First Amendment Tuesday: Week 8

"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 held the most interesting First Amendment Tuesday of the session so far this morning:

Tony McDonald (Empower Texans):



Highlights:

• Texas is a one party consent state when it comes to recording conversations.

• Michael -- On recording, you should use discretion; don't burn someone unless the juice is worth the squeeze.

• House and Senate have different rules.

• Campaign restrictions on using legislatively produced video are unconstitutional.

David Walls (Texas Values):

Highlights:

• #TXLEGE guide out.

• Best to show up in person.

• "Government goes to those who show up."

• Simple, one-page, handout.

• Just a few minutes of focused activism can make a huge difference.

• It's an easy excuse for legislators if our side fails to show up.

• SJR 10 -- Religious Liberty Amendment.
• Texas Association of Business joining the usual suspects of far-left organizations to oppose religious liberty amendment.
• TAB backs Planet Fitness policy.

Mary-Lynn Gerstenschlager (Texas Eagle Forum):



Highlights:

• HB 2054 (Tinderholt) -- Fighting human trafficking.

• SB 344 (Hall) -- Restricts Eminent Domain abuse by toll road authorities; hearing at 8AM tomorrow.

• Opposition to Sarah Martinez Tucker
• U.T. can set up Common Core compliant charter school in any county they hold a campus.

Ann Hettinger (Concerned Women for America):

Highlights:

• Against all the bad pre-K bills.

• Pre-K adds (at least) $1.4 BILLION to budget every year.

• Kids don't need to be in a government school setting at 4 years old.

• Possibility of children as young as TWO being taught sex ed.

• Why are we giving failing schools more children?!?

Texas Homeschool Coalition:

Highlights:

• Not much has changed since last week.

• Parental rights bill -- Family law Foundation has filed bills to expand loopholes.

Jim Graham (Texas Right to Life):

Highlights:

• Zerwas and Schwertner attempting to bring in Obamacare via backdoor.

• Four corner strategy -- Slow walk everything and create manufactured crises at the end of the session.

• "I'm proud to have two RINO Senators heads on my wall."

• Texas has "to show the rest of the nation we can defeat the RINO establishment."