Good morning.
Texas House Republicans have been banned from campaigning against Democrat incumbents heading into the 2020 election.
Here is today's Texas Minute.
– Michael Quinn Sullivan
House Speaker Bonnen is putting lawmakers on notice: Campaign against incumbents, and you will be punished. He told the Houston Chronicle he was instituting a policy banning members from engaging in electoral campaigns against each other. He wants to prevent legislators from endorsing, financially contributing, or otherwise assisting in races against incumbent members. As Brandon Waltens reports, this includes a prohibition on Republican lawmakers helping Republicans challenge incumbent Democrats. Bonnen says anyone who violates this ban will be punished in the next legislative session.
Assuming, of course, the GOP retains the majority and he remains the speaker. No word on whether or not House Democrats will honor the same agreement should they hold the speakership...
A Houston-area pastor says pro-life ministers should be upset that the GOP-run Texas Legislature didn’t deliver the “heartbeat†legislation that’s passing in other states. Pastor Steve Riggle of Grace Community Church writes pastors must “make your voice heard loud and clear and lead your congregation to do the same.â€
State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) filed the measure in the House, but Speaker Dennis Bonnen sent it to a committee chaired by a liberal Democrat. No companion measure was even filed in the Senate.
The small west Texas town of Cactus has announced plans to build a $3.2 million aquatic center, replacing the city’s municipal pool. Thomas Warren reports the project will cost about $1,000 per resident and is being subsidized by a grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Drag queens will soon be reading stories to small children at the Leander Public Library. Jacob Asmussen writes the program was originally sponsored by the city, but after an outcry forced its cancellation a left-leaning church is now sponsoring the event at the library.
THURSDAY QUESTION
When someone says they are visiting Texas over the summer, what do you tell them to go see or do?
Today in History
On May 30, 1431, French military heroine Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.
Quote-Unquote
“I would rather die than do something which I know to be a sin, or to be against God's will.â€
– St. Joan of Arc​
