First Amendment Tuesday: Week 11

"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

Update (7:01 pm): An in-district source informs us that Isaac intends to vote no on the anti-School Choice amendment; we will observe and note accordingly.

Today is budget day in the Texas House; the LLP coalition outlined both opportunities and pitfalls to this process presents.

Tony McDonald (Empower Texans):




Highlights:

• A lot of the amendments the House of Straus will consider today deal with defunding border security operations and pro-Tenth Amendment litigation.

• John Otto wants to add at least $800 million (and possibly as much as $3 billion) to public education.

• Can't trust the order in which they release amendments.

• Calendars committee can set rules for floor debate.

• You have to find savings for new spending but (new this session) you can cut without plowing savings into other programs.

• Major events trust fund -- Tried to give NASCAR ex post facto subsidies.
• Unconstitutional, but the House didn't care and measure passed with 120+ votes.

Ann Hettinger/Michael Quinn Sullivan/Tony McDonald (reprise):

Highlights:

• 892 failing schools  in Texas.

• Amendment 148 anti-School Choice.
• Jason Isaac plans on voting for Amendment.
• (512) 463 - 0647
• @ISAACforTexas

• House Leadership will "motion to table" good amendments.

• John Zerwas' medicaid expansion shenanigans last session (no, not his shenanigans this session) was done through the amendment process.
• For two hours, Texas had been sucked deeper into Obamacare.

Mary-Lynn Gerstenschlager (Texas Eagle Forum):

Highlights:

• Marriage bills left pending; ditto ALAC.

• SB 1340 (Huffines) to eliminate red light cameras still in limbo.