Dear Citizen Advocates! It's finally here! Opening week of the TX Legislature starts tomorrow! Here's a reminder of our plans for this week Tuesday through Thursday. Tuesday Jan. 10 9:00 am Meet up in Conference Room E2.024 - pick up copies of TTP Leg priorities, divide into small groups, go all over the Capitol building and pray. Also deliver Leg Priorities to YOUR House Rep and Senator. Introduce yourselves to the staff, offer to pray with them, be sure to sign their guest book, and leave them with a copy of the TTP Leg Priorities. Noon - House and Senate gavel in. Members will be sworn in, and the House will elect a Speaker. You can observe from the gallery (3rd floor) if there is room, or you can watch in the Auditorium (Level E1 across from the Capitol Grill), or other overflow rooms that will be posted, or you can return to conference room E2.024 and watch the proceedings on your personal devices. Another option is visit your legislator's office and watch on their TV. 3:00 pm Return to Conference Room E2.024 for briefings with issue based groups. (RPT Leg. Priorities Committee Chair, GOA Texas, TFVC, etc) Wednesday, Jan 11 10:00 am meet Kathy Ponce in the Rotunda for a Capitol tour Possible other events arranged by Kathy - check with her for details. Thursday, Jan 12 9:00 am - Meet Fran in the Rotunda The schedule will be up in the air until we find out when the House will convene again for the Rules vote. We expect it to be on Thursday, but if not, we will make it a lobby day and visit all legislative offices asking them to support the Ban Democrat Chairs rule. If the rules vote is scheduled for Thursday, we will be in the gallery for the vote, with our red "Ban Democrat Chairs" shirts. We have lots of folks coming this week. I'm really excited for this legislative session. I have a feeling we're going to do great things! See you at the Capitol! Fran Rhodes, President,True Texas Project |