Good morning, 

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Tuesday, March 24, 2020
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• Is someone in your community stepping forward as a citizen-leader in the crisis? Serving their neighbors, helping the shut-in, the sick, the afflicted? Send me some details; we want to tell their stories as an encouragement for others.
       
• With the economy suffering under government orders dealing with the Chinese coronavirus, and oil prices a third of what they were in recent months, state lawmakers must now begin cutting spending after their 2019 spending spree. Cary Cheshire reports on the pressures coming quickly to bear on state government.
      
• Multiple legislators are telling Texas Scorecard that a special legislative session could be on the horizon for the Texas Legislature in order to make spending cuts as a result of depressed revenue projections. One lawmaker told Cheshire he’s already putting his staff to work and beginning talks with colleagues about what can be cut to safeguard more important spending.
       
• If you have ideas or suggestions to cut state spending, please send them our way. We can help you explore their feasibility and financial effect. Send them to [email protected].
      
• While the rest of the nation grapples with an economic and health crisis, the Amarillo City Council will vote tonight on a proposal to spend millions in property tax-funded debt to build a new aquatic center. Thomas Warren has the details.
      
• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ruled yesterday that Gov. Greg Abbott’s order prohibiting surgeries and procedures that were “not immediately medically necessary” also applies to abortion facilities. Brandon Waltens has the story. Pro-life activists say unborn lives will be saved as a result.
       
• “Pro-Life Texans have been appalled that the abortion industry has continued killing preborn children during the outbreak while statewide and local orders have recommended they close.” – Statement from Texas Right to Life
       
• Originally scheduled for May 26, Texas’ primary runoff elections have been moved to July 14. Brandon Waltens has the details of Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision. The governor has also signed a waiver allowing local governments to move their May 2 elections to November 3.
          
• Travis County, Williamson County, Austin and other central Texas cities will reportedly be jointly issuing “shelter in place” orders today, all-but knee-capping their local economies. They have been inspired by Dallas County, which has shuttered small businesses but allowed “big-box” retailers to continue operating.
          
• Gov. Abbott said on Sunday he would “applaud” any cities and counties taking such action.
      
• Meanwhile, as the president of the True Texas Project and a Tarrant County resident, Fran Rhodes is urging her local officials "to refrain from Shelter in Place orders at this time." She describes that as a “nuclear option” which should not be pursued until more reasonable measures have had time to take effect. 
          
• Is the general “response” governments are imposing in danger of being worse than the Chinese coronavirus itself? In a new commentary, Matt Rinaldi argues sound public policy should address the threat in a manner that better takes into account the risks posed by the virus itself... and the economic fallout of proposed solutions. 

• Former Collin County Judge Keith Self urges local, state and federal policymakers to “get past the panic stage” so people can get to work.
       
• “I  encourage our policymakers to start to find ways to protect our most vulnerable, those who are most likely to die, NOT those who might take ill. And get everyone else back to work!” – Keith Self
     
• In a new commentary, Rachel Bovard writes that the nation will recover from this coronavirus crisis and policymakers will have the chance to address whatever cracks are in our preparedness. What’s less certain, she adds, is how we as a nation can address the weaknesses in ourselves.
       

• I shared this on Facebook yesterday, and thought I would repeat it here. We live in a fallen, sinful world. One result of which is we get sick and die. It’s either going to be from some crazy virus, or a distracted bus driver when I am crossing the street. Either way, are we so scared of dying we are willing to give up living?
     

• St. Boniface urged his fellow early Christians to “run to the roar” - not the applause of the crowd but the hungry lion should that be their situation. They weren’t eager to die, but they also weren’t actively avoiding death.