Medical Cartel Trying to Pull Fast One Though State Agency

"They are all adulterers.
Like an oven heated by a baker—
He ceases stirring the fire after kneading the dough,
Until it is leavened."
Hosea 7:4

Via. JoAnn Fleming:

The Good News: After Texans spoke out last month, the Texas Medical Board (TMB) scrapped plans to impose a minimum 10-business-day wait on patients seeking non-emergency care from an independent (out-of-network) physician at any hospital or surgery center in the state of Texas.

The Bad News: The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) stepped in and imposed a similar rule (applicable to independent physicians at in-network facilities), but without an opportunity for public input. This went into effect on January 1, 2020.

Because the Texas Dept. of Insurance adopted the rule on an emergency basis, there is now a 30-day comment period underway before the rule is adopted as a permanent regulation.

Additional Background: Last year the Texas legislature passed legislation (SB 1264) purporting to address an issue largely caused by insurance companies. The issue has been mislabeled as a problem of “surprise” medical bills. The real “surprise” is that insurance companies deny payment for needed care and add obstacles that prevent and delay patients from obtaining care from the physicians of their choice. Because of your advocacy, and the efforts of Senator Kelly Hancock, the version of SB 1264 that passed contained a good provision preserving the rights of patients and independent physicians to work together without interference from insurance company bureaucrats.

So, what’s the problem?

The TDI is now improperly inserting itself in between patients and independent doctors by implementing a 10 business-day waiting period for non-emergency care for services performed at hospitals and surgery centers. The regulation applies when the facility is in-network according to the patient’s insurance plan, but the physician chosen by the patient is independent (out of network). Currently, there are few facilities that are not run by collaborations between hospital corporations and insurance companies. This rule makes it extremely difficult for a specialist to work at a hospital without being bound to the dictates of an insurance company.

For example: if a patient who is enrolled in a health plan regulated by TDI wishes to contract directly with a surgeon who isn't in the insurer's narrow network, but utilize insurance coverage for hospital or surgery center fees, the patient would have to sign the TDI-approved waiver form, at least 10-business days before the procedure. During this forced waiting period, the patient may suffer in pain or experience worsening disease! That patient’s only other option for care is to agree to be treated by a doctor with whom the insurance company has contracted and who is under the control of the corporate medical system.

Keep in mind that a 10-business-day wait means in most cases at least a 14-day wait and as many as 17 days in situations where holidays add to the delay.

Unelected bureaucrats are attempting to force patients to wait for care from physicians of their choice! Rules like this, if left in place, are yet another step along the path to full corporate and government control of your medical care choices.

Call to Action!

Please take a moment now to speak out against this proposal before the comment period ends. The department will consider any written comments on the proposal that are received no later than 5:00 PM on February 10, 2020.

Your comments can be submitted by email to ChiefClerk@tdi.texas.gov or by mail to the Office of the Chief Clerk, MC 112-2A, Texas Department of Insurance, P.O. Box 149104, Austin, Texas 78714-9104.

The Commissioner will also consider written and oral comments on the proposal in a public hearing under Docket No. 2819 at 1:00 PM on February 4, 2020, in Room 100 of the William P. Hobby Jr. State Office Building, 333 Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas.

The department requests that parties who plan to speak at the hearing send their written comments (or a summary of their testimony) to ChiefClerk@tdi.texas.gov to facilitate a meaningful discussion.

Attending the hearing? Email Dr. Sheila Page ssheilapage7@gmail.com.

We'd have to re-arrange our schedule to do it, but we're going to try to attend on Tuesday.

Regardless of whether or not you can make it, however, DO e-mail the Department of Insurance.  Obscure government agencies tend to back down when they realize the public is paying attention.  No promises, but the odds are decent.

Bottom Line: Figures they'd try to do something like this while everyone's distracted by the primary.

#TXLEGE: Alliance for...enabling bureaucrats over patients?!?

"They are all adulterers.
Like an oven heated by a baker—
He ceases stirring the fire after kneading the dough,
Until it is leavened."
Hosea 7:4

Over the past week, we've seen movement to reform the diabolical Texas "Advance Directives" Act.  Mind you, this is reform, not repeal.  The bill in question leaves the wicked system in place.  It merely establishes a more workable system of 'due process' for those already trapped.

Furthermore, the horrifying Carolyn Jones case happens in the background.

Yet, even this modest concession is too much for some:

SB-2089-opposition-letter-4... by on Scribd

Obviously, that letter has a lot to unpack, but to yammer about "imminent and certain death" at a time when a Beaumont woman is heroically disproving their argument tells you what you need to know.

Something else in that letter speaks louder:

Wow.

For those of you unfamiliar with the history, the so-called Texas "Medical" Association has been one of the...more zealous advocacy groups for abortion in this state.

Yet an allegedly pro-life group treats them like BFF's.

