CORECARD AROUND TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE. When House INSIDE. the Real Chair of Higher Ed? Local Control at Taxpayer Expense PAGE 3

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1 IN THE LEAD THIS WEEK TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE Local Control at Taxpayer Expense PAGE 3 A NEWS MAGAZINE FOR ALL TEXANS The latest news content is available at TexasScorecard.com Powered by Empower Texans Vol. 1 - Issue 6 AROUND T E X A S SENATE TAKES UP GUNS Comments about legislation considered expanding gun rights in Texas. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has shown tremendous leadership on the Second Amendment by fast tracking open carry and campus carry this session. STATE SEN. CHARLES PERRY What is it about a college campus that s a public university that makes us believe that we should preclude the CHL holder from that campus and deny them that right? Anytime you can extend a freedom it s a great opportunity, and this is one that should have never been contracted. STATE SEN. BRIAN BIRDWELL Rather than seeking ways to infringe on a right, Texas universities and leaders of those universities should instead be focused on defending them, thus reinforcing to our students the importance of our founding document and the rights granted to us by God. STATE SEN. KONNI BURTON A Texas Senator who opposes open carry does not believe in the 2nd amendment. STATE REP. JONATHAN STICKLAND HIGHER EDUCATION Is a Democrat the Real Chair of Higher Ed? BY TONY MCDONALD When House Speaker Joe Straus named his committee assignments last week, there was considerable buzz and surprise surrounding his appointment of Rep. John Zerwas to serve as Chairman of the House Committee on Higher Education. Zerwas is replacing Dan Branch, who left the legislature to run for Attorney General. While Zerwas is often ranked as one of the most liberal Republicans in the Texas House, that particular qualification is not the reason Zerwas s appointment was Donna Howard surprising. Indeed, Joe Straus appoints a lot of liberal Republicans to positions of power. Instead, the appointment was surprising to the capitol community because Zerwas is a long-time physician who specializes in healthcare policy, not higher education. Following his career as an anesthesiologist and President of the Memorial Hermann Health Network Providers, Zerwas has served as the Appropriations subcommittee chair for Article II of the Texas Budget, which deals with Health and Human Services. Zerwas SEE HIGHER ED PAGE 3 TRANSPORTATION Transportation Reform: Restoring Local Control, Accountability BY ROSS KECSEG Before throwing more tax money at a misunderstood transportation crisis, the legislature should first maximize the effectiveness of existing funds. But in addition to placing restrictions on how tax dollars are used, the legislature should also restrict the ability of regional governments to undermine sound policy. The culprits behind most of Texas non-road transportation waste are Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs). They are federally mandated planning bureaucracies that have taken control of voluntary regional governments created by the legislature, such as the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG). COGs claim to help local governments coordinate projects, but in reality, they are an unnecessary layer of government one-step removed from voters that takes power away from locally elected officials. SEE TRANSPORTATION PAGE 3 INSIDE PG 2 SA Charter Commission To Recommend Pay Raise For Council And Mayor PG 6 Straus Again Empowers Democrats, Liberal Republicans SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS DIGEST AT

