#TXLEGE: Income Tax election is a GIFT to county GOP's (if they take it)

"But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God."
Nehemiah 5:15

We said our piece about the house's income tax prohibition amendment last fall:  There is a loophole in the Texas constitution the legislature should close.  The Democrats success in last year's election raised the level of urgency for closing said loophole.  Furthermore, from a political perspective, this is a vote you want to make the Democrats take.

Thus, good deal to the house's vote on Thursday; the Senate needs to follow suit.

But there's a funny thing about the Texas constitution: Voters have to ratify amendments.

Thus, if they were smart enough to take it, GOP county party organizations would have to opportunity to practice:

• Identifying Supporters
• Hint #1: This is the easiest possible issue on which to draw people in.
• Hint #2: Data.
• Hint #3: Once you've drawn them in on prohibiting a state income tax, they might be willing to listen to you on more difficult issues.
• Hint #4: If you use your shared opposition to a state income tax as the basis to begin a relationship in 2019, they might be willing to listen to you about the presidency in 2020.

• Disseminating a message/Engaging the community
• Hint: It's impossible to know what this means in individual communities, but it's likely to include some combination of local media and informal social networks.

• Forcing Local Democrats to take a position
• Hint: Most Democrat elected officials secretly support a state income tax.  Most Democrat voters DON'T.  Thus, Democrat elected officials should be forced to take a public position.

Such an effort could yield tremendous dividends in (at least) the following counties: Travis, WillCo, Hays, Bexar, Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton, Harris, Ft. Bend, Webb, Starr, Hidalgo, El Paso.

Some of those are areas that have historically been GOP strengths, but have recently softened.  Some of those have historically leaned GOP, but recently become swing territory.  Even in the deeper blue areas, however, there are intra-D tensions a more nimble GOP could exploit.

You will never have a friendlier issue on which to mount such an effort than opposition to a state income tax.

Bottom Line: The opportunity is there, but it's an open question whether or not anyone will take advantage....

The National Media Doth Protest Too Much

"and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved."
2 Thessalonians 2:10

The other day, RPT sent out three tweets in reference to Robert Francis' unwillingness to debate Ted Cruz (despite obnoxiously grandstanding on the topic for months).  The tweets were a lighthearted attempt to poke fun at Robert Francis that used pictures that have been floating around the internet for months.  To be honest, we thought the tweets in question were dumb and juvenile when we first saw them.

And that could have been the national media's angle: "Texas GOP makes dumb, juvenile, attack against Beto O'Rourke."

Instead we got this:

[Note: Who even knew GQ magazine was still a thing?!?]

And this:

And this:

We could go on.  Dozens of national outlets ran this story.  They all pushed the narrative that the tweets in question made Robert Francis look 'cool' or 'sexy.'

It was an interesting insight into the psychology of people who...aren't eligible to vote in Texas!!!

[Note: That the TEXAS Tribune and the TEXAS Observer haven't touched this story should tell you everything you need to know.]

But back in the real world, in Texas, wearing a dress is a bad look for an alleged male who wants to win statewide office.  It might not be as bad of a look as some people think.  But it's net negative.

Don't believe us?!?  Fine.  Feel free to talk with actual Texas voters.  But make sure you visit Plano, Denton, and Katy.  East Austin doesn't count.

As to the 'substance' of their claims: O'Rourke doesn't even look like a punk rocker in that photo.  He looks like a douche bag Kurt Cobain wannabe.  The only way that photograph can be remotely described as "punk" is if the phrase "snot-nosed" immediately precedes it.

Furthermore, who among us hasn't gotten stuck talking to some guy who was in a band and wouldn't shut up about it?!?  That's exactly how Robert Francis comes across.  Nobody cares.

The biggest shame is that RPT should be using this time to educate the public about how O'Rourke is nothing more than your typical corrupt Texas politician.  But that won't happen because the national media is gullible enough to overreact to a stupid tweet.  Let the intellectually lazy, lowest common denominator, campaign commence!

Bottom Line: If you want to forecast elections in Texas, it might behoove you to speak to people who actually vote in them....

Plano Pastor communicates with congregation; political opponents throw a tantrum

"The sinners in Zion are afraid;
Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites:
'Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?
Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?' "
Isaiah 33:14

Last December, the city of Plano enacted a "transgender" bathroom ordinance against the will of the people.  The first round of local elections since then takes place this Saturday.  Unfortunately, a local pastor reminded his congregation of this fact and we can't have community leaders communicating about public events using available means:



[Author's Note: While the story claims Church members objected to the e-mail, we find it revealing that they didn't interview any Church members for the story.]

From the Story:

Two weeks ago, the executive pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church sent an e-mail from his personal account. In it, Pastor Mike Buster endorsed five candidates in next week's local elections.

Some church members are concerned that this message crossed the line.

Matt Lagos is not a church member, but he is a candidate — one who is not mentioned in the pastor's e-mail.

"We need to keep the church separate from politics," Lagos said.

Lagos is challenging Ronald Kelley, who is mentioned in the e-mail for the Place 5 Plano City Council seat.

Referring to Kelley, Pastor Buster writes in the e-mail:

"We need to make sure we are electing local leaders who support our Christian values and who stand for the people."

Kelley is with Prestonwoood's ministerial staff and is director of the Prestonwood Foundation. 

In other words, a Pastor was communicating about a local election with friends as a private citizen and the people who didn't like what he had to say are now trying to create a Federal case where none exists.

On the other hand, this case could provide an excellent opportunity to finally litigate the Johnson Amendment.

Faith and Family Day: Dave Welch (Abusive Local Governments)

A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor,
But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.
Proverbs 28:16

Texas State Capitol -- Dave Welch of the Texas Pastor Council spoke about the need to curtail tyrannical local ordinances:



Highlights:

• We need state legislation that specifically codifies the definition of male and female.

• Transgender "marriage" case in front of Texas Supreme Court.

• "Gender expression" depends on how you "feel" about your gender on any given day.

• Most Christians don't have solid apologetics on which to stand.

• The backlash against the Houston case helped the GOP in last fall's election.

• Bill filed to define Male and Female.

• "Not accepting any excuses" in this session.

Plano Bathroom Ordinance to face voter scrutiny

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."
Matthew 5:13

Thank Goodness, from Texas Values:

Today, Plano Citizens United, a coalition of local citizens, leaders and pastors, announced they have collected more than double the necessary signatures required to force the Plano City Council to repeal or place on the ballot the recently passed “Equal Rights Ordinance.” The ordinance threatens the religious freedom of Plano citizens and small businesses by criminalizing mainstream religious views about sexuality and gender. Legal experts have argued that the ordinance violates the U.S. Constitution, the Texas Constitution, and the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Jonathan Saenz, president of Texas Values Action, released the following statement:

“The people of Plano have made their voice loud and clear – it is time to repeal this anti-religious freedom ordinance. The heroic effort of the Plano citizens in organizing and collecting signatures well above the required amount, during the Christmas season, only further shows how out of step the Mayor and Plano City Council are with the people they are supposed to represent. These LGBT special rights ordinances are designed to be used as weapons against people of sincere faith, as we have seen in Houston. The people of Plano, just like in Houston, are ready to put an end to government hostility towards our First Freedom."

Read the whole thing here.