At least the so-called Texas "Medical" Association has a certain 'logic.'  They're a trade group.  As such, their objective is to preserve their own pricing power.  Given this objective, it doesn't take a genius to see why they support bureaucrats over patients.

Their logic might be diabolical.  Their logic might be wicked.  But their logic IS logical.

We can't say the same for any self-respecting "pro-life" organization.

Obviously, end of life decisions are difficult.  But that's why those decisions should be made by patients and families.  Not bureaucrats backed by the force of an obscure state law.

Which, of course, is obvious to anyone who calls themselves pro-life and has a shred of integrity or self-respect.

Unfortunately, not everyone in this state who markets themselves as "pro-life" has those traits.

Bottom Line: The correct pro-life position in this case is obvious to anyone who isn't willfully blind or hopelessly compromised....

#TXLEGE: Lobbyists pushing SB 10?!? (Besides the so-called Texas "Medical" Association)

"You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You."
Isaiah 26:3

Action alert this morning from JoAnn Fleming:

Seven reasons we strongly oppose SB 10:

• SB 10 infringes on the principle of limited government by creating an expensive new $100 million program that is outside the core functions of state government. 
• SB 10 will jumpstart exponential growth of unelected bureaucracies. Taxpayer-funded universities and the dysfunctional Health & Human Services Commission will have direct authority over millions more of our tax dollars.  We all know that once they are funded to start looking for a problem, they are going to find one.  Conflicts of interest from pharmaceutical companies, special interests, and the universities themselves will be unavoidable under this structure. 
• SB 10 duplicates what is already being done under existing authority.  Several Texas medical schools already participate in a mental health consortium that meets quarterly.  A new bureaucracy is not necessary to enable further collaboration and coordination of higher education institutions to improve access to mental health care.
• SB 10 has a high risk of evolving into a “Red Flag” monitoring program with respect to gun ownership.  The 2018 Republican Party of Texas (RPT) Platform Plank #73 opposes red flag monitoring programs that seek to deprive someone of their right to keep and bear arms if their child is identified under mental health programs. 
• SB 10 has the potential to make mental illness a cottage industry within our schools.  The sale or sharing of any information collected in research or counseling for any commercial purpose is an affront to the constitutional liberties of Texas children and families.  SB 10 clearly opens Pandora’s Box of unintended consequences.
• SB 10 further endangers privacy of parents and their children.  It will erode parental authority.  Stigma attached to any child misdiagnosed or even inadvertently revealed can severely damage children and their families.  Information gathered through research or treatment should not be included in a student's permanent file, should not be shared in a database, or released without express informed consent of the patient or guardian of the patient.  Such sensitive information should be delivered to the parent(s) or legal guardians only and destroyed after the student leaves the school or graduates.
• SB 10 is ripe for political agendas and abuse.  Indeed, political abuse of psychiatric diagnosis is an important tool in stifling political dissent within socialist countries.  Is there any doubt – given today’s headlines – that the Democratic Left intends to push the United States into socialism?  Mental health issues are becoming the “go to” tool of choice in today’s political circles and are being used to attack gun ownership and threaten the ability of veterans with a PTSD diagnosis to retain their Second Amendment rights.    

We believe that using existing laws and programs to support children with special education conditions, including mental health conditions, can enhance childhood mental health care without creating an expensive new liberty-stealing government bureaucracy.

JoAnn is completely correct. SB 10 is, at best, a hot, poorly thought thorough, mess. At worst, SB 10 could be...a lot worse.

Stranger still, this issue has been fast tracked when no one is asking for it.

Thus we wonder: Who is pushing this?!?

Let's pull the witness list:

In other words, it's the medical cartel working in cahoots with the social services industrial complex.  Nothing good can come from that combination.  One of the safest rules-of-thumb at the Capitol is that everything the so-called Texas "Medical" Association supports is bad.

Beyond that, we know nothing specific about these individuals, though history suggests they're likely getting rich at taxpayer expense.

[Note: If readers know additional details, feel free to e-mail.  Cahnman@hotmail.com.  Confidentiality assured.]

Bottom Line: At a minimum, this legislation need to be vetted for unintended consequences in a way that has yet to occur....

#TXLEGE: How to EXPAND FREEDOM and Lower Health Care costs (even with more D's)....

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,"
Ephesians 3:20

One of the realities imposed by Tuesday is that we're going to have to get creative.  This afternoon, TPPF's discussion "Empowering Advanced RN's can save Texas lives" offers one such possibility.  Scope-of-practice reform.

The short version of scope of practice reform is that not every medical issue needs to be treated by a licensed physician; we wrote a longer description last February:

Texas currently has a shortage of health care providers across the state. 36 counties have zero physicians. 80 counties have five physicians or fewer. While this is often a problem in rural areas, there are parts of the cities that aren't much better. East Austin and East Houston are the two most obvious examples.

