Friday afternoon, the Western District three-judge panel in San Antonio, which is overseeing redistricting and scheduling of the Texas primary, held a hearing in order to determine options as to when the Texas primary should be held, whether we will have one or two primaries, where the district lines will be, and an overall path forward on how to conduct the party’s primaries and state conventions.
The court heard from attorneys from various plaintiffs groups, as well as lawyers from the Attorney General’s office representing the State and the legislatively drawn maps, and also from the attorney for the Republican Party of Texas (RPT), Donna Davidson. The court also heard testimony from various witnesses, including Harris County Clerk Stan Stanart, who was called as a witness by the RPT. During the hearing, the court also allowed RPT Chairman Steve Munisteri to address the panel in order for him to outline numerous concerns of the state party relative to the primaries and state conventions.
During the hearing, various positions were advocated relative to when the primary should be held and proposed dates spanned from April 3rd to June 26th. The court also asked numerous questions concerning the need for and feasibility of a bifurcated primary. The Republican Party of Texas’ position was that it was still possible to accomplish a single unified primary on April 3rd if maps could be obtained by early February. The Party also took the position, that if for some reason this could not be accomplished – that a single unified primary as late as April 17th would still be feasible if maps were received from the court by mid-February. During his testimony to the court, Chairman Munisteri also explained the difficulty (if not near-impossibility) of moving the state convention, and in his opinion, the impossibility of preparing properly for state conventions (scheduled for June 7-9) if the primary were to be held in late May.
The judges ordered that representatives of the two political parties confer during a break to see if there was any common ground that could be agreed upon. Chairman Munisteri entered into discussions directly with the attorney for the Texas Democratic Party, and upon the judges’ return, the political parties made an agreed-upon statement that if maps were issued by mid-February, a single unified primary could still be held by mid-April.
Also during the hearing, the Attorney General’s attorneys reported to the court that they had been involved in significant negotiations with some of the plaintiff’s groups who filed the lawsuits against the state. The lawyers for the Attorney General indicated that it was a possibility that agreement on maps could be reached between the state and the plaintiff’s groups and that they would work over the weekend and report back to the court on Monday or Tuesday. The Republican Party of Texas has not been invited to participate in these discussions, so we can offer you no details as to the substance of these talks.
After the testimony and statements were taken, the court recessed, returned and issued a unanimous decision. The key points of that decision are as follows:
1. They will issue an order suspending the deadlines of the December 16th order.
2. They advised the political parties that they can inform party officials and candidates that the February 1st filing deadline will be vacated and that the drawing for ballot positions next week should be postponed.
3. They indicated that if the parties could agree on maps and submit those maps by February 6th, that an April 3rd primary was still obtainable. However, the court and the attorneys have been very specific that any agreement is not a settlement.
4. That if there was no agreement and maps were not drawn by February 6th, that an April 3rd primary would not take place.
5. In the event there is no settlement agreement and maps are not completed by February 6th, the court makes no present indication of when the new primary would be rescheduled.
6. In the event the parties cannot agree on new maps, the court requires them to submit advisories to the court as to which districts are still in dispute and the issues related thereto.
7. The court will then schedule future hearings if necessary and issue new orders if necessary.
Advisory to all Republican county chairmen, precinct chairmen, and party activists – As it is still a possibility that we will have a single unified primary on April 3rd, you can still continue your plans for an April 3rd primary as best as you can until at least February 6th. By February 6th, we should know whether or not we will have an April 3rd primary. Even if maps are not submitted by February 6th, there is still a possibility that a single unified primary could be held in mid-April if the court can draw maps by mid-February. It is unclear what will happen in the event that maps are not drawn by mid-February. We will let you know as soon as we know. We do expect there to be a new schedule issued with new filing deadlines, etc., once it is clear when the primary will be finally scheduled. The final primary date will not be determined until maps are ready to be issued by the court. This is all we know at the present time. Please stay tuned for further updates from the State Party – we will issue them as soon as we have additional information.

As we previously reported, last Friday, the Attorney General filed a motion requesting that the three-judge panel in San Antonio reconsider setting the redistricting status conference previously set for February 1st, to an earlier date. The motion stated that such a late conference date could unnecessarily delay obtaining new congressional and legislative district maps, thus putting the April 3rd unified primary date in jeopardy.
Also on Friday, the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) filed an advisory in support of that position (see Friday’s advisory). Over this past weekend, the RPT consulted with numerous organizations representing various counties on the topic of the election calendar and deadlines. After those consultations, RPT filed an additional advisory (see advisory) with the panel on Monday morning, suggesting new election calendar deadlines which would still allow for an April 3rd unified primary (see proposed order). On Sunday, Judge Xavier Rodriguez acknowledged receipt of the filings and ordered that all responses be filed by 10am, Monday, January 23rd. After all parties had filed their responses, Judge Garcia issued a new order on Monday afternoon rescinding his previous order for a February 1st status conference and rescheduling the status conference for Friday, January 27th at 1:00pm. (see order)
The order also instructed all parties to confer and see if they can come up with maps by agreement in sufficient time to still allow the April 3rd primary. The court indicated that if the parties couldn’t agree, that the court wanted the parties to narrow the issues for further discussion. The court also indicated the possibility of having two primaries remained an option if maps could not be drawn in time, with at least the Presidential primary and precinct conventions held on April 3rd, and all other primaries held at a date to be determined in the future. Moreover, the court instructed the parties before the Washington D.C. panel to advise the court of the need for a timely decision in the event their decision would impact the Bexar County panel’s drawing of district lines.
Chairman Steve Munisteri issued the following statement with regard to the court’s latest order. “We are pleased that the Court took note of our concerns that a February 1st hearing unnecessarily delayed the completion of the redistricting process and welcome the court’s decision to move up the hearing by four days. However, the court’s order also indicated that the parties needed to attempt to agree to new maps immediately in order for the court to meet the April 3rd deadline. Since the parties have been involved in contentious litigation, it will be difficult to achieve consensus among all the parties. This fact raises concerns that the process will drag out an inordinate amount of time, thereby again placing the April 3rd unified primary date in jeopardy. Therefore, the RPT will continue to advocate that the court move as swiftly as possible to draw their own maps in accordance with the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion. The RPT position will be that a single unified primary in early April is the best possible result, and still obtainable, but the ability to accomplish this rests squarely in the hands of the three-judge panel and the timeliness of their actions.”

Advisory to all Republican county chairmen, precinct chairmen, and party activists – it is still possible that we could have a unified primary election on April 3rd, so therefore, RPT still advises that you proceed with planning as if an April 3rd primary will occur. However, unless the court moves at a faster pace, you should be aware that there is a significant likelihood that the April 3rd unified primary date will either be pushed back further into April, or that the court will order a bifurcated primary with at least a Presidential primary occurring in April and the elections affected by redistricting to be at a later date. It is unclear what would occur to other statewide or countywide contests which are not affected by redistricting. Although the court order did not specifically state this – it seems apparent that the re-opening of the filing period will not occur before February 1st. Therefore, the closing of the filing period will also not be on February 1st, and you should plan accordingly. We should know more after the Friday, January 27th hearing – so please stay tuned for further announcements. Be prepared to be flexible and to react on short notice. We are receiving a tremendous volume of calls and emails from candidates and party officials. Because of the limitation of staff, we request that you only call or write on this issue if you have a question that is not covered by these advisories. We will endeavor to keep you up to date as quickly and as timely as possible.

All Pictures provided by Marc Friedland Photography
Marc M. Friedland of Marc Friedland Photography is a talented, nationally-published, award-winning Dallas, Texas professional photographer whose passion exudes both in the quality of his work and his enthusiastic personality. His 33-year love affair with location and studio photography focuses on Family Wall Portraiture, Weddings, Events [Corporate or Personal], and Commercial work to include Glamour/Fashion and Business Promotion. Marc has the knack to capture just the right moments for a candid image or that creative “look”. The Marc Friedland Photography Portrait Studio is located in Far North Dallas. Marc is a Member of the Professional Photographers of America, the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International, the Texas Professional Photographers Association, the Dallas Professional Photographers Association and the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. He also has an extensive portfolio of Fine Art images of nature and landscape images. Marc can be reached at 469.223.7766.

www.MarcFriedlandPhoto.com

All Pictures provided by Marc Friedland Photography
Marc M. Friedland of Marc Friedland Photography is a talented, nationally-published, award-winning Dallas, Texas professional photographer whose passion exudes both in the quality of his work and his enthusiastic personality. His 33-year love affair with location and studio photography focuses on Family Wall Portraiture, Weddings, Events [Corporate or Personal], and Commercial work to include Glamour/Fashion and Business Promotion. Marc has the knack to capture just the right moments for a candid image or that creative “look”. The Marc Friedland Photography Portrait Studio is located in Far North Dallas. Marc is a Member of the Professional Photographers of America, the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International, the Texas Professional Photographers Association, the Dallas Professional Photographers Association and the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. He also has an extensive portfolio of Fine Art images of nature and landscape images. Marc can be reached at 469.223.7766.

www.MarcFriedlandPhoto.com

This afternoon, the U.S. District Court three-judge panel in San Antonio signed into effect the proposed agreement between the Texas Democratic Party and the Republican Party of Texas as documented earlier today.
Per the signed order – the new date of the 2012 General Primary Election is set as Tuesday, April 3, 2012.
Please note – the current filing deadline to submit an application for the primary ballot will end on Monday, December 19, 2011 at 6:00pm. The court order provides for a reopened filing period which will begin at a date to be determined. We will keep you informed of any further announcements or developments regarding federal court action which affects these rulings.
________________________________________

• February 1, 2012, 6:00pm – New deadline of court-ordered reopened filing period, in which candidates for all offices have the opportunity to amend, withdraw or file a new application for the ballot.

• February 3, 2012 – New deadline for County Executive Committees to conduct drawing for candidate order on ballot.

• April 3, 2012 – Date of the 2012 General Primary Election.

• April 14 or April 21, 2012 – Date of County and Senatorial District Conventions, as determined by the State Chair of each political party.

• June 5, 2012 – Date of the 2012 General Primary Runoff Election.
If signed by the three-judge panel – nothing in the order shall be construed by the Court or the parties as a waiver of the positions of each party with respect to the schedule or conduct of the upcoming election. The parties’ positions as stated at the December 13, 2011 hearing are expressly reserved. Additionally, the Republican and Democratic parties have agreed that it is necessary to have a primary early enough in April to allow them to conduct their statutorily required conventions as previously planned.

Dear Texas Republican,
In just the past few minutes, we obtained a signed court order from the three-judge federal panel in San Antonio. Here are the latest updates:
As we reported last night, the new filing period for all candidates from precinct chair to U.S. President has been extended to 6:00 pm on Monday, December 19th.
First, the Republican Party of Texas and Republican County Chairmen are now accepting ballot applications for all primary races, including those affected by Friday’s Supreme Court Ruling (Texas House, Texas Senate and U.S. Congress.)
Candidates for the 2012 Primary Election who are seeking to run in one of these affected districts whose lines have not been finalized, can submit their application and designate a district number from either the map passed by the Texas Legislature or the map imposed by the three-judge federal panel. Candidates at the county level who are seeking an office with a precinct designation (i.e., County Commissioner, Justice of the Peace, Precinct Chair, etc.) should also file with their intended district number. In all instances, if that district number or map is later changed, you will have the opportunity to amend or withdraw your application.
This workaround has been made possible by further direction from today’s ruling. The ruling has stated that once maps are finalized following the Supreme Court hearing in mid-January, there will be a new filing period for all primary ballot races.
During this new filing period:
• Candidates who have already filed may amend their district designation to match the appropriate district designation for their residence.

• Candidates who wish to withdraw their filing, will be entitled to do so. Withdrawn filings will be entitled to a refund of the filing fee.

• New candidate filings will be accepted for all races.
Candidates filing by petition should be cautioned that only the signatures from voters who reside in the districted presented in the FINALIZED map can be applied to their required totals. If you choose this method, you should be prepared to either collect additional signatures or to pay the filing fee should your district change.
On Thursday, representatives from the Texas Democratic Party and the Republican Party of Texas will enter a mediation session to discuss the date for the 2012 Primary Election. This issue was not addressed in today’s court order, but we hope to have an update for you soon following that meeting.
Thank you for your interest in this process, and for your continued patience. These are certainly the most interesting and complex election administration decisions that any of your Republican Party of Texas staff can ever recall. We will continue to keep you updated as we receive more specific direction.
________________________________________

Monday, September 26, 2011

Tee It Up for 2012!
Collin County Republican Party
Golf Tournament
TPC Craig Ranch
8000 Collin McKinney Parkway

Schedule

• 11:30 AM: Check in & Driving Range Open
• 1:00 PM: Shotgun Start (Box lunch served on golf cart)
• 5:30 PM: Buffet Dinner & Awards

Contests

• Hole-in-One Contest
• Closest to the Pin
• Longest Drive
• Team Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place

$250 Player Fee Includes:

• Green & Cart Fees
• Range Balls
• Lunch
• Goody Bag
• Award Ceremony & Buffet Dinner
• $200 Early Bid Player Fee through September 1st

Host Chair

• David Craig, Founder TPC Craig Ranch

Tournament Chairs

• Chuck O’Reilly: oreillyc3@aol.com
• Richard Dodson: dodson15@yahoo.com
• Tim McCord: collincountygop@sbcglobal.net

Register

First Name
Last Name
Street Address
City State Zip
Home Phone
Office Phone
Mobile Phone
Email
Employer
Occupation
Employer and occupation information is collected for Federal/State PAC reporting purposes only.
Number of Players

Collin County Legislative Briefing Luncheon

Legislators

• The Honorable Florence Shapiro: State Senator 8
• The Honorable Craig Estes: State Senator 30
• The Honorable Van Taylor: State Representative 66
• The Honorable Jerry Madden: State Representative 67
• The Honorable Ken Paxton: State Representative 70
• The Honorable Jodie Laubenberg: State Representative 89

(Austin, TX) The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) honored State Representative Jerry Madden with the prestigious “Legislator of the Year” award at the organization’s 38th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Friday, August 5, 2011.

“I am honored to accept this award which is a testament to the dividends being reaped by Texas in wake of adoption of progressive and cost-effective criminal justice policies over the last four years,” said Rep. Madden. “I am proud of the support from my colleagues in the Texas Legislature and appreciative of the work by the leadership and staff at ALEC which have helped foster and advocate creative and evidence-based programs and practices in the field of corrections.”

Representative Madden has been an ALEC member since first being elected to the Texas House in 1993. He was named Chairman of the House Committee on Corrections in 2005, and since then has testified before Congress and been invited by policy formulating organizations and/or various state legislators to explain reforms in both the adult and juvenile criminal justice systems implemented by Texas in a bi-partisan fashion under his and Senator John Whitmire’s leadership.

Owing to their joint success in changing the Texas tough “lock-em up and throw away the key” approach which didn’t deliver entirely constructive outcomes other than “construction” of more prisons, Whitmire (a Democrat) and Madden (a Republican) were named by Governing magazine as one of eight Public Officials of the Year in 2010. As a consequence of probation and parole changes and investments in substance abuse treatment and similar diversion programs which began in 2007, a state prison will be closed for the first time in Texas history by the end of August.

“As a state representative and committee chairman, Jerry has served his constituents and the state with a pragmatic determination and conservative approach to governing. I am proud to continue to support Jerry’s policy agenda for the state’s corrections program that has become an example for the nation to follow,” said former Speaker of the Texas House and Immediate Past National Chair of ALEC, Rep. Tom Craddick. “He has earned the respect of myself and his colleagues with his guided leadership and decision-making abilities that make him an excellent choice for ALEC’s 2011 Legislator of the Year. I am elated that my friend, fellow member and House chairman is being recognized with this prestigious award.”

“Jerry is a dedicated public servant who puts service over politics,” said ALEC Texas State Chair, Rep. Jim Jackson. “I am proud that he is getting this award, as it is well-deserved.”

State Senator Florence Shapiro remarked, “Jerry and I have worked together as a team on many important bills, such as a statewide ban on K2 during the 2011 Legislative Session, creating and implementing the Nurse Family Partnership program in our state, and our development of the Texas Virtual School Network. He is a great partner and friend, and the ALEC award is highly deserved.”

“Jerry is our local Richardson Representative who is known nationally for his work. It is my pleasure to serve in the Texas House alongside him, and see how effective he is,” said Rep. Angie Button. “This formal acknowledgment of his accomplishments is well deserved, and I am very proud of him.”

ALEC offers state legislators the opportunity to interact with some of America’s most influential public and private sector leaders to discuss critical issues facing the states and nation today. It is the nation’s largest nonpartisan, individual membership association of state legislators with over 2,000 members representing all fifty states, with almost 80 alumni who are either serving presently in the U.S. Congress, or are sitting or former governors.

This afternoon, all 19 Republican State Senators stood together in a united front to defeat obstructionist tactics of the Democratic Party and successfully moved forward House Bill 1, pertaining to the 2012-2013 state budget. It was apparent over the last couple of days that Democratic senators were attempting to hold the budget process hostage through the two-thirds rule in order to extort higher spending levels. Senate Republicans out-maneuvered their Democratic counterparts by bringing the bill up today on House Bill Day, when a two-thirds majority is not required, to pass a budget that every Republican senator could sign off on.

The budget passed by the Senate reduces state spending by $11 billion over last biennium. The budget as passed does not dip any further into the Rainy Day fund and does not raise taxes. The budget now goes over to the Texas House of Representatives where a conference committee will hash out the differences between the House version and Senate version.

RPT Chairman Steve Munisteri praised the Republican Senators for the vote, saying, “I would like to commend all of our Republican senators for working together in a united front to prevent the Democrats from increasing state spending and living beyond our means. It is clear that the Democrats want to exhaust our Rainy Day Fund and I am pleased that our Republican leadership in the Senate is committed to ensuring that we keep a balance in the Rainy Day Fund for the next biennium.”

