Good morning!

Readers have some strong opinions about lawmakers designating an "LGBTQ" day at the Capitol.

But first, here is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

China's Spying Eyes On Texas

• Drones built by the Chinese Communist Party are embedded in Texas government, representing a clear and present danger to Texans’ security. Robert Montoya explores the threats to the Lone Star State in a new investigative series. 

      
• While America was fixated on the Chinese spy balloon several weeks ago, the CCP has a far more extensive espionage project running Texas and elsewhere.
   
• State and local law enforcement agencies are using CCP-made drones for a variety of purposes – all of which, security experts say, could be feeding data directly to Beijing. China has flooded the market worldwide, and competition is scarce.
       
• The threat posed by China's DJI drones – which are available in professional and consumer models – has been widely recognized across the political spectrum in the United States. One expert said the choice is CCP drones or poorly made ones from California.
      
• CCP drones are used by the Texas Military Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety, among others. The next installment in the series will examine the presence of CCP-made drones in local law enforcement.

Senate Restores Felony Penalty for Illegal Voting

• Republicans in the Texas Senate gave initial approval to legislation restoring felony penalties for illegal voting. Erin Anderson reports the measure passed along party lines, 19-12.

     

• The legislation returns the penalty for illegal voting to a second-degree felony, reversing a provision inserted by House Republicans in the 2021 comprehensive election integrity bill that downgraded illegal voting from a felony to a Class A misdemeanor. 

       
• “We are restoring the law to where it was two years ago,” explained Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), who authored the measure. He noted that the lowered penalty was part of a “late amendment” in 2021 that “was not discussed or debated when it was presented last session.”
      

• Illegal voting is a collection of offenses that includes stealing votes, double voting, and other forms of cheating. “This offense has been a felony for 50 years,” said Hughes.

Illegal Aliens Rush El Paso Border

• A rumor on a Facebook page led to throngs of illegal aliens attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border at El Paso’s Paso Del Norte International Bridge on Sunday, eventually forcing the shutdown of three border bridges. Soli Rice has the details.
      
• Images and video footage showed hundreds, possibly thousands, of mostly Venezuelan immigrants rushing the border crossing.
      
• Federal agents implemented “port hardening measures” because of the “potential threat to make a mass entry.” Razor wire and concrete barricades were used on the U.S. side to halt crossings. The Mexican military attempted to contain the immigrants on the Mexico side of the border. After several hours, the situation was defused and the bridge reopened for normal activity.
      

• As the federal government refuses to fix the worsening border crisis, local governments, and grassroots activists have urged Gov. Greg Abbott to declare an invasion. While he has refused to do so, a resolution has been filed in the Texas Senate to declare an invasion at the border.

Senate Holds Hearing On Taxpayer-funded Lobbying

• Proposed legislation to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying received a hearing in the Senate State Affairs Committee yesterday. Brandon Waltens reports on the testimony senators heard from grassroots activists and local government officials.
      
• For example, Galveston County Treasurer Hank Dugie testified in favor of a ban. "These organizations have co-opted the clout, the status, and the office of local elected officials to use for their own special interests and purposes. These lobbyists misrepresent their members and misrepresent themselves as a pseudo-government organization with representative authority."
   
• Melissa Martin, a public school teacher, took aim at the Texas Association of School Boards for “undermining the parent-child relationship.”
     
• Authoring the ban is State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville), who explained his measure would prohibit public funds from being used to hire registered lobbyists.
      
• “Taxpayers are having to subsidize speech they don’t agree with.” – State Sen. Mayes Middleton

Patrick Reveals Plan for Tackling School Choice and Parental Rights

• A priority for Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and the Texas GOP has come into sharper legislative focus in the Senate, with the filing of legislation creating education savings accounts administered by the Office of the Texas Comptroller. Darrell Frost has the details.
      
• Patrick's program would provide $8,000 of state funding per year for each student enrolled. Unlike other ESA proposals, homeschooling expenses would not be eligible for reimbursement in Patrick's version, which was authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe).
      
• Creighton's measure includes a carveout for “rural districts.” Any school district with less than 20,000 enrolled students would get an extra $10,000... for every student that leaves.
      

• Of just over 1,000 school districts in Texas, 949 have fewer than 20,000 students – including urban and exceedingly wealthy districts like Prosper ISD, Lake Travis ISD, Alamo Heights ISD, and Highland Park ISD.

