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htM=3D.
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TTP Citizen Advocates:
Are you as mad as I am about over reaching government bureaucracies that po=
ke their fingers into every aspect of your life, squash your free speech, a=
nd regulate you to death? Well, it's time to not just get mad - it's time =
to DO SOMETHING!=20
I was not planning to do a Friday message this week. Then on Wednesday, tw=
o things happened. First, I read this article in the Texas Scorecard abou=
t the Texas Ethics Commission targeting citizens social media accounts, and=
second, Julie and I got about a dozen inquiries about a social media post =
about voter ID which is totally false. Then I got mad! Now I'm doing some=
thing about it and urging you all to do something too.
TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION
A new rule being considered by the TEC would threaten the social media post=
s of individuals and groups like TTP, squashing political speech, and thre=
atening people with costly enforcement. (please read the article linked in =
the first paragraph for details)
"At their March 20 meeting, the commission unanimously moved to consider am=
ending the rule at an upcoming meeting to include a requirement that the pe=
rson or group posting the political message online =E2=80=9Cdid not post or=
re-post the political advertising in return for consideration.=E2=80=9D
Like so many other government processes, the ethics commission is set up to=
stifle citizen involvement, punish those who try to comply, and frustrate =
the rest of the people into giving up. Per attorney Tony McDonald, "They a=
re now trying to establish even greater power for themselves, using a law t=
hat has long been declared unconstitutional to target Texans who speak on s=
ocial media websites and spend less than $100 to do so. It=E2=80=99s those =
citizens, McDonald says, that are the target of this latest proposal."
That would be US! You, me, TTP, all of us.
A little more digging, and a little help from our friends revealed that all=
members of the current Ethics Commission are serving expired terms! Texas =
Constitution requires the TEC appointments to be four by the Governor, two =
by the Lt Governor, and 2 by the Speaker of the House. Tex. Cons. Art III S=
ec 24a. All 8 of the current commission members' terms have expired!
So what to do about it? First of all, be aware that the TEC is under sunse=
t rules by the legislature. The Texas Ethics Commission is currently under=
Sunset Review for the 2024-2025 Review Cycle - 89th Legislative Session. T=
hat gives us some time to work on legislators to bring the TEC under contro=
l, or let it sink into the sunset. We'll work on this at the Capitol durin=
g the 89th Session, but don't wait! Start right now, talking to your legis=
lators.
ACTION #!
Contact your House Reps and Senators and tell them they must bring the TEC =
under control, appoint new members, and provide oversight to the commission=
's actions to protect citizens right to free speech. Find your representat=
ives and their contact information here. Call, write, question them at Tow=
n Halls, whatever you have to do to get through to them.
ACTION #2
Contact the individual members of the Texas Ethics Commission and pressure =
them to leave private citizens and non profit groups alone. They did not s=
et a timeline for final approval of the new rule, but it could be as soon a=
s their June meeting.
Here are the names of the Commissioners found on their website. Contact in=
formation for the Commission is:
Phone Numbers:
Main Number: 512-463-5800
TDD: 1-800-735-2989
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 12070
Austin, TX, 78711-2070
Physical Address:
Sam Houston Bldg.
201 East 14th St., 10th Floor
Austin, TX 78701
Email Addresses:
=E2=80=83General Information and Legal Helpline:
=E2=80=83
[email protected]
To quote Tony McDonald (again): "Citizens should call their legislators an=
d ask why they allow secret speech police to turn them into criminals for n=
ot having a lawyer over their shoulder every time they post something onlin=
e,=E2=80=9D
=20
CHECK BEFORE YOU SHARE:
Social Media is probably the worst and best thing to ever happen to Citizen=
Advocacy. On the one hand - it's so easy to share information, get people=
enthused and engaged and make things happen. On the other hand it's a mes=
sy swamp of bad information, often aimed at getting people worked up about =
something that is nothing, which distracts us from paying attention to the =
real threats. (like the Texas Ethics Commission!).
This week, there was a gateway pundit article going around about voter regi=
stration in 3 states showing "huge" increased numbers without photo ID. I'=
m not going to link it and give them clicks, but the headline is "EXTREMEL=
Y CONCERNING: RECORD SHOWS VOTER REGISTRATION WITHOUT PHOTO ID SURGES IN T=
HREE KEY SWING STATES - ARIZONA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND TEXAS."
