Texas GOP Applauds 71 House Republican Caucus Members' Statement of Principles on Voter ID

From the Republican Party of Texas:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                   

CONTACT:

Eric Opiela (512) 477-9821

Wednesday, April 29,2009                                                                      

REVISED:  Texas GOP Applauds 71 House Republican Caucus Members' Statement of Principles on Voter ID

AUSTIN- (Note: 21 additional members were added since yesterday's release) The Republican Party of Texas applauds the following 71 Texas House Republican Caucus members for their statement of principles concerning Voter ID legislation pending before the House: 

                                        Statement of Principles on Voter ID

"We are closely monitoring the Voter ID bill and are fervently committed to advancing a Voter ID bill.

Our principles concerning what the bill must contain are clear, this bill must:

1. Ensure a valid photo identification is needed to vote
2. Take effect at the next possible uniform election date
3. Be free of any registration requirements such as same day voter registration that dilutes the intent of the bill, which is ensuring fair and accurate elections
4. Increase criminal penalties for voter fraud and registration

We are all strongly encouraging Chairman Todd Smith and the other Representatives on the Elections Committee to present a bill which protects the integrity of the electoral process, is fully implemented at the next possible uniform election date and ensures a reasonable period of advanced registration to allow voter registrars the time to protect the integrity of the registration process as well."

Signators:

Charles Anderson, Jimmie Don Aycock, Leo Berman, Dwayne Bohac, Dan Branch, Betty Brown, Fred Brown, Angie Chen Button, William A. Callegari, Warren Chisum, Wayne Christian, Byron Cook, Frank Corte, Joe Crabb, Tom Craddick, Brandon Creighton, Myra Crownover, Drew Darby, John Davis, Joe L. Driver, Rob Eissler, Gary Elkins, Allen Fletcher, Dan Flynn, Dan Gattis, Charlie L. Geren, Mike "Tuffy" Hamilton, Kelly G. Hancock, Patricia Harless, Rick Hardcastle, Linda Harper-Brown, Will Hartnett, Harvey Hilderbran, Charlie Howard, Bryan Hughes, Todd Hunter, Carl H. Isett, Jim L. Jackson, Jim Keffer, Phil King, Susan King, Tim Kleinschmidt, Lois Kolkhorst, Edmund Kuempel, Jodie Laubenberg, Ken Legler, Tryon D. Lewis, Jerry Madden, Brian McCall, Doug Miller, Sid Miller, Geanie W. Morrison, Rob D. Orr, John Otto, Tan Parker, Dianne Patrick, Ken Paxton, Larry Phillips, Jim Pitts, Debbie Riddle, Ralph Sheffield, Mark M. Shelton, Wayne Smith, John Smithee, Burt R. Solomons, David A. Swinford, Larry Taylor, Vicki Truitt, Randy K. Weber, Beverly Woolley, John Zerwas

*Due to his position as Speaker, Joe Straus was not asked to sign on to this statement, but has previously stated his commitment to bringing a Voter ID bill to a vote on the House floor.  Representative Dennis Bonnen, as a member of the House Elections Committee, has issued a principled statement explaning his position below:

"On Tuesday, many Texas House Republican Caucus members issued a statement calling for four principles to be included in the Voter ID bill.  While I, too, stand strongly behind these key elements, I chose not to add my name to the statement.

As a member of the Elections Committee, my focus remains to advance this bill to the House floor.  I will not sign a commitment that threatens to kill the bill by preventing it from being voted out of committee and which undermines the many long hours we have worked to send it to the floor so that my colleagues will then have the opportunity to cast votes for these important principles. 

My fervent commitment to advancing a strong and effective Voter ID bill has not waivered.  One can simply look at the Voter ID bill that I filed, HB 3556, to see where I stand on the issues. "

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst puts Taxpayer Protections aside in favor of Expanded Government

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst testified on Tuesday, April 28 in favor of the anti-freedom, anti-property rights, pro-big-government statewide smoking ban legislation.

In the meantime, Dewhurst has allowed extremely important bills (the informed consent bill, the franchise tax exemption bill, and taxpayer protections for property tax payers) to linger indefinitely in committee.

We can see where the Lt. Governor has placed priorities this session, and it isn't in the taxpayers' best interests.

Call Lt. Gov. Dewhurst today and urge him to get back on target now!

His state office number is 512 463-0001.

You can also e-mail him by clicking here.

Jonathan Saenz

We were fortunate to have him come and speak to us tonight, and he mentioned his blog Texas Legislative Update. Please visit and post some comments to combat all of the liberals who comment

Joe FREAKING Biden!!

Austin YR Represents at Austin Tea Party (11:30am City Hall)

AYR Member Allison Sparks and her lovely sister!

AYR President Scott Specht & AYR Program Director Jacob Reach "Uncle Sam

Just one view of the enormous crowd!