2 2 BY GREGORY HARRISON Although she was born in Weston, Virginia and spent most of her childhood in Akron, Ohio, Rene Poe often says, I got to Texas as fast as I could about fifty five years ago. Fortunately, Poe is not like many of the transplants Texas is currently experiencing. Rather than try to make Texas more like the rest of the nation, Poe loves everything about the Lone Star State. As Vice President of the Hood County Tea Party in Granbury, she has been highly active in matters of importance across all levels of government. Like many other activists, she wasn t always involved, but slowly began to pay much closer attention to the issues. For many years I was someone who just showed up at the polls to vote in the presidential elections, and most of the time was totally uninformed. Poe says. When Obama got elected the first time, I PROFILES IN CITIZEN LEADERSHIP RENE POE Dedicated to Change Join us during the 84th Session! First Amendment Tuesdays What can you learn? The ins-and-outs of the legislative process How to effectively communicate with elected officials How to testify in a committee hearing What bills are (and are not) up for consideration Get equipped to participate in the legislative process! La Quinta-Capitol, Conference Room 9 AM - 10 AM began to study the issues a little more, and said, I m not going to just sit here on the couch, wringing my hands, and complain about how awfully things were going. Shortly after that, Poe was called to head up a volunteer group in Hood County for a congressional race. After becoming more involved in the grassroots, she quickly discovered that the Republican label wasn t always appropriately applied. I found that my leanings were a bit more conservative than some of my friends in this group. In 2009, when the Tea Party movement began, my husband and I were asked if we d start a Tea Party here in Granbury the rest is history. The Hood County Tea Party is a case study in leadership. Ballooning in membership since its advent, the group is now nearly thirty times larger than when it started. We have gone from seven people chipping in $20 each to get it started to a membership of over 200, said Poe. The group has been a formidable force in local and state politics as well. Though they meet once a month, they cover the gamut of local and state issues. They also encourage their members to put their money where their mouth is by getting involved in local races. On their goals, Poe says, We try to keep our members informed on what is happening locally, in our state, and in Washington, D.C. Our goal for 2015 is to get our members certified to register people to vote, and encourage members to set aside $25 a month for the purpose of funding a good conservative candidate. As a wife, mother, grandmother, and even a great grandmother, Poe says she sometimes gets weary of the never-ending fight inherent in politics. When, inevitably, that exhaustion sets in she reminds herself, Our country needs everyone doing something. I do what I do because I have seen America at its best, and I want to help revive that for my family. I love our state, and want to do my part at keeping it the best state in the U.S.A. CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SA Charter Commission to Recommend Pay Raise for Council and Mayor BY GREGORY HARRISON At a recent public hearing, the San Antonio Charter Review Commission stated unanimous support in proposing multiple amendments to the city charter, including a massive pay raise for council members and the Mayor, automatic compensation increases year-to-year, and changing the terms from two years to four. The original charter, essentially the constitution by which the city operates, was adopted in 1953 and has been amended eight times since its adoption. Earlier this year, the city council approved a charter amendment election for Saturday, May 9th. The charter commission has been meeting since to discuss amendments, and has produced the following propositions that are currently slated to go to the city council for approval as ballot items. One of the proposed amendments would dramatically change council member and mayoral compensation. Currently, councilmembers are compensated $1,040 annually; the Mayor, SEE SA CHARTER PAGE 3 the team President & CEO Michael Quinn Sullivan Managing Editor Morgan Williamson Capitol Correspondent Cary Cheshire Field Correspondent Gregory Harrison Metroplex Bureau Ross Kecseg Houston Bureau Charles Blain Budget and Policy Correspondent Owen Stroud General Counsel Tony McDonald PO Box , Austin, TX or info@empowertexans.com Texas Scorecard is a general interest news magazine produced by Empower Texans. Unless otherwise noted, the content is the property of Empower Texans and may not be reprinted without permission. Content from Texas Scorecard is available to the public online at TexasScorecard.com. Entire contents 2015 Empower Texans. All rights reserved.

