Hello, True Texans!

Can I brag on you for a second???  Every session, lots of lobbying happens by high dollar organizations that do NOT have your best interests in mind.  At True Texas Project, our volunteers are not paid, and they spend time in Austin for YOU.  Wanna see how powerful that is?  Check this out...

These are the groups that registered or appeared at least 200 times before legislative committees to speak for/against bills during the 89th session:

• Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA)
• Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas (CLEAT)
• Houston Police Officers Union (HPOU) 
• Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF)
• Texas Civil Rights Project (TCRP)
• True Texas Project
• City of Houston
• Harris County Commissioners Court
• Sierra Club
• Harris County Deputies' Organization FOP #39
• Texas Medical Association
• Sheriffs' Association of Texas (SAT)
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• Texas Association of Business
• Texas Farm Bureau
• City of San Antonio
• Texas Association of Builders (TAB)
• Travis County Commissioners Court
• El Paso County
• Texas 2036
• AARP
• Dallas Police Association
• Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops
• Methodist Healthcare Ministries
• Conference of Urban Counties
• Dallas County District Attorney

Whoa.  You don't have to be in politics for very long to be terrified by that list.  MOST of them are against you (and many of them are using YOUR tax dollars to lobby). 

Want me to break it down further? Here are the counts for True Texans that registered under our name (many of you registered but not under our name).   Hats off to our own Fran Rhodes for leading the team every week!

• Fran Rhodes - 107
• Shelia Franklin - 41
• Julie McCarty - 38
• Charlene Reagan - 36
• Elaina Brown - 32
• Christianna Brown - 27
• David Rogers - 27
• Monica Brown - 22
• James Brown - 10
• Jennifer Kratky - 6
• Judah Clary - 5
• John Turner - 3
• Carole Widmann - 3
• Maureen Smith - 2

Big thanks to those who went to Austin, and big thanks to Brett Rogers for compiling this data.  It is very eye-opening.  True Texas Project is far and away the best representation for YOU in the Capitol!

So How'd It Go?
By now you've probably seen several summaries of the legislative session.  Some are longer than others.  I like this one from Tom Glass because it tells the story at a glance. He provided a snap shot of the Republican priorities (every organization has basically these same priorities, give or take), and then he showed how the legislature performed. 

Priorities:

Results:

His email continued and broke it all down in depth for those who like the nitty gritty.  But the point is...  don't let the representatives gaslight you.  It was NOT "the most conservative session ever." 

What It Takes...
You can see what we're up against.  We do SO much with so little, and it makes a difference, but the enemy is often bigger and stronger!  We are committed to the fight, and we've proven we will show up en force, but sadly that takes funds.  If you can give, please do.  Small, monthly donations go a long, long way.  $10/month?  Is that doable?  We could use your help!

Happening This Week!

• Monday -  Tarrant & Hill Country monthly meetings. Plus Tarrant & Hill Country dinners after.
• Tuesday -  RGV &  Brazos monthly meetings, & TTP@ Home Florence
• Thursday - Bexar, Lubbock, Dallas, &  Collin monthly meetings
• Saturday -  Beaumont Coffee, Cross Plains &  Denison TTP@ Home

J U N E Calendar 📆
Check out our monthly calendar graphic below to see the many ways in which you can get involved, or just click one of the calendar links underneath it.

Coming In July! Teen Certification!
Our Certified True Texan classes are available online for adults to complete and receive their certification.  For youth, however, we are offering training in person!  On July 19 in Plano, we'll spend a Saturday with teens and kids to make sure they're ready to carry Texas into tomorrow.  We'll be offering it again in the Houston area later this summer/early fall.  The sign-up for this training will be released at the end of this week, so watch for an email! 

Monthly TTP podcasts
Let the censuring begin! Our June podcast tells you how. Are you as sick of these snakes as I am? Time to crush the heads of the serpents we call State Reps. No more messing around. Listen and learn...

Thanks for being part of the True Texas army!  I will be out the next two Sundays.  The newsletter will still come out, but it will only include a list of the week's activities.  No commentary from me!

For the love of Texas,
Julie McCarty, CEO
True Texas Project

Here are some links you may like:

CONTACTS:
Reach out to the directors listed below to get more info on a meeting near you, or with any other question or comment about True Texas Project, activism, or politics.  If they don't know the answer, they will help you find it!

• Bay Area - Phil Ratisseau
• Beaumont Area - Shilo Platts
• Bexar County - Greg Switzer
• Brazos Valley - Reina Shelby
• Cross Timbers (Granbury area) - Monica Brown
• Collin County - Tommy Reeves
• Dallas County - Lola Hurt or Roy Getting
• Denton County - Jennifer White
• Harris County NW - Jennifer Kratky or Cheila McKay
• Hill Country (Austin area) - Calvin Watson or Gerry Ward
• Katy Area - Art Hernandez or Lauren Heese
• Longview Area - Robin McCubbin
• Lubbock County - Amber Sanders or Jim Baxa
• RGV Sector (Rio Grande Valley) - Bonnie Brown
• Rockwall County - Randy Long
• Tarrant County - Shelia Franklin or Randy King
• Williamson County - Allisa Lloyd or Jim Steele
• TTP@Home groups (currently in NRH, Lubbock, Ennis, Denison, Florence, Burleson, Cross Plains) - Julie McCarty