#TXLEGE: Another issue where Abbott's actions don't match his words....

"For you were hypocrites in your hearts when you sent me to the Lord your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the Lord our God, and according to all that the Lord your God says, so declare to us and we will do it.’ "
Jeremiah 42:20

We haven't had the bandwidth to cover election integrity issues this session, but we signed this letter and ABSOLUTELY concur:

#TXLEGE 85 (R) -- Election Integrity Letter by Cahnman on Scribd

DAN FLYNN LIES about Endorsement....

One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
Titus 1:12

What a guy:

The discontent is so widespread that my opponent is trying to make people believe he actually is the conservative by using false endorsements on his campaign material. As recently as this month, Dan has been passing out material with quotes from Cathie Adams, President of Texas Eagle Forum, without her permission, to make voters believe that he has the support of top conservative grassroots organizations..

“I never gave Dan permission to use my endorsement on his campaign material for this election.” stated Adams. “I supported him in the past because he used to vote more conservatively, until Dan chose to serve the Austin establishment, rather than his constituents."

"I’m proud to support Bryan Slaton, and I’m confident he won’t make the same mistakes Flynn has made,”

- Cathie Adams

Bottom Line: Dan Flynn is a living case for term limits.  No one denies that Dan Flynn was a reasonably decent conservative in a different era.  But that era has long since passed and there's a reason why both Cathie Adams and this website support Bryan Slaton in HD-2!!!

Stickland secures Three more MAJOR Conservative Endorsements

"As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."
Proverbs 27:17

Congratulations Team Stickland:

STICKLAND ANNOUNCES NEXT ROUND OF ENDORSEMENTS FOR REELECTION CAMPAIGN

(Bedford, TX) – Tuesday, Jonathan Stickland announced his third round of public endorsements for his re-election campaign to the Texas House. The list includes three of the most well known and respected statewide Christian conservative leaders. Texas Republican Party Chair and President of Texas Eagle Forum* Cathie Adams President of Texas Values* Jonathan Saenz President and CEO of the Liberty Institute* Kelly Shackleford

“Jonathan Stickland is a courageous conservative with a heart of gold. As an elected representative, he has been highly successful in bringing home the best policies and principles for his constituents. Voters in House District 92 are most fortunate to be represented by one of the hardest working legislators who employs the highest integrity as he works on the issues most important to them. I hope my friends in HD 92 will join me in keeping Jonathan Stickland serving them in Austin.”

-Cathie Adams

"Rep. Stickland is not only a fighter for the unborn but a staunch defender of traditional marriage and religious freedom. I am proud to continue my work with Rep. Stickland and I fully endorse his re-election to protect Texans religious liberty and to defend the Texas values of the traditional family." –Jonathan Saenz

“Jonathan Stickland did what he promised he would do. He never relented when it came to defending liberty and fighting for our Christian values. I am proud to endorse his reelection campaign and encourage all conservatives to do the same.” –Kelly Shackleford

*Organizational name for identification purposes only

Thomas McNutt / Byron Cook updates

"A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
Proverbs 18:24

Big news out of Corsicana:

Today I'm proud to announce the endorsement of Cathie Adams, a former chairman of the Republican Party of Texas.

----

"Thomas McNutt is one of the strongest conservative candidates I've met across the entire state. I am so excited about his candidacy and his passion for conservative principles. I am encouraging all of my conservative friends across Texas to support Thomas!" - Cathie Adams

Meanwhile, Empower Texans begins to detail Byron Cook's shenanigans on sanctuary cities:

Last session, State Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Frisco) filed HB 4117, which would have banned cities from adopting laws prohibiting governmental entities under their jurisdiction from cooperating with federal authorities to curb illegal immigration. The bill was read and immediately sent to State Affairs, where Cook let it die without a hearing.

Next, Texas Right to Life:

Byron Cook inexplicably took upon himself the mission of dismantling the Pro-Life agenda of the Texas Legislature – in some cases singlehandedly.

