Good morning,

We've now crossed the halfway mark of the Texas Legislature's constitutionally defined 140-day session.

Here is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, March 21, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

UPFRONT: With apologies, the medical organization that is in support of sterilizing children in the name of appeasing the radical LGBTQ agenda is the Texas Pediatric Society; yesterday's Texas Minute listed them as "association." Their president, Dr. Louis Appel, spoke against legislation protecting minors from life-altering surgical and chemical procedures.

What's Been Done?

• With half of the 2023 legislative session done, leaders of the state's grassroots organizations were asked to review the progress so far.
   
• On a wide range of issues, experts agree good legislation has been filed... but is waiting for lawmakers to take action.

House Ignores GOP Priorities, Focuses On Crony Gambling

• With the legislative session halfway over and no legislation to show for it, the Texas House State Affairs Committee will tomorrow consider an expansion of gambling and casinos in Texas. As Brandon Waltens reports, the push is for politically connected businesses to get exclusive (and competition-free) permits to operate in the Lone Star State.
      
• State Rep. Charlie Geren (R–Fort Worth) is proposing a constitutional amendment that would allow casino gambling in eight “destination resorts” across Texas. A new state agency would be created to in turn grant the exclusive rights to casino operators.
     

• The Texas Freedom Caucus has come out against the proposal: “This is corporate welfare at its worst by giving special privileges to existing wealthy and woke professional sports and gambling businesses. This isn’t a free market, and not worth the harm to families in Texas that comes from gambling addiction.”

Legislation Would Prohibit 'Gender Transition' For People Under 26

• State Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R–Arlington) wants to prohibit doctors from providing hormone-blocking drugs or mutilation services to anyone younger than 26. Anyone guilty of violating the act would face a state jail felony and their medical licenses could be revoked, reports Emily Wilkerson.

      
• “When I took office, I never could have guessed that Texas’ youth would need protection from legal, sexual mutilation. Yet, here we are,” Tinderholt said. “Young people across our state are being taken advantage of by clinics and physicians engaged in these barbaric gender modification procedures. Innocent Texas children are having their futures destroyed. It’s time to put a stop to it.”

Education Conference Promotes 'Drag Queen Story Hour' For Schools

• A conference in Austin aimed at teachers pushed drag queen story hours and other radical gender ideology practices. Katy Marshall has the story.
      

• Among other things, the South by Southwest EDU conference lectured teachers on the importance of acknowledging "gender diversity" and "neopronouns."
     

• Yes, neopronouns. Using "ze/hir/hirs" instead of "he/him/his" or "she/her/hers." Students are falling behind in reading and math skills, but they’re leading the way in creating new pronouns for themselves!
      

• The event culminated with a drag queen – that is, a man dressed as a woman – leading a presentation on "Queer Herstories."
      

• Frankly, this all sounds like a skit from Saturday Night Live back when that show was funny.

Texas Senate Extends Call For 'Convention of States'

• Nearly six years after the Texas Legislature passed a resolution calling for a Convention of States, the state senate has doubled down on the proposition.

          

• Though the mechanism has never before been used, under Article V of the U.S. Constitution two-thirds of states can call a Convention of States in order to propose constitutional amendments for states to ratify. Texas passed a resolution in 2017 calling for an Article V Convention for the purpose of “proposing one or more amendments to the Constitution to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, to limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and to limit the terms of office of federal officials and members of Congress.”

      
• So far, 19 states including Texas have passed a "call" for a convention; 34 states are needed.
      
• With Texas' call set to expire in 2025, the Senate voted along party lines – 19 Republicans to 12 Democrats – to extend it until 2033. 

Congressman Jackson Wants To End Taxpayer-Funded ‘Fake News’

• Federal funds would no longer support National Public Radio or the Public Broadcasting Service under legislation filed by Texas’ Ronny Jackson in the U.S. House.

      
• “When NPR and PBS were established by Congress, it was with the notion that their content would remain unbiased and benefit every American, however it is obvious that NPR and PBS have abandoned their founding principles,” said U.S. Rep. Jackson. 
      

• The West Texas congressman said taxpayers should not be required to subsidize NPR and PBS, which he described as “deceptive, partisan news outlets.”