3 VOL. 1 - ISSUE THE LEAD STORY 3 SA CHARTER from PAGE 1 $4,040. The proposed amendment would change those amounts to $45,722 and $61,725, respectively. Those amounts are based on the median family income for the City of San Antonio. All told, the compensation increase would cost the City of San Antonio an additional $504,505 annually, in the first year alone. Should the aforementioned amendment be approved by voters, the commission separately proposed an automatic biennial increase of 2.5% or one tied to the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower, to be approved by voters. Also up for consideration is an alteration to the terms in office, changing the terms from two to four years. The term limit of eight years would remain under this proposal, but would change from four consecutive two year terms to two four year terms. Although this change is being considered, it is not at this time recommended by the Charter Review Commission. The recommendations from the Charter Review Commission, as well as some from the public, will be brought before city council in February. Those approved by the council will be placed on the May ballot for voters to approve. TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE: Local Control at Taxpayer Expense BY ROSS KECSEG Governments in Texas not only use taxpayer funds to hire outside lobbying firms, they also pay dues to third-party associations to represent their anti-taxpayer interests. The Texas Municipal League, a voluntary association of over 1,100 cities, is pushing a legislative philosophy aimed at unconditionally protecting government interests instead of securing the liberties and rights of their residents. TML s legislative program details the three, government-centered principles from which all their policy positions emanate. The first is that the League will, vigorously oppose any legislation that would erode the authority of Texas cities to govern their own affairs. In other words, regardless of a policy s merit, any measure that would restrict a city s authority will be opposed. Instead of unconditionally opposing legislation that erodes the constitutional rights of Texans, TML s priority is preserving unlimited municipal authority. The second principle is an extension of the first. It says the League will resist any efforts to diminish [city] revenue. Once again, instead of advocating for measures that encourage fiscal stewardship, the prioritization of core services, responsible debt usage, transparency, controls on government growth, or other protaxpayer positions, TML exclusively prioritizes a government-centered interest unlimited tax burdens. The third priority is seemingly insignificant, but upon careful reflection, equally offensive to taxpayer interests. It reads, the League will oppose the imposition of any state mandates that do not provide for a commensurate level of compensation. Stated differently, cities do not want the legislature to create unfunded mandates unless the state pays for them. A taxpayer-centered governing ideology would recognize that, regardless of which government pays the cost of a policy mandate, the same taxpayers are burdened. Simply put, TML does not care about Texans. As evidenced by their stated agenda, protecting residents and taxpayers is not even an afterthought. In fact, nowhere in their list of more than 200 legislative agenda items can you find a policy stance that suggests the role of government is to serve their residents and secure their God-given rights. If there is one thing that is clear, TML only exists to ensure that cities govern as they please for better or worse. As we have previously covered, their agenda places politicians first and Texans last. It is time for city officials who pay dues to TML demand that their pro-biggovernment, anti-taxpayer priorities change or face a withdrawal in taxpayer funding. TRANSPORTATION from PAGE 1 MPOs enable Washington, D.C. to indirectly control all transportation policy. They also give political cover to liberalleaning local politicians. Although MPO voting members include locally elected officials from larger member cities, they also include bureaucrats from transit agencies, toll authorities and TxDOT. In any case, none of the voting members are elected by voters to serve on the MPO, yet they wield neardictatorial control over funding for every transportation project in their region. This regional approval process takes control away from locally elected officials by placing a middleman between the legislature, TxDOT and local governments. In order for a transportation project to be included in Texas federally mandated transportation improvement plan (STIP), an MPO must first approve the project. MPOs ultimately shield policy culpability from voters because local officials can simply blame the MPO, who voters do not elect, for transportation waste like TexRail. Local officials are often fearful of opposing wasteful projects because doing so jeopardizes other necessary items from being approved. In other words, the MPO can hold TxDOT funds hostage if a city official speaks out in opposition. This puts city officials at odds with whatever select group of politicians and bureaucrats serve on an MPO as voting members. As a result, local officials remain largely silent, standing by in omission to rampant taxpayer abuse. First and foremost, the legislature should