Given the geographically dispersed nature of the issue, a broad based coalition is emerging to promote "scope of practice" reform. TPPF has been joined by the AARP and the left-leaning Center for Public Policy Priorities. The proposed reforms would enable nurse practitioners to perform many functions currently limited to licensed physicians.

Supporters made fairly standard free-market arguments in favor of the reforms. Fewer regulations will mean more providers. More providers means more competition which means more options at lower prices for health care consumers.

This is an interesting issue for next session.   As we made clear back in February, and as today's event reinforced, there's support for this across the political spectrum.  Therein lies opportunity.

Several months ago we spoke with a senior Democrat in the Texas house.  She expressed support.  Given the reality of vote totals next session, that's worth considering.  In some communities, increasing the supply of medical providers is literally a lifeline.

It's worth noting, though it might not mean much, that the Texas "Medical" Association representative on today's panel was less obstinate than members of that organization we've seen discuss this issue previously.

Finally, from a macro-political perspective: If we want to cut off support for a Bernie Sanders style single payer/medicare for all type proposal, we really ought to start taking modest steps taking

Bottom Line: If you can take a modest, but tangible, step to lower health care costs, you should.  That's especially true next session.  Scope-of-practice reform is a lower profile issue, but it's one that could be powerful.

#TXLEGE: Trib's Midwives Article Illustrates Need for Medical Scope of Practice Reform

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

The Trib has a long article today about the role midwives could potentially play in alleviating Texas' maternal mortality challenges.  The whole thing is worth taking 15 minutes to read.  But here's the relevant section for policy:

In Texas, midwives must have oversight from a doctor before they can see patients, and physician groups around the country have lobbied state legislatures to block bills that would give midwives more autonomy, claiming they don’t have the required skills to handle high-risk pregnancy complications like postpartum preeclampsia or hemorrhaging.

In the United States, midwives can provide women with services such as contraceptive and nutrition counseling, prescriptions and labor and delivery care. They try to help women have low-risk pregnancies by assessing their health and making sure they can safely give birth outside of the hospital. They also help women prepare for natural births — giving birth without being induced or needing a cesarean section.

The American College of Nurse-Midwives has touted the benefits of midwifery, including reduced rates of labor induction, reduced use of anesthesia, lower costs for both clients and insurers and increased satisfaction with quality of care.

....

Kelli Beaty, executive director for the Association of Texas Midwives and a midwife in Midland, said most midwives believe Texas is a good place to practice but “there’s not a lot of mutual respect” between doctors and midwives. Building relationships with doctors can be difficult since many are not homebirth friendly, are wary of midwifery in general and territorial about the type of care they should be allowed to provide patients.

“There’s not a lot of integration,” Beaty said. “There’s a lot of areas in Texas that have populations that exceed the physician availability, so people are beginning their pregnancy care later and later ... there could be midwives who could fill in the gap.”

Licensed midwives in the state have also expressed exasperation about a 2015 legislative change that moved them from being regulated by the Texas Department of State Health Services to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation — the same agency that oversees laser hair removal businesses, electricians, podiatrists and tow truck operators. Midwives complain that the agency doesn’t have the expertise to properly oversee them, particularly when it comes to understanding various medical terminology. Certified nurse midwives are overseen by the state’s Board of Nursing.

Beaty said the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and midwives are beginning to work together to address some of those concerns. The agency held a series of listening sessions for midwives in recent months and is working on changes to licensing and the complaint review process.

Followed, of course, with the same 'health and safety' drivel you always hear:

Moss Hampton, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Odessa, said he doesn’t “want to sound like I’m bashing midwives” because he believes they have a place in maternal health care.

But he said midwives don’t have the same level of training for independent practice as doctors and should have more clinical training. Licensed midwives must have at least a high school diploma or GED, take midwifery courses and complete a clinical apprenticeship. They then have to pass the North American Registry of Midwives exam to be licensed in Texas.

“There's just situations where the midwife maybe thinks it's better to do it one way than the obstetrician,” Hampton said, adding that doctors are typically the caregiver that gets sued if something goes wrong with a birth. “If the liability was spread equally, I don’t think people would be quite as concerned, but the obstetrician is responsible for the situation if something bad happens ... I think that’s where people get concerned.”

We've written before about "Scope of Practice."  The short version is that you allow non-physician medical personnel (eg. Nurse Practitioners, Midwives, and Physician assistants) to perform routine medical procedures that are currently restricted by law to licensed physicians.  This increase in the supply lowers costs while freeing up licensed physicians to care for genuinely medically serious patients.

The problem, unfortunately, is the so-called Texas "Medical" Association.  As stated above: Increasing medical providers decreases the cost.  The Texas "Medical" wants high health care costs.  That's how a cartel makes its money.

Meanwhile, Texas' politically induced shortage of health care providers (including midwives) continues; this is especially a problem in rural areas.