Two things wrong with that headline.=20
One - photo ID is not required to register to vote. ID is only required to=
actually vote. You can literally download the registration application, f=
ill it out and mail it in without any verification of identity. The form a=
sks for a drivers license number or SS number, but no photo ID.=20
Two - Texas is not a "swing" state. Texas is still pretty solidly in the "=
R" column. The Republican presidential candidate won the election in Texas =
every year going back to Reagan in 1980.
And a third thing wrong with their article is the numbers quoted for new re=
gistrations in TX. The Secretary of State put out a statement on their "X=
" account about this wrong information. The article claimed 1.2 new regist=
rations taken this year. Secretary Nelson says the actual number is 57,711=
, which is less than the same time period in 2022 and 202.
So, please check the facts before you share! At True Texas Project, we try=
to bring truth to the discussion, but sometimes it's a challenge!
ACTION ITEM:
Tell all your friends that are sharing the voter registration article that =
it's just wrong. Note: many are sharing screenshots from the article with =
the sensational parts, not the whole article. Even worse!
=20
IN OTHER HAPPY NEWS:
Did you know that as a result of the Tax Relief bill passed last year, vote=
rs now have the opportunity to elect 3 members to each County Appraisal Dis=
trict Board? This will not solve all of the appraisal problems, but it doe=
s expand accountability by having Board members who are elected by the vote=
rs, and can be UN-elected by the voters too.
This election will take place on May 4th along with the other municipal ele=
ctions. To find out who is running, it should be posted on your County Ele=
ctions website, or contact your County Commissioners and County Judge.
Be sure you know who's running in your county and pick the best person to r=
epresent the taxpayers, instead of representing the taxing entities.
Thanks for reading my Friday Message. Reach out if you have questions - th=
at's why we're here.
Stay Engaged!
Fran Rhodes, President
=20
True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists.PS: A
Can you help?
We are 100% donation-based.
Click here to donate to our movement. =20
TrueTexasProject.com
=20
=20
To update your profile with a new email address, satellite location, or oth=
er details, or to adjust your recurring donations, please click here.
BONUS TIP: remove the "unsubscribe" line at the bottom of your email before=
you forward it! Otherwise the recipient may unsubscribe YOU!
This email was sent to
[email protected]. Click here to [link removed]
exasproject.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/truetexasproject/unsubscribeEmail.js=
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</table>=20
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acing: 0; border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;=
padding: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-fam=
ily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; wo=
rd-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px=
; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 12px;"><p s=
tyle=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weigh=
t: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt=
; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">TTP Citizen =
Advocates:</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,san=
s-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: le=
ft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: =
10px;">Are you as mad as I am about over reaching government bureaucracies =
that poke their fingers into every aspect of your life, squash your free sp=
eech, and regulate you to death? Well, it's time to not just get mad =
- it's time to <strong>DO SOMETHING! </strong></p> <p style=3D"color: #3c41=
44; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; =
margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; =
margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">I was not planning to do a Frida=
y message this week. Then on Wednesday, two things happened. Fi=
rst, I read <a title=3D" this article in the Texas Scorecard " href=3D=
"[link removed]
105RV7jtE7lajnhTPBmvhtM=3D/kOqjLrGQXHMCvczZyNi4uIx1fSrxMgEICpM55C_i_iA=3D" =
target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration=
: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.=
5;"> this article in the Texas Scorecard </a>about the Texas Ethics Commiss=
ion targeting citizens social media accounts, and second, Julie and I got a=
bout a dozen inquiries about a social media post about voter ID which is to=
tally false. Then I got mad! Now I'm doing something about it a=
nd urging you all to do something too.</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font=
-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: =
0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-b=
ottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION</strong>=
</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; f=
ont-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-s=
ize: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">A n=
ew rule being considered by the TEC would threaten the social media posts o=
f individuals and groups like TTP, squashing political speech, and th=
reatening people with costly enforcement. (please read the article linked i=
n the first paragraph for details)</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-fam=
ily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; M=
argin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-botto=
m: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">"<em>At their March 20 meeting, the commissi=
on unanimously moved to consider amending the rule at an upcoming meeting t=
o include a requirement that the person or group posting the political mess=
age online =E2=80=9Cdid not post or re-post the political advertising <stro=
