Posted on 05/23/2013 7:41:12 AM PDT by Windflier
I wanted to give you a quick summary on the 3 urgent bills that need attention IMMEDIATELY. They are:
Senate Bill 346 (SB 346) is designed to discourage people from giving to Tea Party groups who wish to replace RINO's with conservatives. It is a Saul Alinsky device to identify donors so they can be targeted and then discouraged from giving to conservatives. It is incredible, as the WSJ points out in an editorial in today's paper, that a Governor in Texas would even contemplate such a thing. But such is the fear in the RINO Establishment's nostrils. It not been signed into law yet, but it is on the Governor's desk and he is getting strong pressure to sign it into law.
Senate Bill 346 requires that any "person or group of persons" making more than $25,000 in so-called "political expenditures" in a calendar year turn over to the government the identities of the sources of all "political contributions" over $1,000 (§ 254.253(a)). This obligation applies unless the group of persons is "labor organization or any subordinate entity or associated account of a labor organization," in which case there is no obligation to turn supporters' identities over.
If Governor Perry signs SB346, this will lead to enhanced scrutiny of grassroots groups in Texas and their supporters. Supporters' identities will have to be turned over if the groups are found to have tendered--or agreed to tender--more than $25,000 of value "in connection with" election-related activities in a calendar year, or tendered such value knowing that it could potentially be used "in connection with" such activities.
PERRY NEEDS TO VETO THIS BILL BEFORE Friday, OR IT BECOMES LAW. Governor Rick Perry's contact info: Phone: (512) 463-2000 http://governor.state.tx.us/contact/
Senate Joint Resolution (SJR1) is a direct raid on the Rainy Day Fund. Anyone who doubts we need to keep this fund intact need only look northward to Oklahoma this last week. GOP leaders (RINOs) are determined to bust the spending cap‰ even if it means enacting yet another gimmick and more smoke and mirrors. This time they are changing the definition of "busting the spending cap." The Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker all strongly spoke against these tactics before the session began, but they are all silent now!
We strongly oppose SJR 1. Here's why:
1) The TX Water Development Board is NOT short on tools to finance water projects. The board already has two Texas Water Development Funds; creating another would be an unnecessary expansion of government. Spending money just because the Rainy Day Fund is projected to have $12 B at the end of the next biennium reeks of a Washington DC-like mindset.
2) 94% of Republican Primary Voters in 2012 voted against this idea by voting for Ballot Resolution #4 - Limiting any increase in government spending. This garnered even more votes that repealing ObamaCare (93%).
3) SJR 1 weakens limits on spending by allowing the Legislature to always draw Rainy Day Fund money into a State Infrastructure Bank for water spending, but it never ever counts against the spending limit. (General Abbott has already agreed that a draw from RDF is considered to be general revenue and thus counts against the spending cap.)
4) State spending is out of control - no matter how the GOP leadership spins it. When both baseline budgets leave out transportation, water and the proposed tax cut, and still spend 20% more in General Revenue than last session and are determined to raid the Rainy Day Fund, it's pretty clear leadership is on a spending spree.
Tell your state representative to resist! For the good of Texas - resist!
Find your state representative by clicking here: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Members/Members.aspx?Chamber=H
Senate Bill 1029 (SB 1029) is a transportation bill that is designed to keep 5 loopholes in the law that allow the conversion of free lanes into toll lanes, and removes any public vote on the matter. Those of us in Dallas are about to experience the horrific cost and congestion on the new LBJ roadway since it's sale to a private Spanish company (CINTRA). I'll bet you had no idea.
You will still be allowed to drive without direct tolls in a few, highly congested lanes, but the fast lanes are all reserved for tolls of 75¢ mile and up (they get to adjust the toll to the amount of traffic), meaning a commute across town and back will soon cost almost $20/day. Many other roads in this area are similarly slated to be very heavily tolled after conversion to privately owned tollways. The bill is on local & consent in the HOUSE so it's assured passage, but you should still call your state rep to ensure they record a "NO" vote in the journal. We consider this a TAX bill and it will be used against them come election time if they don't record a no vote....
