Greetings from the TPPF Policy Summit 2024!

I've been attending the Policy Summit this week.  Cool people to meet, friends to catch up with, and plenty of new things to learn.  The discussions at these summits in some ways set up expectations for the next legislative session, and it's time to start preparing now!  January may seem a long way off but there is much work to be done and the time will pass quickly.  So, I wanted to share a few take aways from the sessions this week.

HOPE

I'm normally a very optimistic and hopeful person, but it's hard to stay that way in the current political environment. Today I will leave this summit with an even greater feeling of hopefulness for Texas.  I've been hearing it and feeling it from the speakers, the panel members, and the fellow activists. 

Lt Gov Patrick did the keynote speech yesterday, and he talked about moments in history where people didn't know if what they were doing would have the outcome they were hoping for, but they did the right thing anyway.  He said we are at that moment in Texas.  We don't know for sure if the tide is turning, but he is confident that in the future, historians will look back on this time and say - this is when things changed in Texas politics. 

If Lt Governor is right, it will be because of the actions taken by folks like you all.  Our True Texas army is winning, because of you, and there is a brighter change coming.  A few months ago at the start of primary election season, I put a this photo on my FB cover page.  It was a hopeful message that now seems to be coming true.

EDUCATION

One thing we need to accept is that School Choice is coming in 2025.  One way or another, I believe they will pass something that will be called school choice.  I know we have people on both sides of this issue, but the reality is that the Governor wants it, the Lt Governor wants it, many legislators want it, and 80+ percent of Republican voters (according to polls and the primary resolutions) want it.  It's happening!  We can at least try to make whatever bill is filed as good as it can be.  That will require a lot of testimony at hearings, collecting data, and talking to legislators.

In a panel discussion on "Winning the War on Woke" I asked Senator Paul Bettencourt what the legislature will do to make sure that Universities follow the ban on DEI that was passed in 2023.  He said if they don't, then those universities would be having some very interesting discussions at budget hearings next year.  Be ready to hold Senator Bettencourt to his words.

$53 billion per year is being spent on higher education.  Senator Bettencourt says that funding will be pulled for institutions that do not obey the law.  Senator Creighton said something similar in a different panel discussion on Indoctrination in public schools.  It's time to start using the power of the purse when people don't follow the law.

BORDER

The Roadmap for Border Security Policy in 2025 session was the most optimistic of all.  Michael Banks, Texas Border Czar, Rep Ryan Guillen, HD31, Tom Homan, former head of ICE, and Rodney Scott, former Chief of US Border Patrol, all agree that the problems at the border are improving.  According to Banks, 75% of all border crossings are happening in other states, not Texas.  The recent efforts to install barriers, close down the park at Eagle Pass, and other efforts and working!  SB4 - the bill that passed last session that allows law enforcement to arrest and possibly deport anyone crossing our border illegally, is bouncing back and forth in the courts, but the general consensus is that it will prevail.

Tom Homan said that he has promised President Trump, that if he wins, Homan will head up the biggest mass deportation effort we've ever seen.  He also says Trump will declare Mexican cartels terrorists.

Rodney Scott says that it's important to separate immigration policy from border security policy.  They are not the same, and you can't implement immigration policy without first controlling the border.

All of that gave me hope and encouragement.  I hope it does for you too. The recent Primary election also gives us reason to be optimistic.  Congratulations to all the activists who helped challengers defeat bad incumbents in the TX House.  We still have 8 runoff elections to win, but win or loose, we'll see an unprecedented number of new freshman House Representatives in 2025, and hopefully, a brighter future for Republican priority legislation.

Everyone agrees that Dade Phelan will not be Speaker of the House next year - even if he does win the runoff election with David Covey.  Establishment types are already lining up Phelan clones to run for speaker, continuing the same Phelan policies that we've fought against.  Rep. Tom Oliverson announced yesterday that he is officially running for Speaker.  He promises a paradigm shift away from the Phelan era and his policies.  You can read his full statement here  from his Facebook page.  He certainly says all the right things, but we'll have to wait and see if he can muster the support of 76 Republicans to win.

So, I have two Action Items for you this week.

1)  Stay hopeful!  We have good reason to be, and we need to encourage each other.

2)  Contact your State Representatives now and start talking to them about the kind of person you want to be the next Speaker of the House.  It needs to be someone who will not appoint minority party members as committee chairs, will treat all members with equal respect and opportunity, and not waste the valuable short time of a 140 day session.  The Texas House is not a social club, and members should be free to represent their constituents, and not be required to capitulate to the Speaker's wishes in order to be successful.

That's all I have for this week.  I hope my message has brightened your day, as the past few days have brightened mine.

Stay hopeful, and stay engaged!

Fran Rhodes, President

PS:  Another fun thing about attending these conferences, is you get to catch up with old friends.  I ran into Ammon Blair, former Director of our RGV group.  He's doing well and says Hi!