Howdy! 

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Modify your email preferences.

• A little later this morning we will be publicly announcing that the president of Empower Texans, Ross Kecseg, will be taking a temporary leave of absence for medical reasons.
         
• “As my friends and family know, the last twelve months have been a roller coaster for my health as I have battled cancer. Thanks to great physicians at both the Mayo Clinic and here in Texas, I am on the road to recovery – even if it is occasionally bumpy. The Empower Texans team has covered for me on the various stretches of this journey, for which I am incredibly grateful, and that has allowed me to make a lot of progress. I cannot say enough how much it means to me, my wife, and son to know we have been covered in prayers, love, and support from the Empower Texans staff, our colleagues in the conservative movement, and the grassroots leaders we serve. As I enter this next phase of recovery, I’m going to take the opportunity to downshift, rest up, and strengthen for the fights ahead to expand liberty in Texas.” – Ross Kecseg
     
• Ross has been a source of unbridled optimism. In the face of this adversity, Ross’ typically cheerful personality has been magnified – demonstrating his character and the strength of his faith. Ross’ temporary leave of absence from his daily work will allow him and his family to focus on rebuilding his strength. We ask our friends, supporters, and fellow Texans to join us in praying for Ross and his speedy recovery!

• It seems the political leadership in Travis County and the City of Austin don’t think they are in Texas.
      
• Gov. Greg Abbott made a big deal last week countermanding his previous orders and ending the threat of jail time for business owners that chose to open ahead of his original schedule.
      
• Austin and Travis County responded by immediately issuing new orders. Jacob Asmussen reports they are prohibiting all public and private gatherings, compelling “non-essential” businesses to cease operations, and telling all citizens over the age of six to “wear some form of face covering” when out in public. Violating the new local orders “may be punishable through criminal enforcement,” with citizens potentially fined up to $1,000 or even thrown in jail for six months.
      
• Will Gov. Abbott tolerate this heavy-handedness, or force them to back down?
      
• Meanwhile, Austin Mayor Steve Adler wants to require businesses to keep an “activity log” of all customers, including their contact information, tracking the date and time of their visit, and where they sat. Businesses that don’t obey would be punished by the city’s health department “without limit and in its discretion.” 
   
• Yeah, that sounds reasonable.
         
• The attorney for Dallas businesswoman Shelley Luther, Warren Norred, responds to the news media’s disinformation campaign against his client and movement conservatives.
       
• While he doesn’t specifically name the slimy Fort Worth Star Telegram and its lineup of trashy leftist writers, I will. They are despicable.
         
• Hidalgo County is courting billionaire businessman Elon Musk, who recently announced he would be moving Tesla to “Texas/Nevada immediately.” David Vasquez reports the county judge wants Musk to know there aren’t any “shelter in place” orders there limiting Tesla. 
      
• Musk already has business relationships in the Rio Grande Valley; his SpaceX launch site is at Boca Chica Beach in Brownsville. Efforts to attract Musk’s Tesla could be stymied by the fact Texas is one of just 10 states to explicitly prohibit the sales model used by Tesla, selling directly to consumers rather than through dealerships.
      
• In a new commentary, Rachel Bovard writes America’s trade policy must be tempered with a political and policy realism, acknowledging the need for a national government to protect and provide for its citizens during a crisis.