Good morning –

Responses poured in to yesterday’s One Click Survey, so we’re focusing on those in this morning’s Texas Minute after a few quick hits of news.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Wednesday, October 27, 2021
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UPFRONT: In yesterday’s Texas Minute I misspelled the name of Trayce Bradford, a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor – I apologize for the error.

Clearly, I need to be better caffeinated when writing. Speaking of which…

It Is How You Start Your Day…

Abbott Gives Approval To New District Maps

• Gov. Greg Abbott approved of Texas’ new political maps for the next decade. As Jeramy Kitchen reports, lines are now set for 38 U.S. congressional districts, 31 State Senate districts, 150 State House districts, and 15 State Board of Education districts.
   
• Ultimately, the boundaries attempt to bolster Republican-held majorities up and down the ballot.

Primary Date Set… Mostly

• Barring legal action against the approved boundaries, the new district boundaries will be used for the first time in the 2022 primary elections on March 1.
        
• As a sort of stop-gap measure, in the event the boundaries are not implemented, the Texas Legislature had approved legislation in the second special legislative session that set certain date thresholds for the candidate filing period, primary election date, and primary election runoff date.
     
• As of now, the candidate filing deadline is December 13, 2021, with the primary election date scheduled for March 1, 2022. Any potential primary runoff elections will take place on May 24, 2022. The general election is on November 8, 2022.

Now They Apologize…

• In a statement yesterday, the National School Boards Association says they “regret and apologize” for comparing parents to domestic terrorists in a letter to President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland. The NSBA now says “there was no justification for some of the language included in the letter.” Sydnie Henry has the story.
       
• The NSBA letter comes after A.G. Garland backtracked last week from his own incendiary comments on the issue, following parental backlash.
        
• Just some of the language?!  It would be nice to think ‘parents don’t have a right to know what kids are taught’ is a fringe position in public education. Sadly, it is the majority opinion held in public schools’ administrations, unions, and associations. And, yes, that almost certainly includes the “good public school” that levies half or more of your property tax burden..

Y’All Answered

Amid growing numbers of Texans fearing for their livelihoods as Texas-based companies impose COVID vaccine mandates, pressure is building on Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session dedicated to the issue. So yesterday we asked if the governor should call lawmakers back into a special session for the purpose of addressing the issue.

Readers answered with a resounding 95.4 percent saying “yes,” compared to 4.8 percent “no.” Here is a sampling of the replies:

• “I voted yes, but I must admit that I have grown apathetic toward this group of legislators. After numerous attempts, they fail us again and again.” – Daniel Salerno
   
• “The very same people that were called heroes for working through the pandemic before vaccines are now subject to losing their jobs because they want to continue to work without taking the vaccine. The State of Texas/Gov. Abbott needs to step up and tell the Feds we are a sovereign state per the 10th amendment.” – John Underwood
     
• “Abbott talks the talk but does not walk the walk. Why waste more time and more money to accomplish nothing?” – Jan Goria
     
• “I believe that private business should be free to manage their companies, but that is not the case here. The Federal government is mandating the vaccine, and the state legislature needs to intervene and give back the right to the individual on what is best for themselves.” – Danny Platt
     
• “We have wasted enough taxpayer monies but perhaps this time it will do some good.” – Lou Olson
     
• “Normally I would say the state should stay out of private sector business.  However, COVID has been political since it’s beginning.  It isn’t about health, it’s about control. Texas needs to follow Florida’s lead and put a stop to the vaccination mandate insanity.” – Ken Marx

   

• “Yes, Abbott should call another session and while they're at it, fix a couple of items Abbott and Phelan let get away.  Meaningful property tax relief and reinstate the harsher penalty for voter fraud.  Nobody ‘accidentally’ commits voter fraud!” – Lloyd Smith

   

• “I say no. The Texas Republican lawmakers have had FOUR chances to do their job. Each time the Republican leader has allowed Dems to control the floor. We Texans need to get back to the drawing board and get these RINO’s out of office. I’m done with King Abbott and his cronies!” – Gene Klutts
     
• “Work needs to be done, but they won't do it.” – Laura Morton
     
• “The federal government is overreaching into our lives and our constitutional right to choose for ourselves. The state of Texas government should step up and protect us.” – Jim Hughes
     
• “Abbott should run as a Democrat. It looks like he sold us out.” – David Letersky
        
• “As long as Phelan is the speaker, another session will be a waste of time and money.” – Richard Steenson
        
• “This is not an issue of private business freedoms. Most businesses requiring vaccines in Texas are national/global enterprises getting pressure from the left and the federal government. I’ll support private companies’ right to require vaccines once we repeal the myriad labor and other regulations on private businesses, most of which come from the left.” – Spencer Siino
       
• “Keep calling special sessions until our elected officials understand they work for the people of Texas and are expected to work towards resolving the issues that are important to us.” – Steve Crevier
      
• “It takes leadership to get results and Abbott is severely lacking in that department. If he was seriously interested in protecting Texas workers he would have gotten it done earlier.” – Alan Smith
   
• “There has to be some big money from big Pharm going somewhere to keep the vaccine mandates going. How much is going into Abbott’s pockets?” – Mike Stafford
     
• “I voted ‘No’ on the special session. The less the State and Federal governments are in session the less damage they can do to our freedom and to us financially.” – William Gopffarth​
   
• “And when he calls the fourth special session, increased penalties for election cheating can be addressed.” - Marianne Dawes

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