AFP Tele-Townhall with Governor Rick Perry

Take a bow, your credibility is over

I think this says a lot about Obama in general about how a) he has no clue how to deal with foreign leaders, and b) where his allegiances really lie.

However, White House Press Secretary is now claiming that it wasn't a bow, but that he was shaking it with both hands, which of course is a blatant lie, but then again, I shouldn't be that surprised about them trying to hold off the proof that he respects Muslim leaders more than the Queen of England.

How are our US Senators voting on our behalf in Washington?

The results are surprising.

While, Senator John Cornyn is doing an amazing job protecting our tax dollars; Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson is a completely different story.

Here are their votes on some key fiscal votes (Click on title to view votes):

PREVENTING ANOTHER AUTO BAILOUT:
Kay Bailey Hutchison: Nay
John Cornyn: Yea

EARMARK REFORM:
Kay Bailey Hutchison: Nay
John Cornyn: Yea

What is KBH thinking?? I thought our conservative leadership was supposed to be fiscally responsible with our hard-earned money!

We don't need to be funding more bailouts with public funds. And, we are in desperate need of Earmark Reform. Our elected officials should watch out for our interests as taxpayers.

Kay Bailey Hutchison has also voted to raise taxes through the massive expansion of S-CHIP (Just another gateway to socialized healthcare) and managed to slip in $150M + of pork into the FY2009 Omnibus.

We need to hold our conservative leadership accountable for such actions.

Governor Perry Talks About April 15th Tea Parties

I highly recommend that everyone listen to Rick Green's new radio show "The Word" if they can. If you don't have a radio, they run the live stream on the internet!

Here is the info:

Heard Monday through Friday from 4:00 to 6:00 PM in Austin, Texas

on KLGO - The Word 99.3 FM and 98.5 FM,

The Rick Green Show

is your opportunity to get plugged in, educated, equipped, and

inspired to make a difference in the culture.

Even if you are not in the Austin area, you can listen online daily at

www.klgo.net

and still call in with your comments and questions.

If it is 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM C.S.T. right now, click here for a live feed!

Dial-in Phone: (512) 637-WORD (9673) OR 888-860-WORD (9673)

Tele-Townhall Conference Call with Governor Rick Perry

Join us tomorrow at 7pm on for a Tele-Townhall Conference Call with Governor Rick Perry hosted by Americans for Prosperity - Texas. We will be discussing the so-called stimulus and the strings attached to the unemployment insurance funds. You will have the opportunity to personally ask him questions during this Tele-townhall by dialing (zero) while on the call. Austin YR will be LIVE-BLOGGING during the event on our blog: The Rising Republic

Event Details Date: Tomorrow, April 8, 2009 Time: 7:00pm-7:30pm Conference Call #: (888)-356-3090 Access Code: 12768 RSVP on Facebook Here If you have any questions, please email Eliza Vielma.

To listen to the Elections Committee...

They are going over the Voter ID Bill. Robin Armstrong, Vice Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, is currently testifying.

To watch it on your computer, click here - then click "Live Stream 2".

Austin Young Republicans to deliver more than 200+ Voter ID petitions to Texas Legislature on Tuesday

AUSTIN — Members of the Austin Young Republicans organization plan to deliver more than 200 petitions in support of the Texas Voter I.D. bill (SB 362) to Texas House members on Tuesday.

The AYRs collected the signatures during a weekend-long online campaign beginning Friday, April 3. In three days, more than 200 Texans signed the petition supporting the bill, which requires a form of state-issued identification in order to vote.

“We hope these signatures send a strong message to our legislature that Texans want security at the ballot box,” said Scott Specht, AYR president. “We support this measure because it would put an end to voter fraud practices that are truly a form of disenfranchisement for ordinary citizens. It would be nice to know that each vote cast represents the opinion of a living, breathing resident of Texas.”

Studies have shown that voters across the income and racial spectrum support voter identification requirements. A 2005 bipartisan federal commission headed by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James Baker found that voters in nearly 100 democracies use a photo ID card without fear of their rights being infringed upon. Eighteen of the 21 members of the commission – including President Carter – supported photo ID requirements for U.S. elections.

“This is an issue that – outside of the confines of the legislature – receives bipartisan support,” Specht said. “Hopefully, our elected officials will support their constituents and choose to pass this common-sense bill.”

To view the petition text, please visit: www.austinyr.com/templates/austinyr15/voterid.html

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I hope things like this happen in more State Houses

http://www.kcci.com/video/19060487/index.html



Yes, the crowd was probably too rowdy, but to be told to leave the Chamber when they are voicing a dissenting opinion shows that the Democrats don't want to debate this, they don't want to hear from the Conservative side about what this bill would do, namely cause Iowa to lose jobs.

I really hope that a nationwide grassroots movement will spring up to fight what the Democrats are wanting to do. I feel like it is starting now with the Tea Parties that are springing up around the nation. Austin YR is a co-sponsor to the one being held in Austin. It will be April 15, 2009, and take place at Austin City Hall, starting at 11 am.