restrict how MPOs use all state and federal funds, which would minimize the amount of tax dollars flowing through MPOs to non-road waste. MPOs have already admitted that Proposition 1 money will simply replace funds that aren t currently restricted, essentially freeing up more financing for toll roads and trains. This is why state-imposed restrictions on all funds are vital. The state cannot untie the strings attached to federal funds with state law, but it does have absolute dominion over TxDOT through which the bulk of funds flow, and can restrict the scope of projects it funds in partnership with MPOs. The legislature should also remove the policy-making authority of MPOs and COGs. Again, the state can t re-write federal law, but it can control what authority COGs exercise in addition to how they direct tax dollars. If COGs refuse to comply, the state can withhold its contribution to a COG s budget the NCTCOG has an annual budget of $173 million. COGs and MPOs are now pushing to expand their reach to include economic development. If the legislature refuses to restrict the current authority they wield, county and local sovereignty may be lost altogether. Only the officials vested with local governing authority and elected by voters should govern, not amorphous, appointed bodies of select politicians, transit agencies and unelected bureaucrats. HIGHER ED from PAGE 1 has used his position as a leader on healthcare issues to push for the expansion of Medicaid in Texas under Obamacare. His district, which stretches between Katy and Richmond in Fort Bend County and encompasses a number of small towns, doesn t contain a university. So, the obvious question is: Why is John Zerwas in charge of Higher Education and not Public Health or some healthcare related committee? The answer in this case lies in whom Straus appointed as vice chair of Higher Education, and the workload the legislature has in front of it. This session the legislature is reviewing our state s various health and human services agencies as part of the sunset review process. The Sunset Commission has recommended combining several of the agencies and this has resulted in a nearly 2300 page health and human services bill Senate Bill 219 which rivals Obamacare in size. Needless to say, Zerwas is going to be Regional governments are wasteful, redundant and bureaucratic intermediaries. It s time the Republican-led legislature reins them in, before they become too big to tame. After all, complexity is the enemy of transparency, and MPOs have made transportation policy hopelessly complex. very busy attempting to steer that legislation in a liberal direction. Much, if not most, of the work related to being Chairman of the Higher Education Committee is going to fall on the shoulders of his second in command. The Vice Chair of Higher Education is none other than liberal Democratic State Representative Donna Howard, who represents a district in west Austin that is just 15 blocks from the main UT campus. Higher Education is too high profile of a committee for Straus to get by with appointing a Democrat to directly chair it, so he did the next best thing. He put a liberal Republican who will be too busy to handle the job as a figurehead, and put UT s closest ally as the Vice Chair. We predict Zerwas will take a hands-on role with regard to health-component institutions of the various university systems, and leave the heavy lifting with regard to traditional campus matters to Howard. She will serve the interests of the liberal UT establishment.

4 4 HISD Comes Up Short Again BY CHARLES BLAIN A t a Special Meeting, Houston ISD Board Members were delivered an unpromising update from the bond department on the status of their 2012 bond program and ongoing projects. The report notified board members that after asking Houston voters to approve the record high $1.89 billion bond proposal, HISD still claims to need an additional $150 million to complete the projects as anticipated. Board members and bond department employees both point to the struggling energy economy, inflation, and Houston s construction boom as reasons why their bond plan is failing to meet expectations. Members were quick to point out similar situations in districts across the state due to the oil market slump. However, had they not led the district through periods of excessive spending when the economy was more robust, they may have been better equipped to handle problems associated with the downturn. In other words, shared circumstances do not excuse poor planning and mismanagement. According to HISD and Comptroller reports, when the bond was passed in 2012 the average cost of construction for new schools was $146 per square foot. The district anticipated an increase in costs and set the bond average at $160 per square foot, but they are still falling very short. Now HISD is reportedly paying $210 per square foot for new school construction, far beyond what they could have predicted. Even though some districts around the state are far worse offenders than HISD, that is not a reason to condone their lofty construction estimates. For example, Frisco ISD leads the pack with an outrageously budgeted $270 square footage cost for new construction. The 2012 proposal was also filled with excessive amenities on high school campuses such as separate dance rooms and swimming pools, along with renovating every middle