Bottom Line: This is a textbook example of an incumbent industry using the force of government to restrict competition....

Texas "Medical" Association's frivolous lawsuit wastes everybody's time (and money)

"Do not go hastily to court;
For what will you do in the end,
When your neighbor has put you to shame?"
Proverbs 25:8

'Scope of Practice' laws are an ongoing swindle that drive up medical costs by artificially restricting the number of providers.  Think Uber and the cab companies, but applied to health care.  Naturally, the anti-competition Texas "Medical" Association is a big fan.

We discussed TMA's latest lawsuit against the Chiropractors last year and again last week.  Oral arguments were held this afternoon in the Third Court of Appeals.  Obviously, we attended.

The arguments contain highly technical medical and legal issues.  In other words, there was a lot of complicated doctor and lawyer talk.  But, even so, TMA's case is transparently asinine.

TMA played semantic games to argue that the chiropractors are "practicing neurology."  TMA essentially claimed that, because the human spine contains nerves, working with the spine qualifies as "practicing neurology."  It was dumb.

The chiropractors responded by pointing out the obvious difference between spinal treatments and neurological treatments.   This was followed by a technical discussion about the language of the statute.  While the statute in question is waaay too narrow, the chiropractors are easily within its bounds.

To be honest, this lawsuit is a reflection of the fact that we have too much central planning in health care.  We're trying to 'solve' alleged 'problems' through statutes and regulations that should be left to consumers and providers in a decentralized marketplace.  Free Market economics 101.

Bottom Line: Our primary objection to the Texas "Medical" Association will always be their rabid support for abortion, euthanasia in hospitals, and Obamacare.  But they do a lot of other bad things.  This assault on choice and consumer freedom cannot stand.

Texas "Medical" Association attempting to force Chiropractors out of business...AGAIN!!!

"So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship."
Acts 19:27

Gregory Johnshon is a Houston-based chiropractor with a popular YouTube Channel.  We first discussed his advocacy with the Texas Chiropractic Association, in the context of the Texas "Medical" Association's longstanding war on Chiropractors, back in August.  There have been several developments in the past few weeks, none of them good for freedom of choice for health care consumers:



Highlights:

• Texas Chiropractors are under assault by the Texas Medical Association.

• TMA filed (another) lawsuit to shut down chiropractors over a year ago; the appeal in that lawsuit will be heard next week in Austin.

• Hack Travis County Democrat judge ruled in favor of TMA in the first round; the appeal will be heard in the Third Court of Appeals.

• "I have given thousands of dollars and will continue to give thousands more [to the Chiropractic Association."

• "We are in jeopardy of losing our professional rights in the state of Texas."

• TMA is seeking to alter scope of practice laws to require a recommendation from a medical doctor before you could see a chiropractor.

• "The Evil TMA."
• Note: Have we mentioned how much we love this guy?!?

• "The Texas Medical Association is trying to take away your right, as a citizen...to come and see a chiropractor."

• Big Pharma supporting TMA.

• "The TMA is trying to monopolize health care in the State of Texas."

• If TMA is successful in Texas, it will happen in other states.

Bottom Line: Our primary objection to the Texas "Medical" Association will always be their rabid support for abortion, euthanasia in hospitals, and Obamacare.  But they do a lot of other bad things.  This assault on choice and consumer freedom cannot succeed.

Reinforcing the Texas "Medical" Association's Diabolical Wickedness....

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!"
Romans 11:33

[Note I: The sections about TMA are from 0:00 to 4:00 and from 12:00 to the end; the middle section is the chiropractic treatment.]

[Note II: This author had nothing to do with the production of this video.  Thus we were not consulted regarding Ms. Adams' wardrobe.  If some of you Baptist types have an issue with useful information being presented by an attractive woman in a semi-revealing outfit using modestly strong language, you are free to not watch the video without sending this author an angry Facebook message on the topic.]

[Note III: LOL, Baptist trigger warnings....]

Oh yeah, we'd forgotten about the chiropractors....

Over the years, this website's opposition to the texas "medical" association has primarily been rooted in their rabid support for abortion, euthanasia in hospitals, and Obamacare.  But we know they're is involved in all sorts of other terrible things.  But, like we said, we'd completely forgotten about the Chiropractors.

Gregory Johnson is a Houston based chiropractor with a popular YouTube channel.  We discovered Dr. Johnson's channel this past weekend during some fitness related research that wasn't supposed to be political.  But then the TMA video popped up....

Apparently, at some recent point, TMA attempted an effort to mandate a referral from a general practitioner before anyone in Texas could visit a chiropractor.  This was obviously a protectionist effort to use the coercive power of the state to create a new revenue stream.  We believe the effort was unsuccessful, but the fact that it had to be fought in the first place speaks volumes.

We first encountered TMA's anti-chiropractor nonsense during the Mike VanDeWalle special election campaign three years ago; at least TMA is staying classy.