One of the many stains on Cook’s dismal record from the 84th Legislative Session was his sabotage of SB 575. Senate Bill 575 would have prohibited insurance plans from paying for abortions. Cook sabotaged this common-sense measure by purposely stalling the bill for two weeks, and then demanding the bill be weakened beyond recognition prior to allowing passage out of his Committee and onto the House floor. Because of Cook’s decisive anti-Life actions, the deaths of preborn Texans will continue to be footed by insurance premiums paid by Pro-Life Texans who denounce the practice.

Sadly, the preborn are not the only group of vulnerable Texans Cook abandoned during session. Cook also worked against legislation that would protect hospital patients from being killed by their doctors under the legal protection of the Texas Advance Directives Act (TADA). Cook again served as the primary impediment to Pro-Life Priority Bills when he categorically denied even holding a hearing for two patient protection bills (HB 2949 and HB 3414). These widely supported bills had numerous co-authors and the support of many Pro-Life groups, as measures that would have protected vulnerable patients from secret or unwanted Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders and from the removal of Life-sustaining treatment based on anti-Life “quality of life” ethics.

 How many children will die because Byron Cook played politics with pro-life legislation?!?

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.

Toll Free Day at the Texas Capitol

"Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord,
But a just weight is His delight."
Proverbs 11:1

Toll Free Texas held their lobby day today at the Capitol.  The coalition is led by Texans United for Reform and Freedom and encompasses grassroots groups from around the state.  Toll Free Texas seeks to roll back toll roads, eliminate waste in transportation spending, and restore transportation spending to a pay-as-you-go basis.

The event was notable for the changes it reveals in the 84th legislature compared to the 83rd.  Senators Don Huffines and Lois Kolhorst, neither of who was in their current position last session, were featured prominently.  On the house side, every representative who spoke had voted for Scott Turner at the beginning of the session.  House leadership was conspicuous in their absence.  Given the unpopularity of toll roads in this state, it would not surprise use to see House leadership boxed in on this issue.

According to organizers, this session is the first of the five they've been active that good bills outnumber bad bills (and that by 3:1 margin).

Cathie Adams (Texas Eagle Forum):



Highlights:

• In the past, Texas used to make toll roads free after their construction costs were paid off.

• Public/Private "partnerships" are a grotesque form of cronyism.

Sen. Bob Hall:

Highlights:

• No eminent domain for toll roads.

• Go back to pay-as-you-go.

• End Public/Private "Partnerships"

Sen. Don Huffines:

Highlights:

• Roads a fundamental function of government.

• No double taxation.

Rep. Jeff Leach:

Highlights:

• "My district is surrounded by toll roads."

• Collin County reps committed to getting rid of tolls.
• Author's Note: Then where the heck was Jodie Laubenberg?!?

Mike Openshaw (North Texas Tea Party):

Highlights:

• "A number of my friends are paying more in toll fees than in city taxes."

• "H.O.V lanes are a social experiment that has failed."

Rep. Matt Shaheen:

Highlights:

• Texas needs to put an end to toll roads.

• Once debt is paid off, tolls are removed.

Rep. Molly White:

Highlights:

• Need proper funding for toll free roads

• Supports toll-free Texas.

Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (Part 1):

Highlights:

• Tea Party really began with fight against trans-Texas corridor.

• Transportation is a tough issue.

• 5000 to 9000 entities in this state have eminent domain authority.

• People are paying more in tolls than utilities in Texas.

• SB 1601 -- Restricts ability to use eminent domain for high speed rail.

• "We have waste at TxDOT and we're working on that."

Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (Part 2):

Highlights:

• SB 5 covers ending diversions.

• Make tollways send annual statements.

• People on mobility authorities should be elected.

• Transparency, transparency, transparency....

• We should have a statewide policy for state highways.

Sen. Don Huffines (Second Appearance):

Highlights:

• Filed 11 bills on this topic

• "It is a new day."

• They want to toll every highway in DFW.

• Traffic is a natural consequence of population growth.