Battle Brewing In Tarrant County Over Appraisal Board

• A battle is brewing over who will select a new board member for the troubled Tarrant Appraisal District, the agency responsible for setting property values used by local governments to calculate property tax bills. Erin Anderson has the details.
      
• The Keller City Council voted to recall TAD chair Kathryn Wilemon on Feb. 21, citing taxpayers’ complaints about the lack of accountability, transparency, and trust within the agency. She resigned the next day. The board then sent a notice to the county's taxing entities, telling them the recall was "canceled" because of the resignation.
        
• The board members think they can replace Wilemon on their own, while the taxing entities who select board members believe that authority rests with them.
      
• “The fact is, the vacancy on the Tarrant Appraisal District Board of Directors would not have happened but for the recall process upon which both the City of Keller and Tarrant County acted,” said the mayor of Keller, Armin Mizani. He adds that there is no provision in state law for an appraisal district to “cancel” a recall initiated by a taxing entity.

Y'All Answered

Last week, the Texas House unanimously adopted a package of resolutions – including one retroactively designating Feb. 14, 2023, as 'LGBTQ Chambers of Commerce Day' at the Texas Capitol. 

Yesterday, we asked if readers think it is appropriate for the Texas Legislature to honor LGBTQ groups at the Capitol. Readers overwhelmingly (98.1 percent) believe this is inappropriate, while 1.9 percent support it.

Here's a sample of the emails folks sent after voting in the survey.

• “Texas is doing a great job of California-ing itself with LGBTQ Day. Republicans need to vote out their weak Republican representatives in the primaries.” – Catherine Buschold
      

• “It is probably just as appropriate to honor LGBTQ groups as it is to use the term ‘Honorable’ when addressing our elected representatives. Both demand it, neither deserves it. Honor is earned, not granted.” – Bill Parks
      

• “Doesn't the Legislature have more important things to spend their time on?” – Nancy Burrus
      

• "Once again, legislators listen to special interest groups instead of the MAJORITY of people in Texas!” – Priscilla Love
      

• “What day will officially be named for Heterosexual Pride day?” – Matthew Thibeault
      

• “Our world is sick, and I may never understand how anyone with any amount of intelligence can openly agree with and promote inappropriate behavior. My heart grieves for children that will be harmed by adults promoting sickness as a way of life. I'm praying to our Lord and Savior for help.” – Phil Papick
      

• “There's absolutely NO reason to have a celebration of deviant sexual behavior.” – Dawn Martin
      

• “Why should any group that is based solely on sexual preference be singled out to have a special day in their honor at our state capitol? That’s really no different than having a BD/SM day or a swingers day, is it?” – Kent Kirby
      

• “We need to quit celebrating people's lifestyle choices. The rainbow jihad should not be celebrated by a state or a city in any way.” – Heather Gill
      

• “We can’t get property tax relief or border security, but the Alphabet Mob gets help to spread the lie that their mental illness is now normal with a day pass from our Legislature?” – Rick Goncher
      

• “Celebrating behavior that goes against God’s values is never wise!” – Patricia Vanderveen
      

• “It is sad we have to answer such an absurd question.  Why would we observe perversion as something normal? They're on their way to pushing pedophilia as normal! Sick and tortured minds that need help, not affirmation!” – Kent Parker
     

• “No, we don’t need a Pervert Day in Texas. We already have that every day the Texas House is in session.” – Howard Benham
     

• “The LBGTQ movement not only is against TEXAS VALUES, but it is an ABOMINATION to GOD.” – Jerry McCorkle
      

• “Not only is it inappropriate for the Texas Legislature to confer any honor whatsoever to any group with extreme disorders like LGBTQ, it is useless... It accomplishes nothing and is a ridiculous waste of time.“ – Charles Busby
     

• “Heck, no! What the heck has happened to my Texas! I used to be so proud to call myself a Texan, and lately I just feel ashamed. Lately, I’ve been wishing I lived in Florida; we need a Ron DeSantis!” – Kathy Villafuerte
      

• “Just another glaring example of the enemy pushing their ‘lifestyle,’ or more accurately, their perversion on the citizens of this great state. Thanks to all the spineless representatives who elected Dade Phelan…” – Ken Bintliff 
      

• “Don’t we already have a mental illness awareness day? That should cover it.” – Bob Davis

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