This past January, Dr. Johnson released a video with professional wrestler Brooke Adams detailing TMA's latest villainy.  In the video, Dr. Johnson asks viewers to help make the video go "as viral as possible."  Considering that most of the top pro-free market activists in this state read this website, that's a request we can oblige.

Watch the full video below.

-----



Highlights:

• Raising money for the Texas Chiropractic Association's fight against TMA.

• Adams lives in Houston: "She wants to preserve the right [to see a chiropractor] without having to go through her medical doctor."

• TMA trying to change "scope of practice" laws to box chiropractors out of the market.

• Adams: "I owe the longevity of my career" to chiropractic.
• Note: Long career or not, we'd never heard of her until we discovered Dr. Johnson's YouTube channel.

• Adams: "I just think it's complete...[nonsense] that I have to spend extra money to go to a doctor just to get a referral."
• Selfish and unfair to consumers.

• Out of state clients would have to get a referral from a licensed doctor before they could see Johnson.

• TMA has sued the chiropractors multiple times and the chiropractors have won every time.

Texas Medical Association gets deeper into bed with Planned Parenthood

"And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
John 3:19

The so-called Texas "Medical" Association is a liberal special interest group who routinely attempts horrible things in the legislature.  Of their many transgressions, the worst is that they're rabidly pro-Abortion.  On that note:

Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas has named Dr. Sealy Massingill as its new chief medical officer.

As CMO, Massingill will oversee clinical staff at health centers in Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth, Waco, Austin, Corsicana, Paris, Tyler, and surrounding communities. He will also be in charge of managing Planned Parenthood’s direct patient care site at Southwest Fort Worth health center.

Massingill currently is president-elect of the Texas Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Section 2 Chair for District XI of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Previously, he served as president of the Texas Medical Association Foundation and president of the Tarrant County Medical Society Board of Directors.

Zimmerman poised to test "Konni Burton Theorem"

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

We have recently developed an informal hypothesis.  We've dubbed it the "Konni Burton theorem."  It goes like this: In swing districts, credible advocates for limited government win where kumbaya-style moderates lose.

In 2014, Konni Burton was elected to a Texas Senate seat in a Tarrant County swing district that was previously held by Wendy Davis (yes, THAT Wendy Davis).  During that year's general election, Burton was such a strong advocate for limited government that she refused to endorse the Texas "Medical" Association's monopoly over liability insurance.  Burton was successful in a district where moderates Mark Shelton and Kim Brimer had recently lost.

We mention Konni Burton as a long winded introduction to the fact that we attended Don Zimmerman's Austin City Council re-election campaign kickoff party last night and we sense a similar phenomenon.

Obviously, Zimmerman has been an unapologetic advocate for economic liberty and tax relief during his time on Council.  He leveraged his position on the dais to defeat the Travis County Courthouse bond.  He also stopped a hostile annexation for the first time in city history.

And, at least based on last night's turnout, Don has struck a chord in district 6.  Several dozen people showed up over the course of the event, though we didn't think about doing an actual body count until after the fact.  At a minimum, Zimmerman should have no trouble finding volunteers.

As we wrote about Burton and Zimmerman back in January: "Burton and Zimmerman are the most prominent voices in their respective legislative bodies in opposition to corporate welfare and other forms of cronyism and rent-seeking (*).  Both represent districts that are competitive in a general election.  Burton and Zimmerman's success proves that disgust with rent-seeking for purposes of "economic development" extends beyond Republican primary voters into the general electorate."

Bottom Line: We'll see what happens, but if Don Zimmerman ultimately wins re-election (especially in this climate), it will provide a lesson in how to win swing districts that others would be wise to emulate.

RUNOFF ENDORSEMENT: Dawn Buckingham for SD-24!!!

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan."
Proverbs 29:2

In SD-24, we supported Brent Mayes in the first round.  Obviously, that didn't pan out.  Backing Dawn Buckingham in the runoff is an easy choice.

On Primary election day we worked the same polling location as Dawn.  Over the course of a ten hour day, we had an extended opportunity to get to know her.  We discussed the ups and downs of the campaign, and the state of both Texas and the world.  It was a very reassuring conversation.  While we don't have permission to reveal the details, suffice to say Dawn Buckingham's views on the Federal Reserve system warm our heart.

But let's address the 800 pound gorilla in the room: TMA.  There's no denying that Dawn Buckingham has a long history with the Texas Medical Association.  That history was our dealbreaker issue in the first round.  As part of that history, she's also made campaign donations to several bad elected officials.  We've asked her about it several times, and that history was a major topic during the primary day conversation we mentioned above.  Dawn has always stated that, as a conservative, she thought she could be more effective working to change TMA from the inside than throwing rocks from the outside.  We don't particularly agree with that logic, but we understand it and accept it in this one case.