• Transportation should be 35% of the budget, currently 8%.
• Author's Note: See here

• Roads are a fundamental function of government.

• Filed a bill to end diversions.

• "No one in this building is talking about fully funding TxDOT."

• There's a lot of money to be saved by simple actions.

Faith and Family Day: Cathie Adams (Marriage)

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."
Genesis 2:24

Texas State Capitol -- Cathie Adams discussed traditional marriage this morning:



Highlights:

• Praises Abbott re: Marriage.

• Texas needs to prepare for SCOTUS ruling.

• Paxton did the right thing and did it quickly.

• Bell/Perry marriage bills.

• Founders thought judicial branch would be the weakest.

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"

First Amendment Tuesday: Week 2

"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:

Tony McDonald (Empower Texans) (Partial):



Highlights:

• Review of "lobbying" rules.

• Defeated attempt to expand the impeachment committee.

• Good changes for conservatives in House rules.

• Biggest change was 2/3rds rule in Senate.

• Rumor mill says House committee assignments will come out at the end of this week.

• Pressure the Lite Guv to refer Constitutional carry to state affairs committee rather than Criminal Jurisprudence.

John Seago (Texas Right to Life):

Highlights:

• No good piece of legislation passes automatically.

• Members care more about what their constituents think than "advocates."

• We can have a civil relationship with people with whom we disagree.

• Staff is important.

• Explain why you care about the issue.

• Keep literature to ONE PAGE.
• Don't trust staffers to take good notes.

• Beware of delay tactics that offices use:
• They don't want to commit on bills.
• Office Tour
• Life Stories: Theirs or Yours.

• If legislators refuse to commit, ask them what they need then follow up.

Ann Hettinger (Concerned Women for America -- Texas):



Highlights:

• CWA has prayer chapters all around the state.

• Capitol Library on second floor will print out bills.

Cathie Adams (Texas Eagle Forum):



Highlights:

• Reassembling a coalition has been the most effective thing we've done in a long time.

• CleanupAustin.com
• Legislators tie their retirements to district judges.
• Slush funds.

• HB 562 (Leach) - American Laws for American Courts.

• HB 623 (Bell) - Marriage Bill
• This has already been decided by the people of Texas.

David Walls (Texas Values):



Highlights:

• Loosely related to Focus on the Family.

• Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty.

• Faith and Family Day February 24th.

• TXValues.org/legislativeguide

• Religious Liberty Amendment (SJR 10)

• Our guys need encouragement.

Jeremy Newman (Texas Homeschool Coalition):



Highlights:

• They deal closely with Parental Rights issues.

• Tim Tebow bill.

• "Child Possession" loophole.

• Possible Parental rights amendment.

• Aycock sat on Tebow bill last session.

Dustin Matocha (Empower Texans):



Highlights:

• Constitutional Spending Limit.

• Zero based budgeting.

• Eliminate Margins Tax.

Life, Liberty, and Property Kicks off the 84th #TXLEGE

"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

The Life, Liberty, and Property coalition held their first "First Amendment Tuesday" this morning prior to Greg Abbott's inauguration; it is a FANTASTIC primer for citizen lobbying:

Michael Quinn Sullivan (Empower Texans):



Highlights:

• Learn the rules for petitioning government.

Tony McDonald (Empower Texans):

Highlights:

• House rule 1; section 5
• No signs or disruptive behavior (doesn't apply to Wendy Davis).
• Our opponents will use failure to practice decorum to silence us.

• Lobbying:
• "A lobbyist is a hired gun."
• There are rules about giving gifts.

• In a couple of weeks, committees will be assigned.

• How a bill moves out of the House (at least in theory): First reading -- > Committee -- > Calendars -- > Floor

• "Points of Order" can cut both ways.

• 2/3rds rule -- Senate is supposed to consider bills in the order they come out of committee.

John Seago (Texas Right to Life)

Highlights:

• Every pro-life victory is due to gubernatorial leadership and strong grassroots activism.\

• Legislators care more about what constituents think than "lobbying" groups.

