81st

Each legislative session (odd years and 140 days...thanks to the wisdom of our pioneering fore-fathers in Texas)has a 'personality' of its own, much like a graduating class or a summer camp session, inwhich certain shared experiences and personalities make a mark on the group and it's remembered as such.

Well, this one will definitely have it's own unique adjectives, which will emerge soon.

The VOTER ID Bill which was touted as the bill to pass, with the 'step up' moves early in the session by the Senate (which had failed to pass Voter ID in the 80th session). But the stalling in the Senate by Democrats (who knew from the outset that there were the votes to pass it) and the 'chubbing' in the House by the Democrats provided countless hours of unfortunate time-wasting, fodder for Republican opposing Democrats in the next election, and a vessel for cooking the issues for the next (82nd) session in 2011.

A hint at why the Dems were willing to sacrifice bills that never got a hearing due to their incessant stalling, chubbing and procedural stunts during the session (in the House especially) to squelch the VOTER ID Bill...check out Michele Malkin's post http://michellemalkin.com/2009/06/01/acorn-is-a-criminal-enterprise/

ACORN is alive and well! But investigations are also alive and well!!

Yes, as terms of description emerge for the 81st it will be interesting to behold. But for Travis County and state activists: Stay awake and IN THE GAME!

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VOTER ID Update!

Update on Texas Voter Photo ID bill

Voter ID passed a major hurdle on Monday (May 11) when it was voted 5-4 out of the House Elections Committee. We saw bipartisan support for strong Voter Photo ID with four of the five Republicans and one of the four Democrats on the committee voting in favor of the bill. (Republican Dennis Bonnen voted against it because he did not believe the bill was strong enough.)During the month since the Elections Committee Voter ID hearing, Chairman Todd Smith released several versions of a Voter ID bill, but the committee decided to vote out the Senate Voter ID bill unchanged, which we see as positive overall, although there are a couple changes we would like to see.

Positives:-

• The bill goes into effect in time for the 2010 elections, and there is no delay in implementation.-
• The bill requires that a person show a Photo ID in order to vote.
• Changes we would like to see:- Remove the alternate ID option or at the very least shorten the list of acceptable alternate IDs if a person does not have a photo ID.

The next step is for the bill to go to the House floor for a vote, which is likely to happen sometime next week. This is expected to be a tough fight because, unfortunately, the Democrat leadership is fighting very hard against Voter ID.

However, poll after poll has shown that Democrat as well as Republican voters, across all ethnicities, support Voter Photo ID; therefore, we wouldn’t be surprised if several of the more principled Democrats listen to their constituents and vote for the bill.

Please call your State Representative and tell him/her:- Thank you for standing for a strong Voter Photo ID bill.- Please vote against any amendments that might delay implementation or weaken the bill in any way.- Please vote to remove or reduce the laundry list of acceptable alternate IDs (such as hunting licenses and library cards).You can find who represents you, as well as their contact information at this link:http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/Zip.aspx [Check phone numbers in previous post...below]

We will be in touch as the bill approaches the House floor to ask you to take further action.

Thank you for all your calls and emails, and even trips to the capitol, to help with the passage of this very important bill. You have made a huge difference.

Sincerely,SAFE-Texas (Secure and Fair Elections - Texas) www.SAFETexas.org

Melinda Fredricks, chairman

Toni Anne Dashiell

Russ Duerstine

Barbara Larson

Tom Mechler

Bill Noble

Eric Opiela

Linda Rogers

Skipper Wallace

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Higher Gas Taxes?

Yes, we could be in for a 125% increase of our gas taxes in the state of Texas over the next 10 years if you don't take some ACTION NOW. There are two bills that are about to advance to passing: HB 9 and SB 855.

Opposition to these bills has come from these research and taxpayer groups:

Texas Public Policy Foundation

Texas Eagle Forum

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility

Americans for Prosperity

Free Market Foundation

Rather than approach the challenges with providing transportation to the state by cutting expenses and re-prioritizing expenditures first, the House Transportation Committee is moving a bill that goes to the third option of raising taxes.

Quoting Michael Sullivan, President of the Texans for Fiscal Responsibility:

Even though California and New York are trapped in fiscal death spirals, our Texas legislators seem insistent on taking a page from their playbook. Texas will no longer be able to hold itself out as a beacon of economic sanity if it charts a course to permit raising taxes during a recession

Please make a call to your House and Senate Representatives to respectfully tell them to NOT VOTE FOR the House Bill 9 or the Senate Bill 855

• "The long-range effect of both of these bills is unacceptable"
• "Please show that you represent your constituents to keep the Texas economy going on the right track, no going down the path of California and New York"
• "Do not bring our strong economy down with more taxes, without looking for ways to cut spending first or re-prioritize expenditures"

Any of these talking points can be used in your call...CALL and identify yourself as a constiuent (not with a party) and make your voice be HEARD!

SD 14 Senator Kirk Watson 463-0114

SD 25 Senator Jeff Wentworth 463-0125

HD 46 Rep. Dawanna Dukes 463-0506

HD 47 Rep. Valinda Bolton 463-0652

HD 48 Rep. Donna Howard 463-0631

HD 49 Rep. Elliot Naishtat 463-0668

HD 50 Rep. Mark Strama 463-0821

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TCRP Ex Com Resolutions

NEWS RELEASE!

Travis County Republican Party Votes to Retain Civil Liberties
Countywide Precinct Chairs Send Message to Austin Police Chief, State and Federal Lawmakers, that Encroachments on Individuals’ and States’ Rights are Not Supported in Travis County

AUSTIN – The elected grassroots organizers of the Travis County Republican Party approved resolutions exerting pressure on city, state and federal officials to stand up for individual rights, and then stop various measures that curtail civil liberties and insult veterans.
At its regular quarterly meeting of its Executive Committee of precinct chairmen Monday, the TCRP approved sending a clear message that local Republicans are concerned about various government efforts to deprive law abiding citizens of basic constitutional rights.
“There is a real sense among local Travis County Republican leaders that governments at all levels are trampling on Constitutional rights,” said Rosemary Edwards, the TCRP chairwoman. “For instance sobriety checkpoints and invasive mandatory blood tests clearly violate the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which clearly states ‘The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated.’ Other measures now afoot violate the first and 10th amendments.
“Travis County Republicans are outraged at these efforts and are taking a stand despite the threat of being labeled potential rightwing extremist terrorists by our own Department of Homeland Security,” Edwards said.
The grassroots organizers of the local party expressed overwhelming support to:
· Call for the Texas State Legislature to reject SB 690 and HB3458 and any other attempt to increase the difficulty of the current procedure for charter amendments
· Call for the Austin City County Council to oppose the proposal of Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo to take blood samples from citizens suspected of driving under the influence. The body also called for Acevedo to withdraw his proposal.
· Call for the Texas State Legislature to reject SB 298 and HB 169 that calls for mandatory DUI checkpoints.
· Call for Travis County delegates to the U.S. Congress support passage of HCR76, a bill that describes the abuses of the federal government with regard to states rights as noted in the 9th and 10th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
· Call for Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and the Department of Homeland Security to withdraw its recent assessment titled “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment,” which singles out and profiles returning veterans as potential terrorists and makes other dubious assessments. The Travis County Republicans called for an apology to the United States armed services as well.

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