ng>in return for consideration.</strong>=E2=80=9D</em></p> <p style=3D"colo=
r: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padd=
ing: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-heigh=
t: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Like so many other gover=
nment processes, the ethics commission is set up to stifle citizen involvem=
ent, punish those who try to comply, and frustrate the rest of the people i=
nto giving up. Per attorney Tony McDonald, <em>"They are now trying t=
o establish even greater power for themselves, using a law that has long be=
en declared unconstitutional to target Texans who speak on social media web=
sites and spend less than $100 to do so. It=E2=80=99s those citizens, McDon=
ald says, that are the target of this latest proposal."</em></p> <p style=
=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 4=
00; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; li=
ne-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>That wou=
ld be US! You, me, TTP, all of us.</strong></p> <p style=3D"color: #3=
c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: =
0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.=
5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">A little more digging, and a =
little help from our friends revealed that all members of the current Ethic=
s Commission are serving expired terms! Texas Constitution requires the TEC=
appointments to be four by the Governor, two by the Lt Governor, and 2 by =
the Speaker of the House. <a href=3D"[link removed]
king/click-link/CBfhJ_psAYxyAM39iR2w105RV7jtE7lajnhTPBmvhtM=3D/kOqjLrGQXHMC=
vczZyNi4uHWfN1kUD4uNqmFDs_XIyjg=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"nofollow noope=
ner noreferrer" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight=
: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">Tex. Cons. Art =
III Sec 24a.</a> All 8 of the current commission members' terms have =
expired!</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">So what to do about it? First of all, be aware that the TEC is u=
nder sunset rules by the legislature. <span class=3D"BxUVEf ILfuVd" l=
ang=3D"en"><span class=3D"hgKElc">The Texas Ethics Commission is currently =
under Sunset Review for the <strong>2024-2025 Review Cycle - 89th Legislati=
ve Session</strong>. </span></span>That gives us some time to work on legis=
lators to bring the TEC under control, or let it sink into the sunset. =
; We'll work on this at the Capitol during the 89th Session, but don't wait=
! Start right now, talking to your legislators.</p> <p style=3D"color=
: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; paddi=
ng: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height=
: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>ACTION #!</strong=
></p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; =
font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-=
size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Co=
ntact your House Reps and Senators and tell them they must bring the TEC un=
der control, appoint new members, and provide oversight to the commission's=
actions to protect citizens right to free speech. Find your represen=
tatives and their contact information <a title=3D"here." href=3D"[link removed]
i.neonemails.com/emails/tracking/click-link/CBfhJ_psAYxyAM39iR2w105RV7jtE7l=
ajnhTPBmvhtM=3D/kOqjLrGQXHMCvczZyNi4uAT6xItkFtbYWU_S7Mne40E=3D" target=3D"_=
blank" rel=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; fon=
t-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">here.</=
a> Call, write, question them at Town Halls, whatever you have to do =
to get through to them.</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,=
helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; t=
ext-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Ma=
rgin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>ACTION #2</strong></p> <p style=3D"color: #3c41=
44; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; =
margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; =
margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Contact the individual members o=
f the Texas Ethics Commission and pressure them to leave private citizens a=
nd non profit groups alone. They did not set a timeline for final app=
roval of the new rule, but it could be as soon as their June meeting.</p> <=
p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-we=
ight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 1=
2pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Here are =
the <a title=3D"names of the Commissioners" href=3D"[link removed]
com/emails/tracking/click-link/CBfhJ_psAYxyAM39iR2w105RV7jtE7lajnhTPBmvhtM=
=3D/kOqjLrGQXHMCvczZyNi4uAPvqzaxBuZ0hz9m8ECbgbQ=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=
=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: =
inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">names of the Comm=
issioners</a> found on their website. Contact information for the Com=
mission is:</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sa=
ns-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: l=
eft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom:=
10px;"><strong>Phone Numbers:</strong><br> Main Number: 512-46=
3-5800<br> TDD: 1-800-735-2989<br><br><strong>Mailing Address:<=
/strong><br> P.O. Box 12070<br> Austin, TX, 78711-2=
070<br><br><strong>Physical Address:</strong><br> Sam Houston B=
ldg.<br> 201 East 14th St., 10th Floor<br> Austin, =
TX 78701<br><br><strong>Email Addresses:</strong><br><br><strong>=E2=80=83G=
eneral Information and Legal Helpline:</strong><br>=E2=80=83 rec=
[email protected]</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: aria=
l,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0;=
text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; =
Margin-bottom: 10px;">To quote Tony McDonald (again): <em>"Citizens s=
hould call their legislators and ask why they allow <strong>secret speech p=
