#TXLEGE: Big 3 look serious on Property Taxes (while Democrats could be worse)

"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

[Note: We're having formatting issues putting them on this website, but both press conferences can be viewed via the Trib.]

This morning, the Governor, Lite Guv, and Speaker held a press conference to announce their joint property tax proposal.  The most important takeaway is that the House and Senate are beginning with identical bills.  That'll dramatically simplify negotiations down the line.

The unity means local governments will no longer be able to to play off the House vs. the Senate.  Speaker Bonnen specifically said, "those days are over."  Locals can engage productively, but they can no longer derail the process.  While nobody said it out loud, the contrast with the previous speaker is obvious.

The bill would require voter approval for all tax hikes over a 2.5% threshold alongside transparency enhancements.  Obviously, it's not everything we'd have liked.  But it's a gigantic step in the right direction and should be treated as such.  Nothing from today's press conference precludes using school finance reform to produce further property tax relief.

Another interesting nugget: Speaker Bonnen suggested appraisal reform was "easily deliverable to the Governor's desk."  He expected such reforms to pass with "overwhelming bipartisan support."  Good Deal.

Following the Big 3 press conference, Trey Martinez Fischer and Eddie Rodriguez held one for the Democrats.  Representative Fischer promised to ask "tough questions" about revenues.  He also stated his willingness to "agree to disagree" with the Speaker's starting position.  Coming from Trey Martinez Fischer, that could have been a lot worse.

Representative Rodriguez said he "wants to know how it will impact school finance" before committing to the Governor's plan.  That's not unreasonable.  Representative Rodriguez also announced that he was working on his own bill.  As a constituent, we're eager to see Representative Rodriguez's counteroffer for the property tax relief East Austin desperately needs.

Bottom Line: A lot of work remains to be done, but today's signs are encouraging.

#TXLEGE minimum wage theatrics lays foundation for late session shenanigans....

"Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy."
Proverbs 12:20

Good grief; they do this EVERY session.

Last week, the Democrats in the House (ie. Joe Straus' base) held a press conference alongside organized labor to agitate in favor of a higher minimum wage:

“The minimum wage needs to rise significantly. Raising the minimum wage will give more Texas families a fair shot at realizing their dreams. On the other hand, paying full-time workers a wage that keeps them mired in poverty is wrong and should not be the Texas way,” Patrick said at a news conference that included workers earning poverty wages and lawmakers seeking to raise the wage.

“We are asking the Legislature to act now. To help them, we are also asking Texans who agree that the minimum wage needs to rise to sign our petition at www.RaisetheWageTexas.org and let lawmakers know that Texans believe a full day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.”

....

“The state labor federation comes here every two years asking for fundamental decency for the hundreds of thousands of Texans at or near the minimum wage level,” Patrick said. “We are in good company, but not only with the working people, lawmakers and allies in this room. The people of Texas have expressed strongly in polling that they want the Legislature to raise the minimum wage.”

[Author's Note: The Patrick to which this press release refers is the Texas AFL-CIO president, not the Lieutenant Governor.]

Of course, this isn't about the minimum wage (it never is); it's about the clock.

Every session, the House Democrats make a push on the minimum wage.  Every session, under Joe Straus' leadership, this push moves "farther than expected."  Then, all of a sudden, we just 'happen' to find ourselves discussing the minimum wage as the clock runs out in May.

Last session, former Rep. Ferdinand "Trey Martinez" Fischer carried HJR 26: "Proposing a constitutional amendment establishing an increased minimum wage."  The bill eventually died in a party line floor vote, but not until they wasted 3 hours on the final day to pass bills debating the minimum wage.  Indeed, the fact this made it to the floor in the first place is revealing.

[Author's Note: The fact that they did this as a constitutional amendment (ie. where you need 100 votes) instead of as a regular bill (ie. where you need 76 votes) further illustrates the degree to which this was only ever intended as a time wasting measure.]

Bottom Line: And the more things change....

Flynn 'attacks' UT Politburo he's protected for half a decade....

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

Dan Flynn blocked us on social media eons ago, but a source passes this along:

Seriously?!?

So the same Dan Flynn who surrendered his dignity in an attempt to impeach the Regent who was pursuing accountability against that self-same "politically correct" university administration now has the chutzpah to complain about a sensationalistic story that made national news?!?

