Good morning, 

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Thursday, April 9, 2020
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• Socialist Democrat Bernie Sanders has suspended his presidential campaign. Good riddance. Now if only he’d leave the U.S. Senate...
   
• As my friend Aaron Harris sarcastically tweeted: “Now that grocery stores’ shelves are empty, economy is ruined @BernieSanders looks across the land and concludes his work here is done. So long comrade.”
       
• As new models show a brighter projection of the impact of coronavirus in Texas than previously predicted, many Texans have been left wondering when they can get back to work. Brandon Waltens asked Gov. Greg Abbott that at a press conference yesterday. Abbott says he’s looking to Washington D.C. for guidance.
   
• “The perception I have from what the President is talking about is that the standards they come up with probably will not be ‘one size fits all’ concerning every state.” – Gov. Greg Abbott
      
• The confluence of the Chinese coronavirus and the Russia/Saudi Arabia oil dispute has severely impacted Texans at all levels. Many small businesses are being impacted by local governments ordering their operations shut down – regardless of the business’ ability to operate safely.
      
• On the latest edition of Texas Scorecard Radio, Tony McDonald chats with policy analyst Bill Peacock about how the downturn is expected to impact the state budget... and the implications for taxpayers.
   
• Earl M. wrote yesterday to say “any small business that cannot survive a business downturn of a few months in length without loans and financial support from the government probably should not be in business in the first place.” That’s an interesting perspective. Let me know what you think of Earl’s point.

• Continuing to look at ways state lawmakers could save money during the economic downturn, Cary Cheshire examines the state’s public universities. A 25 percent across-the-board cut in budgeted 2021 general revenue funding for public universities and system administrations would save nearly $250 million while still leaving many of them with more funding over this biennium than they had previously.
          
• If you have ideas or suggestions for cutting government spending, send them our way using the email address: [email protected].
       
• Plano ISD is the latest to see the elected school board members hand over significant powers to the unelected superintendent under the pretense of addressing coronavirus issues. Erin Anderson reports the superintendent can now, among other things, purchase goods and services without following normal competitive purchasing requirements.
     
• I’m starting to wonder why we elect school boards. Functionally, most of the time, they serve as rubber stamps for superintendents – but now even that pretense is going away. Maybe we should just elect superintendents and call it day?
      
• In a new commentary, Elizabeth McClung urges policymakers not to compromise morals and ethics in the search for a coronavirus vaccine.
      
• Please join me in wishing a very happy birthday to my baby sister, Julia – though, at our age, that adjective is a little, er, old.
       
• If you are on Facebook, join me and Texas Right to Life’s Jim Graham at 3pm today for the Jim & Michael Show. The show archive will be on our YouTube channel shortly after we conclude.

• Yesterday’s One-Click Survey asked how folks would respond if given the opportunity to take a free flight anywhere in the U.S., despite the current realities. As you might imagine, 59.8 percent gave a practical “No way, but thanks.” Those on the other side offered some flights into escapism.
     
• Phil P. says he’d like to meet his newborn grandson in Oregon, while Michelle D. wants  to head to Key West, FL, for some scuba diving.
   
• You’d find Brandon P. winging his way to “Jackson Hole–gorgeous, secluded and may just find a spot to buy and get away from it all.”
     
• Jane K. says she’d like to check out Bangor, ME, or Juneau, AK... both of which sound nice! Meanwhile, Linda H. has visited 46 states and wants the chance to check out the remaining four: “Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii.”
        
• That sentiment is shared by Alex H., who admitted to having a “wanderlust bug and an itch to explore every corner of this great country & the world.”
   
• And then there was Bo G., who said he’d be happy to fly to a church service! Amen, brother!
   
• On the other side, JonPaul wrote he wasn’t sure what the point would be: “Everything is closed down... I can’t wait for this nonsense to end.”
   
• Bill B. added his professional opinion: “I worked for 43 years in the airline industry. If I never see anything with wings, larger than a fruit fly, it will be fine by me. I'll take the train.”
   
• And Mike B. put it well: “Why would I want to go anywhere? I’m in Texas.”

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Current: 4:25pm, 4/8/2020