Patrick pushes back against Judicial Selection Commission.

Good morning,

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

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Texas won’t continue participating in the refugee settlement program. Cary Cheshire reports [[link removed]] Gov. Greg Abbott has transmitted a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo formally ending the state’s participation in the program.

While a state commission appears poised to recommend the end of partisan judicial elections in the state of Texas, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is pushing back. As Brandon Waltens reports [[link removed]], the legislatively created Judicial Selection Commission has been in the news because its members – appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and House speaker – have intimated their interest in removing party labels in judicial elections.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick released a statement fighting back against those reports and outlaying his opposition: “Texans feel strongly about voting for their judges. The commission will need to make a compelling argument to the people and legislators to change the current system. I do not believe that support exists today.” One-Click Survey

Should Texans lose the right to elect their judges?

Texans should vote for our judges [[link removed]]!

or

End the election of judges in Texas [[link removed]]!

My take? Removing party labels in judicial elections would accomplish two things. First, it would result in more Democrat and Democrat-like judges. Second, it would be the excuse for ending judicial elections altogether and letting an Austin-run committee appoint (liberal) Texas judges.

Government officials associated with the disastrously bloated Panther Island Project admitted last week the design phase is far from complete, which runs counter to a third-party review published in 2019. Ross Kecseg and Robert Montoya report [[link removed]] the cost of the real estate boondoggle to taxpayers has ballooned from $435 million in 2006 to more than $1.17 billion in 2018.

The project has been overseen by the son of U.S. Rep. Kay Granger (R-Fort Worth). She secured federal funding for the project during the Obama years, but the Trump Administration has cut off federal funding until it can be brought under control.

Last year, grassroots activists in Tarrant County fought to elect three new members to the board of the property appraisal district. Robert Montoya reports [[link removed]] one of those newcomers – conservative leader Rich DeOtte – is now calling on the grassroots to continue the fight reforming the way people’s homes are valued for tax levies. In a ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion in Austin on Monday morning, Gov. Greg Abbott bestowed the Medal of Courage to Jack Wilson, the hero who stopped the shooting at the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement last month. Brandon Waltens has the story [[link removed]]. Number of the Day

10%​

Since 2010, “roughly 10% of all refugees resettled in the United States have been placed in Texas.”

[Source: Greg Abbott]

Team Spotlight

Jacob Asmussen

Central Texas Bureau Chief

Q: What’s your favorite part of your job?

A: Writing stories that effectively communicate the truth.

Q: What’s your favorite destination in Texas?

A: I always enjoy going to the lake or Enchanted Rock.

Quote-Unquote

“Authority that does not exist for Liberty is not authority but force.”

– Lord Acton​

Texas’ Big 3

Governor of Texas

Greg Abbott - R

(512) 463-2000

Lt. Governor

Dan Patrick - R

(512) 463-0001

Attorney General

Ken Paxton – R

(512) 463-2100

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PO Box 36875 | Houston, TX 77236 The Texas Minute is a quick look at the news and info of the day that we find interesting, and hope you do as well. It is produced on week days and distributed at 6 a.m. (though I'll probably take the occasional break for holidays and whatnot).

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