school bathroom across the district, adding even more bloat. The district says that the current construction boom, while slowing, has Every hand you shake, Every cent you take, Every vow you break, Every vote you make... Watch Now: EmpowerTexans.com/features/watching-video left a labor shortage and increased prices for supplies. Even though the school board allocates about 5% of each project fund to a reserve in case of unpredicted expenses, it is not enough to cover increased labor and material costs. Some of the rising costs of building new schools can be attributed to the infinite number of construction projects springing up around the Bayou City, however that does not explain the overinflated prices throughout the state. Taxpayers need to start questioning what factors, if any, are leading to rising construction costs. Board members were given a few unappealing options for moving forward: Prepare a new bond proposal and take it to the voters, yet again. Reduce the scope of projects that are in the first phase, which cuts back programs and facilities from schools many of which board members promised their districts while campaigning for the bond in order to reduce costs from the onset of the project. Delay some projects until the market comes back. This would allow material and labor prices to drop, while giving HISD the opportunity to negotiate better pricing. However, this solution is far from a magic bullet; halting construction on some projects that are in the final stages keeps students displaced for extended amounts of time and overcrowds the schools that absorb them. Whatever option(s) the board chooses to pursue, they acknowledge that some of the planned projects deemed unnecessary are going to have to be abandoned. Robert Sands, HISD s head construction officer, told board members that 16 of the 25 projects scheduled for the first half of the bond program would most likely be put on hold to secure lower prices. This situation is a prime example of governing bodies attempting to borrow themselves out of problems. The 2012 bond was intended to enhance Houston ISD s infrastructure and quality of education through programs tailored for each district. Instead, Houstonians are left with more debt, higher taxes, and incomplete schools to show for it. Had HISD managed its budget properly in the past, reducing wasteful and unnecessary spending and living within its means, it would be better equipped to handle unintended consequences of replacing and repairing 40 schools. Using reserves that were intentionally set aside for corrective actions of completed bond projects is another irresponsible move that will lead to regret in the future. When issues arise with some of the newly built facilities, as was seen with the 2007 bond, they will be back again in search of funds to fix the problem. Judging by the past, it seems HISD will be asking local taxpayers to approve a new bond proposal in no time, unless taxpayers demand a more prudent alternative. Last Exit to Servitude BY TONY MCDONALD I n the aftermath of the Texas House of Representatives announcement of committee assignments, the establishment political media scrambled to use the assignments to promote their traditional narrative of how fealty to leadership results in access to power. The narrative says that those who support House Speaker Joe Straus get plum meaning lucrative committee assignments, while those who oppose his administration get punished, along with their constituents. The media were quick to point the finger at those conservatives who had stayed true to their convictions and supported Scott Turner for Speaker. These members were foolish and had allegedly been punished with bad committee assignments, while members who sold out their principles and constituents were lauded for reaping great rewards. To paraphrase a quote from Ronald Reagan, It isn t so much that the liberal media is ignorant. It s just that they know so many things that aren t so. The reality is that the Speaker and his allies engage in a false barter with members. It reminds us of the trade offered by Bart Simpson to his father, Homer: I ll trade you this delicious doorstop for that crummy old Danish, offered Bart. In much the same way, House leadership, the media, and the lobby are all busy telling members that they will really enjoy a spot on a powerful committee if they will just trade in their crummy old ability to vote no. A coveted spot on House Appropriations is put up as the sweetest plum of all. Many in the media were quick to latch on to the fact that Rep. Giovanni SEE SERVITUDE PAGE 5

