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Dear Friends,
My heart is so full! Little Red Car is exhausted after spending the last 4 days in Austin, culminating with today's opening day of the TX Leg Session. But what an experience! So many Patriots roaming the Capitol in their Red shirts, greeting one another, hugging each other, praying over our elected representatives and the activists who came to be a part of the process.
We spent the morning going to legislators' offices, delivering our TTP Leg Priorities, and praying with them. Most of them were welcoming and very appreciative of our prayers. We spent the afternoon in briefings from Jill Glover with RPT Priorities Committee and the 3 terrific leaders of Texans for Vaccine Choice.
At noon, the House and Senate gaveled in for the first time this session to swear in the members, and the House elected a Speaker. The result of that vote was disappointing but not surprising. The final vote was 143 for Phelan, 3 for Tinderholt, and 4 abstaining. We owe big thanks and kudos to Tony Tinderholt, Bryan Slaton, and Nate Schatzline, for standing up for what they believe in, and telling the establishment, "NO! I will not go along to get along, and Texans deserve better leadership."
Please call or write these 3 representatives and express your appreciation for their courage. Read Tony Tinderholt's statement on the day.
The second blow to our grassroots patriots came shortly after the House adjourned. We received word that Speaker Phelan is scheduling the vote on the Rules (to ban Democrat chairs) for tomorrow (Wednesday) instead of Thursday as we all were expecting. No doubt he thought to thwart the thousands of Patriots who are traveling by bus, train, auto or bicycle to be there on Thursday. BUT WE WILL NOT BE THWARTED!
Representative Bryan Slaton had this to say on Facebook:
I agree! Our voices matter and we deserve to be heard. We've made a new plan, but we will still be showing up! Here's the plan for the next 2 days:
Wednesday, January 11
If you can be at the Capitol, be there by 8:30 or 9:00 am and visit as many Republican Representative offices as you can, asking them to vote to ban Democrat Chairs.
At 10:00 am be in the House Gallery (3rd Floor of the main building) when the House will gavel in and consider the rules and vote on them. Wear you Red Ban Democrat Chairs! shirts (or any red shirt).
2:00 pm - Gather in conference room E2.024 for more briefings from Wes Virdell, GOA, and Terri Hall with TURF.
Even though the rules vote will be over by Thursday -- we will still show up in big numbers and we'll turn it into a legislative action day.
Meet up with me in the Rotunda at 9:00 am (wear your red shirts)
We'll make a few assignments to visit legislative offices
10:30 am - House gavels in again, and we'll be in the gallery (in our red shirts). We don't know yet what business will be conducted, but we'll observe and send a message with our shirts.
We'll have our TTP Leg Priorities to distribute to legislators, Jill Glover with the RPT will be there with copies of the RPT priorities, and we'll let all those House reps know how disappointed we are in them.
If you cannot travel to the Capitol on Thursday, keep calling, emailing or writing post cards to the Republican members of the House.
Need some talking points on why Democrat Chairs are a bad idea? Here you go:
Democrats in leadership have a pulpit and significant power over legislation. They control what bills are heard and what bills are voted upon.
The Democrat chairs fund raise off their chairmanships and use that money to defeat Republicans during elections.
There are 8 current Democrat members of the LGBT caucus who are committee chairs. If any of our bills to protect children from sexual orientation and gender ideology indoctrination end up in their committees, they will not advance. (today Rep. Gene Wu welcomed 2 NEW LGBT members to their Caucus)
When the Democrats broke quorum last session and fled to Washington D.C., Speaker Phelan indicated their chairmanships could not be revoked. So, if he is re-elected Speaker, he will not remove them, no matter what they do in their positions.
The main thing to remember is DON'T BE DISCOURAGED! We loose a lot. But we get back up and fight another day. There is good momentum going for some of our priority legislation, and we'll continue to fight for our core values.
Thanks to everyone who went today or will go the remaining part of the week. We love and appreciate you and I look forward to seeing you often at the Capitol this session.
Remember our Citizen Advocate motto:
NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER SURRENDER!
For Texas!
Fran Rhodes, President
True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists. Can you help? We are 100% donation-based. Click here to donate to our cause.
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