“Our thanks go out to all 19 Republican senators: Brian Birdwell, John Carona, Bob Deuell, Robert Duncan, Kevin Eltife, Craig Estes, Troy Fraser, Chris Harris, Glenn Hegar, Joan Huffman, Mike Jackson, Jane Nelson, Robert Nichols, Dan Patrick, Kel Seliger, Florence Shapiro, Jeff Wentworth and Tommy Williams. I would also like to give special mention to Lt. Governor David Dewhurst and Senator Steve Ogden who have spent countless hours addressing these tough choices facing our state. What pleases me most about our senators’ action is that our entire caucus was unified. They refused to play along with business as usual and did not allow Democrats to spend more of taxpayers’ money than needed.”

Munisteri concluded, “It is important for our conservative base to know that the Senate budget actually results in a reduction in the size of Texas government, as opposed just to a decrease on the increase. I look forward to our House leadership and Senate leadership hammering out a final bill that protects taxpayers’ rights. I am very confident they will do so.”

Taking down Osama bin Laden was an achievement resulting from a culmination of a decade of national security policy. Soft power and diplomacy helped along the way, but it was hard power and military might that made it possible. President George W. Bush put the correct policies in place, including the PATRIOT Act, Gitmo and increased intelligence gathering. President Barack Obama was wise to continue executing many of the same strategies. Here are the main reasons we were able to take him out.

#1. We Invaded Afghanistan. Anyone who is a hunter knows you have to flush game out before you bag it. It often works the same way with terrorists. The Taliban refused to give up bin Laden because the two groups were joined at the hip and saw Afghanistan as just the first step in building bin Laden’s worldwide terrorist empire—pushing him out was job #1.

#2. We Set Up Gitmo. When the full story of the long war against terrorism is told, we will learn that detaining and interrogating enemy combatants was a critical tool in winning the war. Indeed, we have found that when we released Gitmo detainees, many of them went back to the battlefield. There are already reports that detainees through lawful interrogations provided key intelligence cues that helped tracked down bin Laden. CIA Director Leon Panetta told NBC News yesterday that “enhanced interrogation techniques” were used to extract information that led to the mission’s success.

#3. We Increased Intelligence Gathering. We had a number of intelligence operations running inside of Pakistan with the help of the government. We used the data collected there, in Afghanistan, at Gitmo and at other facilities around the globe to diligently and patiently connect the dots. This high quality analysis is not possible without modern technology and military equipment and dedicated personnel.

#4. We Didn’t Quit Afghanistan. Afghanistan provided a base to keep bin Laden at bay. Drone strikes limited the enemy’s freedom of movement. The base in Afghanistan helped collect intelligence about the enemy and in the end served as the base to launch SEAL Team Six to take the enemy out. Our mission in Afghanistan now remains to help build a nation that can govern and protect itself, so that it can act as a seawall to keep the Taliban and their al-Qaeda sponsors from going back and forth across the border. This is a job worth doing and one that can be done. In fact, recent polls show that in the wake of taking out bin Laden, there has been an upswing of Americans who are now convinced that the war in Afghanistan can be won. They are right.

#5. We Protected the Homeland. At least 38 terrorist plots have been foiled since 9/11. Our ability to protect the homeland while we hunted bin Laden was an important part of keeping him cornered until he could be hunted down.

#6. We Provided for the Common Defense. Protecting America can’t be done with special operations alone or just by lobbing drones and cruise missiles at the enemy. (That was the Clinton strategy, which failed.) SEAL Team Six may have gotten bin Laden, but it was because conventional forces chased him out of Afghanistan, we rounded up prisoners and sent them to Gitmo to be interrogated, and we established a presence in Afghanistan to hold bin Laden at bay and then launch operations against him. A strong military and special operations strategy go hand in hand. The troops who have been fighting this battle since 2001 are brave warriors who deserve the best equipment and tools to get the job done.

President Obama should be praised for his command this weekend, as should the military and civilian leaders of the past decade who gave him the necessary security apparatus to make this an easy decision. Obama should not use this one victory to reverse course, deplete our military readiness, abandon the war in Afghanistan and weaken our national security. We should remain vigilant in the ongoing war against terrorism.

Provided by the Heritage Foundation

 AUSTIN – Today House Bill 3487, sponsored by Rep. Van Taylor (R- Plano), passed the Texas House of Representatives. The legislation will help enable Search and Rescue (SAR) Dog Handlers to more effectively do their jobs by prohibiting charging additional fees to handlers.

“Search and Rescue Dog Teams are an incredible asset when disasters strike and perform hundreds of missing person searches across the Lone Star State every year,” said Representative Taylor. “These highly trained dogs help save lives here in Texas almost daily and they do so on a voluntary basis, often at the personal expense of their handlers. It is my goal to make traveling to areas far from home easier so that they will be able to focus on their mission – to save fellow Texans.”

Texas faces numerous emergency situations every year including hurricanes, tornadoes, wild fires and other disasters. When these disasters strike, search-and-rescue teams often travel with little advance notice to locations across Texas. While traveling, these teams frequently experience additional expenses when securing lodging or not allowed access when eating at restaurants. The bill would protect handlers from paying extra charges or security deposits. However, the legislation requires that handlers pay for any damages caused by their dog. H.B. 3487 will improve SAR Dog Handlers’ ability to focus on doing their jobs in emergency situations at no cost to Texas taxpayers.

Rep. Taylor has filed two additional bills relating to the training and operation of Search and Rescue Dog Teams. H.B. 3486 mandates that a municipality may not adopt or enforce an ordinance, including a leash law, that restricts the ability of a volunteer search and rescue team to train a service dog for search and rescue or law enforcement purposes. It passed out of the House Committee on Urban Affairs on April 20, 2011. H.B. 3485 adds SAR units to the list of acceptable recipients of human remains for detection training purposes. Currently, coroners are hesitant to provide human remains to SAR teams because statute does not specifically allow it. This bill is awaiting a hearing before the House Committee on Public Health.

 Support from the experts:

 “It is a struggle for Search and Rescue (SAR) teams like ours to maintain the extremely high level of training required with some of the current laws as an obstacle,” said Paul A. Lake, Founder and Executive Director of Search One Rescue Team. “Our ability to have trained SAR K9’s work off lead inside city limits, to stay inside accommodations when on a mission, to be protected by law when in service and for our K9 handlers to obtain and posses human remains training material is crucial to our mission.”

By State Representative Ken Paxton

Dear Friends,

The 82nd Legislative Session is beginning to speed by, and there are deadlines approaching that may affect important legislation. Monday, May 9, is the last day for House bills to be reported out of committee for consideration by the House Calendars Committee. Thursday, May 12, is the last day for non-local House bills to be heard on second reading on the House floor. These deadlines are coming up very quickly, and I wanted to update you on the status of legislation I have filed, and other legislation that you have expressed interest in.

HJR 24: Guarantees Texans the constitutional right to choose their own health insurance plan. This bill has been left pending in the State Sovereignty Committee.

HJR 70: Would limit the growth in appropriations from state tax revenue to the rate of population increase plus monetary inflation each biennium. This portion of the budget makes up about one-half of state spending. Referred to the Appropriations Committee and has not been scheduled for a hearing.

HB 1115: Creates an education tax credit program give parents the choice to utilize private schools. A similar program in Florida has saved money in the public school system while providing quality private school education for students. Scheduled for a public hearing in the Ways and Means Committee on Monday, 4/18.

HB 1636: Requires toll entities to post their check registries online and be subject to an annual state audit to ensure our state highway fund money is used property. This bill has been left pending in the Transportation Committee.

To view a complete list of the legislation I have filed and am working on, please click here.

Other important legislation that is currently awaiting approval in committee:

HB 5 by Rep. Kolkhorst: Sets up an interstate compact among other states to shield Texas from federal health care laws. This would allow Texas to take control of our own health care system and save money in the process. This bill has been in Calendars Committee for a couple of weeks without being set for a floor vote by the House.

HB 12 by Rep. Solomons: Eliminates sanctuary city policies in Texas and requires local police forces to arrest illegal immigrants. This bill has been in the Calendars Committee for three weeks without being set for a floor vote by the House. This is also legislation that has been designated as a priority by Governor Perry.

HB 750 by Rep. Driver: Allows for concealed carry permit holders to take their guns onto college campuses. This bill has been in the Calendars Committee for two weeks without being set for a floor vote by the House. Similar legislation in the Senate, SB 354 by Sen. Wentworth, has lost the necessary support in that chamber to receive a floor vote.

HB 17 by Rep. Riddle: “Arizona-style” immigration enforcement law. This bill has not been set for a hearing by the State Affairs Committee.

HB 579 by Rep. Callegari: Would extend the small business franchise tax cuts through re-enacting of the $1 million exemption. This bill has been left pending in the Ways & Means Committee.

This week, the Senate State Affairs Committee approved the sonogram bill (HB 15), and we expect the full Senate will vote on it soon. Also this week, the House voted on SB 18, the eminent domain legislation given priority status by Governor Perry. The House was able to amend the bill to safeguard private property rights, and the bill will now go to a conference committee for the House and Senate to work out any differences.

It is more important than ever for you to be involved in the process and weigh in on the issues that matter to you. My staff are available daily and work long hours to ensure that your voice is heard, and we are working to pass the legislation that will benefit Texas. If we can be of any assistance to you, please contact us using the links at the bottom of this email.

Best regards,

One of our GOP activitists was contacted by a hard-sale organization and she immediately started questioning them.  They just kept stating how bad Obama is – and why she needed to give money to their organization.  Of course, she was very suspicious and decided to contact U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson’s office.  Below is the response she just received… 

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/republican_majority_campaign/

“Hey there!  Check out the article above about the Republican Majority Campaign (RMC).  I found them on the FEC and they have no cash on hand…looks like it was all spent last cycle.  You’ll notice in the article that less than 2% of the money went to Republican candidates.  I think your instincts were correct!!”

PLEASE make sure that ALL your contacts know that they need to KNOW and verify who they are giving to…  There are plenty of legitimate GOP avenues – Local, State, and National GOP party funds as well as worthy organizations like the Liberty Institute, the Heidi Group, Raging Elephants, Eagle Forum, and the list goes on…  But just make sure that everyone in your address book knows that wherever they give, it is a bona fide, established organization where the money goes to the cause that they intend for it to go to…  not to line some scammers’ pockets!

Additionally, please help get the word out.  Tthese types of organizations have been around for a long time, but with our current national financial budget crisis, people are panicking…  These organizations are raking in cash under false pretenses – and our beloved GOP coffers are suffering in the process! 

“Majority Rights Protection will unlock hundreds of billions of dollars of energy production using a proven legal framework successfully used in 29 other states,” said Representative Taylor. “Majority Rights Protection is possibly the biggest job creation, investment expanding, and revenue generating legislation in a generation with no cost to Texas taxpayers.”

Current law requires that all rights holders of an oil field agree to any field level redevelopment activity. This means that a single owner, or small group of owners, can stall the redevelopment of an oil reservoir. This effectively negates the property rights of all of the other owners in the field to use Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) methods.

H.B. 3586 would require the agreement of a supermajority of at least 70% of the owners in a pool in order to move forward with field redevelopment, thus protecting property rights by preventing the interests of a supermajority from being trampled by a small minority. With a 70% supermajority, Texas would have a standard of agreement greater than or equal to 26 of the 29 states with a Majority Rights Protection statute already in place.

Benefits of Majority Rights Protection for Texas

• More Revenue for State Budget: Instead of increasing taxes, increasing oil production provides additional state revenue without negatively impacting other economic factors. Rough estimates put the increase at hundreds of millions of new tax revenues over the next decade.
• More Jobs: Increased investment in the Texas oil and gas industry would mean thousands of new jobs in the energy sector.
• Clean Air: H.B. 3586 makes carbon sequestration a profitable commodity versus a costly by-product. This bill provides companies with a significantly beneficial way to comply with federal CO2 regulations.
• No Cost to Texas Taxpayers: Increased investment will come from private companies versus state funding.
• Increased oil production by opening up more fields to exploration: The U.S. Department of Energy reported in 2006 that there is an estimated 10.3 to 23.4 billion additional barrels of oil that would be recoverable with EOR methods. If H.B. 3586 were enacted in Texas, this oil would become significantly more accessible.
• Protection of property rights: Prevents a small minority from obstructing the economic rights and interests of a supermajority of rights holders.

According to U.S. Department of Energy statistics, June 2010 crude oil production statistics show that Texas is the only state out of the top 27 producers to not have a MRP statute in place. Texas should follow the lead of 29 other states, including “top ten” producers such as Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma, in adopting a statutory supermajority provision.

By State Representative Ken Paxton

Dear Friends,

In March 2010, Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as “ObamaCare.” President Obama signed it into law shortly thereafter. The federal health care legislation is a substantial overreach of the federal government power through a mandate that requires individuals to purchase health insurance or pay a tax. The federal health care legislation also puts additional burdens, both regulatory and financial, upon the states, forcing Texas to dedicate additional funds to Medicaid instead of education, roads, and tax relief.

The Health Freedom Act is a popular measure that has been filed in 41 separate states across the county. In Texas, the Health Freedom Act is proposed as a constitutional amendment as House Joint Resolution 24. This constitutional amendment, if passed by the Legislature this session and then the people of Texas in November, will do the following:

• Amends Article 1 of the Texas state constitution to prohibit the state, a state agency, a state official, or a political subdivision from enacting, effectuating, collecting, or enforcing a penalty or sanction that would deny an individual’s right to choose their health insurance coverage.
• Passage of this amendment would protect an individual’s ability to participate or not to participate in the health care system, free of penalties or sanctions and the right of individuals to purchase lawful services without fear of penalties or sanctions.
• This constitutional protection would prevent the state legislature from over-reaching on any future health care reform initiatives in the way Congress over-reached on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
• This constitutional amendment keeps individuals in control of their own health care instead of allowing the government to make or influence choices for us.

Each of us desires to have a basic safety net for health care; that is not the question. The examples set for us from other states show that free-market perspectives do the most good in keeping costs contained, providing consumers choice, and lowering government spending. Limiting the power of the state to mandate health care insurance and from enacting penalties will provide for individual liberties and point Texas in the direction of free-market solutions in health care. Let’s allow the voters the choice to put a constitutional protection in place to give them the ability to choose their own health care providers and insurance coverage.

The State Sovereignty Committee is scheduled to meet upon adjournment of the House on Thursday, in room E2.010. The meeting is open to the public, if you’re able to be in Austin. Also, you will be able to watch the proceedings online, at this website. Watch this Facebook page for updates.

Let’s protect Texans from federal overreach. Spread the word about HJR 24, the Texas Health Freedom Act.

Best regards,

Dear Friends,

It is a great honor to serve the people of the Third Congressional District and it is a duty that I do not take for granted. My utmost goal is to preserve the American Dream for our children and grandchildren by offering fair, common-sense solutions that promote fiscal responsibility and economic prosperity.

As an advocate for the hardworking taxpayer, it is my commitment to serve as your bold voice against Washington bureaucrats who want to tax and spend our way out of these tough economic times.

I am proud to cast each vote with conservative principles in mind for a better tomorrow and a stronger America. That is why I am honored that the nonpartisan publication National Journal has recognized me as the number one most conservative Member of Congress solely based on my 2010 voting record.

I consider this a badge of honor because it means that I stood up and voted against Nancy Pelosi and the President at every turn. This designation reflects the will of my constituents for a smaller, smarter government that strives to leave a strong legacy for future generations to come.

I am constantly reminded of the famous words of President Ronald Reagan who said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

As a combat veteran, constitutional conservative and fiscal hawk, I am committed to freedom and free enterprise and will make that known through every vote.

Again, thank you for giving me the honor and the opportunity to serve you each day. God bless you and God bless America.

Respectfully,

Sam Johnson
Member of Congress

AUSTIN – Today Representative Van Taylor (R-Plano) filed House Bill 3160, which will allow applicants to provide proof of citizenship with their initial application to register to vote. The State must verify the application. This bill closely follows a program implemented in Georgia and approved by the Justice Department last year. See the Atlanta Journal-Constitution article.

“We need to stop voter fraud before election day,” said Representative Taylor. “The Fifteenth Amendment guarantees our right to vote and voter registration fraud diminishes our democratic process. Verifying citizenship will go a long way to preventing voter fraud before ballots are cast – when it is too late to rectify. The outrageous revelations of widespread registration fraud in Harris County last year makes this common sense measure urgently necessary.”

The bill also mandates that the Secretary of State shall verify citizenship of applicants attempting to register to vote for the first time using the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) database or other available databases. If the Secretary cannot verify that an applicant is a citizen, the applicant is placed on a list of voters requiring proof of citizenship. The Secretary of State will create notification procedures to notify an applicant of the requirement to provide proof of citizenship. The applicant then has 90 days to provide proof of citizenship by submitting to the voter registrar by mail, electronic scan, fax, or in person.

“Texas DPS already operates a database with citizenship information and we need to fully utilize it,” said Representative Taylor. “Texas already uses databases to exclude prisoners and parolees, while comparing the names of applicants to Social Security numbers or Texas Driver license numbers for voter registration purposes. This is an essential step to securing the sanctity of our voter registration system.”

Proof of Citizenship can be verified by providing:

1. Passport – unexpired, expired or a certified copy
2. Birth certificate along with a government issued photo ID – original or copy
3. Certificate of naturalization (or copy) along with a government issued photo ID (or copy)

If an applicant does not provide proof of citizenship within 90 days, the application must be purged from the roll of eligible voters and placed on a list of people ineligible to vote until proof of citizenship is provided.

By State Representative Ken Paxton

The Legislature’s top priority for this legislative session is to pass a balanced state budget for the next biennium. My top priority for this session is to do so without creating new taxes or passing any increases in existing taxes. In order to achieve this goal, the Legislature must prioritize its spending and focus on essential state services, such as transportation.