olice</strong> to turn them into criminals for not having a lawyer over the=
ir shoulder every time they post something online,=E2=80=9D</em></p> <p sty=
le=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight:=
400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"> </p> <p =
style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weig=
ht: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12p=
t; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>CHE=
CK BEFORE YOU SHARE:</strong></p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: =
arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin=
: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10=
px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Social Media is probably the worst and best thing=
to ever happen to Citizen Advocacy. On the one hand - it's so easy t=
o share information, get people enthused and engaged and make things happen=
. On the other hand it's a messy swamp of bad information, often aime=
d at getting people worked up about something that is nothing, which distra=
cts us from paying attention to the real threats. (like the Texas Eth=
ics Commission!).</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvet=
ica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-al=
ign: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-b=
ottom: 10px;">This week, there was a gateway pundit article going around ab=
out voter registration in 3 states showing "huge" increased numbers without=
photo ID. I'm not going to link it and give them clicks, but the hea=
dline is <strong>"EXTREMELY CONCERNING: RECORD SHOWS VOTER REGI=
STRATION WITHOUT PHOTO ID SURGES IN THREE KEY SWING STATES - ARIZONA, PENNS=
YLVANIA, AND TEXAS."</strong></p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: =
arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin=
: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10=
px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Two things wrong with that headline. </p> <p=
style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-wei=
ght: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12=
pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">One - phot=
o ID is not required to register to vote. ID is only required to actu=
ally vote. You can literally download the <a title=3D"registration ap=
plication" href=3D"[link removed]
fhJ_psAYxyAM39iR2w105RV7jtE7lajnhTPBmvhtM=3D/kOqjLrGQXHMCvczZyNi4uPsdCRxu0j=
4MHn7lbR7XRF4=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #0074d=
9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: lef=
t; line-height: 1.5;">registration application</a>, fill it out and mail it=
in without any verification of identity. The form asks for a drivers=
license number or SS number, but no photo ID. </p> <p style=3D"color:=
#3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; paddin=
g: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height:=
1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Two - Texas is not a "swin=
g" state. Texas is still pretty solidly in the "R" column. The Republ=
ican presidential candidate won the election in Texas every year going back=
to Reagan in 1980.</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helv=
etica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-=
align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin=
-bottom: 10px;">And a third thing wrong with their article is the numbers q=
uoted for new registrations in TX. The <a title=3D" Secretary of=
State " href=3D"[link removed]
J_psAYxyAM39iR2w105RV7jtE7lajnhTPBmvhtM=3D/kOqjLrGQXHMCvczZyNi4uJEw2Cb4KRve=
_fnJfq9bqYs=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #0074d9;=
text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left;=
line-height: 1.5;"> Secretary of State </a>put out a statement on their "X=
" account about this wrong information. The article claimed 1.2 new r=
egistrations taken this year. Secretary Nelson says the actual number=
is 57,711, which is less than the same time period in 2022 and 202.</p> <p=
style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-wei=
ght: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12=
pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">So, please=
check the facts before you share! At True Texas Project, we try to b=
ring truth to the discussion, but sometimes it's a challenge!</p> <p style=
=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 4=
00; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; li=
ne-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>ACTION I=
TEM</strong>:</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,=
sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align:=
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-botto=
m: 10px;">Tell all your friends that are sharing the voter registration art=
icle that it's just wrong. Note: many are sharing screenshots from th=
e article with the sensational parts, not the whole article. Even wor=
se!</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; fon=
t-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">=
</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-se=
rif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; =
font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px=
;"><strong>IN OTHER HAPPY NEWS:</strong></p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; fo=
nt-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin=
: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin=
-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Did you know that as a result of the T=
ax Relief bill passed last year, voters now have the opportunity to elect 3=
members to each County Appraisal District Board? This will not solve=
all of the appraisal problems, but it does expand accountability by having=
Board members who are elected by the voters, and can be UN-elected by the =
voters too.</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sa=
