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Should illegal aliens be granted driver licenses in the Lone Star State? Sound off in today's One Click Survey.

Here is the Texas Minute for St. Valentine's Day, Tuesday, Feb 14, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Skyrocketing Number of Chinese Nationals Illegally Crossing Border

Apprehensions of Chinese nationals crossing the southern border illegally have gone up by more than 700 percent since last year. Darrell Frost has the details [[link removed]].

Remember: These are the just the ones who were caught.

Last month alone, there were 1,084 apprehensions of Chinese nationals, compared to 89 during January of the previous year.

Border security expert Victor Avila tells Texas Scorecard [[link removed]] he has talked to Chinese migrants who are paying up to $60,000 to be smuggled into the country.

Unlike the vast majority of migrants apprehended by Border Patrol, Chinese nationals might have legitimate asylum claims for fear of persecution from their country’s government, so “it’s very important to vet them,” explained Avila.

“The Chinese are coming at us in every direction,” added Avila [[link removed]]. “They’re coming at us with the fentanyl through the cartels. They’re coming at us with spy balloons. Now they’re going to come at us just with their people.” A.G. Paxton Settles With 'Whistleblowers'

Texas taxpayers are on the hook for $3.3 million to pay off four former employees of the Office of the Attorney General. The payment is part of a legal settlement with the employees who say they were fired unfairly. Brandon Waltens has the details [[link removed]].

In October 2020, eight of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s top aides accused him of bribery and abuse of office. He called them "rogue" employees who were making "false" allegations. Four of the employees filed a whistleblower lawsuit against Paxton, which was settled late last week.

Besides the payment from the taxpayer coffers, the settlement requires Paxton to release a statement saying he accepts that the plaintiffs acted in a manner that they thought was right. He will also have to apologize for referring to them as ‘rogue employees.’

For his part, Paxton says the settlement saves taxpayers’ money by ending a drawn-out legal fight. The payment [[link removed]] won’t happen until the Legislature approves it.

Lt. Gov. Patrick Announces His Session Priorities Continuing the quick pace he has taken in the Senate so far this legislative session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick unveiled his top 30 priorities [[link removed]] at the Capitol yesterday. Those include a number of conservative reforms touted by Patrick in the past, including school choice, ending tenure for college professors, and banning children’s exposure to “all-ages” drag shows.

While many of the Republican Party of Texas’ eight legislative priorities are mirrored in the Senate priorities, the list also includes issues Patrick had previously previewed, such as a teacher pay raise and a mandatory 10-year sentence for crimes committed with firearms.

With 104 days left in the 140-day regular legislative session, Patrick has publicly stated he and the Senate will move quickly to pass priority legislation. Of course, both the House and Senate are constitutionally barred from passing bills within the first 60 days of the session unless they are deemed priorities by the governor.

For his part, Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to announce his priorities at his State of the State address this Thursday (Feb. 16).

Listen to the Texas Minute podcast [[link removed]] – bringing you the first news of the day for the Lone Star State! It is available on all major podcasting platforms.

Teacher Arrested for Improper Relationship With Student A teacher in Bishop Consolidated Independent School District has been arrested and charged with five felonies. Soli Rice has the details [[link removed]].

Andrea Pena, 28, taught chemistry, pre-AP chemistry, and forensic science at Bishop High School for almost five years before being investigated for having an improper relationship with a student. She resigned shortly after her arrest.

Bishop CISD says they reported the allegations immediately upon learning of them; others dispute that characterization [[link removed]]. One Bishop CISD student told local news media that people “knew about [the relationship] since last year.”

Today In History

On Feb. 14, 270 A.D., the Christian priest Valentine was executed by the Roman Emperor Claudius for illegally performing marriage ceremonies for young Christian couples.

Quote-Unquote

"A careful definition of words would destroy half the agenda of the political left and scrutinizing evidence would destroy the other half."

– Thomas Sowell​

Number of the Day

1,739,000

Number of illegal aliens estimated to be in Texas.

[Source: Migration Policy Institute] [[link removed]]

One Click Survey

Democrats in the Texas House are pushing for illegal aliens to be eligible for driver licenses. They claim it will improve public safety and give them greater mobility options.

Do you agree with this proposal?

Yes, issue driver licenses to illegals [[link removed]]

... or ...

No, don't issue driver licenses to illegals [[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

Christi 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

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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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