One of the most frustrating practices I have witnessed since serving in the Legislature is the diversion of gas tax revenue to fund non-transportation related expenditures. Therefore, I have introduced House Bill 815 to limit the permissible uses of the State Highway Fund and to dedicate additional revenues to the Fund in order that we may better address our State’s transportation needs. I have also introduced H.J.R. 75, which proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the permissible uses of the State Highway Fund to prohibit future legislatures from diverting more revenue from this Fund for use on non-transportation related expenses.

Currently, the first 25% of our State’s gas tax revenue is constitutionally mandated to go to the available school fund. However, of the remaining 75%, approximately $1.5 billion in revenue is appropriated for purposes other than building and maintaining our State’s transportation infrastructure. My bills would reallocate this revenue to the construction and maintenance of non-tolled public roads and other transportation-related infrastructure in Texas. Additionally, my legislation would dedicate other existing taxes, such as sales tax collected from the sale of tires and motor vehicle parts as well as tax revenue from undyed diesel fuel used for off-highway vehicles to the credit of the State Highway Fund.

The Texas Department of Transportation is in need of additional funding for highway construction to keep up with our State’s population growth. Conservative estimates by the Texas State Demographer show that Texas’ population will nearly double in the next 30 years. This growth will obviously create congestion on our State’s roads, particularly in growing cities and suburban areas, like most of the communities in Collin County, if we do not address this problem now. By stopping the current diversions and dedicating additional revenue from sales and use taxes to the State Highway Fund, the Legislature can provide more funds to improve our State’s infrastructure without raising taxes.

We are proud to announce Congressman Allen B. West as our Lincoln Day Dinner Keynote Speaker. In November of 2010, Lt. Colonel West was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Florida’s 22nd Congressional District. Congressman West is a true patriot. Before retiring, he served in Operation Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and trained troops in Afghanistan. He is an inspiring speaker dedicated to the founding father’s principles of limited government and individual freedoms. He is a passionate leader who will rock the house with his conservative recipe to take back America. Do not miss this evening with Congressman West!

This year’s Event will be held at the new Allen Event Center (200 East Stacy Road, #1350, Allen, Texas 75002), and is scheduled for Saturday, April 2, 2011. This venue offers spacious accommodations, visually exciting plasmatrons, and bright ribbon 360 digital displays.

There will be both Live and Silent Auctions, an excellent dinner (the evening meal will be expertly prepared by Chef John Latta… think delicious!), free covered parking or valet and, most importantly, the opportunity to socialize with your Republican friends from Collin County and beyond.

Due to the exceptional generosity of Mr. S. Ray Huffines, this year’s fundraiser will be assisted by a computerized live and silent auction system designed to simplify bidding and checkout. Bring your credit card for a friendly check-in swipe … then let the bidding begin!

We look forward to everyone’s help and support for us to be successful!

Two tickets levels are available for the 2011 Lincoln Day Dinner. General admission tickets include admission to the event and dinner. VIP tickets include admission to the event, dinner, and a VIP reception & photo opportunity with Congressman Allen West before the dinner.

Help us make this the best Lincoln Day Dinner ever!

• Purchase Tickets
• Sponsor a Table
• Participate in the Live or Silent Auction
• Volunteer!

Thank you for your support of your Collin County Republican Party!

Congressman Allen West (FL-22) proudly and humbly serves the constituents of Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, encompassing parts of beautiful Broward and Palm Beach Counties along South Florida’s eastern coastline.

Congressman West was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, in the same neighborhood where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once lived and preached. Patriotism is in Congressman West’s blood. He is the third of four generations of military servicemen in his family. Before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army, West served as a Field Artillery Officer in several combat zones: in Operation Desert Storm, in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was battalion commander for the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, and in Afghanistan, where he trained Afghan officers to take on the responsibility of securing their own country.

In 2004, when he retired from active duty service, West brought his wife and two young daughters to South Florida, where he taught history at a local high school for one year. He then returned to Afghanistan as an advisor to the Afghan army.

In November of 2010, Congressman West was honored to be able to continue his oath of service to his country when he was elected to be a Representative in the United States Congress.

“I have traded in my camouflage uniform for a suit and tie,” West said. “But the commitment to protect the people of the United States is still my mission.”

Congressman West received his Bachelors degree from University of Tennessee and has a Masters Degree from Kansas State University, in political science. He also holds a Master of Military Arts and Sciences from the US Army Command and General Staff Officer College in political theory and military operations.

In his Army career, Congressman West was honored many times, including a Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals (one with Valor), and a Valorous Unit Award. He received his valor award as a Captain in Desert Shield/Storm, was the US Army ROTC Instructor of the Year in 1993, and was a Distinguished Honor Graduate III Corps Assault School. He proudly wears the Army Master Parachutist badge, Air Assault badge, Navy/Marine Corps parachutist insignia, Italian parachutist wings, and German proficiency badge (Bronze award).
Congressman West is an avid distance runner, a certified SCUBA diver, motorcyclist, and attends Community Christian Church in Tamarac Florida.

AUSTIN – Today Rep. Van Taylor filed House Bill 1377, which will take the place of H.B. 837, which was filed in January. The new bill maintains the original intent of the legislation which will enable law enforcement officers to take a fingerprint when a driver does not present photo identification. The new bill text enables officers to take one fingerprint from each hand in lieu of one thumbprint. This update takes into account a Department of Public Safety (DPS) pilot program that takes a print of the index fingers. After working with DPS officials, the new text was drafted to integrate with the program currently in effect.

“I am proud to have the opportunity to work with my friends in law enforcement to draft legislation that will be most effective in preventing false identification of innocent individuals and provide unmistakable documentation of the true offender,” said Rep. Van Taylor. “This legislation will provide Texas law enforcement with a powerful tool to ascertain the identity of individuals who fail to provide photo identification during routine traffic stops. This will lead to lower costs and higher apprehension rates of wanted felons, while reducing the number of false accusations of innocent citizens.”

Gaining support:

“Texas law enforcement is strongly behind Representative Taylor’s efforts to reform the way officers handle traffic stops. The fingerprint concept is an important tool for the police in ferreting out the difference between the bad guys and honest citizens who left home without proper identification,” said Charley Wilkison, Director of Public Affairs for the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, or CLEAT. “We encourage local citizens and community leaders to encourage their local legislators to support House Bill 837 as a common sense solution to problems police have faced for decades,” he said.

CLEAT is the largest law enforcement organization in Texas.

Background:

According to the Dallas Police Department, false identification at a traffic stop results in upwards of 300 court cases per year in Dallas alone. This revised legislation will help adjudicate those cases definitively and preventing people’s identifications from being abused.

Currently drivers have attempted to prove their identity by providing the officer certain information such as a name, a date of birth, or an address. In cases of false identification, innocent parties later receive a notice of a warrant for their arrest or are arrested at a subsequent traffic stop. When they protest that they are a victim of false identification, there is no means to plausibly prove that they were not operating the vehicle.

If enacted, for purposes of identifying the driver, an officer may require one digital or ink fingerprint from each hand if the driver does not provide a drivers license issued by Texas or another state, a U.S. Passport, or another form of photographic identification issued by a government entity. If a citation is issued or an arrest is made, then a law enforcement agency may retain the fingerprint(s). However, digital and/or an ink prints must be discarded not later than 30 days after the custodian receives proof that the case resulted in an acquittal of charges, a conviction punishable by a fine only, or was dismissed.

County Judge: Keith Self
Commissioners: Joe Jaynes and Matt Shaheen
New Commissioners: Duncan Webb and Cheryl Williams

Date: Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Buffet lunch served at 11:30: $15.00 per person)
Place: Stonebriar Country Club, 5050 Country Club Drive, Frisco, Texas 75034, (972) 625-5050

New membership forms available at the door for full and associate members—-BOTH men and women are invited to attend!

Please RSVP to Terri Green, tgreen@willsplano.com or for more information.

Thank you for your support! We look forward to keeping you informed of issues and activities affecting Collin County!

TERRI H. GREEN, Interim President
Republican Women of North Collin County

Essentially free of the political turmoil raging in the rest of the then developed world, the United States was perfectly placed to take its place as the Global leader for the twentieth century. As a tangible example of that burgeoning leadership, the United States in 1913 completed the heretofore unimaginable accomplishment of opening the Panama Canal. The rest of the century, as they say, is history: Triumph in World War 1, triumph in World War 2, triumph in the Space Race, the odd trip to the moon, staggering technological change, the personal computer, the internet, and much more in between; oh, and lest we forget, our favorite centurion in 2011, Ronald Reagan.

And, talking of great leaders, more than anything it was our ability to create leadership candidates in all fields that created what became, by the end of the twentieth century, the most powerful nation in history.

So its 2011, and today there are sweeping political changes in evidence in important regions of the world. We watch Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan perhaps, and potentially the Emirates and Saudi Arabia struggle for democracy. Israel watches the changes obviously with some alarm and trepidation. Further a field, the Chinese struggle ironically with an emerging worker class, hungry for freedom and information in a self defined workers paradise. The developing world is showing signs of turmoil all over.

Still free of political turmoil, still the richest and most powerful nation on the planet, still the land of the free and the home of the brave, should we not be in prime position to again lead the world to a brighter, bolder, happier place?

Unfortunately, it appears we are lacking that vital ingredient, a leader. Was I the only one disappointed by the State of the Union address? Best described as tepid, at worst embarrassing. This is the leader of the free world; this a Congress that legislates the most powerful force on the planet. They, between them don’t now seem to be able to pass Bills that are even constitutional, and dramatic, earth shaking, ground breaking initiatives. Light rail? Really? Is that the idea of a Panama Canal?

We desperately need new real leadership. It is no coincidence that the world descends into turmoil while a vacuum exists at the top of the Federal government. We have approximately twelve months to find an adequate candidate to fill that role, so time is running out.

The future of the world as we know it is probably at stake.

Stephanie Casson

As a Marine Officer, I was deployed to serve in Iraq. I experienced inherent hardships of forward deployment and know the challenges faced by our men and women serving in the military. One of these challenges is engaging in the most fundamental civic privilege provided by our democratic process – voting.

Since leaving active duty, I continued to work on behalf of our nation’s veterans and active duty military on issues that affect their lives. I served as the state Chairman of the National Defense Committee working to make it easier for those serving in the military to vote. As the Texas Vice Captain for Vets for Freedom, I helped organize combat veterans to lobby Congress in Washington. During my campaign to represent House District 66 in the Texas House of Representatives I promised to continue to be a voice for our military and veterans in Austin. I am determined to advocate on their behalf in the Texas Legislature. This is why I knew I had to file House Bill 111 and will work ardently to see it passed in the 82nd Legislature.

Passing House Bill 111 will enable military personnel and other Texas residents serving overseas to request a ballot by secure electronic means. This legislation will bring Texas into compliance with the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE Act) passed by Congress in 2009. While the MOVE Act requires states to provide the ability to request an electronic ballot for any elections for a federal office, Senator Leticia Van de Putte and I believe it is prudent to extend this benefit to state elections as well.

Whether serving at Fort Hood or in Nasiriyah, Iraq, we must ensure the voice of our brave men and women of the Armed Services is heard. I am proud to sponsor this bill, which will better facilitate voting when duty calls. Our service men and women dedicate their lives to our country and freedoms and we must protect their right to vote.

Senate Bill 14, introduced by Sen. Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) requires a government-issued photo ID to vote. Other versions of the bill filed allowed for other forms of non-photo and non-government issued forms of identification. SB 14 passed 20-12 with all 19 Republican Senators and Lt. Governor David Dewhurst voting to approve. SB 14 will move on to the Texas House of Representatives, where our Republican super-majority is expected to approve the measure.

SB 16 and its identical counterpart HB 201 both would require a sonogram to be performed within two hours prior to undergoing an abortion. Doctors would be required to describe the anatomy seen and play the heartbeat, if audible. The patient would then sign a document attesting that she underwent the sonogram and understands the nature and consequences of the decision to abort. Similar bills were introduced in 2007 and 2009, but died in the House.

Sweeping budget cuts are expected as Texas faces a looming deficit. State agencies were previously warned to cut their budgets by 5%. Thousands of jobs are at stake and agencies that deliver social services are concerned about those who will be affected by the loss of the services they provide. Cost cutting measures may not be sufficient to make up the shortfall, and while a personal income tax will not be passed, be on the lookout for increased fees and other cost shifting measures. Regardless of the label, if money is coming out of your pocket into the government’s coffers, then it is a tax. Many Republican legislators are opposed to dipping into the rainy day fund, but it may be the only way to make up the remaining shortfall.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2, Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act, a bill repealing Obamacare by a vote of 245-189. U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) cosponsored a bill introduced by Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) that fully repeals the Democrats’ government health care takeover. “A clear majority of Texans and people across America stated loud and clear in November that they did not want Obamacare,” said Senator John Cornyn. “This bill fully repeals the health care takeover, takes away important personal heath decisions from Washington bureaucrats, and puts them back in the hands of the American people where they belong. I urge my Democrat Senate colleagues to follow the resounding call of our public and quickly pass this bill.” The bill failed in the Senate by a vote along straight party lines on February 2, 2011.

Not content to allow the federal government to trample States’ rights, suit was filed challenging the constitutionality of Obamacare by the Attorney General of the State of Florida and 25 other states, including Texas. The most recent decision by Florida’s Federal District Court Judge Roger Vinson ruled that the entire Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional, going further than any other decision to date. Unless the Supreme Court can be convinced to take up the issue earlier, it could be 2012 before the decision makes its way through the appellate process up to the Supreme Court.

Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced a Balanced Budget Amendment to the United States Constitution along with 19 other Senators. The proposed amendment would require balanced budgets and prohibit deficit spending or tax increases unless approved by two-thirds of the House and Senate. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects the federal budget deficit will hit $1.5 trillion in 2011. The Congressional Budget Office puts the public debt at nearly two-thirds the size of our economy and could grow to 90% in 9 years if left unchecked. Spending freezes and maintaining the status quo in spending are insufficient responses to stanch the unfettered flow. The U.S. government must substantially reduce spending, not maintain it at unsustainably high levels. America cannot afford to pay the heavy price for Obamacare and other social programs put into place over the past two years.

“We are facing a fiscal crisis, and everyone agrees that our nation is on an unsustainable path. Unfortunately, Washington has a track record of failing to get its own books in order. We must set effective limits on spending, taxes, and require a balanced budget. I am proud to join Sen. Hatch, who has led the fight for a balanced budget amendment for years, in this effort. It is my hope that the Majority will join us and make this a top priority for the 112th Congress,” said Cornyn.

Specifically, the Balanced Budget Amendment:

• Mandates that total budgetary outlays for any fiscal year not exceed total revenues.
• Caps federal spending at 20 percent of GDP.
• Requires the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress every fiscal year.
• Requires two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate on any measure that raises taxes.
• Provisions can be waived if there is a formal declaration of war, if the U.S. is engaged in a military conflict constituting a threat to national security, or if two-thirds of both the House and Senate approve.

“Bringing down our sky-high debt is in the economic, national security and public interest of our nation. Time after time, Washington has promised to bring down the debt, but then kept the spending going – increasing the mountain of debt our kids and grandkids will have to pay for. A Balanced Budget Amendment is a sure fire way of making sure we end that dangerous cycle,” said Hatch.

“I’ve long fought for a Balanced Budget Amendment and hope that given the tremendous fiscal crisis facing our nation that its time has come. This strong group of Senators backing this amendment demonstrates to the American people how serious we are about getting our fiscal house in order,” Hatch said.

The national debt is now more than $14 trillion and has increased by more than 25 percent in just the last two years. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says the public debt is already nearly two-thirds the size of our economy and could equal an astonishing 90 percent in just 9 years. The Senate came within one vote of approving a similar amendment put forward by Hatch in 1997.

Cornyn and Hatch’s Balanced Budget Amendment has been cosponsored by Senators:

1. Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia)
2. John Ensign (R-Nevada)
3. Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming)
4. John McCain (R-Arizona)
5. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho)
6. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)
7. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine)
8. Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma)
9. Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia)
10. Roy Blunt (R-Missouri)
11. Kelly Ayotte (R-New Hampshire)
12. Richard Burr (R-North Carolina)
13. Rob Portman (R-Ohio)
14. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming)
15. Mike Johanns (R-Nebraska)
16. Mark Kirk (R-Illinois)
17. Pat Roberts (R-Kansas)
18. Richard Lugar (R-Indiana), and
19. John Hoeven (R-North Dakota)

It has also garnered the support of the American Conservative Union, Americans for Tax Reform, National Taxpayers Union, and Ken Blackwell, the National Chairman of Pass the Balanced Budget Amendment.

AUSTIN, Texas – Last week, House Joint Resolution 70 was filed in the Texas House by Rep. Ken Paxton. This is by far one of the most important bills that have been filed this year. The bill itself is not new since similar bills have been filed in previous years, however none of them passed both houses of the Legislature.

Once signed into law, HJR 70 will allow the voters of Texas to vote on a constitutional amendment that would limit State spending by keeping it in line with the growth in our State’s economy or restrict it to the rate of population growth plus inflation, whichever is less. This measure would provide legislators with a more reliable budget estimate each legislative session in order that there may be fewer massive budget shortfalls.

The Spending Problem in Texas
Between fiscal years 1990 and 2010, all funds appropriations for Texas state government increased from $23.3 billion to $92.7 billion. This represents a growth of nearly 300%.

By contrast, the rate of population growth plus inflation for that same time period increased only 115.5 percent.

Another way to explain this overspending is this: On a per capita basis, Texas state government spending increased from $1,365 per person in fiscal year 1990 to $3,648 per person in fiscal year 2010. That is an amazing increase of 167%.

The Lost Opportunity Cost
Had our state government spending been limited to population growth plus inflation increases from 1990 to 2010, the cost of operating Texas state government-and the spending burden on taxpayers-would be much less than it is today.