ns-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: l=
eft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom:=
10px;">This election will take place on May 4th along with the other munic=
ipal elections. To find out who is running, it should be posted on yo=
ur County Elections website, or contact your County Commissioners and Count=
y Judge.</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-=
serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left=
; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10=
px;">Be sure you know who's running in your county and pick the best person=
to represent the taxpayers, instead of representing the taxing entities.</=
p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; fon=
t-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-siz=
e: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Thank=
s for reading my Friday Message. Reach out if you have questions - th=
at's why we're here.</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,hel=
vetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text=
-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margi=
n-bottom: 10px;">Stay Engaged!</p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family:=
arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margi=
n: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1=
0px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Fran Rhodes, President</p></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row end-row-footer" style=3D"border-spacing: 0; =
border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; padding: =
0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Margin: 0; b=
ackground-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"word-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-fam=
ily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; wo=
rd-break: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px=
; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 24px;"><p s=
tyle=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weigh=
t: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5=
; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;"><span styl=
e=3D"font-size: 14px;"> </span></p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-f=
amily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0;=
Margin: 0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-=
bottom: 10px; text-align: center;"><strong><span style=3D"color: #cc0000;">=
True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists.PS: A<br>=
Can you help?<br>We are 100% donation-based.</span><br><span style=3D"color=
: #000055;">Click </span><a href=3D"[link removed]
ing/click-link/CBfhJ_psAYxyAM39iR2w105RV7jtE7lajnhTPBmvhtM=3D/kOqjLrGQXHMCv=
czZyNi4uFprpbthLCJEAMM3CBwPC8E=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration=
: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.=
5;"><span style=3D"color: #cc0000;">here</span></a><span style=3D"color: #0=
00055;"> to donate to our movement. <br><a hr=
ef=3D"[link removed]
9iR2w105RV7jtE7lajnhTPBmvhtM=3D/kOqjLrGQXHMCvczZyNi4uCBRqrclT1N0OXXSGiKeM1c=
=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; =
padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">TrueTexasProject.com</a></=
span></strong></p>=20
<table width=3D"1179" data-v-45dfea3e style=3D"border-spacin=
g: 0; border-collapse: collapse; padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-alig=
n: left; max-width: 100%; width: 100%;">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr data-v-45dfea3e style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: t=
op; text-align: left;">=20
<th data-v-45dfea3e style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; verti=
cal-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; fo=
nt-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-si=
ze: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; border-collapse: collapse;">
<center style=3D"width: 100%; min-width: 532px; text-ali=
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[Are these emails too small? Is half of it clipped? At the very top of this email, click the link that says "see it online". It will open in normal size and with full content!]
TTP Citizen Advocates:
Are you as mad as I am about over reaching government bureaucracies that poke their fingers into every aspect of your life, squash your free speech, and regulate you to death? Well, it's time to not just get mad - it's time to DO SOMETHING!
I was not planning to do a Friday message this week. Then on Wednesday, two things happened. First, I read this article in the Texas Scorecard about the Texas Ethics Commission targeting citizens social media accounts, and second, Julie and I got about a dozen inquiries about a social media post about voter ID which is totally false. Then I got mad! Now I'm doing something about it and urging you all to do something too.
TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION
A new rule being considered by the TEC would threaten the social media posts of individuals and groups like TTP, squashing political speech, and threatening people with costly enforcement. (please read the article linked in the first paragraph for details)
"At their March 20 meeting, the commission unanimously moved to consider amending the rule at an upcoming meeting to include a requirement that the person or group posting the political message online “did not post or re-post the political advertising in return for consideration.”
Like so many other government processes, the ethics commission is set up to stifle citizen involvement, punish those who try to comply, and frustrate the rest of the people into giving up. Per attorney Tony McDonald, "They are now trying to establish even greater power for themselves, using a law that has long been declared unconstitutional to target Texans who speak on social media websites and spend less than $100 to do so. It’s those citizens, McDonald says, that are the target of this latest proposal."
