Tipsheet

When Life Gives You Lemons, Shrink The Size Of The Government

Timothy Meads
Timothy Meads  |  June 14, 2019 6:15 PM

Good news, kids of Texas, you are now free to host lemonade stands without worrying about the fuzz thanks to conservative Gov. Greg Abbott. Earlier this week, the Republican leader of the Lone Star State signed a law that legalizes lemonade stands and bans police officers, or other adults, from shutting down the stands. But, even if you do not plan on buying or selling lemonade anytime soon, the governor also signed several other laws which expand your liberty in Texas.

As reported by ABC News, "Texas Representative Matt Krause sponsored the bill, which allows minors to sell lemonade or other non-alcoholic beverages on private property without having to worry about authorities — including public health departments — enforcing laws that prohibit or regulate the sale of the drinks." 

"Here's a common sense law. It allows kids to sell lemonades, at lemonade stands. We had to pass it because a police officer shut down a lemonade stand here in Texas," Gov. Abbott said in a video via Twitter. 

"So, kids," he continued while signing the bill and then holding up a big glass of lemonade, "cheers!" 

But, the governor did more this week than just worry about beverage stands. He signed into law several other noteworthy pieces of legislation, including one that protects free speech on college campuses and another that bans red light cameras. 

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“Some colleges are banning free speech on college campuses. Well, no more because I’m about to sign a law that protects free speech on college campuses in Texas,” Abbott said again via Twitter. “I shouldn’t have to do it. First Amendment guarantees it, but now, it’s law in Texas.”

Drivers have been plagued by the tyrannical abuse of red cameras across the country for years. But now, in Texas, you don't have to worry about that anymore. For those unaware, the red light cameras didn't just catch speedy drivers, they often made mistakes or ticketed the wrong person leaving the wrongfully accused driver with no recourse to face his accuser in a court of law. For example, the New York Times noted that in one case "the registered owner of a trailer was ticketed, even though that trailer was being hauled by a truck driven by someone else."

This was “another illustration of how asinine these things are,” Russell T. Bowman, a Texas attorney who had been fighting against these devices for years, told the paper. Now they're gone forever in Texas thanks to the governor. 

Bravo to Gov. Abbott for shrinking the size of government in Texas in various ways this week.