That being said, no discussion of the Texas Medical Association and the SD-24 race would be complete without discussing Dawn's opponent: Susan King.  While Dawn has certainly worked with TMA over the years, Susan King's husband ran TMA during the last legislative session.  In addition, Susan King is a well documented liberal who currently serves as a Joe Straus committee chair in the Texas House.  In other words, both candidates in this race have ties to TMA, but one is a Joe Straus lieutenant while the other has a pretty big liberty streak.

Speaking of Dawn Buckingham's liberty streak, earlier today she appeared at a Texas Tribune event.  At that event, she gave strong answers on religious liberty and the second amendment.  On religious liberty, she spoke in support of protections similar to those recently passed in North Carolina.  She also told us after the event that she doesn't buy this silly notion that protecting religious liberty is bad for business.  On the second amendment, she turned a gotcha question into an unprompted opportunity to voice her support for constitutional carry!!!

On education, Dawn voiced support for school choice while Susan King has been endorsed by Jimmie Don Aycock; we will also point out that we have Dawn on record as being willing to vote against the next round of bad UT regents.

Considering the candidates, this one's an easy choice: Dawn Buckingham for SD 24!!!

------

Watch Dawn's TribTalk below:

Pro-Abortion, pro-Death Panel, Pro-Obamacare liberal special interest group endorses Byron Cook....

"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage."
2 Peter 2:19

First things first, let's review relevant history:

• In 2013, the Texas Medical Association opposed HB 2.  In 2011, the Texas Medical Association played political games with the Sonogram Law.  Indeed, the Texas Medical Association has opposed every piece of pro-Life legislation Texas has passed over the past decade.

• The Texas Medical Association is a MAJOR obstacle to renovating Texas Advance Directives Act, which in its current form allows hospital "ethics committees" to cut off treatment against the wishes of patients and their families when they can make more money renting the bed out to someone else.

• During the past two legislative sessions, the Texas Medical Association has lobbied in favor of Medicaid Expansion under Obamacare.

Which makes THIS both predictable AND hilarious:

I am honored to receive the Texas Medical Association's PAC endorsement!Created in 1962, TEXPAC is one of the oldest...
Posted by Byron Cook on Friday, January 29, 2016

Pro-Abortion, pro-Death Panel, Pro-Obamacare Liberal Special Interest Group OPPOSES JONATHAN STICKLAND

"But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries."
Exodus 23:22

First things first, let's review relevant history:

• In 2013, the Texas Medical Association opposed HB 2.  In 2011, the Texas Medical Association played political games with the Sonogram Law.  Indeed, the Texas Medical Association has opposed every piece of pro-Life legislation Texas has passed over the past decade.

• The Texas Medical Association is a MAJOR obstacle to renovating Texas Advance Directives Act, which in its current form allows hospital "ethics committees" to cut off treatment against the wishes of patients and their families when they can make more money renting the bed out to someone else.

• During the past two legislative sessions, the Texas Medical Association has lobbied in favor of Medicaid Expansion under Obamacare.

Which makes THIS find from James Trimm VERY interesting:

Fisher’s Biggest Contributor is TEXPAC

Fisher’s largest single contributor was TexPac.  TexPac is the political arm of the Texas Medical Association (TMA).  TexPac donated $10,000, more than 10% of Fisher’s total support!  Let me tell you, TexPac money is NOT pro-life money!  

When the famous Pro-Life bill HB 2 was SB 5 (before Wendy Davis Filibustered SB 5 and it was reintroduced as HB 2)  TMA stood strongly against SB 5/ HB 2 and called it a “legislative intrusion into the patient-physician relationship” that “sets a dangerous precedent of the legislature prescribing the details of the practice of medicine.”

Bottom Line: As if there weren't already plenty of reasons to #StickwithStickland, driving the Texas Medical Association INSANE is always a worthwhile activity.

Pro-ABORTION, Pro-DEATH PANEL, Pro-OBAMACARE Liberal Special Interest groups for BYRON COOK....

"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage."
2 Peter 2:19

First things first, let's review relevant history:

• In 2013, the Texas Medical Association opposed HB 2.  In 2011, the Texas Medical Association played political games with the Sonogram Law.  Indeed, the Texas Medical Association has opposed every piece of pro-Life legislation Texas has passed over the past decade.

• The Texas Medical Association is a MAJOR obstacle to renovating Texas Advance Directives Act, which in its current form allows hospital "ethics committees" to cut off treatment against the wishes of patients and their families when they can make more money renting the bed out to someone else.

• During the past two legislative sessions, the Texas Medical Association has lobbied in favor of Medicaid Expansion under Obamacare.

Which makes the following items from various Byron Cook campaign finance reports very interesting:

Bottom Line: To understand how the Austin-insider crowd operates, follow the money.

