Good morning –

The Democrats want to force a statewide vote-by-mail scheme, which many observers say would set a dangerous precedent and open the door to a lot of fraud. Tell me what you think in today’s One Click Survey.

Oh, and Tarrant County’s chief administrator says he has the power to take your stuff during the state of emergency. Really?

Here is today's sheltered-in-place Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Wednesday, March 25, 2020
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• If the Chinese coronavirus has done nothing else, it has put on full display the establishment media’s hatred of Donald Trump. While Americans want answers, Brandon Waltens describes how the liberal press is focused on taking down the president.
      
• Meanwhile, the president says he wants churches full and businesses open by Easter.
   
• With localities shutting citizens in, mandating “social distancing,” and now runoff elections shifted to mid-July, campaigns are trying to navigate through these newly imposed realities. Cary Cheshire spoke with several political operatives to learn how campaigns are moving forward. 
      
• Campaigns say they are shifting away from door-knocking to phone calls and social media. As one consultant said, “For better or worse (and I think it’s worse), at least our opponents are in the same boat.”
   
• With state government facing a severe revenue shortfall as a result of the panic-driven response to the Chinese coronavirus and the rapid decline of the price of oil, state lawmakers will need to cut spending. One smart place to start would be ending the state’s primary corporate welfare program known as the “Enterprise Fund.” Cary Cheshire reviews the reasons conservatives have said the fund shouldn’t exist in the first place.
   
• NOTE: if you have ideas or suggestions about ways state and local government can reduce expenditures, please send them to us! We will explore their feasibility: [email protected].
   
• In case you missed it, check out the article by former State Rep. Matt Rinaldi arguing politicians must “address the coronavirus threat in a manner that better takes into account the risks posed by the virus and the costs and benefits of the proposed solutions.”

• Most of central Texas is now in lockdown as of midnight. Jacob Asmussen reports local government officials imposed a mandatory shelter-in-place order for the entire Travis and Williamson County areas, promising six months in jail and fines up to $1,000 for anyone who violates their order.
     
• Not to be out done, Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley has declared he has the right to commandeer private property. Yet, as Arlington attorney Warren Norred writes in a new commentary, Whitley has failed to indicate what law gives him that authority. Yes, Whitley is a “Republican.”
       
• “Any government document that says ‘I can take your stuff’ should reference a specific law where that authority is claimed, particularly when a single elected official claims such power.” – Warren Norred
       
• Disasters and emergencies can bring out the best in people, but they can also show us which power-grabbing politicians have delusions of being petty tyrants running benevolent dictatorships.
     
• Also... is this the kind of local-government action Gov. Greg Abbott said on Sunday he would “applaud”? He should maybe clarify...

ONE CLICK SURVEY

The Democratic Party of Texas wants everyone to “vote by mail” just for the runoff election. In fact, the Democrats have filed a lawsuit trying to force the issue.

Some people think this sets a dangerous precedent by opening the door to massive and ongoing voter fraud efforts, while others think this is a prudent measure for the circumstances.

What do you think?