Instead of spending $92.7 billion on Texas government in FY 2010, taxpayers would have only spent $50.2 billion, or $42.5 billion less!

Looking Into The Future
The Legislature can do little to reverse the excessive spending of the past; but it can protect taxpayers going forward. To accomplish this goal, I will do my part in supporting HJR 70.

I invite you to join with me as we begin the fight do all we can to diminish the rising cost of government. With such a policy in place, I believe that Texas could lead the country to drastically limit government spending and provide substantial tax relief to taxpayers while improving the overall economy.

This would result in the creatation of thousands of new jobs right here in Texas. This, I believe, is truly good and responsible government.

Let’s move Texas forward.

• YouCut. On Tuesday, the House approved legislation to end the mandatory printing of bills and resolutions and save Americans an estimated $35 million over ten years. Current law requires the Government Printing Office to print hard copies of all bills and resolutions introduced in Congress. Whenever a Member of Congress introduces a bill or resolution, the Government Printing Office prints 200 paper copies. In the 110th Congress, Members introduced 14,042 bills and resolutions. That amounts to 2.8 million paper copies, many of which are simply thrown away for a lack of use. By eliminating the mandatory printing of every introduced bill, and instead using technology to ensure that bills are available online for anyone to examine, we can achieve significant savings to taxpayers, while still ensuring accountable and open government.
• ObamaCare Repeal. On Wednesday, the House voted to repeal the job-killing government takeover of healthcare. If not repealed, the government takeover of health care will result in $2.6 trillion in new spending and continue destroying jobs, increasing the cost of care and causing budget deficits and debt to explode. Despite busting America’s budget, the healthcare takeover does nothing to lower health care costs or grow the economy. The Democrats’ government takeover of healthcare contains job-destroying tax hikes, spending, and employer mandates are making it harder for business to create jobs. Removing these barriers will provide private-sector employers with more certainty and help the nation’s economy get back to creating jobs.
• ObamaCare Replace. On Thursday, the House approved H.Res. 9, which instructs the committees of jurisdiction to recommend legislation that expands access and improves affordability of healthcare and health insurance and reforms medical liability insurance.
• Reducing Spending to FY 2008 Levels or Less. Next week the House will consider legislation to reduce FY 2011 spending levels to FY 2008 levels or less for the remainder of the fiscal year. H.Res. 38 would require the House Budget Committee to submit budget allocation levels in the Congressional Record for the remainder of FY 2011 that are set at FY 2008 spending levels. Pursuant to the rules of the 112th Congress (H.Res. 5), the Budget Committee is required to file budget allocations levels to subcommittees (known as section 302(a) allocations) for fiscal year 2011 in the Congressional Record. Under the House Rules, aggregates and allocations printed in the Congressional Record would serve as the budget for the remainder of FY 2011, until Congress adopts a new budget.
• YouCut. Also next week, the House is expected to consider one YouCut item. YouCut was designed to defeat the permissive culture of runaway spending in Congress.

Talking Points on Spending

• Washington has an illness. The illness is spending. The debt is a symptom of that illness. The American people want it cured.
• President Obama and Congressional Democrats have been on a job-destroying spending spree that has left us with nothing but historic unemployment and the most debt in U.S. history.
• If Democrats want us to help pay their bills, they are going to have to start cutting up their credit cards.
• Cutting up the credit cards means cutting spending and implementing spending reforms to ensure we keep on cutting.
• We know the American people will settle for nothing less.
• Removing these barriers will provide private-sector job creators with more certainty and help our economy get back to creating jobs.

Talking Points on Repealing ObamaCare

• ObamaCare is the prime example of how the Democrats’ tax hikes, spending spree, and heavy-handed government policies are hurting our economy and making it harder for small businesses to create jobs.
• Removing these barriers will provide the businesses that create new jobs with the certainty they need to hire new employees and get our economy back on track.
• House Republicans are committed to reducing healthcare costs by providing access and choices for every American, protecting the patient-doctor relationship, and keeping the government out of the exam room.
• House Republicans brought a straightforward, two-page bill to the floor to repeal the health care bill—which passed with bi-partisan support—and have pledged to debate all solutions to our healthcare challenges in an open and transparent manner throughout the 112th Congress.

The first guest speaker will be State Representative Ken Paxton (HD70, McKinney) who is running for Texas Speaker of the House.

Please listen, call into the show, share your thoughts, and StandWithWayne!

The StandWithWayne show will be streamed live on the Internet; www.KVCEradio.com

Archived shows will be posted on the StandWithWayne.com website

Anyone following the race for Texas Speaker knows that it is possible (and critical) to knock off liberal Republican Joe Straus, but that to do so requires unifying behind a single conservative alternative. Anyone, that is, except for State Rep. Warren Chisum. Or does he?

As quick background – Warren Chisum is a Democrat-turned-Republican who has been in the Texas House since 1989, representing a West Texas district (88) north of Amarillo. He’s old school Texas politics – where “conservative” means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. In October, he announced a challenge to incumbent speaker Joe Straus, a liberal Republican who was given power by 65 Democrats and 11 pathetic Republicans two years ago. After announcing, Chisum gained absolutely no traction – and frankly, after garnering a few early supporters, has been absent from the fight and rumored to be traveling and away from the state.

Meanwhile, Ken Paxton, who represents McKinney (just north of Dallas), decided that Straus needed a serious challenge. After all, Texans sent a strong message in November by boosting the number of House Republicans by 22, giving them a 99-51 super-majority over Democrats – and with 2 Democrats switching parties this month, the number is 101-49. So Paxton, a proven limited government conservative with a strong record, who is young and joined the House in 2002, has been plucking off members one-by-one, doing all the hard work required to get it done. And he has gained significant national endorsements – from former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey and Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee to Gun Owners of America and other conservative groups.

In short – Paxton can win. Chisum cannot. It is that simple. Yet Chisum will not get out of the race and endorse Paxton with only 3 weeks left before a vote will occur on the floor of the Texas House for speaker, which right now would empower the Democrat-supported Straus. Why?

Because Chisum is more interested in making a point (but keeping his friends) than in actually winning the race (and therefore actually changing things).

At this point, I am willing to chalk it up to pure stubbornness. But if Chisum does not get out of the race this week and clear the way for Paxton to build momentum in the important task of replacing Joe Straus with a conservative, then we may have to ask what Mr. Chisum’s true motives are and begin to explore his political philosophy and voting record in detail.

The Texas Speaker is chosen by a vote on the floor of the House – by members of both Parties. But, keep in mind, there are 101 Republicans and 49 Democrats. So, the goal here is simple – we need 76 (of 101) Republicans to support Ken Paxton. Period.

There will be a Republican caucus meeting sometime before the actual vote – and it is critical that Ken be given the chance to build his support before that vote. If Chisum stays in, there are a number of Texas House members who will feel obliged to support him instead of Ken out of either longstanding friendship or to honor a commitment made before Ken announced his candidacy.

But let’s be clear – Chisum can not win, and is doing nothing to change that.

So Mr. Chisum should step aside – THIS WEEK – and support Ken Paxton. If he does not, again, we must question his motives and whether he is more interested in making a point rather than winning.

All Who Served, and Now Live in Texas, are “Texas Veterans”

Patterson drops 1-year residency requirement for VLB benefits

“You may all go to Hell, and I will go to Texas.” — Davy Crockett

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas  — “A veteran is a veteran, and this change opens up VLB programs to all who served & now call Texas home,” said Jerry Patterson, chairman of the Texas Veterans Land Board. The 1.7 million veterans living in Texas — regardless of when they moved here — will qualify for benefits from the Texas Veterans Land Board as of Dec. 21.

Patterson said he is dropping the VLB’s one-year residency requirement because too many deserving Texas veterans were not able to access the benefits they’ve earned.

“Under the old rules, even Davy Crockett would not have qualified for VLB benefits had he survived the Alamo,” Patterson said. Crockett left his home in Tennessee in November 1835, telling his political rivals, “You may all go to Hell and I will go to Texas.” He mustered into the Texas Army in January 1836 and was killed in March at the Alamo.

“Opening up the VLB’s programs to all Texas veterans is one of the greatest privileges I’ve enjoyed as chairman of the VLB,” Patterson said. “These benefits are no entitlement, they are earned and I am honored to be able to deliver them.”

Texas is one of only five states to offer a veterans program, and VLB benefits are widely seen as the best in the nation.

“The VLB offers Texas veterans more than just a land loan nowadays,” Patterson said. “From low-cost land and home loans to long-term, high-quality nursing care and free burial in any of three Texas State Veterans Cemeteries, the VLB has grown and we want to get the word out.”

Along with the expansion of who is eligible, the VLB has begun an aggressive marketing campaign to let veterans know what they have earned. A new logo and slogan are the most visible signs of this change, and both are featured prominently on a new website — www.texasveterans.com — and in a new ad campaign that began running on Texas TV and radio stations this fall.

The VLB has embraced social media. Veterans may now share VLB news via their own social networks with easy links from the VLB’s home page. Or veterans can keep up with VLB news via Facebook or Twitter.  

The Texas tradition of taking care of veterans dates back to the Republic, when those who signed on to fight for independence from Mexico were rewarded with generous tracts of land. The VLB was created in 1946 after Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing $25 million in bonds to help World War II veterans buy land.

Since then, the land and home loan programs have funded more than $9 billion in loans and become popular options for veterans looking to buy the American Dream.

The VLB has also built seven — soon to be eight — Texas State Veterans Homes, where veterans and their spouses enjoy peace of mind in their golden years. in:

1. Amarillo,
2. Big Spring,
3. Bonham,
4. El Paso,
5. Floresville,
6. McAllen,
7. Temple,
8. and soon Tyler

The homes filled a need by offering comprehensive rehabilitation programs, special diets, recreational activities, social services, libraries, and a certified, secured Alzheimer’s unit in each home.

In addition, the VLB has built three Texas State Veterans Cemeteries — in Abilene, Killeen and Mission — and is hard at work on another in Corpus Christi. Texas veterans are entitled to free burial with full military honors at each of these magnificent facilities.

For more information on VLB benefits, visit www.texasveterans.com.

Viewed with the long lens, the uncivil war between President Obama and lib eral Democrats is merely another example of the gradual awakening of Obamabots. The big story of the last two years is how millions of Americans who voted for him have concluded he’s not the man they thought he was.

As a former supporter myself, I know the phenomenon too well. First you wince as he betrays some principle you thought he shared.

It could be a fiscal issue, ethics or national security. Or you might have believed, as I did, he was serious about governing mostly from the middle.

You overlook the breach once, twice, and by the third time, you face the disappointment. Your eyes and mind now open, disenchantment comes in waves. As the anger builds, it finally dawns on you that you were a sucker for your own hopes.

Yet not all suckers are equal, which brings us back to the temper tantrums of the moment. “Liberals and other brats” describes what’s happening in Nancy Pelosi’s haunted House.

It’s shocking to see the open profanity and mockery — “F- – k Obama” and taunting chants of “No we can’t” — coming from Dem members of Congress. But the temptation to sympathize with Obama should be resisted. He has only himself to blame.

Messiahs either deliver, or they are abandoned and vilified. Having failed to deliver, Obama is now paying the price in terms he helped to shape.

Indeed, his self-reverence and personal attacks on any and all critics mark him as the brewmeister for much of what is wrong with our politics. Payback is not just a bitch — it’s fair play.

Obama’s grandiose promises — “our planet will begin to heal” — turned the 2008 campaign into a mutual fantasy society. His life story, race and rhetorical talent made him special, and cult-like status was conferred on those who “got” his greatness.

The awakening began the instant he had to govern. For some, it’s the things he couldn’t get done — closing Gitmo, charming Iran, getting out of Iraq.

For most, the problem is that the things he did haven’t worked. He busted the budget for a stimulus that didn’t stimulate, turned on Israel and other allies for no good reason and insisted on the historic health-care fiasco, which will take years to fix. There are so many ticking time bombs in it that even its authors are discovering unintended consequences — and it’s only started to take effect.

The country’s response was a no-confidence vote in the midterms. Yet Obama still doesn’t accept the verdict, stumbling between excuses that belittle voters’ concerns.

Worse, he’s declared that class warfare will be his campaign theme for 2012. He called Republicans “hostage takers” and “bomb throwers,” reflections of an immature and ideological mind that refuses to recognize any legitimacy in rival views. He would rather campaign on divisions than govern in tune with the majority consensus.

That’s the rub in this whole spectacle — his reactions to the election and its consequences are almost identical to those of the crybaby House Dems.

The only difference is in the details. He’s petulant but willing to make a temporary tax deal with the GOP on upper income brackets so he doesn’t get blamed for a hike that hits everyone. House Dems are petulant but would rather have a glorious flame-out that penalizes millions of workers than accept a two-year compromise.

Both Obama and his party leaders were willing to defy the public for two years because they had full Washington control. And now they are at war.

They deserve each other, and America deserves better.

FEATURED

Straus is a Fine Fellow; Paxton is a Better Choice

Media types, Democrats, and some Republicans are playing the religion card in the Speaker’s race. This election has nothing to do with religion; it has everything to do with policy. And with leadership.

Speaker Straus did have a Republican majority last session. Yes, it was a slim majority, but he had one nevertheless. That is a fact. Despite that, major legislation, such as Voter ID, was killed under his watch. That is a fact. Democrats chaired too many committees. Another fact.

Each session the Members should choose, from within the GOP Caucus, the most capable and qualified candidate for Speaker. That candidate this time around is Ken Paxton. His resume, professionalism, and competence, as well as his courage, make him the best choice.

Joe Straus had the backing of only 11 Republicans last session (notwithstanding the tradition of unanimous election of the obvious winner); he was not the GOP’s candidate. He should not be their choice this time.

KEN PAXTON’S BIO
Biography of Ken Paxton (District 70)

Ken Paxton was born December 23, 1962 in Minot, North Dakota. He graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, earning a B.A. in Psychology in 1985 and a M.B.A. in 1986. After business school, Rep. Paxton accepted a position with Arthur Andersen as a management consultant. He then attended the University of Virginia School of Law where he earned a J.D. degree in 1991. After law school, Representative Paxton joined the firm of Strasburger & Price, L.L.P, before joining J.C. Penney Company, Inc., as in-house legal counsel.

Mr. Paxton is currently a named partner in the law firm of Pittenger Paxton Nuspl & Crumley where he is specializing in estate planning, probate, real estate, corporate transactions and advising businesses on various legal matters. Additionally, he owns and operates a title company in McKinney that closes both residential and commercial real estate transactions. He also speaks on various estate planning, business and real estate topics.

Ken Paxton is currently serving as the State Representative for District 70 which consists of Allen, Celina, Frisco, McKinney, Plano, and Prosper. He received more general election votes than any other state representative in 2004 and 2008 and has made the power rankings list by on-line guide Capitol Insider. Additionally, he has been named “Texas Taxpayer Hero” by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and has been named to the Texas Association of REALTORS Legislative Hall of Fame for his “uncompromising commitment to championing the rights of homeowners.” Rep. Paxton serves as member of the House Land and Resource Management Committee, and a member of the powerful House Ways and Means committee, which reviews any proposed revenue and tax changes. Recently, Mr. Paxton was appointed to the Select Committee on Fiscal Stability charged with examining the long-term health of the Texas budget.

Representative Paxton currently serves on the Centennial Medical Center Board in Frisco and the Board Prestonwood Pregnancy and Family Care Center. He is a member of the McKinney Rotary Club, and the Allen, Frisco, Plano, and McKinney Chambers of Commerce. Mr. Paxton is Honorary Chair for the Prosper Open Foundation, a member of the Board of Directors for the Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone for the City of Allen, and a member of the Advisory Boards for the Frisco Association for the Arts. In 2010, Mr. Paxton joined the founding board for the Collin County Student Aviation Initiative that will train high school students for job readiness in the field of aviation. In 2005, he was named one of the 21 Leaders of the 21st Century by Inside Collin County Business. Recently, he was named a FIVE STAR Wealth Manager for 2010 by Texas Monthly.

Ken Paxton lives in McKinney, Texas with his wife, Angela, and their four children; Tucker (17), Abby (15), Madison (13), and Katie (11). Along with his family, Representative Paxton is an active charter member of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, where he has participated in various leadership roles.

Vice Chair, General Investigating • Financial Institutions • Vice Chair, Ways and Means
ken.paxton@house.state.tx.us

Paxton’s Legislative Record

Summary: Rep. Ken Paxton was first elected in 2002, and has spent his career in the legislature focused on passing conservative legislation on a wide range of issues. His particular interest and focus has been tax reform and taxpayer protections. Over the course of his legislative career, he has authored legislation to accomplish the following:

• Limit state government growth and spending;
• Reduce property taxes on Texas families;
• End state spending for individuals who have entered our country illegally;
• Implement more obstacles for lawmakers who want to raise taxes;
• Dramatically cut business taxes in order to help create jobs for more Texans; and
• Improve government transparency so taxpayers know how their tax dollars are spent.

Rep. Paxton has been involved in passing legislation dealing with lawsuit reform, informed consent for abortions, lowered taxes, provided property tax relief, expanded transparency in state agencies, and reformed eminent domain law.

Samples of Rep. Paxton’s key legislation from each session he has served can be found below. This includes legislation that did not pass, and legislation for which he was either author, joint-author, or co-author. Please see the note regarding legislation in the 79th Legislature, 3rd Called Session in 2006 that Rep. Paxton opposed.

