Good morning!

The One Click Survey reminded me to lead with what I don’t say nearly enough: THANK YOU for subscribing to our work, for offering your input, for providing tips, for submitting corrections, and – of course – for financially contributing. All of us at Texas Scorecard are deeply thankful for you.

See what your fellow readers are thankful for at the conclusion of today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

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Pressure On Abbott Grows For Special Session The list of lawmakers who have publicly called on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to call a fourth special legislative session to address a prohibition on employer vaccine mandates continues to grow. Jeramy Kitchen has the details [[link removed]].

Two dozen Republicans from both the Texas House and Senate have now issued public requests following a push by the Republican Party of Texas.

Gov. Abbott issued an executive order forbidding vaccine mandates, but it has proven toothless as major companies and even state agencies under his control have ignored it.

The Biden administration is attempting to implement their vaccine mandate via the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which released their official rule requiring large employers to mandate that employees subject themselves to one of the COVID-19 regimens or face costly weekly testing, continued mask-wearing, and possible fines or penalties.

The rule implementation has since been halted, albeit likely only temporarily, as the issue likely makes its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Concerns have been raised that there is still nothing to protect employees from “woke corporations” implementing their own vaccine mandates before the rule goes into effect. The governor has been reluctant to comment on the growing list of companies ignoring his executive order.

The Texas Constitution only grants the governor the authority to call the legislature into session outside the 140-day regular session that occurs every other year.

Lawmakers requesting a special legislative session [[link removed]] to address vaccine mandates include:

State Sen. Bob Hall [[link removed]] (R-Edgewood)

State Sen. Drew Springer [[link removed]] (R-Muenster)

State Sen. Angela Paxton [[link removed]] (R-McKinney)

State Rep. Keith Bell [[link removed]] (R-Forney)

State Rep. Kyle Biedermann [[link removed]] (R-Fredericksburg)

State Rep. Briscoe Cain [[link removed]] (R-Deer Park)

State Rep. Jeff Cason [[link removed]] (R-Bedford)

State Rep. Brian Harrison [[link removed]] (R-Waxahachie)

State Rep. Cole Hefner [[link removed]] (R-Mt. Pleasant)

State Rep. Matt Krause [[link removed]] (R-Haslet)

State Rep. Jeff Leach [[link removed]] (R-Allen)

State Rep. Mayes Middleton [[link removed]] (R-Galveston)

State Rep. Candy Noble [[link removed]] (R-Lucas)

State Rep. Tom Oliverson [[link removed]] (R-Friendswood)

State Rep. Tan Parker [[link removed]] (R-Flower Mound)

State Rep. Matt Schaefer [[link removed]] (R-Tyler)

State Rep. Matt Shaheen [[link removed]] (R-Plano)

State Rep. Bryan Slaton [[link removed]] (R-Royse City)

State Rep. David Spiller [[link removed]] (R-Jacksboro)

State Rep. Valoree Swanson [[link removed]] (R-Spring)

State Rep. Tony Tinderholt [[link removed]] (R-Arlington)

State Rep. Steve Toth [[link removed]] (R-The Woodlands)

State Rep. Cody Vasut [[link removed]] (R-Angleton)

State Rep. James White [[link removed]] (R-Hillister)

Child Mutilation Clinic Closes—But Their Work Continues Children’s Medical Center Dallas and the UT Southwestern Medical Center have quietly ended their joint “GENECIS” program—a controversial clinic within the hospital involved in administering disfiguring cross-sex hormones and puberty blocker drugs to minors. But as Jacob Asmussen reports [[link removed]], just because the clinic has closed doesn’t mean children are protected from life-altering procedures done to satisfy their parents’ political and social agendas.

“Rather than helping a child heal whatever hurt is causing their distress, transgender ‘medicine’ actually harms a child’s body,” Cindi Castilla, president of Texas Eagle Forum, told Texas Scorecard. “Children who are experiencing gender dysphoria need real help. Every cell in their body affirms their birth sex, so we do well to help them discover why their developing body feels uncomfortable. Providing a child with hormone blockers and cross-sex hormones could be likened to giving them tools for self-harm.”

