#TXLEGE: Wrapping up Senate Testimony w/ Union dues and Annexation.....

"And the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said:

“Stand up and bless the Lord your God
Forever and ever!
“Blessed be Your glorious name,
Which is exalted above all blessing and praise!"
Nehemiah 9:5

[Note: The B&C hearing can be viewed here (our testimony is approximately an hour in); the State Affairs hearing can be viewed here (our testimony is approximately three hours in).]

We testified in favor of two more bills today.  We got hissed at during the first.  During the second, we got a standing ovation.

• SB 7 (Hughes):  "Relating to payroll deductions for state and local government employee organizations."
  
  We testified about how taxpayers shouldn't be forced to subsidize partisan political activity.  Government bureaucrats are free to engage in any political they desire on their own time and their own dime.  But taxpayers shouldn't be asked to subsidize it.
  
  We also pointed out the need for a level playing field, so organizations (like the Texas Public Policy Foundation) that rely upon voluntary contributions aren't forced to compete at a structural disadvantage; several of the union people audibly expressed their displeasure with the TPPF comparison.

• SB 6 (Campbell): "Relating to municipal annexation."
  
  We testified about how involuntary annexation wasn't cool when the Germans did it to France, it wasn't cool when the Soviets did it to half of Europe, and it's not cool today when the cities of Austin, Houston, and San Antonio are doing it in the state of Texas.
  
  That was the line that earned the standing ovation.