• Remember, they work for us.

• Be respectful.

• Tell the what bills you support.

• Before you leave the office, have them respond.
• "Does this sound like a good bill to you?!?"
• There's all kinds of stalling techniques elected officials use:
• Office Tours
• Life Stories
• Asking a frillion questions about your life story.

Jeremy Newman (Texas Homeschool Coalition)

Highlights:

• Mostly parental rights stuff.

• Tim Tebow bill - Allow homeschoolers to participate in extra-cirriculars

• In laws can sue parents for "access" to children.

Ann Hettinger (Concerned Women for America)

Highlights:

• Tuesday 2/24 lobby day.

• Plano bathroom bill got enough signatures.

• Restoring SBOE authority.

Cathie Adams (Texas Eagle Forum)

Highlights:

• American laws for American courts.

More Harmony schools popping up.

• Defund
• Put their checkbooks online.
• Author's Note: Good grief, there are at least 5 in Austin alone.

• CSCOPE: The whack-a-mole continues.

JoAnn Fleming (Grassroots America: We the People)

Highlights:

• Interstate compacts for Border Enforcement.

• With GOP control of Congress, forces them on record.

• Interstate compacts bypass the President; only require congressional approval.

• Start with the 25 states suing Obama over Executive Amnesty.

• "The state of Texas spends too much, borrows too much, and relies too heavily on the Federal government."

• Restore state spending to it's core functions.

Texans Demand a Conservative Budget

"But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’  Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself."
Deuteronomy 17:16

Texas Public Policy Foundation -- This morning, the Texas Conservative Budget Coalition held a press conference to discuss TPPF's new paper The Conservative Texas Budget:

Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream

Highlights:

• Talmadge Helflin - STAR FUND is the primary tax cut.
• Real Texas Budget was the Starting Point.
• We're two weeks away from state agencies beginning to request 2016/17 budgets.
• Expect a $1.5 billion supplemental in 2015.
• Author's note: Sigh....
• Texas' current spending limit is restricted to non-dedicated General revenue.
• The legislature will have to do this "voluntarily."
• Author's Note: Paging Dan Patrick!!!
• The economy of a state fares better "if it's a low tax, low spend state."
• "In times of plenty, we recommend the legislature keep spending at a level that's sustainable in the long-term."

• Vance Ginn - 2004-15 state spending up 62.4%
• 8% faster than inflation + spending.
• Limit state spending to 6.2% population + inflation.

• JoAnn Fleming - "The state of Texas spends much more than the legislature appropriates."
• Federal funds come from our pocket, "some magic fairy land."

• Michael Quinn Sullivan - "Texas has benefited...from the bad decisions of other states."
• "The least drunk person at the bar shouldn't be held up as a model of sobriety."

• Cathie Adams - "Texas Families have hopes and dreams, and we want to be able to afford them."
• Prioritize spending to prevent budget from growing more than 6.2%

• Jenna White - Conservative budget draws a line in the sand at 6.2%

• Chuck DeVore - "Spending restraint leads to tangible gains."
• "We can do better."
• "We can do better by allowing free enterprise to flourish."
• Eliminate the margins tax -- more than enough money.
• Prioritize infrastructure over welfare or other wasteful spending.
• Restructure spending to get more bang for the buck (Talmadge Heflin)
• Within the past couple months, TxDOT has come up with $350 million for rail (MQS) 

The full paper:

The Conservative Texas Budget

Highlights:

• "Texas has had a large increase in its labor force during those years from out-of-state migration compared to a declining labor force in many areas....Clearly, as fast as people are moving to Texas, job creation is keeping pace."

• "Texas current limitations on government spending are not sufficient."

• "These limits represent maximum amounts for the Legislature to use when determining the cumulative amount appropriated for each government agency.  The Foundation believes that the Legislature could easily spend less than this and still ensure provision of basic public necessities.  Nonetheless, if the Legislature stays within these bounds in The Conservative Texas Budget, it will have taken a substantial step towards reining in the growth of Texas government.