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Good morning!

Here is the Texas Minute for Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Abbott Takes Aim at O’Rourke for Wanting To End Cash Bail Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaign is taking aim at the soft-on-crime policies of his Democrat challenger, Robert “Beto” O’Rourke. The ad highlights what it calls the dangers of O’Rourke’s plan to ban cash bail. Soli Rice has the details [[link removed]].

Despite data showing that such a plan is failing in New York and causing an increase in crime, O’Rourke still supports transitioning Texas to a similar justice system.

If elected as governor, the Abbott ad argues, O’Rourke would implement the same plan in Texas.

O’Rourke’s campaign communications director Chris Evans says O’Rourke does not support allowing violent offenders out on bail, but that he only believes in cashless bail for low-level, non-violent crimes. A.G. Office Launches 2022 General Election Integrity Team Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched a dedicated Election Integrity Team tasked with ensuring the election is run “transparently and securely.” While the Office of the Attorney General operates an Election Integrity Division year-round, Erin Anderson reports [[link removed]] this special team of agency lawyers, investigators, and support staff will provide resources to both election officials and the public. The team will also follow up on reports of possible election crimes.

Anyone who witnesses violations of Texas election laws can report them to [[email protected]].

Paxton said his office will be monitoring the email account “at all times” and is “prepared to take action against unlawful conduct where appropriate.” Texas Students Falling Behind in Reading and Math Earlier this week, the federal government released nationwide test results showing a decline in Texas students’ reading and math scores. Katy Drollinger reports [[link removed]] the congressionally mandated National Assessment of Educational Progress had the “largest ever” overall decline in students’ mathematics scores since the agency began assessing the subject.

The National Center for Education Statistics blamed the low test scores on the COVID-19 pandemic, citing “instability at home, decreased access to resources, teacher shortages, cyberbullying, and an uptick in violence once schools reopened.”

Of course, the agency failed to mention the impact of school closures, which pushed students across the country out of schools and forced them to attend virtual classes, causing millions to fall behind.

Although Texas ranked above the national average, math and reading scores for fourth and eighth-graders nonetheless declined. The average mathematics score for Texas fourth-graders was 239 out of 500, lower than the 2019 score of 244. Their reading skills also declined.

Meanwhile, public schools are focusing on pushing for pornographic comic books and critical race theory. Activists Protest Dallas Judge For Child-Mutilation Ruling Activists from Protect Texas Kids and Culture Warriors of America held a protest in the neighborhood of Dallas Judge Mary Brown against her recent ruling in the case of James Younger. Sebastian Castro has the story [[link removed]].

This is the case in which the boy’s mother, Anne Georgulas, sought to put James on puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones that would chemically castrate him. She claims the boy wants to be a girl. The boy’s father, Jeff Younger, has tried to protect his son from life-altering damage. Georgulas and Younger are no longer married.

Brown recently ruled Georgulas can move the boy and his brother anywhere in the U.S., with the intention of seeking medical professionals willing to continue with the physical mutilation of the boy. City Taxpayers Score Win Against Amarillo Amarillo taxpayers will not be paying off the debt for a brand-new civic center complex after all. Thomas Warren has the details [[link removed]].

On Tuesday, Judge William Sowder issued the verdict in a lawsuit brought by businessman Alex Fairly regarding a $275 million tax anticipation note debt issuance approved by the city council earlier this year. The court found that the debt issuance was invalid, since tax anticipation notes are designed to fund public works – and the civic center project does not qualify as such.

The court also found that the City of Amarillo violated the Texas Open Meetings Act in issuing the debt with an improperly written agenda.

“I’m thankful for our system and that a regular, ordinary, everyday guy can still raise his hand and say, ‘I don’t think this is right,’ and still get a voice and fair day in court,” said Fairly. Taxpayers Organize Against Central Texas School Bond Citizens in Dripping Springs are organizing against a half-billion-dollar school bond package on the November ballot they say includes “irresponsible” spending and will result in “crushing” tax hikes and debt for local residents. Erin Anderson has the details [[link removed]]. 🔒 Donate to Texas Scorecard 🔒 [[link removed]] Number of the Day

$15 Billion

Of the $21 billion in bond debt before the voters in the November 2022 election, $15 billion of it is being put forward by school districts.

[Source: The Bond Buyer [[link removed]]]

Quote-Unquote

“A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you're talking real money.”

– Everett Dirksen​

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Your Federal & State Lawmakers

The districts displayed here should reflect those recently redrawn by the Legislature. Though the new lines do not take representational effect until 2023, they will appear on the 2022 ballot. Please note that your incumbent legislator and/or district numbers may have changed.

U.S. Senator [[link removed]]

John Cornyn (R)

(202) 224-2934

U.S. Senator [[link removed]]

Ted Cruz (R)

(202) 224-5922

Governor of Texas [[link removed]]

Greg Abbott (R)

(512) 463-2000

Lt. Governor [[link removed]]

Dan Patrick (R)

(512) 463-0001

State Board of Education [[link removed]], District

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U.S. House [[link removed]], District

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Texas Senate [[link removed]], District

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Texas House [[link removed]], District

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Speaker of the Texas House

Dade Phelan (R)

(512) 463-1000

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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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