authority -  to either require it or to prevent requiring  it.” – John Randall
      
• “If Governor DeSantis in Florida can stop companies from firing unvaccinated people, Governor Abbott should be able to.” – J. Gary Hunt
      
• “This is a very slippery slope.  If we allow government in here, where does it end?” – Roger Taylor
      
• “Democrats think they can trap Republicans, who prefer lighter regulations on private businesses, on the issue of banning mask and vaccine mandates. I'll support the freedom of businesses to violate their employees' and customers' personal health privacy as soon as the bulk of business and labor laws and regulations are repealed. The Democrats can't have it both ways.” – Spencer Siino
     
• “I felt like the one-click was a trick question today. In the end, I chose "yes" because I think if there's one thing the government should do, it is protection of individual rights. Your employer doesn't have a right to your personal healthcare choices, and so the state has to be willing to protect those rights for you - otherwise they won't be guaranteed.” – David Demaree

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