Good morning, 

Grassroots activists aren’t buying the non-apology Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen wants legislators to accept. Now the House General Investigating Committee is stepping in.

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Thursday, August 8, 2019
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• Democrats yesterday demanded the House General Investigating Committee begin looking into the situation surrounding the meeting to which House Speaker Dennis Bonnen invited me. Brandon Waltens has the details.
       
• This is the meeting where Speaker Bonnen proposed a quid pro quo arrangement in which I would follow his political lead in exchange for him finally releasing Texas Scorecard’s wrongfully-withheld media credentials. In the meeting, Bonnen and the GOP Caucus Chairman gave me a list of Republicans they “hoped” I would target. Bonnen has since lied about every aspect of the meeting, denying he made an offer, denying the target list, and even falsely saying it was my idea to meet. Earlier this week he issued an “apology”... but only for bad-mouthing lawmakers behind their backs – not related to the central issues of the meeting.
        
• The investigating committee’s chairman, Dallas Republican State Rep. Morgan Meyer, very quickly agreed to the Democrats request and announced the committee would meet on Monday, Aug. 12. Meyer was appointed to the chairmanship by Bonnen.
      
• Historically, many have regarded the House General Investigating Committee as a place where the chamber’s dirty secrets get swept under the rug behind closed doors. We’re anxious to see how Meyer will handle the matter.
      
• In this week’s edition of Texas Scorecard Radio, Tony McDonald and I discuss the Bonnen situation. If the show doesn’t air in your area, you can always find it on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, or Stitcher.
      
• After the Dallas City Council implemented a mandatory paid sick-leave ordinance, Brandon Waltens reports two Dallas-area employers have challenged the ordinance in court. Now, Attorney General Ken Paxton is joining the case against the city.
      
• A taxpayer’s revolution is growing in North Texas, as three cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex are now seeking to adopt property tax rates that respect taxpayers. Robert Montoya reports that means taxpayers, for the most part, should see their city tax bills held at bay.
   
• “It’s the people’s money.” – Colleyville Mayor Pro Tem Bobby Lindamood Jr.

Yes, a few sycophantic members of the Texas House rushed to accept Speaker Dennis Bonnen’s “apology” for bad-mouthing fellow lawmakers (though not for proffering an unethical quid pro quo deal, maintaining a GOP target list, or lying about me in public and private statements). However, grassroots activists on social media aren’t buying the cover-up-and-move-on story what Bonnen and his cronies are selling.

Here’s a sample of what they are saying:

• “After listening to the recording, I can’t be sure if this Speaker and Caucus Chair are working to keep a Republican majority in the House. Who knows what has been said to other groups. Would have a hard time accepting an apology that has a lie in the first paragraph.” – Teresa Beckmeyer of Gun Owners of America 
      
• “How about we call for his resignation? #Bonnenneeds2resign The @TXGOPCaucus @GovAbbott & @DanPatrick could all come together on that.” – Wes Brumit
      
• “Speaker Bonner’s actions were immoral and very likely illegal. Nor is the apology sincere. Your forgiveness and support for him is disgusting. I live in your district and block walked for you, but I will be actively working to replace you now. #NoMorals” – Texas Compadre, responding to State Rep. Scott Sanford
     
• “'humility', 'admits missteps', 'rebuild the trust'... No orchestration of responses going on here, is there? Minions need to keep cribbing from each other's notes @leachfortexas , @DrewSpringer” – Michael Openshaw
     
• “JoAnn Fleming: @TXGOPCaucus gushing forgiveness @RepDennisBonnen & still acting like you're running for 5th grade class president. Lying/bribing/mob boss corruption impacts much more than your political dreams! Remove ‘integrity’ & ‘principled’ from your campaigns now. #txlege” – Grassroots America - We The People
      
• “Here's the objective truth on #DennisBonnen: He needs to own up on the ethics breach committed at his meeting with @MQSullivan, apologize for mischaracterizing #MQS motive and admit to the target list.  THEN we can move on.” – Mark Davis, 660AM radio host
     
• “The TX GOP appears to believe it can save Bonnen at its own expense. Bonnen is a liar and conniver implicated in a bribery scheme caught on tape. If GOP indulges his lying, misuse of office and public trust, it will not save Bonnen but destroy itself.” – Martin A. Harry