Good morning,

Here is the Texas Minute for Thursday, November 17, 2022.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Everything Is Bigger In Texas… Including Property Taxes

• Property taxes in Texas are some of the highest in the country, according to a recent report from the Huffines Liberty Foundation. Darrell Frost breaks down what it means for taxpayers.
   
• The study finds Texas ranks fourth in having the highest effective tax rate among the 10 largest states, behind only Illinois, New York, and Ohio. Among all 50 states, Texas ranks ninth.
     
• According to the report, the state’s high property tax burden can be attributed to excessive spending by local government entities, which regularly attempt to deceive taxpayers by obfuscating the difference between tax rates and tax payments.
       
• The Huffines Liberty Foundation report contends that the current situation is not sustainable. The foundation finds local governments and state lawmakers should reduce spending and be transparent with taxpayers about the real cost of government.
     
• And every single Texan replied, “Yep.”

📺 A Conversation With Jonathan Stickland

• No single member of the Texas Legislature has impacted the public perception of state politics like former State Rep. Jonathan Stickland.

• In this Conversation, we find out what motivated Jonathan Stickland to run for office in the first place and the advice he has for those seeking office in the future. Watch it on the Texas Scorecard website or on either our YouTube or Rumble channels.

Honoring Citizens Who Are Leading The Fight!

• The clock is ticking down to the 2022 Conservative Leader Awards dinner in Irving, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 3. This annual event draws folks from around the state to recognize and honor not politicians, but the grassroots activists who are making an impact in Texas. You’ll be inspired and encouraged by the work these men and women are doing to make the Lone Star State shine brighter and stronger.
      
• Ticket sales end soon; I hope to see you on Dec. 3 for the Conservative Leader Awards dinner!

Lawmakers Explain Why Texas Must Secure the Power Grid

• The 2021 Texas “Snowmageddon” Winter Storm Uri, showed Texans just how unstable the power grid is. But, as two lawmakers told Chris Salcedo on the Salcedo Storm podcast this week, snow and ice are not the only natural threats to the power grid. Soli Rice has the story.
      
• According to State Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington), solar flares are also an imposing threat. “We’re four to eight years past due for a solar flare, if you look at historical data,” Tinderholt explained. “And that would kill our entire grid.”
     
• State Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood) said physical and cyber attacks, as well as electromagnetic pulses (EMP), geomagnetic disturbances (GMD), and capacity all play a role in the security of the grid. “With Texas growing the way it is and the push for more unreliable energy sources, like wind and solar, we’ve got a real challenge on our hands of having a system that’s going to be resilient and reliable.”
      
• You can listen to the full episode on Texas Scorecard’s website or on your favorite podcasting platforms.

Legislators Propose Ways To Combat Border Invasion

• Earlier this week, a federal judge issued an order blocking federal authorities from using a Trump-era public health rule in Title 42 to quickly expel those attempting illegal border crossings. Sydnie Henry reports two state lawmakers are proposing work-arounds.
   
• State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Waxahachie), who helped implement the Title 42 rule in 2020 while serving in the Trump administration, said he will be filing a bill in the Texas House so Texas can “enact its own Title 42 law and begin real deportations.”
     
• State Rep. Bryan Slaton (R-Royse City) filed House Bill 91, which would allow Texas law enforcement to arrest illegal aliens on criminal trespassing charges if the bill is passed during the legislative session beginning in January.
     
• “The crisis at our southern border has taken a nosedive under President Biden, and it has not abated. Lip-service and half-hearted attempts at securing the border are not enough.” – Bryan Slaton
      
• Texans for Strong Borders issued a statement urging Gov. Abbott to “use state resources to repel the invasion and return illegal aliens back across the border without relying on federal officials.” Otherwise, “this invasion will continue and Texans will continue to pay the price.”
      
• So far, 36 Texas counties have issued invasion declarations urging Abbott to take further action. Those include: Kinney, Goliad, Terrell, Parker, Wise, Edwards, Atascosa, Presidio, Tyler, Live Oak, Rockwall, Johnson, Wilson, Hardin, Chambers, Ellis, Orange, Liberty, Throckmorton, Madison, Jasper, Van Zandt, Wichita, Clay, Jack, Hunt, Montague, Hood, Wharton, Burnet, Collin, McMullen, Hamilton, Lavaca, Ector, and Navarro counties.

School Trustees Protect Kids From Gender Ideology

• Pro-family activists scored a win in the Keller Independent School District this week, when the board of trustees – following through on their campaign promises – voted to keep age-inappropriate gender ideology out of students’ libraries and classrooms. Erin Anderson has the details.
      
• “Our public schools are for education, not indoctrination,” said Chris Coker, a district parent.
     
• Board President Charles Randklev said the new content guidelines are aimed at excluding sexually explicit materials and ensuring all materials are age-appropriate. “What we’re talking about is making sure that we don’t have age-inappropriate content in our schools. … We’re talking about an ideology.”
     
• As you might imagine, the area’s child molesters, pedophiles, and groomer-allies are furious.

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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. This does not yet include individuals elected in November but not yet sworn into office.