2003 (78th Regular Legislative Session):

HB 4 (Co-Author)

Tort Reform

Bill passed and was signed into law

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=78R&Bill=HB4

HB 15 (Co-Author)

Informed consent for an abortion

Bill passed and was signed into law

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=78R&Bill=HB15

HB 2563 (Author)

School choice

No action taken in Ways and Means Committee

Allow for franchise and insurance tax credits for businesses that donate money to non-profit scholarship organizations that provide scholarships for low-income students to enhance their education opportunities.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?egSess=78R&Bill=HB2563

2005 (79th Regular Legislative Session):

HB 1212 (Co-Author)

Parental consent for an abortion

Bill was left on the table in the House

Require parental consent for an abortion.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=79R&Bill=HB1212

HB 1263 (Joint-Author)

School choice

Sent to Calendars Committee and left pending

Allow for an urban school choice pilot program educationally disadvantaged children with the districts.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=79R&Bill=HB1263

HB 2201 (Co-Author)

Alternative energy (clean coal)

Bill passed and was signed into law

This bill sets forth the framework to implement clean-coal energy projects in Texas to promote innovative sequestration and reduction of carbon emissions.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=79R&Bill=HB2201

HJR 48/HB 1327 (Joint-Author)

State Revenue Caps

Referred to Appropriations Committee, no hearing scheduled

This bill restricts growth of state appropriations to population growth plus inflation. Any surplus revenue is divided between the rainy day fund, an emergency expense fund, and property tax relief.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=79R&Bill=HJR48

2006 (79th Legislative Session, 3rd Called Special Session):

HB 3

Opposed the passage of legislation that expanded the franchise tax to create the gross margins tax.

http://www.journals.house.state.tx.us/hjrnl/793/pdf/79c3day06final.pdf#page=86

HJR 28 (Author)

Property Tax Relief

Referred to Ways & Means Committee, no hearing scheduled

Dedicates 1/3 of any state surplus revenue to fund education with the express purpose of lowering property tax rates.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=793&Bill=HJR28

2007 (80th Legislative Session):

HB 39 (Author)

Illegal Immigration

Left pending in State Affairs Committee

Prohibits illegal immigrants from receiving in-state tuition at public universities.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB39

HB 40 (Author)

Illegal Immigration, Health Care

No action taken in State Affairs Committee

Requires recipients and applicants for state medical assistance to prove citizenship prior to receiving benefits.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB40

HB 218 (Co-Author)

Illegal Immigration, Voter Identification

Left on the floor in the Senate

Requires a photo identification to vote.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB218

HB 224 (Author)

Pro-Life

Referred to Appropriations subcommittee, no hearing scheduled

Creates a pro-life license plate.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB224

HB 225 (Author)

Pro-Life

Sent to Calendars Committee, no action taken

Prohibits the use of state funds for embryonic stem cell research.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB225

HB 735 (Co-Author)

T.I.F. Tax

Bill passed and signed into law

Discontinues the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund and associated tax

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB735

HB 871 (Joint-Author)

Franchise Tax Exemptions

Left pending in Ways & Means Committee

Raises the total revenue exemption for the franchise tax to $1 million.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB871

HB 1256 (Co-Author)

Illegal Immigration

Referred to State Affairs Committtee, no hearing scheduled

Allows for local law enforcement officials to check immigration status of any person under arrest for other criminal grounds and report any illegal immigrants to ICE.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB1256

HB 1517 (Author)

Taxpayer-funded Lobbying

Point of order called, bill returned to State Affairs Committee

Requires local governments to report their expenditures made for lobbyist expenditures.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB1517

HB 2138 (Author)

Taxpayer Protections

Bill passed and signed into law

Licenses and regulates property tax lenders to ensure that property tax lenders are operating in such a way to protect taxpayers.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB2138

HB 2785 (Author)

Property Tax Reform

Passed House and referred to Senate Finance Committee; no hearing scheduled

Would have lowered school property taxes and additional 5 cents per $100 valuation.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB2785

HB 3430 (Joint-Author)

Transparency and Taxpayer Protections

Bill passed and was signed into law

Created the Comptroller’s database of state expenditures to promote transparency of state funds.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB3430

HB 3868 (Author)

School choice

Sent to Calendars Committee, no action taken

Expand the use of the public education grant to allow for parents the choice to transfer their students to better performing public schools if the campus their child is assigned to failed their accountability standards.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HB3868

HJR 53 (Author)

State spending cap

Referred to Appropriations subcommittee; left pending

Restricts the growth in the state budget to a rate defined by population growth plus inflation. Surplus revenue is used to lower property tax rates, provide for a sales tax holiday, and lower the franchise tax rate.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=HJR53

2009 (81st Legislative Session):

HB 36 (Co-Author)

Pro-Life

Left pending in State Affairs Committee

Expands informed consent to require a woman to have an ultrasound prior to having an abortion.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB36

HB 125 (Co-Author)

Voter Identification

Left pending in Elections Committee

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB125

HB 464 (Author)

Taxpayer Protections

Bill passed and signed into law

Requires the Legislative Budget Board to determine the impact on jobs while analyzing tax law changes.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB464

HB 1038 (Author)

Property Tax Reform

Bill passed and signed into law

Requires that appraisal districts factor in foreclosed and distressed properties in determining a residential homestead appraisal.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB1038

HB 1825 (Author)

Franchise Tax Reform

Left pending in Ways & Means Committee

Reduced the franchise tax rate.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB1825

HB 1893 (Co-Author)

Second Amendment Rights

Placed on General State Calendar, left pending

Allows students on college campuses to carry a concealed firearm if they have a concealed carry permit.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB1893

HB 2291 (Joint-Author)

Property Tax Reform

Bill passed and signed into law

Requires a local taxing unit to call for a record vote upon raising a property tax rate.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB2291

HB 2563 (Author)

Property Tax Reform

Left pending in Public Education Committee

Requires the school district property tax rate to continue dropping when money is transferred from the property tax relief fund.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB2563

HB 2743 (Author)

Taxpayer Protections

Sent to Calendars Committee; no action taken

Requires counties to post their expense reports online.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB2743

HB 3613/HJR 36 (Joint-Author)

Property Tax Reform, Veterans’ Affairs

Bill passed and signed by Governor; constitutional amendment passed by voters

Gives 100% disabled veterans a complete homestead exemption. Disallows highest and best use in appraising a residential homestead to lower appraisals.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HB3613

HJR 101 (Joint-Author)

State spending cap

Referred to Appropriations Committee; no action taken

Limits the rate of growth of state expenditures to population growth plus inflation with dedicating the surplus revenue to tax relief.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HJR101

HJR 14 (Joint-Author)

Eminent Domain Reform

Bill passed, constitutional amendment passed by voters

Restricts the use of eminent domain.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=HJR14

As a result of Election Night 2010, the Texas House now has a truly conservative Republican majority for the first time in its history! And while liberal Republican House Speaker Joe Straus is working hard to retain his control over the new House, thanks to your efforts, the tide is beginning to turn! Not only are there now two conservative House Members running for Speaker against Joe Straus but numerous House Members have pulled their pledge cards from Straus and have now pledged to one of the conservatives.

The remaining Republican House Members are hearing from their constituents that they, too, should pull their pledge cards and support a conservative Speaker, but many of them have stiffened their necks and declared that they believe they can outlast the grassroots pressure. We encourage you to hang in there and keep the calls coming! They are making a difference, so please don’t let up. And if you have already called, then please call again – call another five times, or however many times it takes until your Representative changes his or her stand! We the people must win this fight!

We have included the newest piece on the Battle for the Texas House. It is a short YouTube clip that you can circulate to your friends, updating them on what is currently happening, and urging them to weigh in with their State Representative. Let’s make sure that what began on Election Night continues with a new conservative Speaker so that we can have the conservative economic and social policies that we need to keep Texas strong!

God bless!

David Barton

“Despite strong-arm tactics by Speaker Straus and his leadership team, these five freshmen representatives showed courage in recognizing that Ken Paxton stands on solid conservative principles and in endorsing him for Speaker of the Texas House,” remarked Tony McDonald, YCT Senior Vice Chairman.

“It is clear these leaders respect the wishes of their constituents.  Having heard the call from the electorate to push forward a conservative agenda during the next legislative session, they have stepped out to acknowledge that such an agenda is put at risk by the liberal leadership of Speaker Joe Straus and would be secured by the conservative leadership of Ken Paxton,” McDonald said.

Perry and Simpson defeated long-time Republican incumbents Delwin Jones and Tommy Merritt, respectively, in the Republican Primary.  Jones and Merritt were close allies of Speaker Straus and were part of the original group of 11 Republicans who joined with Democrats last session to elect Straus. 

Jones and Merritt were widely considered by conservative groups to be two of the most liberal Republicans in the Texas House.  Burkett, Landtroop, and Sheets defeated Democratic Representatives Robert Miklos, Joe Heflin, and Allen Vaught, respectively, in the November general election.

All five representatives-elect earned YCT’s endorsement in their respective races.

“We were thoroughly impressed with Cindy Burkett, Jim Landtroop, Charles Perry, David Simpson, and Kenneth Sheets when we decided to endorse them,” explained McDonald. 

“We knew they were a new breed of statesmen; entering politics not to make friends, but to make Texas a better state.  The grassroots are proud that they have fulfilled the promise we saw in them and we look forward to more courageous, conservative leadership when these five leaders go to Austin,” said McDonald. 

Young Conservatives of Texas issues endorsements to the most conservative candidates across Texas. The group examines candidates through questionnaires and in-depth interviews before the members come together to deliberate and pick the most qualified conservative in each race.

AUSTIN, TEXAS – (McKinney, TX) – In announcing his bid for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, State Rep. Ken Paxton today issued the following statement:

“Today, on Veterans Day, we honor the service of those who have given so much to our state and nation, many of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice. It seems appropriate that we focus on how we can best protect our hard-won freedoms which are increasingly under attack.

On Election Day, we witnessed a monumental shift in the political climate, and I believe that historic opportunities demand bold action in defense of our conservative values. Voters across Texas sent a clear message that they favor leadership dedicated to protecting our freedoms and fighting government growth. Texans have provided us with an historic mandate, and they expect us to use this mandate to honestly advance conservative principles and not simply protect the status quo. These goals can only be accomplished with a conservative Speaker.

In January, members of the Texas State Legislature have a unique opportunity and an obligation to do more than simply balance the budget without raising taxes. We also have an opportunity to:

Implement measures to reduce property taxes permanently over time;

Aggressively fight back on the federal government’s invasion on the rights of Texans, and in fact reclaim our state sovereignty;

Limit our state government’s ability to grow beyond the rate of inflation and population;

Pass true immigration reform and implement photo id;

Provide opportunities for individuals and families to make important decisions such as health care options that are free from governmental intrusion and mandates; and

Challenge ourselves to bring solutions to the table that create jobs, sustain economic prosperity, and continue to make Texas a shining light for generations to come.

Republicans have the opportunity to unify behind a conservative Speaker who can effectively lead our Party on the principles our citizens espouse. As someone who has continuously served as an advocate for conservative principles, I am announcing my candidacy for the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

Texans have clearly asked us to advance their values, promote conservative policies and follow a path of long-term economic prosperity, and I stand ready to serve as the leader to accomplish these goals. I welcome the opportunity to work with my colleagues in the Legislature to address the critical issues we face and implement real solutions that will benefit all Texans.”

Join us at one of the tour’s stops with Fed Up!’s author, Governor Rick Perry.  Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America from Washington will be available for purchase, and Governor Perry will be on hand to meet guests and sign your copy of the book!

Dallas, TX – Wednesday, Nov. 10
Eddie Deen’s Ranch
944 South Lamar – Dallas, TX 75202
5:30 p.m.

 If you have any questions please contact Mike Joyce at mjoyce@texaspolicy.com

or Andrea Antal at aantal@texaspolicy.com or by phone at 512.472.2700.

Texas Public Policy Foundation

900 Congress Ave., Suite 400

Austin, TX 78701

Election Day Voting Locations

• Akin Elementary School, 1100 Springwood, Wylie
• Aldridge Elementary School, 720 Pleasant Valley, Richardson
• Allen Municipal Courts Building, 301 Century Pkwy., Allen
• Armstrong Middle School, 3805 Timberline Drive, Plano
• Barron Elementary School, 3300 Avenue P, Plano
• Benton Staley Middle School, 6927 Stadium Drive, Frisco
• Bentwood Trail Presbyterian Church, 6000 BentwoodTrail, Dallas
• Blue Ridge High School Library, 11020 CR 504, Blue Ridge
• Bowman Middle School, 2501 Jupiter Road, Plano
• Brinker Elementary School, 3800 Clark Parkway, Plano
• Burks Elementary School, 1801 Hill Street, McKinney
• Carpenter Middle School, 1501 Cross Bend Road, Plano
• Celina Senior Center, 140 N. Ohio, Celina
• Christ United Methodist Church, 3101 Coit Road, Plano
• Clark High School, 523 Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano
• Clark Middle School, 4600 Colby Drive, Frisco
• Collin College Central Park Campus, 2200 W. University Drive, McKinney
• Collin College Preston Ridge Campus, 9700 Wade Blvd., Frisco
• Collin College Spring Creek Campus, 2800 E. Spring Creek Pkwy., Plano
• Collin County Elections Office, 2010 Redbud Blvd., Ste. 102, McKinney
• Community ISD Technology and Conference Center, 615 FM 1138, Nevada
• Country Lane Seniors Community, 2401 Country View Lane, McKinney
• Cox Elementary School, 7009 Woodbridge Pkwy., Sachse
• Douglass Community Center, 1111 H Avenue, Plano
• Farmersville City Hall, 205 South Main, Farmersville
• Fire Station #5, 6600 W. Virginia Pkwy., McKinney
• Fire Station #7, 861 Independence Pkwy., McKinney
• First Baptist Church – Branch, 7011 FM 546, Princeton
• First Baptist Church – Lavon, 209 Main Street, Nevada
• Ford Middle School, 630 Park Place Drive, Allen
• Fowler Middle School, 3801 McDermott Road, Plano
• Frankford Middle School, 7706 Osage Plaza Pkwy., Dallas
• Frisco High School, 6401 Parkwood Drive, Frisco
• Frisco Senior Center, 6670 Moore Street, Frisco
• Glen Oaks Elementary School, 6100 Glen Oaks, McKinney
• Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Road, Plano
• Harrington Library, 1501 18th Street, Plano
• Liberty High School, 15250 Rolater Road, Frisco
• Lovejoy ISD-Spurgin Administration Building, 259 Country Club Road, Allen
• McKinney Senior Recreation Center, 1400 South College, McKinney
• McNeil Elementary School, 3650 Hardin Road, McKinney
• Meadows Elementary School, 2800 18th Street, Plano
• Melissa City Hall, 3411 Barker Ave., Melissa
• Mitchell Elementary School, 4223 Briargrove Lane, Dallas
• Murphy Municipal Complex, 206 N. Murphy Road, Murphy
• NSERL – Natural Science and Engineering Research Laboratory, 875 Synergy Park Blvd., Richardson
• Old Settlers Recreation Center, 1201 E. Louisiana, McKinney
• Parker Community Center, 5700 E. Parker Road, Parker
• Parr Library, 6200 Windhaven Pkwy., Plano
• PISD Administration Center, 2700 W. 15th Street, Plano
• Plano Senior Center, 401 W. 16th Street, Plano
• Princeton High School, 1000 East Princeton Drive, Princeton
• Renner-Frankford Library, 6400 Frankford Road, Dallas
• Reynolds Middle School, 700 N. Coleman, Prosper
• Richardson Police Sub-Station, 2003 E. Renner Road, Richardson
• Roach Middle School, 12499 Independence Pkwy., Frisco
• Rose Haggar Elementary School, 17820 Campbell Road, Dallas
• Ruth Cherry Intermediate School, 1400 FM 1777, Royse City
• Ruth Dowell Middle School, 301 S. East Ridge Road, McKinney
• Scoggins Middle School, 7070 Stacy Road, McKinney
• Seis Lagos Community Services Association, 222 Seis Lagos Trail, Wylie
• Shepton High School, 5505 Plano Pkwy., Plano
• Sigler Elementary School, 1400 Janwood Drive, Plano
• Suncreek United Methodist Church, 1517 W. McDermott Drive, Allen
• Texas Star Bank, 402 W. White Street, Anna
• Valley Creek Elementary School, 2800 Valley Creek Trail, McKinney
• Westminster Volunteer Fire Dept., 311 E. Houston, Westminster
• Weston Community Center, 117 Main Street, Weston
• Whitt Elementary School, 7520 Woodcreek Way, Sachse
• Woodcreek Church, 3400 E. Renner Road, Richardson
• Wylie High School, 2550 W. Hwy 544, Wylie
• Wylie Municipal Complex, 2000 N. Hwy 78, Wylie

