Good morning,

Here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Modify your email preferences.

• Texas’ oldest and largest pro-life organization released their ratings of the Legislature’s 2019 session yesterday. You can find the ratings of your state representative and state senator  by visiting the Texas Right to Life website.
      
• Texas Right to Life’s Elizabeth Graham specifically blamed the lack of pro-life victories and the “disappointing, purple legislative session”  on the “duplicitous House leadership.”
      
• “The Pro-Life movement in Texas is stronger than ever in 2019 with record levels of grassroots engagement, Pro-Life student activism, and local governments standing up to ban abortions. However, none of this momentum is from our State Legislature.” – Elizabeth Graham, vice president and director of Texas Right to Life
      
• It is a widely acknowledged the Left is waging a war on the freedom of speech on college and university campuses around the nation, and even in Texas. The chairman of the University of North Texas chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas describes in a new commentary how “cancel culture” has created a toxic environment on her campus. Kelly Neidart says it is impossible to even have educational examples of what is and isn’t free speech without being met by outrage.
      
• “A speech panel titled ‘When Hate Comes to Campus: Free Speech’ was held at the University of North Texas last week. What was intended to be a learning experience for us all devolved into toxicity and victimhood.” – Kelly Neidart
      
• A committee intended to prevent conflicts of interest in government could soon become a web of conflicts of interest itself, thanks to the Montgomery County Commissioners Court. Reagan Reed reports commissioners are scheming to stack their newly created “ethics committee” with government employees and former elected officials.
      
• Nothing like watching the foxes pick the guards for the chicken coop...
      
• In a new commentary, Cary Cheshire writes about the difference between where Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is today, compared to where he was when grassroots conservatives were excited to support him. Importantly, Cheshire points out how easy it would be for Patrick to get back where his grassroots supporters want – and need – him to be. 
        
• “He can choose to be a leader, stand as conservatives’ champion in the Lone Star State, and fight alongside those who actually appreciate and support him for policies he actually wants to pass.” – Cary Cheshire

• According to one homeless Austinite, “it’s a blast” to be without a home in Texas’ capital city. As Jacob Asmussen reports, this isn’t meant to be an ironic critique of being homeless in the state’s capital. The policies adopted by the radical leftists on the Austin City Council have encouraged vagrants to move to the city.
      
• “There’s people coming from North Carolina, Washington, Virginia … I come from Galveston, myself.” – Clyde Cates, who has been homeless in Austin for three years.
      
• Recent reports have confirmed that governments in places such as New York City and San Francisco are giving taxpayer money to homeless people if they leave the city. Officials in New York City have paid to send over 12,000 homeless nationwide to states including Hawaii and cities including Austin.

Your Federal & State Lawmakers