Good morning, 

This is the Texas Minute for Wednesday, March 27, 2024

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

NOTE: I'm going to be putting the final touches on a special assignment today and tomorrow, so Brandon Waltens will be bringing you the Texas Minute.

Encounters with Illegal Aliens Soar in February

• Illegal alien encounters at the southwest border are on the rise, according to the February numbers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Will Biagini has the details.
     

• For February, CBP reports 189,922 total encounters along the border – up from 176,205 in January.
     
• CBP also reported a steep rise in illicit drug apprehension at the southwest border. Seizures of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana increased 118 percent from January.
      
• Only 2 milligrams of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose, which means the 8,447 pounds seized in February would be enough to kill every American.
        
• Chinese encounters at the southwest land border are also seeing stark increases. According to CBP statistics, there were 3,537 encounters with Chinese nationals. While this is down from 3,716 encounters in January, total encounters with Chinese nationals at the southwest land border have already reached 22,292 since October 1 (less than six months of fiscal year 2024). During the entire fiscal year 2023, total encounters with Chinese nationals numbered 24,314.

Prosecutors Agree to Drop Charges Against Ken Paxton in 9-Year Long Political Prosecution

• After nearly a decade, a deal has finally been reached to dismiss state securities fraud charges against Attorney General Ken Paxton that have amounted to what some have called a political prosecution. Brandon Waltens has the story.

     
• The politically driven case goes back to 2015, shortly after Paxton took office as attorney general, related to complex financial activities from long before seeking the office.
      
• In the following nine years, the case has moved venues multiple times and been delayed repeatedly as the prosecutors sought to increase their own pay. 
      
• In a Houston court on Tuesday, Paxton and the prosecutors announced they had reached a deal to dismiss the charges and cancel the trial, which was to start in three weeks.
      

• Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the dismissal of the charges highlighted the fact that the case lacked any real evidence, comparing it to the House’s impeachment.
     

• “This bears a striking similarity to the impeachment debacle where Ken Paxton’s political enemies in the House fabricated a case that collapsed during trial in the Senate.” – Dan Patrick
      

• “For over a decade, my family and I have been dealing with the ongoing stress of these accusations, and are relieved to finally have a resolution in this matter. The prosecution came to us to begin negotiations and we were able to come to an agreement on terms. There will never be a conviction in this case nor am I guilty.” – Ken Paxton

Denton DA Doesn't Respond to Voters Allegations on School Electioneering

• Four weeks ago, Denton County voters submitted criminal complaints alleging local school district officials illegally electioneered during the March primaries, using taxpayer-funded resources to promote political candidates. As Erin Anderson reports, Denton County District Attorney Paul Johnson has failed to respond.
       

• Local voters submitted affidavits to Johnson on February 27 that alleged criminal election interference by Denton Independent School District administrators.
      
• Texas election laws prohibit government officials and employees from using public funds or internal email systems for political advertising. Violations are a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
      
• “This is a legal obligation, not an act of discretion,” said Dean McGee of the Liberty Justice Center. “If we don’t receive an answer, we will assume that the DA is flouting the law.”

Tax Hikes and New Fees for Houston

• Facing a major budget deficit, Houston officials are considering fee increases and asking voters to hike the property tax burden. Charles Blain reports the city is anticipating a budget gap of about $160 million.
   
• “Houston is broke.” – Mayor John Whitmire
      
• Reportedly, each city department–except police and fire–have been asked to cut 5 percent across the board from their proposed budgets.

McKinney Officials Want $712 Million in New Debt

• On the May local election ballot, the City of McKinney is proposing multiple bonds that will cost local property taxpayers more than $700 million with interest. Emily Medeiros reports the spending would be for city park improvements, designing and constructing a new municipal court facility, and constructing or reconstructing city streets. 
      

• City property taxpayers currently owe more than $577 million in bond debt principal and interest.

In observance of Easter, there will be no Texas Minute on Monday, April 1.
We'll return on April 2.

Quote-Unquote

"Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad!"

– Battle Cry of Texans at San Jacinto

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