That would be US! You, me, TTP, all of us.
A little more digging, and a little help from our friends revealed that all members of the current Ethics Commission are serving expired terms! Texas Constitution requires the TEC appointments to be four by the Governor, two by the Lt Governor, and 2 by the Speaker of the House. Tex. Cons. Art III Sec 24a. All 8 of the current commission members' terms have expired!
So what to do about it? First of all, be aware that the TEC is under sunset rules by the legislature. The Texas Ethics Commission is currently under Sunset Review for the 2024-2025 Review Cycle - 89th Legislative Session. That gives us some time to work on legislators to bring the TEC under control, or let it sink into the sunset. We'll work on this at the Capitol during the 89th Session, but don't wait! Start right now, talking to your legislators.
ACTION #!
Contact your House Reps and Senators and tell them they must bring the TEC under control, appoint new members, and provide oversight to the commission's actions to protect citizens right to free speech. Find your representatives and their contact information here. Call, write, question them at Town Halls, whatever you have to do to get through to them.
ACTION #2
Contact the individual members of the Texas Ethics Commission and pressure them to leave private citizens and non profit groups alone. They did not set a timeline for final approval of the new rule, but it could be as soon as their June meeting.
Here are the names of the Commissioners found on their website. Contact information for the Commission is:
Phone Numbers:
Main Number: 512-463-5800
TDD: 1-800-735-2989
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 12070
Austin, TX, 78711-2070
Physical Address:
Sam Houston Bldg.
201 East 14th St., 10th Floor
Austin, TX 78701
Email Addresses:
General Information and Legal Helpline:
[email protected]
To quote Tony McDonald (again): "Citizens should call their legislators and ask why they allow secret speech police to turn them into criminals for not having a lawyer over their shoulder every time they post something online,”
CHECK BEFORE YOU SHARE:
Social Media is probably the worst and best thing to ever happen to Citizen Advocacy. On the one hand - it's so easy to share information, get people enthused and engaged and make things happen. On the other hand it's a messy swamp of bad information, often aimed at getting people worked up about something that is nothing, which distracts us from paying attention to the real threats. (like the Texas Ethics Commission!).
This week, there was a gateway pundit article going around about voter registration in 3 states showing "huge" increased numbers without photo ID. I'm not going to link it and give them clicks, but the headline is "EXTREMELY CONCERNING: RECORD SHOWS VOTER REGISTRATION WITHOUT PHOTO ID SURGES IN THREE KEY SWING STATES - ARIZONA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND TEXAS."
Two things wrong with that headline.
One - photo ID is not required to register to vote. ID is only required to actually vote. You can literally download the registration application, fill it out and mail it in without any verification of identity. The form asks for a drivers license number or SS number, but no photo ID.
Two - Texas is not a "swing" state. Texas is still pretty solidly in the "R" column. The Republican presidential candidate won the election in Texas every year going back to Reagan in 1980.
And a third thing wrong with their article is the numbers quoted for new registrations in TX. The Secretary of State put out a statement on their "X" account about this wrong information. The article claimed 1.2 new registrations taken this year. Secretary Nelson says the actual number is 57,711, which is less than the same time period in 2022 and 202.
So, please check the facts before you share! At True Texas Project, we try to bring truth to the discussion, but sometimes it's a challenge!
ACTION ITEM:
Tell all your friends that are sharing the voter registration article that it's just wrong. Note: many are sharing screenshots from the article with the sensational parts, not the whole article. Even worse!
IN OTHER HAPPY NEWS:
Did you know that as a result of the Tax Relief bill passed last year, voters now have the opportunity to elect 3 members to each County Appraisal District Board? This will not solve all of the appraisal problems, but it does expand accountability by having Board members who are elected by the voters, and can be UN-elected by the voters too.
This election will take place on May 4th along with the other municipal elections. To find out who is running, it should be posted on your County Elections website, or contact your County Commissioners and County Judge.
Be sure you know who's running in your county and pick the best person to represent the taxpayers, instead of representing the taxing entities.
Thanks for reading my Friday Message. Reach out if you have questions - that's why we're here.
Stay Engaged!
Fran Rhodes, President
True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists.PS: A
Can you help?
We are 100% donation-based.
Click here to donate to our movement.
TrueTexasProject.com
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