SJW-related nonsense is the natural result of the University of Texas (and higher education in general) having too much money.   When he had the opportunity to do something about it, Dan Flynn instead chose to protect that money.  Nobody should be surprised by what followed.

We look forward to the bevy of Higher Ed. reform bills Dan Flynn intends to file next session but... we're not going to hold our breath.

Bottom Line: Actions speak louder than Facebook.

Fisher's unintentionally HUGE revelation about Joe Straus

"He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed."
Proverbs 13:20

In an article about the various controversies surrounding campus carry at UT, we learn something interesting about the inner workings of the Texas House:

Pro- and anti-gun factions are fighting over whether Texas' new campus carry law allows school leaders to enact gun bans in classrooms, dorms and other buildings. With both sides saying they're right, it might take a court case to determine the real winner.

....

"The intent was that licensed concealed handgun license carriers be allowed to carry their concealed weapons into the classroom," bill sponsor Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress, said last week. "We're not going to allow the regents or the students or professors to determine that you're not allowed to carry a weapon... The Legislature won't tolerate that."

Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer, D-San Antonio, disagrees.

"There seems to be a difference of opinion as to whether or not you can prohibit guns on campus inside a classroom, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that you can," said Martinez-Fischer, a member of the House committee that drafted the compromise language. "I respect Allen Fletcher, but even Allen knows he wasn't in the room when the compromise language was struck."

[Author's Note: Emphasis added.]

Remember, Speaker makes appointments to conference committees.

Also, remember, Trey Martinez Ferdinand Frank Fisher is this guy:



Bottom Line: What the HECK was Trey Martinez Ferdinand Frank Fisher doing on the conference committee for a major second amendment bill when the primary author of the bill wasn't even allowed in the room?!?

"Trey Martinez" Fischer: The Original Rachel Dolezal

"A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness."
Proverbs 12:23

Last week, it was reported that an NAACP leader in Washington State who had claimed to be black was actually a narcissistic white chick; Cahnman's Musings wonders if she's been watching the Texas Legislature.

Ferdinand Frank Fischer III is an aggressively pro-Abortion Democrat state representative from San Antonio.   Since 2000, he's represented a supermajority Hispanic district.  In the racialist world of #HAILSATANTX Democrat identity politics, that required him to re-invent himself as "Trey Martinez" Fischer.

As Watchdog explained in 2013:

Ferdinand Frank Fischer III would be a great name for a Mexican monarchist trying to reclaim the crown of Emperor Maximilian, but it’s a lousy name for an ambitious American politician from a Latino district of San Antonio.

That’s why Fischer ditched it years ago, trying on a couple of monikers before building a name for himself as Trey Martinez Fischer, politician on the rise.

....

There’s no mystery why Fischer would want to pretend to be named Martinez. Sixty percent of the voting-age population in his district is Hispanic, and the percentage is even higher among Democrats. Six of the seven Democratic state representatives from Bexar County use Hispanic last names; the other five, as far as we know, have every right to do so.

....

Ferdinand Frank Fischer, III is the name on his children’s birth records and his attorney’s license. It’s the name on multiple deeds of property, including one from his own mother, and it’s the name on properties he owns in Bexar County. It’s the name under which he was convicted of driving while intoxicated as a young man in the late ’80s, and it’s that name on a lien against him released last year.

It gets better:

State law dictates that a “candidate’s name shall be printed on the ballot with the given name or initials first, followed by a nickname, if any, followed by the surname.” It forbids two nicknames, allowing just one “nickname of one unhyphenated word of not more than 10 letters.”

For fifteen years, Ferdinand Fischer has lied on the ballot in violation of state law.

From Spokane, WA to the Texas House of Representatives, one trait of leftism is the rejection of obvious truth for fashionable absurdity.  Nowhere is this truer than with race.  Lying to become the 'oppressed' victim du jour epitomizes this mentality.  By contrast, we assess people as individuals.  These incidents reveal that the content of both Rachel Dolezal's and Ferdinand Frank Fischer III's character as that of a pendejo....

First Amendment Tuesday: Fire the Coaching Staff?!?

"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; it's certainly not boring!!!

Tony McDonald (Empower Texans) (Partial):



Highlights:

• Joe Straus doesn't care about conservative priorities.

