From the front lines of the Texas Legislature: Despite a change in D.C. and a more liberal coup in the Texas House (which helped many dangerous bill have progress that would have previously never moved an inch) there is good news to report but also some unfinished business. It must be noted that even though liberals were able to pick the new Speaker of the House sit as chair of numerous committees and enjoy an almost even split in the House their extreme legislation was still soundly defeated because they are massively out of step with mainstream Texas values.
Taxes: The business/franchise tax now exempts from the tax businesses with a revenue of less than $1 million (HB 4765) and property tax appraisers now must include foreclosure sales when computing the market value of a homestead (HB 1038). Also TEA Party groups FMF and others helped end the local-option transportation tax on the last day (HB 300/SB 855). This was HUGE!
Science Prevails Censorship Rejected: We answered the call and defeated efforts to censor and ban discussion and criticism of evolution in the classroom before the SBOE. This issue was intertwined with the Legislature as House members signed a letter supporting our position and filed a bill to protect these freedoms if necessary. Over 10000 emails and many phone calls made a difference! This affects 4 million students and was covered internationally!
State Board of Education (SBOE) Attacked Liberal Victory" Short Lived: FMF fought successfully against liberal bills that stripped textbook and curriculum authority away from the elected SBOE (SB 2275) and another HB 710 would have taken power away from the voters to decide the future and existence of SBOE members and the entity itself. We were the key to the demise of these and many other SBOE attack bills with your help. We are outraged that SBOE Chairman Don McLeroy was blocked from confirmation by 11 Democrat Senators. Despite our best efforts to the contrary the Senate discussion focused on his Christian beliefs and the opinion of the N.Y. Times. This far-left victory" will no doubt be short lived as we believe Gov. Perry will be appointing a new SBOE chairman who is is just as conservative as Dr. McLeroy. An announcement could come soon.
Planned Parenthood Failed Takeover of Texas Sex Ed: Planned Parenthood and other groups put all their efforts toward forcing Texas students to learn more about condoms contraception and various sexual lifestyles and less about abstinence (HB 741/HB 1567). Almost every day at the Capitol you could see small groups of women and children carrying Planned Parenthood bags working on this issue. But we provided key testimony and documentation and pulled together a strong and united coalition of groups across the state in opposition to these bills which we defeated.
New Hate Crimes Law for Children? Not On Our Watch: Can you image your ten year-old child being charged with a hate crime"? Thats the bill that almost became law this session HB 824. This bill passed the full House and passed the Senate State Affairs Committee. Just last week it was one step away from heading to Gov. Perrys desk before we were finally able to stop it. We also stopped a hate crimes bill (HB 2966) and a bullying" bill (HB 1323) that would have given special class protection to transgender persons.
Pro-Life Pro-Family Legislation: Some Gains Some Setbacks: The Pro-Life Lobby Day was a huge success with hundreds of you in attendance. The Ultrasound and Choose Life license plate bills had a majority of support by the House & Senate but the Ultrasound bill was blocked by liberal delays related to Voter I.D. and the Choose Life plate fell victim to political posturing on the last day. Adult Stem cell treatment and research funding of $5 million will continue and the Alternatives to Abortion fund was increased from $5 to $8 million. Adult Stem Cell and Divorce Reform bills ran out of time before a House vote. We also stifled efforts to undermine parental and informed consent and embryonic stem cell/cloning bills.
Attack on Voters Guides & Others Dangerous Legislation Averted: HB 2511 which we were able to stop after it passed out of the House would have had a dramatic negative impact on our voters guide. I even heard one legislator tell me that he was working on a way to ban our Voters Guides from being passed out in churches something federal law clearly protects! We also knocked down efforts to create a new Infanticide law (HB 3318-mother who murders her infant could have receive only 6 months jail time if she claimed postpartum stress currently this is a Capitol Murder crime) and multiple bills that sought to bring casino gambling to Texas.
With our Austin office firmly established we were at the Capitol every day and we were involved in every part of the legislative process. We were also able to meet and interact with so many of you when you came to Austin or you called into our office. We debuted our Texas Legislative Update Blog in January and it received almost 20000 hits during the session! Thank you for your commitment to stand with us on these important issues. We could not have had the outcomes on the above legislation without your help. Please look for more detailed analysis pictures and videos of legislative session summaries in the days to come here at our Texas Legislative Update Blog!