Tell your state representative to resist! For the good of Texas - resist!
Find your state representative by clicking here: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Members/Members.aspx?Chamber=H
Visit Lone Star Tea Party at: http://lonestarteaparty.us/?xg_source=msg_mes_network
Texas legislative action ping.
Topics: Rainy Day Fund, toll roads, privacy for Tea Party donors....
Who are the authors/sponsors of these bills? Anyone know? SB 346 is downright Orwellian.
Sen Kel Selinger (Rino - Amarillo)
Sen Charlie Geren (Rino - Fort Worth)
Thanks for the ping, Windflier!
Passed both the house and senate and sent to gov for signature:
2013-05-14 - SB 346Third Reading House (Y: 95 N: 52 NV: 1 Abs: 2) [PASS]
Passed Senate: 23 - 6
http://legiscan.com/TX/bill/SB346
Sponsors
Sen Seliger
Sen Nichols
Rep Geren
Good gosh...this cr@pola should’ve NEVER passed. Too many RINO’s in our state legislature!!
” - - - This obligation applies unless the group of persons is “labor organization or any subordinate entity or associated account of a labor organization,” in which case there is no obligation to turn supporters’ identities over. - - -”
Senator Karl Seliger must be making good on his campaign help from Commie Labor Unions.
BTW, the USSR and now Obamanation maintains that everyone is equal, but some such as members of Labor Organizations are more equal than others.
Calling now.
You bet, Jane. Sorry for the short notice, but I just got this in email.
Thank you, Manic.
Thanks for the ping!
You bet, AG!
So, if Perry didn't veto it on Friday, is it now law? Someone please help me out with this. Thanks.
I don't have any up to the minute info, Jane. I'll check the Lone Star Tea Party site to see if anyone posted an update.
The bill was sent to the Gov. prior to the last 10 days of the session. The Gov. has 10 to sign, veto or it becomes law without his signature. Friday was the last day of the 10. So it became law if it wasn’t vetoed but with the weekend, holiday, etc. it maybe hard to find anything out official until Tuesday.
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Reports/Report.aspx?LegSess=83R&ID=signedbygov
These are all Bills signed by the Guv, to date. I don't see this one (SB 346) listed. Praying this list is up to date (as it looks) and that this Bill did not get signed. Keep me posted if you get confirmation. Thanks.
Sorry about the link...not sure how to make it clickable.
If you use no other html codes within your post then the link will automatically be click-able like below. But if you use any other html codes then you'll have to use the html code which can be found and practiced at the following FR thread.
Your success:
Your calls, e-mails, faxes, FB messages and Tweets are working! With the help of a contingent of about 25 House members, we were able to slow things down yesterday. The goal is to run out the clock on the session before the budget is adopted. This will trigger the Governor's call for a special session on the 2014-2015 budget. We will have a better chance to cut spending in a special session.
The Next Step - Again bombard your State Rep & State Senator & the Governor.
The special interest lobbyists are crawling all over the Capitol and the establishment moderates are arm-twisting your elected officials. You must make your voice heard today or the liberals & special interests will win!
Legislature is in session over the weekend & through Monday. Please call, Tweet and/or FaceBook message your State Rep. & your State Senator again now with a direct message that covers these points:
Stop the spending in the current budget. Slow it down. Vote it down. Say NO to HB 1025 (raid on Rainy Day Fund) and NO to SB 1 (Budget)As a voter in your district, I DO NOT support this budget because a 26% increase in spending is outrageous. Spending $22 Billion more this session than last is an insult to hard-working Texans! We are tired of big government.
To find your state representative's phone number, click here.
To find your state Senator's phone number, click here.
Call Gov. Perry’s comment line and tell him you don't support the bloated budget. Ask him to veto HB 1025 and the budget if it passes & call a special session to cut spending!
Governor's open comment line: 1-800-8HELP TX or 1-800-843-5789.
If you follow Rick Perry on Twitter or are a FB friend of his, post your message now!
Here is a picture of the outrageous spending stats we sent yesterday. This is from Texas Public Policy Foundation:
http://grassrootstexans.net/userdata/grassrootstexas/TXSpending.jpg
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