Good morning, 

As the hours count down on 2019, will you help us start 2020 off strong with a special contribution today of $25, $50, or $100?

Here is the final Texas Minute of 2019.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Tuesday, December 31, 2019
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Later today I’ll send you an email with our 2020 New Year’s Resolutions. Hope you’ll give it a read... and respond!
    

• The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. That was again proven true on Sunday. As you by now know, a man went on a rampage at the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, west of Fort Worth. The assailant killed two people, but was stopped by an armed parishioner.
      
• The hero in Sunday’s shooting was Jack Wilson, a firearms instructor and church’s security team. Thanks to Wilson, the gunman was killed less than six seconds after starting his attack. Matt Stringer reports Wilson also happens to be a Republican candidate for Hood County Commissioner, Precinct 3.
     
• As our friend Dana Waller Harris noted on Facebook, former State Rep. Matt Rinaldi (R-Irving) was responsible for the state law allowing churches to “legally organize and utilize church volunteers to protect their building and congregations. Prior to this bill’s passage it was against the law for churches to have an organized safety team without going through the expensive state licensing process.” What’s more, wrote Harris, many in the Legislature tried to get Rinaldi to “give up” on the measure.
       
• Fortunately, Rinaldi stood his ground so Texans don’t have to check their rights and safety at the church door. Brandon Waltens reviews Rinaldi’s legislation.
     
• The “sweep-it-under-the-rug” committee of the Texas House – also known as the General Investigating Committee – lived up to its reputation as the official apologists for a corrupt culture in the state capitol. 
      
• Brandon Waltens reports the committee met on Friday before Christmas with members voting unanimously not to pursue any actions against disgraced House Speaker Dennis Bonnen – despite noting he “likely violated” state law. Those committee members include Chair Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas), Vice-Chair Nicole Collier (D-Fort Worth), Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth), Candy Noble (R-Murphy), and Leo Pacheco (D-San Antonio).

• According to CNBC, California lost 190,000 residents over the last year. Sounds to me like 190,000 people escaped California... 
      
• Dallas-based Josh Hammer, the editor-at-large of Daily Wire, writes in a new commentary that Texas is less business-friendly than its reputation purports. Hammer specifically cites Texas’ 38th-place ranking on judicial fairness by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform as evidence there is a lot of work to be done.
      
• Comparing ourselves to places like California or Illinois might feel good, but it’s a lot like taking pride in being the least drunk guy at the bar. The Republican-dominated Legislature’s unwillingness in 2019 to place strict controls on spending, meaningfully reduce property tax burdens, reform elections, rein in labor union activity, or any of a large number of popular fiscal and social reforms is a sign lawmakers are far more purple than Texans have been willing to admit.
     
• The fact Gov. Greg Abbott has refused to even acknowledge the hundreds of conservative groups and grassroots leaders calling for a special session on the Lone Star Agenda is evidence the crony culture in Austin really is working against Texans.
      
• Heading into 2020 citizens must loudly and persistently demand more than campaign rhetoric; Texans want governing results. 

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