Dear TTP Citizen Advocates,

I wasn't planning to do a Friday message today.  The legislature has adjourned Sine Die and not expected back until September or October so nothing is happening there. But some things I heard yesterday and read today have me fired up and I feel compelled to share.  So here goes:

1)  This whole LGB/Trans targeting of kids evil has got to stop!  We were successful in getting several bills passed on the protect kids issue, but the other side is doubling down and likely will try to ignore the law.  The latest is in an article in today's Texas Minute.  It highlights an event that UT Austin is sponsoring for Austin's "pride" celebration next month.  Using taxpayer money, the University will host “Inflatable Games & Carnival Rides, Drag Queen Story Time, 100+ Vendor Booths, Drinks & Food, and more" so that they can groom children.

The organizers of the event were quoted in the article saying, "From attacks on our Drag community to the fight for trans rights… sometimes it feels that our community is getting pushed from all sides. When that happens, WE STAND OUR GROUND!"  Well, guess what?  We're pretty good at standing our ground to protect innocent children!

Texas Universities are funded with YOUR tax dollars, and the people running the universities are appointed by Governor Abbott!  Have you seen the stats on the number of children that are taken and sold into the sex trade?  We MUST stand our own ground and put a stop to this madness!

ACTION:  Contact Governor Abbott and members of the UT Board of Regent and tell them to stop funding this evil attack on Texas children.

Gov Abbott's office:

(512) 463-1782 - Information and Referral and Opinion Hotline
(for Austin, Texas and out-of-state callers)

(512) 463-2000 - Office of the Governor Main Switchboard
(office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST)

Link to email the Governor - click here

UT Board of Regents:

The only contact information I have found is their main office.  I'd love for y'all to drive the staff crazy with phone calls, letters and emails.

The University of Texas System
210 West 7th Street
Austin, TX 78701  

Phone: (512) 499-4402
Fax: (512) 499-4425
Email: [email protected]

For names and bios of individual regents, click here

2)  Impeachment of AG Ken Paxton

The Senate impeachment trial of AG Ken Paxton is coming up soon, starting on Sept 5.  I've never seen patriots as mad and fired up about anything as they are about this.  Several County GOPs and the RPT's SREC have passed resolutions condemning the impeachment process as unconstitutional, politically motivated and a complete sham.  None of the witnesses were sworn in and under oath, and the information given was mostly hearsay, innuendo and accusation, not evidence. The investigation was conducted in secrecy, members of the House not on the committee knew nothing about it.  Then they were given 48 hours to review the 150 page report and make a vote.  (at the same time they were expected to review the 350 page budget and vote on that!).  House leadership pushed hard to get everyone to vote yes for impeachment. 

The impeachment would basically overturn an election where millions of voters, knowing everything that is in the articles of impeachment, elected Paxton anyway.  Whatever you think about Paxton and his guilt or innocence or the job he's done for Texas, if this impeachment is confirmed by the Senate, then our state is doomed.  Who will be the next target for political impeachment because they push back against Dade Phelan? (or any other Speaker of the House with too much power?) 

Interesting bit of information:  The Texan.news has an article showing the fundraising efforts of all the members of the House in the reporting period following the impeachment vote.  Not sure what we can draw from it but I found it interesting.

ACTION:  Contact your Senators and tell them to vote NO on the impeachment.  For contact information, click here.  Find your Senator, click on the picture, and find phone #, email, and mailing address for both the Capitol offices and the district offices. 

You can call, email, or write letters, but even better - GO TO THE CAPITAL and visit the offices.  Deliver a personal letter to all 31 Senators telling them why you think they should dismiss this impeachment attempt. If you can't go to the Capitol - visit the district office and talk to the staff.  Also - show up at any town halls that they hold during the break, and ask them questions about it.  They won't be able to talk about it but YOU can talk about it and put the questions out there.  (LG Patrick has issued a gag order so none of the Senators or House members involved in the trial are allowed to discuss it)

I'm considering organizing a Citizen Advocate day at the Capitol for Sept 5 when the trial begins.  Let me know if you'd be interested in joining.

3)  We only need a FEW GOOD MEN (or WOMEN)!  Did you know that when a point of order is sustained by Speaker of the House that 10 representatives can challenge the ruling of the Speaker and force a vote of the body?  That's right - it only takes 10.  But recently, we haven't been able to find 10.  Just 10 members needed to push back against leadership, and there are only about 5 who will do it. 

That means that we need at least 5 more strong representatives willing to do the right thing because it is the right thing.  And that means finding those candidates who are running in 2024 and GET THEM ELECTED! 

Now, here's a shocker for you.....  it requires more than voting on election day!  They need you to volunteer, to donate, to tell others about them, to actually participate in their campaigns.  And then be sure that everyone who said "yes I'll vote for him/her" actually goes and votes for him/her.  Yes it takes time, work, takes you away from family.  But if things keep going the way they have been, then our way of life and all those things we think are more important will be gone.

We already have several good challengers stepping up and some incumbents seeing the writing on the wall and not running again.

• Four Price, District 87 in the panhandle area is not running
• Dade Phelan, (drunk Dade) in District 21, Beaumont area has TWO challengers already
• District 2 is vacant and has several good candidates
• Andrew Murr, District 53 in the Kerrville area has at least one good challenger (Murr is the chair of the committee that did the impeachment investigation)
• Stephanie Klick, District 91 (the chair of the Public Ed Committee) has not announced yet but rumors are that she may not run again.  Who will step up if she doesn't?
• Jeff Leach, District 67, north Texas, has a challenger

Right there are 4 or 5 opportunities to replace bad incombents!  So - your job is to find candidates that you can support and then get to work.  TTP will help with that through our new initiative, True Texans Taking Back Texas.  We're looking for people in each Satellite group to help facilitate candidate support, and get information to the voters.  Watch for more information as we develop details.  The kick off will be a candidate recruitment event on August 24.  We'll have experts talking about 4 important aspects of running for office.  It will be an on line event so anyone can participate. Information and registration will be out soon, but save the date now.

OK, now I'm done venting!  I hope you share my passion for protecting children, and protecting our great State of Texas and our rule of law.  We have to stop whining, and posting on social media and actually get out and do something.  That's why we build the army!  I hope you'll join us.

For Texas always,

Fran Rhodes, President