• Every reform we're pursuing is opposed by someone whose livelihood depends on it.

• "From a day to day, bill to bill, perspective," lobbyists control the process.

Emily Kebodeaux/Jim Graham (Texas Right to Life), Tony McDonald (Reprise):

Highlights:

• We haven't heard a pro-Life bill on the floor yet.

• Explains Sunset process.

• J.D. Sheffield's five minute diatribe about how unborn babies had to be "dealt with" was complimented by Planned Parenthood.

• Four Price pulled the bill to protect Straus from having to overrule Trey Martinez Fischer's point of order.
• Cuts off members from being able to overrule Straus

• 2 hearings later this week.

• "Not one regular pro-Life bill has passed in Texas since 2003."
• Songram and HB 2 only passed because Rick Perry put his foot down.

• House only hearing watered down pro-Life bills; Senate has only heard one pro-Life bill period.

• Texas' national pro-Life ranking is falling.

• 600 bills have passed a chamber, only one on either life or 2A: "That's what they really think of the Republican platform."

• In the 570 days between now and next session, 120,000 babies will be killed if the legislature fails to act now.

• "If we do not win in the next 5 weeks, it is incumbent upon us to change the players on the field."

Texas Homeschool Coalition:

Highlights:

• SB 1543 by Perry has passed.

• Tebow bill had hearing in Senate.

• Parental rights bill has had hearing in both chambers.

Mary Lynn Gerstenschlager (Texas Eagle Forum):

Highlights:

• Oppose HB 742 by Huberty.

• Marriage bills in Calendars.

• Todd Hunter's red card/green card system is their way of blowing us off.

Abbott kneecaps U.T. reform effort

"In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.  And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.”  So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men.  Then the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And some of the people of the servants of David fell; and Uriah the Hittite died also."
2 Samuel 11:14-17

Well, THAT didn't take long:

Gov. Greg Abbott announced his nominees to fill upcoming vacancies on the University of Texas System board on Thursday, and in doing so, sent clear signals about his vision for those boards.

In an interview with the Tribune last week, Abbott was asked about two regents whose terms on the UT System board are almost over: Would his appointees more resemble Gene Powell, who served as the board's chairman during a particularly tumultuous time marked by tension with the University of Texas at Austin administration, or Steve Hicks, who was a vocal advocate of ceasing investigations into the flagship university that were contributing to that rift?

"I want people who are dedicated to the job who will focus on bringing excellence to the organization," Abbott responded. "I will give them marching orders about what I want them to achieve, and I expect them to achieve it without micromanaging."

That he was referring to the Hicks model became crystal clear on Thursday when Abbott re-appointed Hicks to the board. Powell and Bobby Stillwell, who was an ally of Hicks, will cycle off the board.

....

Abbott also appointed Sara Martinez Tucker and David Beck to the UT board.

First things first, Sarah Martinez Tucker served in the U.S. Department of Education during the administration of George W. Bush, which by itself tells you everything you need to know.

Next, Steve Hicks is the biggest apologist for Bill Powers on the current board.

But David Beck's nomination takes the cake:

In the last 14 years, he’s given to Texas Democrats, including Kirk Watson, Trey Martinez Fischer and Rodney Ellis

[Emphasis added]

That would be the same Trey Martinez Ferdinand Frank Fischer who was Joe Straus' designated hatchet man on the Wallace Hall impeachment committee.

Beck is also on the board of "Friends of the University" PAC, whose self description includes this gem:

The only criterion for receiving a donation from Friends of The University has been that the recipient shares our commitment to UT. In the early years the PAC supported staunch UT advocates such as Bob Bullock, John Montford, Bill Ratliff and David Sibley. More recently, it has supported top UT Austin allies like Joe Straus, Judith Zaffirini and Greg Abbott.

Because nothing screams Republican like Bob Bullock and Judy Zaffarini!!!

It gets better; from Page 10 of Abbott's own report issued in one of his final acts as A.G.:

In late 2000 or early 2001, the [U.T. Law School] Foundation President, David Beck appears to have sent or e-mailed a “proposal” to UT-Austin suggesting [former Law School] Dean [and current University President Bill] Powers receive a deferred compensation.