“When pro-family advocates get active and get organized, good things happen,” said Chris Hopper, Texas director for pro-family group American Principles Project and one of the activists who recently protested the North Texas clinic. “The shutdown of the GENECIS program is fantastic news for Texas families, and there’s no doubt that the pressure campaign played a big role. But we can’t celebrate yet.” SBOE Challenge Set Republican businessman Aaron Kinsey has thrown his hat into the ring to challenge a recently elected member of the Texas State Board of Education, Jay Johnson, in the GOP primary. Thomas Warren has the story [[link removed]].

There are 15 SBOE districts in Texas; for comparison, there are 31 state senate districts and 150 house districts. Candidates have until Monday, Dec. 13, to file for the ballot. The primary election day is scheduled for March 1, 2022. 🔒 Donate to Texas Scorecard 🔒 [[link removed]] Today in History

On Nov. 24, 1835, the Texas Rangers were authorized by the soon-to-be-independent republic’s lawmakers. While “rangers” had been previously hired in Texas as far back as the 1820s, this was the first instance of their work being formalized by government action.

Quote-Unquote

“No man in the wrong can stand up against a fellow that's in the right and keeps on a-comin’.”

– Bill McDonald, Texas Ranger​

Y’All Answered

Yesterday’s One Click Survey asked readers what they are most thankful for, and by the numbers… for your friends (.6%), family (6.9%), health (3.5%), country (1.3%), faith (12.5%) and “All of These” (75.3%)!

Here’s a sampling from the ol’ Texas Minute inbox:

“As someone who immigrated (legally) to this great country, I am very thankful for that privilege, but even more so, for being honored with a citizenship of a country that is second to none.” – John R. Makow

“I’m beyond grateful for our Founding Fathers that found the courage to fight for freedoms against a tyrannical government that led to the formation of our great nation & I’m grateful for those in our current times still willing to stand against the evil in our country despite what appears to be an uphill battle! Stand strong, keep the faith and NEVER give up!!” – Cindy Kelley

“Although it seems we face many things that seem terribly Unamerican and seem to threaten ‘all of these’ in one way or the other, we still have ‘all of these’, else there would be no threat. For this reason, we should be all the more thankful!” – Roger Taylor

“Even though our Country is filled with evil, we still live in the greatest country in the world! I treasure my friends, family, country, but most of all I treasure our freedom and that we are allowed to openly worship our God! We must continue to fight for this freedom!” – Maggie Clopton Wright

“While it is hard to be thankful for where our country is, I am thankful for the emergence of conservative voters who are waking up, organizing, and pushing back against the unconstitutional, unfair, and un-American direction the Democrats are pushing for. ” – Jane Anne Sellars

“I am thankful and hopeful that the overreach of the Biden administration has opened the eyes of the so called moderate voters and they will help us take our country back.” – Wanda Dietel

“I am most thankful this year for family, including my church family, as well as good friends who are as close as family. I wish you all a very blessed and safe Thanksgiving.” – Gary Eulenfeld

“As crazy and upside down as our country and world are, I am so thankful to the Good Lord for all that I have. I am eternally grateful for the freedoms we enjoy and for brave Patriots that speak out about man-made injustices that woefully fall short of God's word.” – Jennifer Herr

“We here in the Vargha family are most thankful for salvation in Jesus Christ. Without it, everything else is ultimately meaningless. Have a happy Thanksgiving!” – David Vargha

“How can you not be grateful for all of these? We live in the greatest country in the world! We have been blessed beyond measure. Family, friends, a Christian faith with belief in eternal life through Jesus Christ, and health enabled by the best healthcare system in the world.” – Debbie Harper

“While the past year has been difficult to say the least, it also brought an opportunity for a newly embraced love of God and heightened faith, as well as a resurgence of love of Country and the realization of how easily it can be taken from us and the conviction of what we are willing to do to keep it.” –Lesha Roberts

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Produced by Michael Quinn Sullivan and Brandon Waltens, the Texas Minute is a quick look at the news and info of the day we find interesting, and hope you do as well. It is delivered weekday mornings (though we'll take the occasional break for holidays and whatnot).

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