Good morning,

It was 187 years ago today that William Travis wrote his letter from the Alamo, so I end the week reflecting on what those words mean for us today. 

But first, here is the Texas Minute for Friday, Feb. 24, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Abbott Wants To Resurrect Discredited Corporate Welfare Program

• Despite not being renewed by the state legislature in 2021, Gov. Greg Abbott is teasing the potential return of a controversial corporate welfare program despite bipartisan opposition from voters. Brandon Waltens has the details.
      

• The Chapter 313 program, which expired at the end of 2022, allowed school districts to offer large tax breaks for 10 years to unreliable energy and other businesses— including wind farms that famously failed Texans during the winter storm of 2021. The tax breaks come at no loss to the school districts. Instead, the state supplements the lost revenue to the districts from sales taxes and other state-collected taxes.

      
• Both the Republican Party of Texas and the Democrat Party of Texas have long called for the abolition of Chapter 313 abatements in their parties' platforms.
      
• Now, Gov. Abbott says he is working with lawmakers to bring back the controversial tax abatement program.
     

• Despite the rebranding effort, taxpayer advocates say the program should not be resurrected.
     

• “Whether you call it a Chapter 313 or not, the government being in the business of picking winners and losers under the guise of economic incentives in a free enterprise system is corporate welfare.” – Jeramy Kitchen, executive director of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
      

• Texas Scorecard recently highlighted the Chapter 313 program in an investigative series: The Texas Mafia.

PUSHING HATE: An Investigative Series

• The week, Texas Scorecard's investigative team has been pulling back the curtain on D.E.I. – "diversity, equity, and inclusion" – programs that have flooded into Texas' agencies and universities. In the four-part series, Robert Montoya and Kristin Stanciu tracked the origins, and impacts, of these leftist-driven programs.

• On today's edition of The Headline, Robert Montoya walks through this series with Brandon Waltens. Watch it now on Texas Scorecard's website, YouTube channel, or Rumble page.
     
• You can also find The Headline on Texas Scorecard's streaming video apps for Apple TV, Roku TV, iPhones, and Androids.

U.T. 'Pauses' New DEI Policies

• As more public universities are being put in the spotlight for their "diversity, equity, and inclusion" programs, the University of Texas has announced a pause on all new DEI policies on the system's campuses around the state.
     

• Earlier this month, Gov. Greg Abbott’s office notified state agencies and public universities that adjustments to employment criteria “on factors other than merit, it is not following the law.”

      
• “Given the clear legislative focus, we have paused any new DEI policies on our campuses and have asked for a report on current policies across all of our campuses. This will give our board a chance to review the various policies systemwide,” said Kevin Eltife, chairman of the UT System Board of Regents.

Leftist 'Inclusion' Practices Make Aggie Students Feel... Unwelcome

• A new study reveals that Texas A&M’s hard push toward leftist indoctrination practices have resulted in more students feeling like they don’t belong on campus. Emily Wilkerson has the story.
        

• Scott Yenor, a professor of political science at Boise State University and fellow at the Claremont Institute, showcased in a recent article that after years of the university implementing DEI programs, the majority of students don’t feel like they belong on campus.

      
• The university’s goal to create a more inclusive environment has backfired, according to its own audits seeking to measure if students feel they belong on campus. The data shows students feel the campus is less hospitable today than even just seven years ago. That's all students, including whites, blacks, and Hispanics.
       
• Here’s perhaps one reason for that. The university previously described diversity as an indispensable component of academic excellence. Now, documents show, Texas A&M officials now describe "meritocracy" as a systematically racist concept.
       
• "TAMU used to say that there is no tension between excellence and diversity; now, its diversity advocates cast doubt on the very notions of merit and excellence." – Scott Yenor

Phelan Announces First Four Priorities

• Forty-five days into the 140-day legislative session, Texas’ Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan of Beaumont has announced his first slate of legislative priorities. Sydnie Henry reports none of the four items mesh with those of the Republican Party of Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott, or Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

    
• Of the four measures, two were authored by Republicans (dealing with digital privacy and safety issues) and two by Democrats (welfare expansion and tax-exemption for tampons and diapers).
       

• Phelan said these issues “reflect some of the most pressing issues on the minds of Texans today.”

     

• Not everyone is impressed. Texas GOP Chairman Matt Rinaldi told Texas Scorecard, “I have no comment, because I’m trying to figure out whether or not it was a joke.”

     
• Phelan promises to announce more of his priorities in the coming days.
     
• I'm sure we're all really, really excited.

Rural District Pushes Largest-Ever Debt Package

• A small school district in the Texas Panhandle is hoping to pass its largest-ever bond this May. Thomas Warren reports on Dalhart Independent School District's push for a $50 million bond.
    
• The district wants the money to fund construction of a new intermediate campus, renovations to existing campuses, HVAC renovations, and renovations to the district’s baseball complex.
      
• Bonds are repaid with property taxes. 

Friday Reflection: History Demands An Answer

One day into the siege of the Alamo, the 26-year-old lieutenant colonel in command knew the situation was desperate. He would not surrender the fort, he would not retreat. What would we do?

On February 24, 1836, William Barret Travis wrote a letter seeking aid from his fellow Texians and anyone else who held dear the values of America. Rather than offer an easy and dishonorable surrender to the far superior forces surrounding them, Travis and his men were determined to use their last breath in the fight for liberty.

Aid was not forthcoming. Travis and his men were butchered. Their death, though, inspired their countrymen to declare and achieve independence from Mexico.

Even now, nearly two centuries later, Lt. Col. Travis’ simple words inspire patriots to ask what we are willing to do for the idea that is Texas. When liberty is threatened, do we embrace our creature comforts, or do we run to the action?

Think of William Travis, writing to you from the Alamo…

To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World:

Fellow citizens & compatriots—I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna—I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man.

The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken—I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls.

I shall never surrender or retreat.

Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch—The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days.

If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country—Victory or Death.

William Barret Travis

Liberty is besieged by the forces of tyranny. Will we stand back, or join the fight?

In the name of liberty… patriotism.. the American character… What will you and I do today to earn the sacrifice Travis and his men made at the Alamo?