November 2, 2010 Election – Sample Ballots

• Ballot Style 1: Precincts: 1, 2, 3, 38, 44, 57, 96, 97, 98, 99, 102, 126, 129, 149, 156, and 169
• Ballot Style 2: Precincts: 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 37, 93, 114, 150, and 172
• Ballot Style 3: Precincts: 5, 120, 130, 157, and 171
• Ballot Style 4: Precincts: 6, 40, 147, and 168
• Ballot Style 5: Precincts: 7, 82, 106, 145, 148, and 151
• Ballot Style 6: Precincts: 8, 33-02, 33-03, 33-04, 33-05, 33-08, 33-09, 33-10, 33-11, 33-12, 33-14, 33-15, 33-16, 33-17, 33-19, 33-20, 33-21, 33-22, 33-23, 35-01, 35-02, 35-03, 35-04, 35-05, 35-06, 35-07, 35-08, 35-10, 35-11, 35-12, 35-13, 35-15, 35-16, 35-17, 35-xx, and 42
• Ballot Style 7: Precincts: 12, 87, 92, 101, 111, 117, 118, 122, 127, 131, 140, 146, 155, 173, and 177
• Ballot Style 8: Precincts: 13-01, 13-02, 13-03, 13-04, 13-05, 13-06, 13-07, 13-08, 13-09, 13-10, 13-11, 13-12, 29-01, 29-02, 29-03, 29-06, 29-07, 29-08, and 178
• Ballot Style 9 (City of Celina): Precincts: 13-13, 29-09, and 29-10
• Ballot Style 10: Precincts: 14, 81, 86, 89, 90, 108, 109, 112, 116, 123, 124, 137, 167, and 176
• Ballot Style 11: Precincts: 15, 49, 67, 70, and 138
• Ballot Style 12: Precincts: 19, 31, 32, 34, 53, 63, 64, 65, 69, 71, 76, 107, 119, 121, 135, and 139
• Ballot Style 13: Precincts: 20, 22-02, 22-03, 22-04, 22-05, 22-06, 22-07, 22-09, 22-10, and 22-11
• Ballot Style 14: Precincts: 21, 39, 54, 58, 62, 66, 77, 85, and 91
• Ballot Style 15 (City of Celina): Precincts: 22-01 and 22-08
• Ballot Style 16: Precincts: 23, 46, 48, 55, 78, 94, 110, and 125
• Ballot Style 17 (City of Dallas): Precincts: 24, 36, 73, 74, 84, 88, 104, 115, 132, 136, and 142
• Ballot Style 18: Precincts: 25-01, 25-09, 25-10, 47, 52, 61, 68, 103, 141, 144-09, 144-10, 165, 166-02, and 166-03
• Ballot Style 19 (City of Murphy): Precincts: 25-02, 25-03, 144-02, 144-03, and 166-01
• Ballot Style 20: Precincts: 26 and 72
• Ballot Style 21: Precincts: 27-01, 27-02, 27-04, 27-08, 27-09, 56, 83-01, 83-02, 83-04, 83-05, 83-06, 83-07, 133, 170, 174-01, 174-02, 174-04, 174-08, and 174-09
• Ballot Style 22: Precincts: 27-03, 27-05, 27-06, 27-07, 27-10, 83-08, 174-03, 174-05, 174-06, 174-07, and 174-10
• Ballot Style 23: Precincts: 28, 75, 105, and 143
• Ballot Style 24: Precincts: 30, 134, and 163
• Ballot Style 25 (City of Lavon): Precincts: 33-01, 33-13, 35-09, and 35-14
• Ballot Style 26 (City of Dallas): Precinct: 33-18
• Ballot Style 27: Precincts: 41-01, 41-02, 41-03, 41-04, 41-06, 41-08, 41-09, 41-12, 41-13, 41-14, 41-15, 41-17, 41-19, 41-22, 128, and 162
• Ballot Style 28 (Wylie NE Special Utility District): Precincts: 41-11, 41-18, 41-20, and 41-21
• Ballot Style 29: Precinct: 43
• Ballot Style 30: Precincts: 45, and 179
• Ballot Style 31: Precincts: 50, 51, 152, and 154
• Ballot Style 32: Precincts: 59, 80, 95, and 113
• Ballot Style 33: Precincts: 60, and 158
• Ballot Style 34 (City of Dallas): Precincts: 79, and 164
• Ballot Style 35: Precincts: 100, and 161
• Ballot Style 36: Precincts: 153, 159, and 175
• Ballot Style 37: Precinct: 160

Source: Collin County Elections Office

• Monday, October 18: 8am – 5pm
• Tuesday, October 19: 8am – 5pm
• Wednesday, October 20: 8am – 5pm
• Thursday, October 21: 8am – 5pm
• Friday, October 22: 8am – 5pm
• Saturday, October 23: 7am – 7pm
• Sunday, October 24: 1pm – 6pm
• Monday, October 25: 7am – 7pm
• Tuesday, October 26: 7am – 7pm
• Wednesday, October 27: 7am – 7pm
• Thursday, October 28: 7am – 7pm
• Friday, October 29: 7am – 7pm

Early Voting Locations

• Collin County Elections (Main Early Voting Location), 2010 Redbud Blvd, Suite 102, McKinney
• Allen Municipal Courts Facility, 301 Century Pkwy, Allen
• Celina ISD Administration Building, 205 S. Colorado, Celina
• Christ United Methodist Church, 3101 Coit Road, Plano
• Christopher A. Parr Library, 6200 Windhaven Pkwy., Plano
• Collin College – Central Park Campus, 2200 W University Dr, McKinney
• Collin College – Preston Ridge Campus, 9700 Wade Blvd, Frisco
• Collin College – Spring Creek Campus, 2800 East Spring Creek, Plano
• Farmersville City Hall, 205 South Main, Farmersville
• Frisco Senior Center, 6670 Moore Street, Frisco
• Haggard Library, 2501 Coit Rd, Plano
• Harrington Library, 1501 18th Street, Plano
• Lucas City Hall, 665 Country Club Road, Lucas
• McKinney Fire Station #7, 861 S. Independence Pkwy, McKinney
• Murphy City Hall, 206 N Murphy Rd, Murphy
• Old Settlers Recreation Center, 1201 E. Louisiana St, McKinney
• Plano ISD Administration Center, 2700 West 15th Street, Plano
• Renner Frankford Library, 6400 Frankford Rd, Dallas
• Texas Star Bank, 402 W. White, Anna
• Wylie Municipal Complex, 2000 N. Hwy 78, Wylie

November 2, 2010 Election – Sample Ballots

• Ballot Style 1: Precincts: 1, 2, 3, 38, 44, 57, 96, 97, 98, 99, 102, 126, 129, 149, 156, and 169
• Ballot Style 2: Precincts: 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 37, 93, 114, 150, and 172
• Ballot Style 3: Precincts: 5, 120, 130, 157, and 171
• Ballot Style 4: Precincts: 6, 40, 147, and 168
• Ballot Style 5: Precincts: 7, 82, 106, 145, 148, and 151
• Ballot Style 6: Precincts: 8, 33-02, 33-03, 33-04, 33-05, 33-08, 33-09, 33-10, 33-11, 33-12, 33-14, 33-15, 33-16, 33-17, 33-19, 33-20, 33-21, 33-22, 33-23, 35-01, 35-02, 35-03, 35-04, 35-05, 35-06, 35-07, 35-08, 35-10, 35-11, 35-12, 35-13, 35-15, 35-16, 35-17, 35-xx, and 42
• Ballot Style 7: Precincts: 12, 87, 92, 101, 111, 117, 118, 122, 127, 131, 140, 146, 155, 173, and 177
• Ballot Style 8: Precincts: 13-01, 13-02, 13-03, 13-04, 13-05, 13-06, 13-07, 13-08, 13-09, 13-10, 13-11, 13-12, 29-01, 29-02, 29-03, 29-06, 29-07, 29-08, and 178
• Ballot Style 9 (City of Celina): Precincts: 13-13, 29-09, and 29-10
• Ballot Style 10: Precincts: 14, 81, 86, 89, 90, 108, 109, 112, 116, 123, 124, 137, 167, and 176
• Ballot Style 11: Precincts: 15, 49, 67, 70, and 138
• Ballot Style 12: Precincts: 19, 31, 32, 34, 53, 63, 64, 65, 69, 71, 76, 107, 119, 121, 135, and 139
• Ballot Style 13: Precincts: 20, 22-02, 22-03, 22-04, 22-05, 22-06, 22-07, 22-09, 22-10, and 22-11
• Ballot Style 14: Precincts: 21, 39, 54, 58, 62, 66, 77, 85, and 91
• Ballot Style 15 (City of Celina): Precincts: 22-01 and 22-08
• Ballot Style 16: Precincts: 23, 46, 48, 55, 78, 94, 110, and 125
• Ballot Style 17 (City of Dallas): Precincts: 24, 36, 73, 74, 84, 88, 104, 115, 132, 136, and 142
• Ballot Style 18: Precincts: 25-01, 25-09, 25-10, 47, 52, 61, 68, 103, 141, 144-09, 144-10, 165, 166-02, and 166-03
• Ballot Style 19 (City of Murphy): Precincts: 25-02, 25-03, 144-02, 144-03, and 166-01
• Ballot Style 20: Precincts: 26 and 72
• Ballot Style 21: Precincts: 27-01, 27-02, 27-04, 27-08, 27-09, 56, 83-01, 83-02, 83-04, 83-05, 83-06, 83-07, 133, 170, 174-01, 174-02, 174-04, 174-08, and 174-09
• Ballot Style 22: Precincts: 27-03, 27-05, 27-06, 27-07, 27-10, 83-08, 174-03, 174-05, 174-06, 174-07, and 174-10
• Ballot Style 23: Precincts: 28, 75, 105, and 143
• Ballot Style 24: Precincts: 30, 134, and 163
• Ballot Style 25 (City of Lavon): Precincts: 33-01, 33-13, 35-09, and 35-14
• Ballot Style 26 (City of Dallas): Precinct: 33-18
• Ballot Style 27: Precincts: 41-01, 41-02, 41-03, 41-04, 41-06, 41-08, 41-09, 41-12, 41-13, 41-14, 41-15, 41-17, 41-19, 41-22, 128, and 162
• Ballot Style 28 (Wylie NE Special Utility District): Precincts: 41-11, 41-18, 41-20, and 41-21
• Ballot Style 29: Precinct: 43
• Ballot Style 30: Precincts: 45, and 179
• Ballot Style 31: Precincts: 50, 51, 152, and 154
• Ballot Style 32: Precincts: 59, 80, 95, and 113
• Ballot Style 33: Precincts: 60, and 158
• Ballot Style 34 (City of Dallas): Precincts: 79, and 164
• Ballot Style 35: Precincts: 100, and 161
• Ballot Style 36: Precincts: 153, 159, and 175
• Ballot Style 37: Precinct: 160

Source: Collin County Elections Office

Texas state Rep. Jerry Madden had no particular expertise to offer when the Speaker of the House there asked him to chair the Corrections committee in 2005. His contact with the criminal justice system was limited to a few traffic tickets. He was an engineer, not a lawyer. His marching orders included this one: “Don’t build new prisons. They cost too much.”

To read the entire article, click the link below.

http://www.adn.com/2010/09/18/1460769/our-view-be-tough-be-smart.html#none

Redistricting will be undertaken by the Texas House of Representatives beginning in January, 2011. Most conservatives are focused on the mid-term national elections as our last hope of returning our country to the sound principles that have prospered us and kept us free, but if we are not careful, we could find ourselves winning the battle, but losing the war.

There is a vital connection between electing a strong conservative Texas Congressional delegation to reverse the policies of President Obama and Speaker Pelosi AND electing a conservative majority in the Texas House of Representatives to oversee redistricting, please watch my 5 minute video to learn more.
http://www.youtube.com/user/ TexansforWayne
I hope you will share this video with your friends and other like-minded Texans everywhere to urge conservative voters to become informed about the impact of redistricting and where their state representative stands.
 
Sincerely,
 
Wayne Christian
State Representative
District 9
President, Texas Conservative Coalition

Last week, the United States House of Representatives passed the Supplemental Appropriations Bill H.R. 4899 … with amendments. 

Through amendment, Congress is trying to bypass our State’s authority for setting our own education standards by offering money directly to school districts to hire additional employees. 

However, there is a catch. 

In order for school districts to receive this money, Governor Perry would have to guarantee that the Legislature would appropriate school funding that would equal or exceed current funding for the next three fiscal years (through 2013).

Not only is this amendment an attempt to infringe on our State’s right to set our own education standards, it also makes demands that violate the Texas Constitution.

Texas governors do not have the authority to set appropriations in our State’s budget, nor do they have the authority to require the Legislature to allocate appropriations in future budgets for specific State programs.

Governor Rick Perry has twice rejected federal funds to participate in the Obama Administration “Race to the Top” program.  This program is designed to provide funding to states that adopt national education standards. 

Rather than adopting federal standards, Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott, members of our State Board of Education and other education leaders in our State have spent the last four years rewriting standards for core subjects, including English, Language Arts, Reading, Science & Social Studies, to improve the quality of education for our students in Texas. 

Our State continues to lead the country in economic prosperity and job growth while declining offers for federal stimulus dollars with strings attached.  However, Congress is demonstrating its thirst for power by this effort to bypass our State’s authority. 

The U.S. Senate will consider H.R. 4899 next week. 

Hopefully, Senators will strip this amendment from the bill and show appropriate respect for our Texas State Constitution and authority to set our own education standards.

On April 20, 2010 the explosion of BP’s Deepwater Horizon killed 11 people and began what has been called the world’s “the worst environmental disaster”. It is now early in JULY, over 75 days as of July 4th and still no real end in sight. In listening to all the news and analysis of this disaster, I find two scenarios quite interesting. Neither is very comforting. Make no mistake about this: it is the PRESIDENT’S JOB to lead and get this cleaned up along with, of course, BP. This is not like Hurricane Katrina in which the states are the first line of defense (and don’t get me started on the ineptitude of former Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Governor Kathleen (I’m leaving, but I’ll be back with body bags”) Blanco). The buck does stop on President Obama’s desk!

In my first scenario, the President is just “fiddling while Rome burns” because he really doesn’t have a clue as to what he should be doing and neither do the rest of his advisors. There are many things he could do, but he is too inept to know what to do first, so he does little or nothing. Indeed it does take him 10 days to make his first public comment on the oil spill. By Day 11, the oil penetrates the Louisiana wetlands while Obama meets with U2′s Bono in the Oval Office. So in this scenario, it turns out that the President is not nearly the “rocket scientist” that he has been portrayed to be and he really is not capable of leading in a crisis. Maybe that’s why he’s paid attorneys so much money to keep his school records under wraps.

Now to the second scenario, the President knows exactly what he is doing and this fits into his chief of staff Rahm “Dead Fish” Emanuel’s favorite saying: “Never let a good crisis go to waste!” With cap and trade looming on the horizon, why not use this to demonize “Big Oil” and America’s so-called addiction to the evil substance and just let everything “go to hell in a hand basket.” After all, the states being affected the most are “Red States” that all supported John McCain (with the exception of Florida). And if your goal is to bring America to it’s knees then who cares about the number of jobs lost or the damage to the coastline. According to Saul Alinsky (the first “community organizer”), a man that Obama greatly admires the end justify the means. And so now we have the cabal of Obama, Reid and Pelosi once again pushing a bill that will cripple the United States and cause job loss and massive increases in the cost of energy. Do they care? What do you think?

Considering all the evidence that this oil spill could have been contained had Obama acted quickly and taken advantage of the help that was offered from all over the world, I’ll let you decide which scenario fits. And we’ll see what happens with Cap and Trade or should we call it “Cap and Tax.”?

Catherine Gibb

Last week, Governor Rick Perry announced that Texas is prepared to respond to any effects of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill along the Texas coast. The State Operations Center has remained at an increased readiness level and the State continues to work with federal and local authorities to track the spill and prepare contingency plans.

The Office of the Governor participates in daily conference calls with the White House, Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and gulf state governors.

Any oil reaching Texas shores is expected to be in the form of weathered tar balls, which are naturally occurring on the Texas Gulf Coast during the summer months, according the information from the General Land Office and Coast Guard. Fortunately, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has equipped and trained his staff in preparation for a potential spill off the Texas coast. Texas’ General Land Office (GLO) has five coastal offices equipped with boats, 4×4 trucks, trailers, ATVs, and skimmers available for response activities. Silt curtains may be deployed to protect washouts.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has activated 12 Mobile Response Spill Assessment Teams capable of conducting air monitoring and collecting sediment and water samples. TCEQ also has staff available to advise on waste disposal and provide training in shoreline clean-up techniques.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is coordinating with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA, TCEQ and GLO to provide any assistance necessary. TPWD has also formed an internal oil spill response team and is conducting weekly conference calls with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), Texas Sea Grant College Program and commercial fisheries. No fisheries have been closed along the Texas coast due to the oil spill. TDA is working with grocery stores to promote consumer awareness that both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Texas Department of State Health Services have affirmed the health and safety of Texas seafood and shrimp.

The Oil Spill Prevention and Response Division of the General Land Office was created in 1991 to prevent oil spills and to ensure platforms, pipeline operators, vessels and refineries have contingency plans in place to respond to spills. Division personnel audit and inspect over 625 facilities that store, transport or refine petroleum products along the Texas coast to check for compliance with applicable regulations. The Division also maintains records on over 18,000 vessels that operate in state water to ensure they have operational guidelines and procedures in place to deal with oil spills.

Officials with the U.S. Coast Guard Houston-Galveston, Port Arthur, Corpus Christi and the GLO will continue regular communication to coordinate activities on the federal, state and local level.

Texas beaches remain open for summer recreation and business. For more information, please visit www.traveltex.com.

The Republican Party of Texas has a new chairman. At its 2010 convention in Dallas Saturday, the more than 5,000 delegates on hand voted to elect Steve Munisteri of Houston chairman of the state party. Chairman Munisteri sounded a note of unity upon taking office Saturday afternoon.

“I’m humbled and honored that the delegates to the convention of the Republican Party of Texas have elected me,” said Republican Party of Texas Chairman Steve Munisteri. “Together we will move united into November to deliver victory for our Republican candidates at all levels of government. I call upon the grassroots to join me in these efforts. As for me and my staff, we will be hard at work Monday morning, focusing on victory in November, with the re-election of Gov. Rick Perry as our top priority.”

Gov. Perry welcomed the newly elected chairman.

“Anita and I offer our congratulations to Steve for his election as chair of the Texas Republican Party. He will play an integral role in fortifying the momentum of our party’s values – values based on principles of limited government, restrained spending and personal liberty. Steve is a true patriot and one who has faithfully fought to uphold the Texas values that have made our state the best place in the nation to live, work and raise a family. I’m proud of his leadership and look forward to his guidance of our state party as it fuels the effort to win in November and keep Texas as a model of good governance for the rest of the nation to follow.”

A graduate of the University of Texas and the UT Law School, Chairman Munisteri comes to the chairmanship from a career of advocating for the conservative cause. Mr. Munisteri entered politics on Republican Hank Grover’s campaign for Texas governor in 1972, and founded the Young Conservatives of Texas. A veteran of over 50 political campaigns across four decades, Mr. Munisteri brings a strong record of accomplishment to the Republican Party of Texas.

The delegates also elected Melinda Fredricks of Conroe vice chairman.