Bottom Line: The Texas Senate needs to kill these nominations.

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Update: It gets better, turns out Beck and Tucker both supported U.T.'s Affirmative Education program in 2013.

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Update II: Turns out Tucker is also a Common Core supporter.

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Update III: Again, even better; praise from Kirk Watson....

Post by Kirk Watson.

Charlie Geren (and Fischer) Reveal Leadership Playbook

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
Ephesians 5:11

This morning, we attended the Texas Tribune's On the Road: A Symposium Preview the 84th Texas Legislature.  The first panel, The House vs. the Senate was the most informative.  In that panel, Charlie Geren, along with Trey Martinez Fischer, outlined the playbook legacy Republicans will use against conservatives in the 84th Texas Legislature.


First, expect leadership to attempt to draw distinctions between "real business" and "red meat issues."  According to Geren, education, transportation, and water are the "real business" "we need to focus on."  While Geren allowed that "there will be some red meat," he expected Team Straus (whom Geren repeatedly referred to as "Joe") to focus on "real business first."

Trey Martinez Fischer was Geren's tag-team partner.  That, by itself, is revealing.  Fisher expressed his desire for the House to focus on "two big projects" to address "our common interests" during the bulk of the session before they "fight in May."  Fischer expects "a meltdown" (ie. typical partisan disagreement), "but how much work do you want to get done?!?"  before said "meltdown."  According to Fischer, "we can have fights, but lets have sensible fights."

Translated from bull crap into English, this means passing the leadership/lobbyist agenda in April, then taking show votes for campaign mailers.  To do so, distinguish between "real business" and "red meat issues."  The bi-partisan lobbyist establishment will get their priorities addressed, and issues conservatives care about will only see the light of day if there's time (which, of course, there won't be).

Today, Charlie Geren revealed the legacy Republican agenda for the 84th #TXLEGE.  Historically, this playbook has worked because it muddied the waters and voters (even activists) weren't paying attention.  But that's no longer the case.  We've all seen this movie before.  If current leadership survives January 13th, it will be interesting to see how much juice the old playbook has left....

Straus Lieutenants Continue to Attempt Witness Intimidation

"He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,
Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."
Proverbs 29:1

First, Lyle Larson:

Larson witness intimidation letter -- 9/18

Next, Frank Ferdinand Fischer:

TMF witness intimidation letter

(h/t Watchdog)

U.T. Admissions: Straus lieutenants attempting witness intimidation

"He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,
Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."
Proverbs 29:1

Ummmm, excuse me?!?

Legislators want to sit in on UT admissions investigation

Two state representatives from San Antonio who have been assigned to monitor the University of Texas System are taking their role seriously. Apparently more seriously than system officials would like.

Reps. Trey Martinez Fischer, a Democrat, and Lyle Larson, a Republican, told UT System Board of Regents Chairman Paul Foster this week that they “plan on attending or otherwise monitoring all interviews” conducted by Kroll Associates Inc. in connection with its investigation into admissions at the University of Texas at Austin. The investigation was prompted in part by accusations that candidates who are recommended by state lawmakers and other influential people receive favoritism.

In a letter to Foster, the two legislators offered to have the interviews conducted at the Capitol, “which would have the added advantage of audio and video equipment to record and preserve the interviews.”

....

System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa said in June that he was commissioning the outside investigation in light of a new complaint about the “integrity” of the admissions process. That was a reversal of his decision to forgo further review after an earlier inquiry by the system reached mixed conclusions.

The system found that applicants recommended by legislators were accepted to the School of Law and undergraduate programs at much higher rates than their counterparts who didn’t get such backing. But the system also found no “evidence of a quid pro quo for admissions decisions, or other wrongdoing.”

 Read the whole thing here.
Read Lyle Larson and Trey Martinez Fischer's letter in full:

9.8.14 Ltr From Rep. Lyle Larson Rep. Try Martinez Fischer

"Transparency" Committee Meeting in Secret

Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
From the rebellion of the workers of iniquity,
Psalm 64:2

John H. Reagan State Office Building -- In a moment of political courage worthy of Barack Obama, the Texas House committee investigating Wallace Hall met in public today...for ten minutes before going into "executive session."  Committee co-Chair Dan Flynn spoke briefly after commencing proceedings half an hour late.  He repeated his ongoing tantrum about Wallace Hall's refusal to participate in this fiasco.