SD-24 headed towards a Mayes/Buckingham runoff

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28

A couple months ago, Erick Erickson made waves when he predicted the Presidential race would come down to Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.  Thursday's Central Texas Republican Assembly meeting made it clear a similar dynamic has emerged in the SD-24 race.  Unless one of them commits a game changing mistake, we anticipate a runoff between Brent Mayes and Dawn Buckingham.

The similarities between Marco Rubio and Dawn Buckingham are uncanny.  Both are young, attractive, articulate candidates who are reasonably conservative most of the time.  Both are light years better than the genuine RINO's they've already boxed out of their respective races.  But both raise red flags.  In Rubio's case, it's amnesty; with Buckingham, it's the Texas Medical Association.

One of the first rules we learned following Texas politics is never to trust the Texas Medical Association.  They support Obamacare.  They're pro-Abortion.  They've spread lies about conservative Texas Senators.  Less than a year ago, while she was working with TMA, Buckingham gave a $500 donation to Joe Straus.  When we asked her about it on Thursday, she she she was doing her job for her trade association.  That's hardly a response that inspires confidence.

We could do worse, but we can also do better.

Brent Mayes speaks his mind.  He is, easily, the strongest candidate on Tenth Amendment issues.  Brent Mayes understands Texas can't look to D.C. for help; Texas has to help itself.  If necessary, Bernt Mayes would resist a Republican President.  With C.J. Grisham out of the race, Brent Mayes is the clear conservative choice.

This race reflects the success of Texas' conservative grassroots over the past three cycles.  The genuine RINO's haven't gained traction.  While we have reservations about one of the viable candidates, that candidate is still someone we could support in a general election.  But an 'A+' candidate beats a 'B' candidate every single time.  And remember, Ted Cruz is going to be at the top of this ticket.

Bottom Line: There are only two viable candidates in this race; check back with us on March 2nd if you believe otherwise.

Villalba endorses mandatory sterilization for traffic tickets

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God."
Romans 13:1

Texas State Capitol -- Texas State Representative Jason Villalba (R - Dallas) today released the following statement:

Traffic congestion in Texas is an impediment to economic activity and a threat to public health and safety; the time has come for a final solution.

Following consultations with the Texas Association of Business, the Texas Medical Association, and the Texas Municipal Police Association, I have concluded that the final solution to these interrelated challenges is sterilization of those who abuse their privileges on Texas roadways.

Over the past two decades, Texas' population has grown by leaps and bounds; unfortunately, one consequence of that growth has been traffic congestion that undermines the quality of life for every Texan.  While Governor Abbott has made transportation funding an emergency legislative item, Speaker Straus has called Governor Abbott's approach a "gimmick."  The time has come to end gimmicks and develop a final solution.

My final solution builds upon the groundbreaking work intellectuals like  Thomas Malthus and Margaret Sanger.  It allows law enforcement officers across Texas to "cull the herd."  Over time, this process of "weeding out" the unfit will reduce both crime and traffic congestion.

While we have passed the point in the session where Representatives can file new legislation, I intend to introduce my final solution as an amendment to any germane law enforcement bill that comes to the floor of the Texas House

The time has come for a comprehensive, progressive, forward-looking, approach to the interrelated challenges facing our state.  Half measures will no longer suffice.  Our constituents are telling us we need a final solution.

My final solution is a Reaganesque approach to accountability that protects Texas business interests, law enforcement, and medical industry.

Texas Medical Association Monopoly draws new threat

"For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed."
John 3:20

Not a good day for the pro-Abortion, pro-Obamacare Texas Medical Association:

Now that TMA has endorsed Democrat Libby Willis in the Senate District 10 race over her Republican opponent Konni Burton, the AA has said they want doctors to take a stand against TMA by asking that membership in TMA no longer be legally required for doctors to use a unique system for their liability insurance (Texas Medical Liability Trust). TMLT is a not-for-profit healthcare liability claim trust owned by its 17,000 physician policyholders. It is now the largest medical liability provider in the state. TMA membership is required.

“No physician should be required to join a group like the TMA that raises money for Leftist candidates,” the AAPS said in a statement and encouraged doctors to sign this petition.

Says AAPS, “This is no surprise to us, because behind the scenes the TMA has repeatedly opposed and even blocked conservative legislation in Austin, such as a common-sense bill to end confidential complaints against physicians.”

....

Conservatives seek to separate membership from access to TMLT potentially undermining physician legislative advocacy

A political standoff is brewing between two doctors’ groups that have the potential to cause serious implications for the way thousands of physicians in Texas cover their liability insurance needs. The already existing tension between the Texas Medical Association and the more conservative Association of American Physicians and Surgeons has reached a boiling point over the last few weeks following TMA’s endorsement of a Democrat to succeed Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Ft Worth, in the Texas Senate.

The two groups have not seen eye-to-eye on a number of political races this year. The AAPS said the Willis endorsement by TMA “is not an isolated example.” The group pointed to a right-wing blogger who the Texas Medical Association is becoming a “liberal-only special interest.”