This week, Governor Perry and other state lawmakers attacked the recent decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take over air quality permitting for up to forty refineries and facilities in Texas.

This effort serves as the latest attempt by the federal government to usurp control over our State’s authority.  

As Governor Perry mentioned in a recent press conference, this action undermines Texas’ successful clean air programs and will cost the state thousands of jobs while growing the federal bureaucracy. 

Texas’ air is significantly cleaner than it was in 2000, even with the population, employment and economic growth that Texas has experienced in the last decade. 

In fact, the Texas clean air program achieved a 22 percent reduction in ozone and a 46 percent decrease in NOx emissions between 2000 and 2008, compared to an eight percent reduction in national ozone levels and a 27 percent reduction in national NOx levels during that same time. 

Additionally, no county in Texas is in nonattainment for fine particulate matter, one of the pollutants with the greatest impact on human health.

As Governor Perry points out, Texas is a national leader in reducing emissions and known pollutants and advancing renewable energy sources.

Our State has successfully balanced the need for environmental improvements with fostering economic growth, new investment and job creation.  

Texas continues to advance new, clean energy technology by using market incentives and stable regulation, not costly mandates and taxes.  

Imposing unnecessarily stringent regulations will only undermine our State’s innovative efforts and serve to constrict economic growth.

Hurricane season is here, and while a lot could happen between now and November, the Democrats may be facing a Category 5 storm.  Republicans lead by 8 points in the latest Rasmussen generic ballot poll, and 64% of Americans believe that our country is on the wrong track.

Independents are swinging to the right, and the wind gusts are only getting stronger.

Incumbents are in danger of being swept away.  What’s worse, the white caps are tinged with the oil from an unimaginable tragedy. 

What is shaping up to be a sad year for our country, a disaster for the gulf, could also be the perfect storm … for the GOP.

Americans gambled on President Obama, believing his inspirational campaign style would carry over into his administration.  He has rapidly gone from inspirational to arrogant to incompetent. 

When you have James Carville and Spike Lee publicly chastising the President for his lack of leadership, it’s obvious that even Democrats are having buyer’s remorse. 

We’ve digressed from hope to despair in less than two years. 

Thank goodness the November election is in five months.

The good news for Republicans:  A majority of Americans disagree with the President on, in no particular order:

1. ObamaCare
2. Bailouts
3. Government Takeovers
4. Unsustainable National Debt
5. Immigration Enforcement – Lack of
6. Israel
7. Iran, and now the
8. Handling, or non-handling, of the Catastrophic Gulf Oil Spill

Our President is not listening.  Americans want change all right, in the form of an all-new Congress.

So for the next five months, Republicans need to batten down the hatches, prepare for November, and work together. 

You know the drill.  If you are able:

• Send a contribution to a Candidate – Congressional or State level
• Walk precincts for your local conservatives
• Write to your Congressman & Senators
• Email your friends
• Use social networking to rally the base. 

In 180 days we can make our voices heard.  Maybe President Obama will hear us then. 

Let’s make sure that he has no choice.

Denise McNamara resides in Dallas, Texas, and is formerly Texas’ RNC National Committeewoman & Golden Corridor Republican Women Member.

Catherine Gibb

In the Chief Executive’s annual survey of best and worst states for business, conducted in late January of this year, 651 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) across the United States again gave Texas top honors as the best state for business.  The Lone Star State was followed closely by North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.  Conversely, the worst state for doing business was California, followed by New York, Michigan, New Jersey and Massachusetts.

How is it that California, the nation’s most populous state at 37 million residents, one that is the world’s eighth-largest economy, and the country’s richest and most diverse agricultural producer, a state that had the fastest growth rate in the 1950s and 1960s during the tenures of Democratic Governor Pat Brown and Republican Governors Earl Warren and Ronald Reagan, should become the Venezuela of North America? 

California is anti business with anti business regulations, lamented one CEO:

• Californians pay among the highest income and sales taxes in the nation, the former exceeding 10 percent in the top brackets.
• Unemployment statewide is over 12 percent — higher than the national average. Against national trends, union density is climbing from 16.1 percent of workers in 1998 to 17.8 percent in 2002.
• Organized labor has more political influence in California than most other states.
  In addition, unfunded pension and health care liabilities for state workers top $500 billion, and the annual pension contribution has climbed from $320 million to $7.3 billion in less than a decade.  In contrast, Texas is pro business with reasonable regulations:
• The Lone Star State is the second most populous state and the world’s 12th largest economy.
• Some 70 percent of all new U.S. jobs have been created there since 2008.
• Its tax credits and incentives to businesses choosing to locate or expand there are among the most aggressive.
• The Texas Enterprise Fund is by far the largest deal-closing fund of any state, with grants totaling $377 million disbursed in 2008.  

Little wonder then that while Texas gained over 848,000 net new residents in the last 10 years, California lost 1.5 million, according to the Census Bureau.

Source: Daniel J. Mitchell, “Best and Worst States for Business 2010,” Chief Executive, April 29, 2010.

Dear Friends,

I am pleased to announce that on Monday, June 7th, the Nostradamus of Pollsters, Dr. Frank Luntz (shown at right), will serve as my special guest for a dinner at the Westin Galleria in Dallas.

Along with Frank, my longtime friend Mark Davis, host of The Mark Davis Show on WBAP News Talk 820, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the event.

In 2008 Frank provided us with an excellent presentation on the politics of the Presidential election.

I am honored that he has agreed to come back to the Lone Star State for another entertaining performance focusing on the midterm election and our chances for a GOP takeover of the House of Representatives.

If you are interested in attending, please visit my website to sign up – seats are filling up fast!

Respectfully,
Sam Johnson
Member of Congress

The 2010 Republican Party of Texas (RPT) State Convention will be held at the Dallas Convention Center on Friday and Saturday, June 11th and 12th. The following information should be of use to you if you plan to attend:

The Republican Party of Texas was scheduled to send out during the week of April 19th post cards to all Republicans who were selected as Delegates or Alternates to the State Convention. The post cards will include registration instructions for the Convention.

Purpose – At the 2010 RPT State Convention, Delegates will elect a State Party Chairman and State Party Vice-Chairman, who by the Texas Election Code must be of different gender. Each State District Caucus will select a State Committeeman and State Committeewoman who will serve on the State Republican Executive Committee. In addition, Delegates will adopt the 2010 State Party Platform.

Registration – You can register as a Delegate or Alternate via the www.Texasgop.org web site. Once you reach the site, click on the 2010 Convention icon, then on ‘Pre-registration’. The Party is asking all Delegates and Alternates to pay a $35 facilities fee to help cover convention expenses, as has been done in previous years.

Guests – You can order a guest pass on the site. There is a $25 charge for a guest pass for those at least 18 years of age. Children under 18 may receive a guest pass at no charge.

Hotels – The Hyatt Regency Dallas is the main hotel and has been fully booked. The Crowne Plaza is the second choice hotel, followed by the Westin when the Crowne Plaza is fully booked. All three hotels are on DART train lines.

Transportation and Parking – Parking at the Convention Center is extremely limited, and all Convention attendees are urged to use the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system. The RPT is working with DART to have addition train cars and possibly buses for the Convention. If you would like to purchase DART day passes ($4.00), you may do so via the RPT web site.

Volunteer Opportunities – The Convention, which is the largest political Convention in the United States and possibly the world, could not run without hundreds of volunteers. Volunteers are needed to man registration desks; to act as Sergeants at Arms on the convention floor, in Senate District Caucuses and at DART stations; and to act as pages throughout the Convention. Registration forms for all volunteer opportunities are available on the RPT web site. Pages must be between the ages of 15 and 18, and there application form must be signed by either the prospective pages State Republican Executive Committeeman, State Committeewoman, or by their County Chairman. The deadline for turning in volunteer forms is May 25, 2010.

Convention Center – The General Sessions and the Prayer Rally will be held in Exhibit Hall F, the newest of the Convention Center’s exhibit halls. The room is over 200,000 square feet in area with no pillars to block views. In addition, all caucus meetings will be held in meeting rooms, unlike the last Dallas convention (2002) when some caucuses were held is curtained off areas of the Convention Center garage.

Additional Information – Additional information about the State Convention can be found at the RPT website. You may also feel free to contact me with any questions, either by cell phone at 214-803-1847, or via e-mail at Nealkatz23@verizon.net.

I can’t speak for everyone in our club, but I didn’t get involved with PRW or TFRW to have social time. I wanted to be able to make a difference in the politics in our county, our state, and our country. And now, more than ever, we cannot sit on the sidelines, wringing our hands and bemoaning the state of the nation. We have a job to do and this is our call to action. In addition to working to get out the vote in Collin County, we need to see what we can do to help in other critical races across the state of Texas. If your budget doesn’t have room for donations to candidates, there are numerous other ways to help and we will be exploring those in future club meetings and via information emails. I know that we are all inundated with emails and that we each have our own personal lives and problems to deal with. But if we don’t take our heads out of the sand and make the time to do all that we can to win in 2010, we will not recognize this nation in just a few short years. Healthcare, banking reforms, cap and trade, second amendment challenges, liberal judges, trillion dollar deficits and amnesty will change the face of our nation forever. I leave you with this quote from Ronald Reagan, January 5, 1967: “Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance, it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have know freedom and then lost it have never known it again.” DO YOU WANT THE LEGACY OF OUR GENERATION TO BE THAT WE LOST OUR FREEDOM?

Catherine Gibb

RPT Update 04/23/10

Earlier this month, Democratic nominee for governor, liberal Bill White, accused Gov. Perry and the Texas Republican leadership of engaging in “Soviet-style” budget management, when they announced efforts to trim the state’s budget across the board.  Coming from the nominee of a party that is spending the country toward bankruptcy and is increasingly insinuating itself into every single facet of American life, that was a bit rich.

Well, earlier this week, trial lawyer Bill White took a shot at Gov. Perry’s resume.  This, coming from the nominee of a party that’s led by the president with one of the thinnest resumes in American political history, is, again, a bit rich.

But it’s even worse than that.  By taking a swipe at Gov. Perry’s career, Bill White managed to overlook the fact that Gov. Perry’s connections to Texas life are deep and strong.  Gov. Perry has worked on a ranch, and he spent five years flying C-130s for the United States Air Force.  Gov. Perry has spent decades trying to keep Texas ‘ government small and Texas ‘ families and businesses thriving, while Democrats have done everything they could to expand government power.

We’re sure that Bill White didn’t intend to insult ranchers or military veterans.  John Kerry didn’t mean to insult the military either.  And neither did Dick Durbin.  Liberal Democrats never intend to insult the military.  They just keep doing it over and over again, year by year.

The Pelosi Democrat leadership didn’t mean to call opponents of Obamacare “un-American,” either.  They just…you know…did.  In print.

If Bill White wants to talk resumes, then he should start answering questions about why he still won’t disclose his tax returns.  Or why the city he left behind, Houston , is in such financial troubles.  Or he could answer for the company he led, BJ Services, and why it’s under Congressional investigation.

The one thing Both Ways Bill evidently doesn’t want to talk about are the big issues of the day.  Issues like cap and trade and Obamacare, which he still hasn’t given Texans a straight answer on.  It’s not hard to figure out why.  According to Rasmussen, while 67% of Texans support repealing Obamacare, 82% of Texas Democrats don’t.  Texas Democrats are fine with Washington mandates that force individuals to buy insurance, and that threaten to bankrupt Texas .  The majority of Texas isn’t fine with that, and wants Obamacare repealed.  Bill White and the Democrats are out of touch with Texas on Obamacare.  And a whole lot more.

That must be why liberal Bill White is taking cheap – and factually deficient – shots at Gov. Perry’s resume.

CONTACTS:
Nicole Chardavoyne, nchardavoyne@gorvis.com, 202-306-7139
Mark Hey, Mark.Hey@house.state.tx.us, 512-463-0544

State Lawmakers Honored for Their Support of DWI Courts

National Center for DWI Courts and Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. Thank Rep. Madden and Sen. Seliger for Their Work to Prevent Drunk Driving

WHAT:

• The National Center for DWI Courts, judges, law enforcement and Beam Global executives unite to support DWI Court and honor Rep. Madden and Sen. Seliger for their work passing H.B. 530
• DWI Courts successfully address hardcore and repeat drunk driving offenders by providing long-term, ongoing accountability and rehabilitation, in addition to conviction.
• Since the passage of H.B. 530 the number of DWI courts has tripled in Texas.

WHEN:

• Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE:

• The South Steps of the Capital Building
  Congress and 11th Streets
  Austin, Texas   78701

WHY:

• Hardcore drunk drivers, drivers with high blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) or repeat offenders, are the deadliest drivers on our roads.
• Hardcore drunk drivers are responsible for 58 percent of alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the United States and are 20 times more likely to be involved in a crash.
• DWI Courts have a successful track record of convicting, treating and monitoring hardcore, repeat drunk driving offenders.

WHO:

• Representative Jerry Madden, District 67
• Senator Kel Seliger, District 31
• The  Honorable Elixateth A. Earle, Travis County Court #7
• David Wallace, director, National Center for DWI Courts
• Matt Stanton, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Beam Global Spirits & Wine

Dear Friends:

Americans want, need, and deserve a United States Congress that reflects the will of the hardworking taxpayer, but the recent passage of the $2.6 trillion healthcare bill reiterates the Democrats’ arrogant disregard for the interests of the American people.

With rising unemployment and budget deficits, why on earth would Congress want to cut Medicare, slap small businesses with more taxes, and expand government once more by putting your healthcare decisions in the hands of Washington bureaucrats?

The Senate health bill that passed on Christmas Eve was made possible only after days of arm-twisting, backroom negotiations and sweetheart deals for dozens of Senators.

Exemption for Reid and Pelosi staff
The Democrats’ healthcare bill exempts senior staff in Congressional leadership and committee offices from being forced to purchase healthcare plans from the newly created exchanges.

The “Louisiana Purchase”
In an effort to secure her vote, Senator Mary Landrieu’s home state was granted a $300 million Medicaid bailout.

The “Cornhusker Kickback”
Senator Bill Nelson (D-NE) received a Medicaid payoff of $100 million.

The “Dodd Clinic”
Senator Chris Dodd secured $100 million in additional funding to benefit Connecticut hospitals.

“Gator-Aid”
Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) was able to exclude Florida seniors from the hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicare Advantage cuts that will force millions of seniors in the rest of the country to lose Medicare benefits.

The “Hoffa Handout”
Thanks to Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), union members received an extra $5 billion toward their medical expenses.

For a complete list of sweetheart deals, please visit my Web site.

As you know, the President signed this bill into law on March 23rd.   Never in history has legislation with such a strong impact been passed without bipartisan support.

Please continue to spread the word to your family, friends and colleagues, that enough is enough!  For example, would you please forward this email to five of your friends? 

It’s time to take our country back.  Let’s send a strong message to Washington this November by voting for liberty.

God Bless,
Sam Johnson
Member of Congress

Registered Voters 415353 – Cards Cast 19420 (4.68%)
Precincts 179 – Precincts Reporting 179 (100.00%)

For more details visit:  http://www.co.collin.tx.us/elections/election_results/index.jsp

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has long fought for your Constitutional rights, and now he is waging the fight of his career.  Attorney General Abbott has joined his colleagues from 13 other states in filing a constitutional challenge to Obamacare, the health care takeover bill that the Democrats passed against the objections of most Americans.  Attorney General Abbott’s lawsuit could spell the end of Obamacare.  But he needs your support.

Show Attorney General Abbott that you support him by signing our petition below.  This petition will be delivered to Attorney General Abbott on April 16, 2010.  The petition states:

We, the people of the great state of Texas, stand as one to oppose the Democratic Party’s assault on our Constitutional rights through Obamacare.

A majority of Americans believe that the Democrats’ tactics in passing Obamacare constituted an abuse of power.  Yet the Texas Democrats stand with their party, not the people.  We will not stand by while Democrats elected by Texas voters vote for the unconstitutional individual mandate forcing Texans to purchase insurance against their will.  We will not stand by while the Democrats’ statist visions destroy our businesses, attack our family budgets, add unsustainable spending to our state’s budget, and pile up trillions of dollars of unfathomable debt to our nation’s future.  We will not let the Democrats’ Obamacare stand, and we stand as one to support our great Attorney General, Greg Abbott.

We call on Texas Democrats to stand with the people of Texas and not their party.  We call on Texas Democrats to put party fealty aside and support our liberties.  And we support Attorney General Greg Abbott’s quest to bring down Obamacare.

In the few short years that I have known Denise, we had become such close friends and I respected and loved her. We were “in sync” about our views of the world and our passionate love for this nation. She also loved the Republican Party. One of the last things that we talked about was her concern that we as Republicans were not standing up for our party. Denise believed in what the Republican Party stands for and while we have those in Congress who have strayed from those conservative principles, it does not mean that Republican Party should be abandoned. She also thought that the Republican Party spent too much time on the defensive by allowing the Democrats and others to define us.

Denise Short with Congressman Hall and Congressman Johnson, Lincoln Day Dinner, February 6, 2010

We enjoyed many conversations about the need for leaders who could articulate our message and inspire conservatives everywhere. Denise wrote many times that we need to elect strong, principled conservatives who would stand up to the Democrats in Texas and in Washington and help take this country back. She feared, as I do, that we have only a short window of opportunity to turn the tide and that if we do not stand up now and make our voices heard, that we may not have that chance again.

The mainstream media is doing all in its power to “indoctrinate” the public regarding Obamacare, so-called “climate change,” and the rest of Obama’s leftist agenda, and all the while it continues to demonize the Republican Party and the Tea Party. What has been going on since this healthcare disaster passed is right out of Saul Alinsky’s playbook: demonize, divide and conquer. Obama’s promise to unite this country was just empty rhetoric as he uses his “bully pulpit” at every opportunity to divide us along racial lines.

For those who have asked what happened to Denise’s beloved dog, Jack: With the blessing of her family, he is now living with the Van Taylor family.