Trey Martinez Fischer was the only other committee member to speak.  His discussed the need for the committee to "present a united face."  We have no idea what that means.

To be honest, the highlight of the morning was eavesdropping on a Texas Monthly's reporter discussing Summer camps with one of the U.T. administration people; no incestuous relationship there!!!

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Two more must reads related to the scandals at UT: Wall St. Journal here, Empower Texans here.

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UPDATE: They voted to impeach, we'll comment in the coming days, but TPPF released the following statement....

AUSTIN – Dr. Thomas Lindsay, Director of the Center for Higher Education at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, issued this statement on today's 7-1 vote of the Texas House Special Committee on Transparency to recommend impeachment of University of Texas Regent Wallace Hall:

 

"Today’s vote by the House Special Committee on Transparency — which conducted its debate behind closed doors and with no public record — is a step backwards on transparency and accountability in Texas government. For exercising his right and duty to request information of one of the universities he is entrusted with overseeing, Wallace Hall now faces impeachment and possibly jail. The biggest losers in all this are Texas college students, their parents, and taxpayers. This vote is a powerful deterrent to future efforts to ensure transparency in government, and therefore directly contrary to the best interest of our public higher-education system."

 

UT Chancellor Admits Wallace Hall inquiry Legitimate

[Full Disclosure: Cahnman's Musings assisted Agendawise with their livestream of the Wallace Hall impeachment hearing today; views expressed in this forum are ours and ours alone.]

At 1:38 pm, University of Texas chancellor Francisco Cigarroa admitted that regent Wallace Hall "raised valid concerns" in his inquiry; the Texas House committee on Transparency in state agency operations spent the remaining seven hours and fifty nine minutes of today's eight hour hearing creating a rhetorical haystack under which to bury that needle.

[Author's Note: Trust me, we understand the irony of a 'transparency' committee spending eight hours attempting to obfuscate the truth.]

This exchange happened during questioning from Texas Rep. Charles Perry (R - Lubbock).  Cigarroa admitted that "some good things have come out of" Hall's inquiry.  Cigarroa specifically listed technology transfer, transparency, and questions surrounding admissions/fundraising at the University law school.  Cigarroa further admitted that the University has implemented several of Hall's recommendations.  Representative Perry thanked Cigarroa for his forthrightness.

The hearing began with Chairman Dan Flynn (R - Canton) and co-chair Carol Alvarado (D - Houston) throwing a temper-tantrum.  Hall declined to testify unless the committee subpoenaed him.  Hall's reason for doing so was that, absent a subpoena, he could have opened himself up to a civil lawsuit.  Flynn called Hall's valid concern "a slap in the face of this committee."  Alvarado explained "invited guests don't get to set the terms on which they appear."

Next up, two former regents testified about standard practices for University regents.  Their complaint about Hall stemmed from the fact that he went outside the chain of command.  Going behind the board and the UT President is 'inappropriate.'

After lunch, following the interaction between Chancellor Cigarroa and Rep. Perry detailed above, Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (D - San Antonio) exposed his inner buffoon.  Fischer browbeat Cigarroa for an hour over a variety of petty topics, including details of preferential treatment for retiring Rep. Jim Pitts' son at UT Law School.  Fischer's attempt to set Governor Perry up as the bad guy fell flat.

The other noteworthy clown from today's hearing was (Joe Straus lieutenant) Rep. Lyle Larson (R - San Antonio).  Larson was upset because Hall's inquiry "created a lot of disruption" at UT.  Larson also took multiple cheap shots at Governor Perry.

Bill Powers' testimony was surprisingly anticlimatic.  He wasn't sworn in until after Cigarroa, six hours into the hearing.  Powers detailed his concern that Hall's inquiry has hurt recruiting and retention.  Powers also feels that Hall's inquiry poses "significant harm to our academic reputation."  Powers explained that, in his opinion, the $200 million software donation scandal was a case where reasonable people could disagree.

Wallace Hall is the Ted Cruz of Higher Education in Texas.  Because he's a threat to business as usual, he rubs a lot of people the wrong way.  But the University of Texas Chancellor has admitted his inquiry is legit, and that's the only major takeaway from today's hearing.