Good morning, 

As expected, congressional Democrats impeached President Trump. We now have 319 days until the November 2020 election to fight for his re-election.

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Thursday, December 19, 2019
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• “Since taking the majority in January, some House Democrats have set their sights on impeaching the President resulting in an incredibly partisan impeachment process with a predetermined outcome despite an ever-changing set of accusations. This process ignored historical precedent, disregarded due process, and trampled over nearly every judicial standard we hold sacred as Americans. Less than a year away from a Presidential election is not the time for 435 politicians to override the will of the American people, nullifying millions of votes, and remove a President who some in the opposing political party disagree with. Outside of declaring war, voting to impeach a duly elected President of the United States is the most serious vote a Member of Congress can take, and I have yet to see anything that rises to the level of impeachment.” – U.S. Rep. Van Taylor (R-Plano)
      
• “The extreme left has officially trampled on our Constitution, using it as a weapon to take their personal dislike of our president to the next level. Democrats have done what they do best… they have asked Americans to put their emotions before facts. They’ve impeached a man without evidence of wrongdoing, fueled by nothing but a desire to undo the results of the 2016 election.” – U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Houston)

     

• “The Democrats have taken their charade to the Nth degree, using our Constitution as a partisan weapon. This process began the day he was duly elected president, and culminates today in a one-sided vote void of any fact or truly impeachable offense. Today is a sad day in American history. Democrats should be ashamed of their actions.” – U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas)
   

• Local governments aren’t allowed to consider cost when choosing contractors for their taxpayer-funded projects. Robert Montoya reports the Keller Independent School is spending more than $110 million on renovations and additions to existing schools, as well as building “indoor extra-curricular facilities at high schools” and a new “science center.” 
       
• When the citizens’ bond committee in Keller discussed the projects associated with the bond, one of the committee members was told state law prohibits them choosing vendors based on cost.
      
• Is it any wonder Texans have such high local debt, when state law doesn’t let officials ensure their taxpayers are getting the best price?

• The life of 9-month-old baby Tinslee Lewis hangs in the balance while Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth fights in court to remove her ventilator despite objections from her mother. A group of Texas legislators is calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special legislative session to save her life. Brandon Waltens has the details. 
      
• At the center of the fight is Texas’ highly controversial 10-day rule, which allows a hospital committee to end “life-sustaining care” even if the patient, or his or her surrogate, object. The law even overrides a duly executed medical power of attorney or advance directive from the patient.
      
• The platform of the Republican Party of Texas explicitly calls for “repealing the unethical ‘Ten-Day Rule’” and specifically mentions removing “a ventilator” as a way in which physicians and hospital committees can hasten death.
      
• Those signing the letter include State Sens. Brandon Creighton (R–Conroe), Bob Hall (R–Edgewood), and Kelly Hancock (R–North Richland Hills), as well as State Reps. Kyle Biedermann (R–Fredericksburg), Dwayne Bohac (R–Houston), Matt Krause (R–Fort Worth), Mayes Middleton (R–Wallisville), Tom Oliverson (R–Cypress), Leo Pacheco (D–San Antonio), Jared Patterson (R–Frisco), Scott Sanford (R–McKinney), Jonathan Stickland (R–Bedford), Valoree Swanson (R–Spring), Tony Tinderholt (R–Arlington), Steve Toth (R–The Woodlands), and James White (R–Hillister).
      
• Just as telling as who signed the letter, are those “pro-life” Republican lawmakers who are joining Gov. Greg Abbott in staying silent.