*This story is from the www.TexasLegislativeUpdate.wordpress.com
From the front lines of the Texas Legislature: Despite a change in D.C. and a more liberal coup in the Texas House (which helped many dangerous bill have progress that would have previously never moved an inch) there is good news to report but also some unfinished business. It must be noted that even though liberals were able to pick the new Speaker of the House sit as chair of numerous committees and enjoy an almost even split in the House their extreme legislation was still soundly defeated because they are massively out of step with mainstream Texas values.
Taxes: The business/franchise tax now exempts from the tax businesses with a revenue of less than $1 million (HB 4765) and property tax appraisers now must include foreclosure sales when computing the market value of a homestead (HB 1038). Also TEA Party groups FMF and others helped end the local-option transportation tax on the last day (HB 300/SB 855). This was HUGE!
Science Prevails Censorship Rejected: We answered the call and defeated efforts to censor and ban discussion and criticism of evolution in the classroom before the SBOE. This issue was intertwined with the Legislature as House members signed a letter supporting our position and filed a bill to protect these freedoms if necessary. Over 10000 emails and many phone calls made a difference! This affects 4 million students and was covered internationally!
State Board of Education (SBOE) Attacked Liberal Victory" Short Lived: FMF fought successfully against liberal bills that stripped textbook and curriculum authority away from the elected SBOE (SB 2275) and another HB 710 would have taken power away from the voters to decide the future and existence of SBOE members and the entity itself. We were the key to the demise of these and many other SBOE attack bills with your help. We are outraged that SBOE Chairman Don McLeroy was blocked from confirmation by 11 Democrat Senators. Despite our best efforts to the contrary the Senate discussion focused on his Christian beliefs and the opinion of the N.Y. Times. This far-left victory" will no doubt be short lived as we believe Gov. Perry will be appointing a new SBOE chairman who is is just as conservative as Dr. McLeroy. An announcement could come soon.
Planned Parenthood Failed Takeover of Texas Sex Ed: Planned Parenthood and other groups put all their efforts toward forcing Texas students to learn more about condoms contraception and various sexual lifestyles and less about abstinence (HB 741/HB 1567). Almost every day at the Capitol you could see small groups of women and children carrying Planned Parenthood bags working on this issue. But we provided key testimony and documentation and pulled together a strong and united coalition of groups across the state in opposition to these bills which we defeated.
New Hate Crimes Law for Children? Not On Our Watch: Can you image your ten year-old child being charged with a hate crime"? Thats the bill that almost became law this session HB 824. This bill passed the full House and passed the Senate State Affairs Committee. Just last week it was one step away from heading to Gov. Perrys desk before we were finally able to stop it. We also stopped a hate crimes bill (HB 2966) and a bullying" bill (HB 1323) that would have given special class protection to transgender persons.
Pro-Life Pro-Family Legislation: Some Gains Some Setbacks: The Pro-Life Lobby Day was a huge success with hundreds of you in attendance. The Ultrasound and Choose Life license plate bills had a majority of support by the House & Senate but the Ultrasound bill was blocked by liberal delays related to Voter I.D. and the Choose Life plate fell victim to political posturing on the last day. Adult Stem cell treatment and research funding of $5 million will continue and the Alternatives to Abortion fund was increased from $5 to $8 million. Adult Stem Cell and Divorce Reform bills ran out of time before a House vote. We also stifled efforts to undermine parental and informed consent and embryonic stem cell/cloning bills.
Attack on Voters Guides & Others Dangerous Legislation Averted: HB 2511 which we were able to stop after it passed out of the House would have had a dramatic negative impact on our voters guide. I even heard one legislator tell me that he was working on a way to ban our Voters Guides from being passed out in churches something federal law clearly protects! We also knocked down efforts to create a new Infanticide law (HB 3318-mother who murders her infant could have receive only 6 months jail time if she claimed postpartum stress currently this is a Capitol Murder crime) and multiple bills that sought to bring casino gambling to Texas.
With our Austin office firmly established we were at the Capitol every day and we were involved in every part of the legislative process. We were also able to meet and interact with so many of you when you came to Austin or you called into our office. We debuted our Texas Legislative Update Blog in January and it received almost 20000 hits during the session! Thank you for your commitment to stand with us on these important issues. We could not have had the outcomes on the above legislation without your help. Please look for more detailed analysis pictures and videos of legislative session summaries in the days to come here at our Texas Legislative Update Blog!
*This story is from the www.TexasLegislativeUpdate.wordpress.com