For some on the right to make that argument, of course, is not news. But the AAPS is harnessing that rhetoric to try to drum up support for a policy shift that could have significant implications for TMA’s membership. But that’s only if the smaller group can gain traction with no real lobby presence in Austin. AAPS does not publicize how many members it has but the Wikipedia page about them says they have 3,000 members nationwide. The TMA has about 47,000 members in Texas.

Now that TMA has endorsed Democrat Libby Willis in the Senate District 10 race over her Republican opponent Konni Burton, the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons has said they want doctors to take a stand against TMA by asking that membership in TMA no longer be legally required for doctors to use a unique system for their liability insurance. “No physician should be required to join a group like the TMA that raises money for Leftist candidates,” the AAPS said in a statement and encouraged doctors to sign this petition.

The Texas Medical Liability Trust, or TMLT, was created in 1979 during what was described as the state’s first medical liability crisis. It’s a unique, not-for-profit health care liability claim trust owned by its physician policyholders. It is now the largest medical liability provider in the state, protecting more than 17,000 Texas physicians.

....

“Abortion-supporting EMILY’s List endorsed both Wendy Davis and Libby Willis earlier this year, as did a “Who’s Who” of hard-Left groups,” the AAPS said. “This is no surprise to us, because behind the scenes the TMA has repeatedly opposed and even blocked conservative legislation in Austin, such as a common-sense bill to end confidential complaints against physicians.”

Read the whole thing here.

Konni Burton gives liberal special interest group a conniption fit

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."
Proverbs 31:30

Ought oh, looks like the pro-Abortion, pro-Death Panel, pro-Obamacare Texas Medical Association is mad at Konni Burton:

TMA PAC SD10 Letter by jstewart05

Shorter version of TMA's attack:

Texas Medical Association protects Abortionists (and Obamacare)

"For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed."
John 3:20

This is a topic we've been meaning to address for awhile, but kudos to Texas Right to Life for beating us to the punch:

After multiple humiliating defeats at the polls, TEXPAC (the political arm of Texas Medical Association) penned an article on the recent elections, citing their obvious need to "squash medicine’s enemies" and the "anti-medicine opponents." During this recent primary election cycle, one of TMA’s lobbyists was overheard at the state capitol, "We are going to spend a lot of money to make sure that Texas Right to Life doesn’t have any influence next session." Good luck with that -- Pro-Life legislators have told us the same about TMA.

Who are these enemies and opponents of TMA?

Referenced by name in their article -- Texas Right to Life and Empower Texans, of course.

Instead of being daunted, Texas Right to Life is proud to rebuke the worldview of TMA/TEXPAC. We are doubly proud that almost all our candidates (and Empower Texans’) have beat the TMA big government, RINO (Republican In Name Only) establishment candidates in the recent Republican primary, runoff, and special elections for the last four election cycles.

But who is TMA, what do they do, and why should voters, let alone physicians who prioritize patient care, ever follow the lead of TMA?**

• TMA refused to support a ban on secret Do-Not-Resuscitate orders. (Senate Health & Human Services Witness List -- SB 303 -- March 19, 2013). In other words, TMA lobbied against patient/surrogate consent to DNR orders. 

• TMA opposed a law requiring abortion doctors to obtain admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their abortion practice. (TMA Article -- Nov. 1, 2013). Click here to read document. 

• In 2013, TMA again supported Texas hospital panels’ unchecked authority to withdraw all treatment from patients, against the wishes of a patient, even if the patient is conscious! (Senate Health & Human Services Witness List -- SB 303 -- March 19, 2013). 

• In 2012, TMA complained to the Department of State Health Services that doctors receiving state tax dollars for preventative care should also be allowed to discuss elective abortions with their patients. What exactly does abortion prevent? (TMA Press Release -- August 6, 2012). Click here to read document. 

• In 2011, TMA supported physicians’ abilities to withdraw artificial water and food from sick patients without patient or family consent. (House Human Services Witness List -- HB 3520 -- April 12, 2011). TMA opposed full disclosure by physicians to women regarding abortion procedures, specifically information related to development of the preborn child. (TMA Letter to then-Senator Duncan –Feb. 8, 2011). Click here to read document.

• In 2011, after Pro-Life legislators had successfully implemented Texas Right to Life’s strategy of redirecting family planning dollars to clean health care programs, TMA told legislators that they disagreed with this move, a move that would eventually result in the closure of 12 abortion clinics. In 2003, a known TMA lobbyist testified against enacting a Texas version of the Laci and Connor Peterson Law (Senate State Affairs Witness List – Feb. 24, 2003). Click here to read document.

Read the whole thing here.

Learn about TMA's support for Obamacare here.

Agendawise details TMA's endorsements of Democrats here.