ACCOUNT [[link removed]]

READ ONLINE [link removed]

Good morning!

After exposure by Texas Scorecard, a state agency is backing down from their woke job posting...

If you were going to pick the 2024 GOP presidential nominee, who would it be? Sound off in today's One Click Survey.

Here is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

BUT FIRST... Even if you don't usually listen to podcasts, you need to listen to this week's edition of the Luke Macias Show: “ Democrat Lawmaker Simps for China [[link removed]].”

There is a battle brewing in the legislature to ban China, other enemy nations, and their citizens from purchasing Texas land. A Democrat from Houston is really angry about it, and Macias explains why [[link removed]]. You can hear the show on Texas Scorecard [[link removed]], or on your favorite podcasting platform.

Illegal Border Crossings Higher Than Ever U.S. Customs and Border Protection is reporting an 11 percent increase in encounters with illegal border-crossers on the southwest border between December and November – the highest number of encounters ever recorded in a month. Sydnie Henry has the details [[link removed]].

The agency says there were 251,487 encounters, but it is the "gotaways" that are plaguing law enforcement in Texas.

Kinney County Sheriff Brad Coe wrote a letter [[link removed]] to counties across the state and in neighboring states asking for manpower, equipment, or operators, as his local resources are “stretched to the breaking point to successfully maintain operations.”

“[The border crisis] has rendered every Texas county a border county,” explains Coe [[link removed]]. “We are painfully aware of the degrees to which illegal aliens will wreak havoc in our communities.” Abbott Quietly Renews COVID Disaster Declaration Despite growing pressure to end his COVID state of emergency declaration, Gov. Greg Abbott has quietly extended the order for another 30 days. This means, as Brandon Waltens reports [[link removed]], when this declaration expires in February, Texas will have been under a "state of emergency" for 1,046 days.

“I intend to keep these executive orders and suspensions in place until the Legislature can enact laws this session to prohibit local governments from imposing restrictions like mask mandates and vaccine mandates,” Abbott’s declaration reads [[link removed]], adding that his renewal “in no way infringes on the rights or liberties of any law-abiding Texans.”

So, we're endorsing big government for everyone to protect people from the consequences of electing left-wing mayors...

Abbott is one of just two Republican governors nationwide to continue to keep a state of emergency for COVID, joining Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.

Some Republican lawmakers have called for an immediate end [[link removed]] to the orders, saying never-ending emergency authorities are “antithetical to representative government.”

Committee Assignments Indicate Senate Moving Fast

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick appears poised to push the Texas Senate to move quickly, by announcing committee assignments less than two weeks since the start of the legislative session. As such, all but one [[link removed]] Senate committee will be chaired by Republicans.

Patrick had previously [[link removed]] said he would keep Democrat State Sen. John Whitmire as chair of the Committee on Criminal Justice. Whitmire has announced that he will resign later this year to mount a campaign for Houston mayor. (Patrick added that the chamber would have zero Democrat chairs following Whitmire’s departure.)

The powerful State Affairs Committee will continue to be run by State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), while State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R–Conroe) will take charge of the consolidated Education Committee, overseeing both K-12 and higher education. State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R–Brenham) will oversee the Committee on Health and Human Services, and State Sen. Joan Huffman (R–Houston) will continue to chair the Finance Committee.

The full set of committee assignments can be found on the lieutenant governor's website [[link removed]]. Harrison: Bureaucrats Shouldn't Make More Than The Governor

New legislation has been filed by State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Waxahachie) that would prevent state and local employees from being paid more than the governor. As Soli Rice reports [[link removed]], the governor of Texas makes an annual salary of $153,750.

Six of the 15 highest-paid government and state employees come from the Teacher Retirement System, with salaries ranging from $380,000 to $414,999.

The top-earning superintendent is Cypress-Fairbanks’ John Henry, with a salary of $512,439; the tenth-highest paid superintendent makes $365,820 annually. Aside from the top 10, another 55 superintendents are salaried at least $300,000 annually.

