First Amendment Tuesday: Week 10

"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

First Amendment Tuesday hit it's high-water mark for attendance this session earlier today.

Tony McDonald (Empower Texans):



Highlights:

• Citizen activists are not lobbyists.

• Amendment process
• You can't do it with any bill.
• Prevents Massive "Christmas Tree" bills a. la. D.C.
• Bills have to be limited to one topic.
• Ultimately, the members decide a point of order.

• Members frequently leave legislation pending after a committee hearing; you shouldn't get suspicion until it's been left pending over a week.

Jonathan Saenz (Texas Values):

Highlights:

• Religious liberty amendment borrows language from Hobby Lobby case.

• Religious liberty involves telling government TO STOP ACTIVITY.

• Jason Villalba dropped religious liberty amendment, Matt Krause picked it up.

• Bill in State Affairs on Marriage tomorrow.

• Texas Association of Business thinks government power should trump religious rights.

• "Apparently, the Texas Association of Business thinks religious liberty is bad for business."

Cathie Adams (Texas Eagle Forum):

Highlights:

• Recaps toll and marriage rallies.

• "Without marriage, America implodes."

• HB 1745 by Bell, hearing tomorrow.

• American laws for American Courts (ALAC) getting hearing today.
• 10 other states have passed it.

• "A test is valuable, an 'assessment' is devious."

Ann Hettinger (Concerned Women for America):

Highlights:

• CWA also supports ALAC.

• ALAC is about protecting women.

• School choice hearing at 9AM Thursday.

Jeremy Newman (Texas Homeschool Coalition):

Highlights:

• Parental rights restoration
• Protects single parents.
• Grandparents frequently do this in cases of homeschooling.