Hello Citizen Advocates!

Today's message will only address two things:

1. Should Democrats choose the Speaker of the Republican majority Texas House?
2. What's happening at the Capitol in the coming weeks

Don't let the brevity fool you - the two are very important things and I'm looking for MASSIVE action from all of you!

SHOULD DEMOCRATS CHOOSE THE SPEAKER OF THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY HOUSE?

The Texas House has had a Republican majority for over 20 years. So why do we keep letting Democrats decide who will be Speaker?  Since the days of Joe Straus, the Speakers have done deals with all of the Democrats in the House to support him, and then only needed 11 or 12 Republicans to go along, and boom!  Bob's your Uncle, and you are Speaker of the House.  Done deal before anyone even casts a vote.  (Dade Phelan has done this in both of his terms as Speaker)  We think that's just wrong!

Will it happen again in the 89th Legislature?  Possibly!  But there are things we can do to convince Mr. Phelan's crew that it's time for a change.

I've been working on a list of the 10 or 12 current House Reps most likely to support Dade Phelan for Speaker.  I want us to flood the offices of these representatives with post cards, emails and phone calls! Also post on their social media pages.  Do it frequently and repeatedly over the next few months.  Around 40 incumbent or incoming reps have pledged to only elect a Republican speaker with Republican votes.  But that leaves 46 others who need convincing.  So let's convince them!

Luke Macias has given us a starter list of 5.  They are

Charlie Geren

Drew Darby

Morgan Myer

Stan Lambert

Gary VanDeaver

Others to consider:

Giovani Capriglione

Cole Hefner

Jeff Leach

Jared Patterson

Lacy Hull

Brooks Landgraf

Stan Kitzman

That gives us list of 12 (The Dirty Dozen again?) to target. 

ACTION ITEM SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: 

Call, email and write letters or post cards to the 12 reps listed above.  Tell them you are a True Texas Project supporter, and you expect the speaker in a Republican majority House to be elected by Republicans, and not Democrats.

But once is not enough.  Contact them over and over again until January of next year when session starts.  Remember that it takes MASSIVE amounts of activists pushing the same issue at the same time, to have an effect.  Also remember that we move the needle by developing relationships.  After you've contacted these people with the same demand about 50 times, they are going to remember who you are.  They may not like you but they will remember!  And after seeing the wins of the recent primary and run-off elections, they will pay attention.  Also post on social media about it.  Challenge them to take a stand. 

You can click on the names above for contact information or use the house.texas.gov email address.

AT THE CAPITOL:

July 31, 9:00 AM House State Affairs Committee will look at a number of bills passed in 2023 regarding electricity services broadband service.  On line comment form.

·         Implementation of HB 9

·         Implementation of HB 2555

·         Implementation of HB 5174

·         Implementation of SB 1699

·         Implementation of SB 2627

·         Implementation of HB 1500

·         Utility preparedness, response, recovery protocols

Public comments are only on-line. 

July 31, 10:00 AM House Youth Health & Safety Committee will study behavioral health services for at-risk youth.  On line comment form.

Public comments are only on-line. 

Aug 12, 9:00 AM House Public Education Committee will meet to discuss implementation of HB1605, HB2209, SB2124.  (Note:  1605 is the controversial bill regarding the use of Open Education Resources). On line comment form.

** This hearing will allow in person public testimony, but they will end all testimony at 6 PM.  That means the chances of getting to testify will be slim since they will take the lobbyists and so-called experts before public.  BUT….  It’s still important to show up, sign up to speak and hope for the best.  You can do this PLUS on line comments if you choose. You can also bring printed copies of testimony and leave it with the Clerk if you don't get called to speak.  Showing up is important!

I will be going that day, and hope that many of you will be joining me to specifically testify on HB1605.   We can arrange car pools if there are enough people from any one area.  Please email me (or reply to this message) if you are interested in going.

That's my unusually short and sweet message for today.  So let's get busy and make those calls, send those cards, post on social media pages, and make sure the next Speaker of the Republican Texas House is elected by Republicans (and not Democrats).

Stay Engaged!

Fran Rhodes, President