Denise had a brilliant mind and she saw Obama for whom and what he really was from the very beginning. She knew that we were in for the fight of our lives if Obama was elected. We had lengthy discussions about all that was wrong with his ideas on healthcare, cap and trade, illegal immigration, and national security and policies that have left this nation vulnerable to attack. I am truly sorry that she will not be here with us to fight this to the end, but I know her spirit is with us. And one thing I know she believed: GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH! Rest in peace, my good friend.

U.S. history shows us that when political forces of arrogance have forced unpopular government expansion on the people, those very people rise up and lead the charge of “not on my watch”. Then the government of misdirection has been soundly defeated in the next election cycle.

Americans have great concerns about the direction of our nation.  The national leaders have lost touch with the citizens.  They are not listening.  They have charted a course and taken steps the citizens loathe and fear.  Some see no way to correct these political errors and chart a different course for America. 

We need to be reminded to look at the great resilience our country has shown to such blunders of the past.  In the end right has triumphed and the political forces of arrogance and misdirection have been soundly defeated.  We have at least two examples in our history where seemingly irresistible forces have been defeated even after major legislative victories.

The first example was in 1798, the Federalists buoyed by political victory felt that our country must root out alien forces trying to move our country into entangling alliances. They also felt that we should stamp out any force that used character attacks or information that attacked political leaders.  The political leadership wanted these voices of dissent silenced and imprisoned.  With their overwhelming majorities in Congress and with the consent of the President they passed the Alien and Sedition Act.  They tried to stamp out the opposition of the Republicans lead by Thomas Jefferson. 

A growing grassroots political movement rose in opposition to these acts and within two years in 1800 these forces swept the Presidency and made large gains in Congress.  They repealed the repugnant Alien and Sedition Act and in the process sent the Federalist Party who passed the bill into oblivion.

The second example occurred in 1854 when pro slavery elements in the Congress using their control of the Congress and with the support of the President felt it was time to overthrow the great compromises of 1820 and 1850 on which our government had dealt with the problem of slavery.  Senator Stephen Douglas proposed and with the help of the Democratic Party passed the Kansas Nebraska Act which totally changed the countries restrictions on the spreading of slavery and allowed slavery to expand into the Northern Territories under the guise of “popular sovereignty”. The vast majority of Americans opposed this change. 

The Kansas Nebraska Act caused grass roots opposition to spring up and in Wisconsin and one of those groups was called the Republican Party.  They were able to attract many leading northern political leaders to their cause including Simon Cameron, Salmon Chase, William Seward, and an Illinois lawyer named Abraham Lincoln.  Even after the Supreme Court made the situation worse with the Dred Scott decision these forces rallied citizen support and in 1860 they swept to victory in the Presidential race. 

The citizens said ‘even with the threat of disunion we will not allow these unpopular changes to distort our country’.  In the end while our country was greatly transformed it was done by a political leader who taught the citizens with his actions and persuaded them with his words.  Lincoln did not lead the county in a direction they did not support.  He had the popular support we needed to make sure our country was placed above base partisan programs.  And the Democratic proponents of Kansas Nebraska were destroyed as a political force.

Historically in a major crisis our citizens have been the backbone of our democracy. And while for a few years the forces that would have taken our country against the people seemed to have won the legislative day, we can be very optimistic that once again the people will rise up and  will deliver the same fate past generations have given to these forces that have misread and misdirected our great land. 

Across this great nation voters in opposition to the expansion of government in Washington are rising up in unison to say “No not on our watch.”  And I for one have faith that in the end the people will prevail over misguided government once again.

:  View Candidate Filing Form
:  Filing Form Not Available
:  View Candidate Website
:  View Candidate Photo

Supreme Court Justice, Place 3
• Debra Lehrmann
• Rick Green
Texas State Representative, District 66
• Mabrie Jackson
• Van Taylor
District Judge, District 219
• Angela Tucker
• Scott J. Becker
County Court at Law #3
• Lance S. Baxter
• Stewart Matthews
County Court at Law #4
• David Rippel
• Matthew Goeller
County Court at Law #6
• Terri Green
• Jay Bender
District Clerk
• Alma Hays
• Patricia Wysong Crigger
County Commissioner, Precinct 2
• Cheryl Williams
• Jerry Hoagland

This change will only effect April 2010, following meeting dates will remain as the second Tuesday of each month.

Meeting location will be Legacy Texas Bank on Preston Rd. and Charles St. (just one block north of Parker).

Social time begins at 6:30, business meeting at 7:00

Attorney General Abbott Challenges the Constitutionality of Federal Health Care Takeover

AUSTIN–Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and 12 state attorneys general today filed a legal action challenging the constitutionality of the recently enacted federal health care law. The bipartisan legal challenge explains that the new law infringes upon Americans’ constitutionally protected individual liberties; encroaches upon the states’ constitutionally guaranteed sovereignty; forces states to spend billions of additional dollars on entitlement programs; imposes an unconstitutional tax; and violates the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Under the new law, for the first time in the nation’s history, the federal government is attempting to force individual Americans to enter into contracts and purchase services from private companies-in this case, insurance companies-or face a penalty. The state attorneys general are challenging this so-called individual mandate requirement, explaining that such an imposition on the American people exceeds Congress’ authority and violates Americans’ constitutional rights. Additionally, the states are challenging provisions of the new law that will impose dramatic Medicaid spending increases on the states-including more than $24 billion in mandatory spending increases in the State of Texas.

“The federal health care legislation signed today violates the United States Constitution and unconstitutionally infringes upon Texans’ individual liberties,” Attorney General Abbott said. “No public policy goal–no matter how important or well-intentioned–can be allowed to trample the protections and rights guaranteed by our Constitution. To protect all Texans’ constitutional rights, preserve the constitutional framework intended by our nation’s founders, and defend our state from further infringement by the federal government, the State of Texas and other states have filed a legal challenge seeking judgment from the courts that the federal health care take over is unconstitutional.”
The thirteen-state coalition, which includes Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Washington, Colorado, Michigan, Utah, Alabama, South Dakota, and Idaho, filed its legal challenge in the Federal District Court in the Northern District of Florida. It was filed shortly after President Barack Obama signed the bill into law. The legal action specifically challenges the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and names the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury and Labor as defendants because those federal agencies are charged with implementing the Act’s constitutionally impermissible provisions.

Encroachment on Individual Liberties
According to the states’ legal action, the federal health care bill violates both Article I and the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: “The Act represents an unprecedented encroachment on the liberty of individuals living in the Plaintiffs’ respective states, by mandating that all citizens and legal residents of the United States have qualifying healthcare coverage or pay a tax penalty. The Constitution nowhere authorizes the United States to mandate, either directly or under threat of penalty, that all citizens and legal residents have qualifying healthcare coverage. By imposing such a mandate, the Act exceeds the powers of the United States under Article I of the Constitution and violates the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution.”

Explaining why the individual mandate is unconstitutional, Attorney General Abbott said: “Our nation’s founding fathers had the wisdom to limit the federal government’s authority by specifically enumerating the powers given to Congress. Today, the federal government is attempting an unconstitutional power-grab-and relying upon Congress’ authority to regulate Commerce to justify their unprecedented overreach. If there are to be any limitations on the federal government then ‘Commerce’ cannot be twisted to cover every possible human activity under the sun-including mere human existence. The act of doing absolutely nothing does not constitute an act of commerce, and today’s legal challenge reflects the states’ attempt to preserve the individual liberties that were intended by our founders and guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.”

Removes States’ Discretion
The states also charge that the Act “converts what had been a voluntary federal-state partnership into a compulsory top-down federal program.” As a result, the Act effectively removes the states’ discretion and constitutes a “derogation of the core constitutional principle of federalism upon which this Nation was founded…[and] exceeds the powers of the United States and violates the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution.”

Unprecedented Encroachment on State Sovereignty
Further, the multi-state lawsuit explains that the federal health care law “represents an unprecedented encroachment on the sovereignty of the states” by imposing new federal Medicaid enrollment standards. According to the Texas Health & Human Services Commission, the Act will double the number of Medicaid recipients and therefore force the Texas taxpayers to spend an additional $24.3 billion on Medicaid over the next 10 years. In addition to dramatic spending increases, the new law will shift substantial administrative costs to the states and therefore requires that state employees and agencies devote considerable time and resources to implementing the Act. The lawsuit also cites “several unfunded mandates that will cost state governments significantly.”

Unconstitutional Tax
Finally, the states allege that the Act imposes an unconstitutional tax on the American people. According to the states’ legal action, “the tax penalty required under the Act, which must be paid by uninsured citizens and residents, constitutes an unlawful capitation or direct tax, in violation of Article I, sections 2 and 9 of the Constitution of the United States.”

Dear Friends,

As one of my supporters, I want to share with you the latest effort to stop Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama’s government takeover of health care: Project Code Red.

• Visit the Project Code Red website

With Democrats using legislative tricks to quickly ram their bill through the Congress, the last line of defense will be the U.S. House of Representatives. That’s why I’m mobilizing my campaign to help Project Code Red hold Democrats accountable for ignoring the American people and pushing a bill that will:

• Destroy jobs here in Texas;
• Radically increase government spending;
• Raise taxes on families and small businesses;
• Cut Medicare for seniors;
• Force you out of health coverage you like; and
• Allow for taxpayer funding of abortion.

Americans have already rejected this reckless proposal. In fact, a recent Rasmussen survey found that “61% of U.S. voters say Congress should scrap that plan and start all over again.”

But Democrats aren’t listening. And make no mistake: they’re determined to pass their bill within a matter of weeks.

We need to stop them. So check out the Code Red website or visit my Web site for a link. The only reason this bill hasn’t passed yet is because patriots like you have sent a clear message to Washington – and with your help and support, we can scrap it once and for all.

God Bless,
Sam Johnson
Member of Congress

P.S. If you’re on Twitter, follow the action and get involved using the #gopcodered hash tag. And don’t forget to check out NRCC.org/CodeRed/ today. Thank you again!

You Can Vote in the Runoff if Registered and Did Not Vote in a Different Party Primary

With an unusually high number of runoff elections in Collin County and across the state it is not surprising that there a great deal of interest in exactly who can vote an in which runoff election.

“As a past member of the Elections committee for the Texas House of Representatives I can tell you there are always a lot of questions about runoff elections and who is eligible to vote in them,” said State Representative Jerry Madden from District 67.

“The most frequent misconception is that you must have voted in the primary election to vote in the primary runoff. The actual election law states that any registered voter can vote in the runoff unless they voted in the Primary election for a different party,” stated Madden.

Some believe that if you voted in either primary you can vote in either runoff and that is incorrect as well. You cannot switch parties between the primary and the runoff, said Madden.

“Another frequent misconception circulating is that you cannot vote in the primary runoff unless you were eligible to vote in the primary election. Any person who is registered on or before March 13 is eligible to vote in the runoff. The runoff election will be held April 13 and to be eligible you have to register 30 days prior to that date,” continued Madden.

There are a record number of primary runoff races on the ballot this election cycle. There are 8 runoff races on the local Collin County Ballot alone. Looking at the state wide ballot for the Republican Party there are 6 runoffs for U.S. Representative, 8 runoff elections for the Texas House, one for Supreme Court Justice and one for the State School Board. On the Democratic ballot there are runoff elections for U.S. Representative and one for the Texas House.

This is taken directly from the Texas Secretary of State Web site:

Q: Does a voter have to vote in the main election in order to vote in a runoff-election?

A: Section 11.001 of the Texas Election Code prescribes the specific qualifications necessary in order to vote in a Texas election.  There is no specific requirement to have previously voted in the main election in order to participate in the subsequent run-off election.  Therefore, such a requirement cannot be enforced.  However, please note that if you participated in a main primary election for one party, you cannot participate in the runoff primary election of another party.

Early voting for the Republican and the Democratic Primary Runoff Election begins on Monday, April 5th and runs through Friday, April 9th. Election Day is Tuesday, April 13, 2010.

All registered voters are eligible to vote in the Republican Primary Runoff Election as long as they did not vote in the March 2nd Democratic Primary Election, according to the Republican Party of Texas website. The reverse is also true, all registered voters are eligible to vote in the Democratic Primary Runoff Election as long as they did not vote in the March 2nd Republican Primary Election.

The short version to the question ‘Who can vote in the runoff’ is that anyone registered on or before March 13 can vote in a runoff for Texas Primary Runoff election as long as they did not vote in the opposing party’s primary election on March 2nd explained Madden.

Please join Congressman Sam Johnson for his next Freedom Council meeting on Saturday, March 13th from 9:30 – 11:00 am at the Collin College Central Park campus in McKinney. 

Join Sam as he provides a direct legislative update from Washington following a Q&A session.  He will also commemorate his 37th anniversary of Operation Homecoming, the day the longest held POWs were freed from their captivity in Vietnam.  If you plan on attending please RSVP by responding to this email or calling 972/424-9573.

What is the Sam Johnson Freedom Council?
Sam launched the Freedom Council because he understands that common-sense ideas and solutions come from the citizens of the Third District, not Washington bureaucrats eager to expand our already bloated government.  Sam’s Freedom Council empowers you to express your ideas and concerns on the issues you are facing in the Third Congressional District.  It also provides you with the opportunity to hear direct legislative updates from Sam.  Meetings are held a few times a year and are free for those who reside in the Third Congressional District.  If you are interested in joining the Freedom Council please respond to this email or call 972/424-9573.  Please forward this email to anyone who might be interested in participating. 

March Meeting:
Saturday, March 13
9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Collin College Central Park Campus
2200 W. University Drive / McKinney

Best Regards,

Mary M. McClure
Friends of Sam Johnson
Campaign Manager
972-424-9573 office
972-422-4797 fax

The Collin County Republican Party (CCRP) recently held its 42nd Annual Lincoln Dinner, which is an opportunity to honor volunteers and to raise funds for the operational expenses of its local headquarters.

“I would like to thank the Lincoln Day Dinner committee and all of our committee chairmen. I am humbled by the dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of our sponsors. Their hard work made this year’s dinner was a resounding success,” said Moses.

“We concentrate our efforts on this one annual fundraising dinner so that we can focus on our political activities the rest of the year,” said dinner chairman Diann Jones. “I am proud to announce that we have exceeded our fundraising goal by quite a margin and have raised the money to continue our work for republicans well into the future.

Master of Ceremonies Mark Davis, from WBAP News Talk 820, started off the evening with a rousing tribute to “Republican Momentum” as evidenced in the recent election in Massachusetts. The evening included a VIP Reception, a silent auction, a live auction, a seated dinner and a full evening of entertainment.

Tributes for Congressman Ralph Hall & Congressman Sam Johnson were the highlight of the evening as they were honored as “Living Legends.”

Ross Perot made a guest appearance and special presentations were made to Congressman Hall from the National Rifle Association and to Congressman Sam Johnson from the Blue Angels.

Taped messages were presented from Pastor Chuck Swindoll, U.S. Senator John Cornyn, Texas Governor Rick Perryand a letter was read from U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

CCRP County Chairman Fred Moses presented “Chairman Awards” to:

• Tim McCord, for his work with the Plano Balloon Festival;
• Chris Hill for his work in creating a new web presence for the party; and
• Diann Jones for her leadership with fundraising efforts and for chairing this year’s Lincoln Day Dinner.

Long time party volunteer Wayne Tucker received the John McVeigh Award which is the life time achievement award given annual by the CCRP. Dixie Jeffers received the Gladys Harrington Award which is presented to an outstanding precinct chairman each year. Mary McClure was presented with the Dixie Clem Award which is presented each year to an outstanding young republican.

“I want to thank all the volunteers and sponsors that made this event so successful,” said county chairman Moses.

“We are honored to have so many people willing to give of their time, their energy and their money to support the Republican Party.”

I urge our members to decide which candidates you are supporting and to volunteer to help them during this short political season to get out the vote in this runoff. Runoffs, unfortunately, have notoriously low turnout and just a few votes will often decide an election. These are all important elected positions and the candidates of your choice will welcome your help and support. Be sure to keep up with your campaign hours and turn them in to our campaign chair, Kimberly Brown.

This has been a rather “cantankerous” primary, but once the runoff is over, Republicans in Collin County need to come together and work toward victory in November as we do have Democrat challengers in the following Collin County races: U. S. House of Representatives, Districts 3 and 4, Criminal District Attorney, County Judge, County Court at Law 3, Collin County Commissioner, Precinct 2, and Justice of the Peace, 3, Place 2, not to mention the various statewide races. We must not take any race for granted. We must commit ourselves to get behind our candidates at the local, state and national level and work as though our entire way of life is at stake, for indeed I believe it is. This election is the most critical of our lifetime and no one who loves the nation can afford to sit this one out. Many made that mistake in 2008 and we are paying dearly for their inaction. I’ve always believed that if you don’t exercise your right to vote, you have no right to complain about the government you get.

All registered voters are eligible to vote in the Republican Primary Runoff Election as long as they did not vote in the March 2nd Democratic Primary Election, according to the Republican Party of Texas website. The reverse is also true, all registered voters are eligible to vote in the Democratic Primary Runoff Election as long as they did not vote in the March 2nd Republican Primary Election. So get out there and work for the candidates of your choice and get out the vote in the primary runoff. You can make a difference!!!

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 3

• Rick Green
• Debra Lehrmann

State Representative, District 66

• Mabrie Jackson
• Van Taylor

District Judge, 219th

• Scott Becker
• Angela Tucker

Judge, County Court at Law 3

• Lance S. Baxter
• Stewart Matthews

Judge, County Court at Law 4

• Matthew Goeller
• David Rippel

Judge, County Court at Law 6

• Jay Bender
• Terri Green

District Clerk

• Patricia Wysong Crigger
• Alma Hays

County Commissioner, Precinct 2

• Jerry Hoagland
• Cheryl Williams

Catherine Gibb

Primary Election Early Voting Daily Totals (by Party & Location)