Good morning –

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Thursday, November 11, 2021
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Thank You!

• Generically, we do a lot “thanking” of veterans, those individuals who honorably discharged their duties in the U.S. armed forces. It is often done in that “big” sense of thanking the category of people for their collective service. What we don’t do enough is thank them as individuals.
          
• So let me note here a few folks of whose service in the armed forces I am particularly appreciative, because I know a bit of the specific work they did and sacrifices they made on our behalf. Texas Scorecard’s Jeramy Kitchen... my brother-in-law David Lockhart... my Aggie brothers Gary Beaty, Russell Brown, Robert Nogueras, and Art Torres. Thank you.
       
• And, on behalf of the entire team, I offer our deepest appreciation to the large number of the veterans who support the work of Texas Scorecard. Thank you. 

Federal Judge Blocks Abbott’s School Mask Ban

• A federal judge in Austin late yesterday tossed out Gov. Greg Abbott’s school mask ban. According to reporting by Forbes, Judge Lee Yeakel’s order prohibits “Texas officials from enforcing a July executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) banning all government entities — including school districts — from requiring masks, after a group of parents sued the state.”
   
• It would be a lot harder for a federal judge to toss out a school mask ban if it were a law passed by the legislature, instead of an executive order. This is just one more reason why Greg Abbott needs to stop being wishy-washy and order a special session to address covid mandates.
      
• Note: Yeakel was appointed to the federal bench by President George W. Bush.

Texas Gets Pro-Family Fighters

• Despite controlling the state government for two decades, Republican politicians have repeatedly refused to deal with numerous important statewide family issues and caused Texas to fall behind other states in protecting children.
       
• Jacob Asmussen profiles the entry of the American Principles Project into the fight.
      
• “APP is a disruptor,” APP President Terry Schilling told Texas Scorecard in an exclusive interview. “[We’re an] organization that is organizing families in politics to fight the enemies of America and the enemies of the family.”
      
• Schilling explained he sees a glaring problem in the Lone Star State: Republican politicians won’t enact strong, needed protections into state law—and other pro-family organizations cover for them.
      
• For its Texas chapter, APP has appointed North Texas pastor Chris Hopper as the director. 
      
• “Texas sets the standard for the country in so many ways, but unfortunately, our leaders don’t always take the needs of families into account in their decisions. That has to change, and I’m excited to be at the forefront of this growing movement as we work to cement Texas’ status as the best state to raise a family.” – Chris Hopper

Lawmakers Keep Texans In The Dark On Lobbying

• Lobbyists in Texas spend millions of dollars each year on politicians, but as Sydnie Henry reports the money spent cannot be traced to the individual politician.  
     
• According to Transparency USA, more than $667 million was spent by lobbyists during the 2020 election cycle of January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020. Most of that money was spent during the legislative session in 2019, and yet only 2 percent is attached to a legislator’s name as filed with the Texas Ethics Commission.
      
• As such, the average citizen has no way of finding out just who their state representative or senator is kowtowing to during legislative sessions.

Big Spring Bans Employer Vax Mandates

• Big Spring Mayor Shannon Thomason has implemented a fine of $500 for entities of the city and businesses in the city limits that do not repeal their existing vaccine requirements. As Griffin White reports, the order also implements a $2,000 fine for businesses that intentionally implement vaccine requirements going forward.
   
• Meanwhile, State Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) is the latest lawmaker to call on Gov. Greg Abbott to order a special legislative session focused on vaccine mandates. “Mandatory vaccination is un-American. Tens of thousands of Texans have been or will soon be fired for refusing to comply with a medical treatment. Healthcare workers, police, firefighters, and U.S. military service members who have all fought on the front lines of this pandemic are now threatened with losing their livelihoods.”

38th City Bans Abortion

• Anson has become the 38th city in Texas to ban abortions and become a “sanctuary” for the unborn. Mark Lee Dickson celebrates the local activists who made it happen.

Capriglione & VanDeaver Draw GOP Opponents

• Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex activist Mitchell Ryan announced his candidacy for Texas House District 98, challenging incumbent Republican State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione (Southlake). Capriglione has served as state representative since 2013.
   
• Meanwhile, former State Rep. George Lavender announced on Facebook he would be seeking re-election to his former seat for Texas House District 1, challenging the incumbent Republican State Rep. Gary VanDeaver (New Boston).

Analysis: East Texas Shake Up?

• With U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert eyeing a run for Attorney General, there could be a big political shake up behind East Texas’ Pine Curtain.
     
• Mineola Republican Sen. Bryan Hughes (the Heartbeat Law champion) would be an odds-on-favorite for that U.S. House seat. In turn, his senate district has several state representatives who might like a legislative upgrade out of the House – with State Rep. Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler) having the best case to offer the district’s conservative residents.
      
• All three districts – U.S. House, Texas Senate, and Texas House – are super-safe GOP seats, so the primary races will be what matter.

Your Federal & State Lawmakers

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