Subscribed To The Podcast? You Should!

• Let's face it, not every morning is conducive to reading an email. Let me recommend also subscribing to the Texas Minute podcast.
      
• The content is a little different from the email each day, and – since it is a podcast – it takes a different tone. I tell each story in about a minute, covering three to five of the most important Texas stories of the day.
        
• You can find the Texas Minute podcast on the Spotify, Apple, and Google platforms.

Y'All Answered

Former President Donald Trump said over the weekend he expects to be arrested today on charges related to hush money paid to a porn actress ahead of his 2016 presidential bid. Meanwhile, he is scheduled to hold his first 2024 campaign rally this coming Saturday in Waco.

We asked readers if they would vote for Trump in the 2024 GOP presidential primary if his campaign continues. Three-fourths of readers (76 percent) said they would support Trump's re-election, while 24 percent would not.

Here is a sampling of the responses I received...

• “The left is so afraid of this man, they will do anything to try and stop his re-election! Although I do not condone paying hush money, for any reason, it seemed okay for the Kennedys, the Clintons, and the Bidens on multiple occasions.” – Lynn Tannehill
     

• “I'm for Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump's policies without Trump's drama and infantile antics. By the way, I don't think the Democrats will actually bring Trump to trial. They would rather run against him than DeSantis.” – Jerry Harben
     

• “While I liked Trump's economy, too many other things like the vaccine were ushered in by him. I really don't think he is who everyone thinks he is. He's not our savior.” – Dawn Martin
     

• “The fact that the communists continually attack him is proof that he is and has been on the right track.” – Ken Bintliff
      

• “Trump is my choice if DeSantis is not in the contest. In my ideal world, those two would get along. DeSantis would be president and Trump would be the pro-America statesman throughout this country and the world. The USA will need someone strong to get truth out there and repair our image worldwide.” – Sonia Rivero
       

• “We need a younger candidate with the same policies and someone who can appeal to a broader segment of the population.” – Thomas Camardo
       

• “The United States needs a strong president that puts the well-being of the American people over all other considerations. President Trump has demonstrated his commitment to the America First principle and his ability to enact policies that strengthen the American people. Yes, I will vote for President Trump in the Republican primary and in the general election.” – Ronny Keister
      

• “There is no good reason to vote for anyone other than President Trump.” – Gail Hanna
      

• “We needed Trump in 2016. The Lord only knows how much more we need him now.” – Dick DuVall
      

• “The more they go after him, the more I support him!” – Mary Philio
      

• “Trump is getting more and more childish. When something goes wrong, it’s the other guy’s fault. His default setting is to shout, to protest, and to declare he is being treated unfairly. Little kids say ‘that’s not fair’; adults accept that the world is not fair and work with it. I haven’t decided which adult I’m supporting just yet, but he or she won’t be the loser from Mar-a-Lago.” – David Holden
      

• “Trump IS our rightful president. We The People voted for him and our votes were stolen.” – Melissa Cayette
      

• “We need to quit thinking our politicians are our family. Their bad behavior is not a reflection of us. And just as we should hire the best PERSON to be a pilot, CEO, or nurse, we should hire the best PERSON to lead our county, state, or country. The Donald is that person regardless. That said, the statute is up, and Stormy Daniels already sued him and lost. This DA is trashing his own career based on hatred. He needs to pray.” – Barbara Bussey
      

• “I will watch and weigh the primary, and if a better candidate becomes evident, I will vote for them. Yes, I know that Trump can be childish at times, but what he accomplished in his four years as president is what keeps me in his corner. I want more accomplishments like that!” – Denny Hill
      

• “The left’s cabal has done everything they could think of to destroy Donald J. Trump, and nothing has stuck. They are terrified of him because they know he is a representation of the majority of us. I don’t like Trump’s petty name-calling or some of the things he says, but I LOVE his America first policies and his fight for our Constitution. He gets my vote.” – Kathy Layman
    

• “My final decision will be made based on who I believe can win the general election. President Trump needs to stop talking about the 2020 election, stop attacking fellow Republicans, run on his proven, successful record, and show some self-discipline. He creates way too much unnecessary drama.” – Michael Wooten

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