First Amendment Tuesday: Week 3

"and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,"
Ephesians 6:19

Life, Liberty, and Property coalition held their second "First Amendment Tuesday" this morning:

Michael Quinn Sullivan (Empower Texans):



Tony McDonald (Empower Texans):



Highlights:

• Lege rules are designed to protect the minority and public.

• "If it doesn't seem fair, it very well might not be."

• The only part of the rules that apply to the public is "decorum."

• A lobbyist is a hired gun, engaged citizens are not lobbyists.

• 2 ways to get classified as a lobbyist:
• Spend too much $$$ (don't give gifts to legislators or staff)
• Communicating with legislators on behalf of someone for $$$

• "There are people who do not like engaged citizens."

• If you want to have a legislator file a bill, now is the time to get on it.

• Straus has, in the past, "perfectly carved out" meaningful participation by conservatives.

• Keep an eye on what happens to Turner voters and Straus voting "conservatives."
• Don't be surprised if some of them get chairmanships for show while the composition of the committee makes their chairmanship functionally meaningless; a la Dan Flynn on the impeachment committee.

Emily Kebodeaux (Texas Right to Life):



Highlights:

• Know who your Rep. and Senator are.

• Call ahead if you know that you are coming.

• Meet in the afternoon; after the legislator is done on the floor but before committee hearings.

• Ask the staffer to "walk you down to the floor."

• Know what issue you're talking about.

• Visit your legislator even if you disagree.

Ann Hettinger (Concerned Women for America):



Highlights:

• CWA will highlight a bill every week.

• SB 171 (Huffman): Increases penalties for Human smuggling.

• CWA has a list of legislators by hall.

Cathie Adams (Texas Eagle Forum):




Highlights:

• Constitutional carry (SB 342) just got referred to Senate State Affairs.

• SB 115 (V. Taylor) -- DeLink judicial and legislative retirement.

• SB 340 (Huffines) -- Getting rid of red light camera.

Jeremy Newman (Texas Homeschool Coalition):



Highlights:

• Texas is in the minority of states that don't allow homeschoolers to participate in athletics.

• Parental Rights (HB 529, SB 414)
• Usually happens when there's bad blood.
• Typically, single parents run out of money to fight.
• Main opponent: "Family Law Foundation."
• Family law attorney's make money when these cases drag out.

Jonathan Saenz (Texas Values):



Highlights:

• Faith and Family Day February 24th
• Noon rally on the South Steps

• HB 623 (Bell):
• County clerks willing to take the law into their own hands.
• Cuts off state funding for local governments that issue homosexual 'marriage' licenses
• 33 authors and co-authors so far.
• Texas Supreme Court currently pressured to grant homosexual 'divorces.'
• We're not going to know about the U.S. Supreme Court until after the session ends.

• Religious Liberty Amendment:
• Based on Language from Hobby Lobby case.
• SJR 10, HJR 55.
• Opponents want to ban home prayer meetings.

• HB 537 (Anchia) -- Oppose.
• Stikes out father and mother on birth certificates and replaces them with "Parent #1" and "Parent #2"