5 VOL. 1 - ISSUE ESTABLISHMENT TO CONSERVATIVES: Play the Game or Get Played BY DUSTIN MATOCHA In attempts to defend those in power, Texas political media establishment often portrays members of the conservative movement especially those critical of House Speaker Joe Straus as extremists seeking to turn Austin into a Washington, D.C. style polarized system of gridlock, bickering, and self-mutilation. That is, unless conservatives in Austin are seeking to grow government and look out for themselves. Then DC-style leadership is A-OK. The latest example comes from Harvey Kronberg s Quorum Report the Perez Hilton of the Texas political correspondent circle via a bloviating compare-and-contrast piece authored by John Coppedge, a man who once went on record encouraging Democrats to vote in Republican primaries. Coppedge writes that State Reps. Travis Clary and Chris Paddie should be praised for earning better committee assignments than their East Texas colleagues, State Reps. Bryan Hughes and David Simpson. Clardy and Paddie both voted affirmatively to re-elect State Rep. Joe Straus as Speaker of the House, while Hughes and Simpson both voted for the more conservative State Rep. Scott Turner. In his comparison, Coppedge points out that while Hughes was appointed to the Appropriations Committee, it was because of his seniority and not at the speaker s discretion. Speaker Straus did assign Hughes to the Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee. While juvenile justice issues are important to many Texans, most recognize that committee wields less influence over key legislation than other, more noteworthy committees. Additionally, Simpson used his seniority status to earn an appointment to the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. Speaker Straus then appointed Simpson to the Agriculture and Livestock Committee. On the flip-side, Rep. Paddie was appointed by the Speaker to the Transportation Committee, House Administration Committee, and to serve as the vice-chair of the Energy Resources Committee. Rep. Clardy earned a nod to be on the Higher Education committee, Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee, and serve as the vice-chair of the Local & Consent Calendars Committee. Coppedge attempts to re-assure those who supported Speaker Straus they made the right choice. In turn, he argues, they got more plum assignments than those antagonistic to Straus re-election effort. Simpson and Hughes, he adds, aren t able to effectively represent their district because of their choice to be hostile to Straus and therefore lose out on key committee assignments that could have brought home the bacon to their respective districts. In other words, the establishment want conservatives to continue to try to play their game, lest they get played by cutting off their ability to bilk taxpayers in other areas of the state at the behest of their home district. Conservative members were scolded for daring to bring their challenge to Speaker Straus to a vote on the House floor. The media derided the decision as Washington, D.C. style politics similar to the failed conservative effort to remove embattled U.S. House Speaker John Boehner from his position of power. Quorum Report and others willing to repeat the talking points from Straus PR camp chided it as corrosive and harmful, ultimately leading to gridlock. Speaker Joe Straus himself chastised those who opposed his re-election in his victory speech to his fellow members saying, you cannot effectively govern this House by dividing it. During the speakership race, conservatives were ridiculed for engaging in DC style politics. Now that it s over, they re ridiculed for NOT engaging in the very same style of governing and politics. D.C. isn t gridlocked to the point of paralysis because of internal strife between Republicans in Congress. DC is gridlocked because voters have allowed their congressmen to get away with a what s in it for me mentality for decades. It s the very same mentality Kronberg, his contributors, and the establishment media expect legislators to possess in order to be effective. Bringing home the bacon isn t effective governance. One only needs to look at the state of our federal government for affirmation. Reps. Hughes and Simpson, by standing up for their conservative principles and doing what their constituents asked of them, showed far more courage and conviction than those who simply try to play the game. They should be cheered for their willingness to be true servant leaders and for doing what was right, and for recognizing that their dedication to promoting liberty and property isn t a game it s a duty. The problem is that the Austin/Capitol echo chamber is full of establishment shills like those at Quorum Report who want to do all they can to keep It s important that we tell legislators when they do something wrong. It s even more important we tell them when they do something right. The establishment media in Austin certainly won t. conservatives in check. They don t hear from you nearly enough to know they are doing the right thing! It s important that we tell legislators when they do something wrong. It s even more important we tell them when they do something right. The establishment media in Austin certainly won t. So far, 19 legislators have demonstrated a willingness to ignore the Texas politburo and listen to their constituents by demanding more conservative leadership. Call them today and encourage them to keep it up all session long! SERVITUDE from PAGE 4 Capriglione, who infamously turned his back on his former conservative ally Scott Turner at a local Tea Party meeting, was given a spot on the budget writing committee. However, as we have pointed out before, members on the Appropriations Committee do not actually write the budget. That task is reserved for a small handful of appointees to the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) and the bureaucrats they employ. After the budget is released by the LBB, the Appropriations Committee members meet early and often, but only end up tinkering around the edges of the initial document. Then, after both chambers pass the budget, it is sent to another small