“State and local taxpayer-funded salaries have skyrocketed out of control. No bureaucrat in Texas has more authority, staff, budget responsibility, or constituents than the Governor of Texas. Bureaucrats should not get rich off the backs of hard-working Texans, and I’m proud to file a bill to ensure no taxpayer-funded bureaucrat is paid a higher salary than the Governor.” – Brian Harrison [[link removed]] After Scorecard Exposure, Library and Archives Commission Removes ‘Equity Consultant’ Posting After being exposed by Texas Scorecard, the state's Library and Archives Commission removed a job listing from their website last week, citing the need to ensure that the position aligns with state policies. Katy Drollinger has the details [[link removed]].

The agency's posting said they were looking for applicants with experience in “EDIA,” or equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.

In a statement [[link removed]] to Texas Scorecard, the agency said they removed the job listing for “revision” to ensure that the position does not violate any Texas state policies. They also said that if the job posting returns to the website, “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” responsibilities will not be featured.

Today In History

On Jan. 24, 1908, Boy Scouts began in England with the publication of “Scouting for Boys” by Lord Robert Baden-Powell.

Quote-Unquote

“It’s the spirit within, not the veneer without, that makes a man.”

– Lord Robert Baden-Powell​

Know Someone?

Texas Scorecard is accepting applications for our Summer and Fall 2023 paid fellowship [[link removed]] program, designed for 18- to 25-year-olds with an interest in public policy, political accountability, and Texas history. Learn more on our website [[link removed]].

Number of the Day

406

Number of days until the presidential primary election in Texas (March 5, 2024) .

[Source: Texas Secretary of State [[link removed]]; calendar]

ONE CLICK SURVEY

If the Republican primary was held today, who would you nominate for president of the United States?

Greg Abbott [[link removed]] John Bolton [[link removed]] Liz Cheney [[link removed]] Ted Cruz [[link removed]] Ron DeSantis [[link removed]] Nikki Haley [[link removed]] Mike Pence [[link removed]] Mike Pompeo [[link removed]] Donald Trump [[link removed]] Someone Else [[link removed]]

Once you’ve clicked an answer, reply to this email with any thoughts you’d like to share!

Directory of Your U.S. & Texas Officials [[link removed]]

This information is automatically inserted based on the mailing address you provide to us. If you'd like to update your contact information, please visit our subscriber portal [[link removed]].

​ 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

Attorney General [[link removed]]

Ken Paxton – R

(512) 463-2100

Comptroller [[link removed]]

Glenn Hegar – R

(512) 463-4600

Land Commissioner [[link removed]]

Dawn Buckingham – R

(512) 463-5001

Commissioner of Agriculture [[link removed]]

Sid Miller – R

(512) 463-7476

Railroad Commissioners [[link removed]]

Wayne Christian – R

Christy Craddick – R

Jim Wright – R

(512) 463-7158

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

Update your address ( )

Main (512) 463-9007

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

Update your address ()

Congressional Switchboard (202) 225-3121​​​​​​​

Texas Senate [[link removed]], District

Update your address ()

Capitol Switchboard (512) 463-4630​​​​​​​

Texas House [[link removed]], District

Update your address ()

Capitol Switchboard (512) 463-4630

Speaker of the Texas House

Dade Phelan (R)

(512) 463-1000

Something not right?

Make sure your contact information is correct [[link removed]]!

Update Your Subscription Profile [[link removed]] Request A Speaker [[link removed]] 🔒 Contribute 🔒 [[link removed]]

A product of Texas Scorecard

www.TexasScorecard.com

(888) 410-1836

PO Box 248, Leander, TX 78646

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).

This message was originally sent to:

John xxxxxx |

If you ever stop receiving our emails, it might be because someone unintentionally removed you from the list. No worries; it is easy enough to reactivate your subscription immediately on our website.

[link removed]

Before you click the link below... If someone forwarded this email to you, clicking the link will end the subscription of [email protected].

Unsubscribe [link removed]