hand-selected group on the conference committee who largely rewrite the document as they see fit. In return for their appointment and ability to engage in (but probably not affect) the tinkering around the edges stage of the budget writing process, members of Appropriations are expected to vote for the budget not only on the floor, but also after it is thrust back upon them by the conference committee. Other so-called conservatives who turned their back on Turner were lauded for assignments to plum committees, like Energy Resources or Environmental Regulation. These appointments remind us of another great Simpsons moment, when Homer Simpson is appointed to be head of the union at the Springfield nuclear power plant. Homer: So what does this job pay? Lenny: Nothing. Homer: D oh! Lenny: Unless you re crooked. Homer: Woo Hoo! The reality is that every member is appointed to at least a couple of House committees, no matter how many times they wink at Joe Straus. On each of these committees, members have a choice between serving their constituents and serving powerful lobby interests. Some committees deal with more deeppocketed lobbyists than others, and so the price for selling out can be more lucrative in terms of campaign contribution dollars and lobbyist perks depending on where the Speaker places a member. But for those members who faithfully serve their constituents, the pay-off is nothing more than their $600 a month salary, no matter what committee they are appointed to. Those conservative members who stand by their principles have a reward that no lobbyist or Speaker can give them. They have clear consciences. They have the independence and freedom to serve their constituents without reservation. They have the freedom to say no. They have the ability to use the power vested in every duly elected member to attempt to re-chart the course of the legislature, and this great state, towards greater liberty for all Texans.

6 6 84TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE Straus Again Empowers Democrats, Liberal Republicans BY CARY CHESHIRE Recently, House Speaker Joe Straus released his committee assignments for the 84th Texas House of Representatives. In the appointments, Straus continued his track record of marginalizing conservatives, engaging in cronyism with elites, and compromising with liberal opponents. Because it would be rather unwieldy and tedious for a 150-member body to conduct all business on the floor, the Texas Constitution prescribes committees as the place where a large majority of the legislative work involved in passing a new law takes place. The theory is that these working groups can apply specialized scrutiny to specific issues in a broader context. For example, a bill changing highway policy would go to the Transportation Committee. Theoretically, committees are assigned by expertise (e.g. a representative with ranching experience would be placed on the Agriculture Committee) with the chairmanship going to a seasoned lawmaker with experience on the committee s subject matter. A great deal of each committee s power is concentrated in the hands of the committee chairman. The chairman has almost complete autonomy in governing his committee, determining the timing of hearings, deciding if a bill gets a hearing at all, and ultimately deciding if a vote will be called on a specific piece of legislation. Using his power to refer bills to various committees with jurisdiction over their subject matter, the speaker is enabled to send bills to the committees he has stacked in order to ensure passage (or failure) of legislation that he either supports or opposes. As a result, committee assignments and chairmanships are handed out in an extremely politicized fashion, with the speaker s most trusted allies being given positions of power. Straus assignments follow that pattern. State Reps. Byron Cook and Charlie Geren chair powerful committees such as State Affairs and House Administration respectively. Both Further inspection of the committee chair positions by Rice University professor Mark Jones reveals exactly who the Speaker is beholden to: liberal Democrats and Republican moderates. were members of the original Polo Road Gang of 11 Republicans that joined a united Democratic caucus to overthrow Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick and put Joe Straus in charge of the body. State Rep. Jim Keffer, the only other remaining member of the coup after the rest were forced to resign due to scandal, swept out by conservative challengers, or defeated by conservatives in bids for higher office, was tapped to chair the Natural Resources Committee. Further inspection of the committee chair positions by Rice University professor Mark Jones reveals exactly who the Speaker is beholden to: liberal Democrats and Republican moderates. Of the 38 standing committees, there are 25 Republican chairmen, 13 Republican vice chairmen, 13 Democratic chairmen, and 25 Democratic vice chairmen. Some will say that the divide in Republican vs. Democratic chairmen matches the 66% to 34% division of the House members eligible, but this does not explain the overrepresentation of Democratic vice chairmen. Examined on a partisan level, Speaker Straus gives 50% of the control of the chamber to a Democratic party that holds barely more than a third of the membership and has been consistently repudiated in statewide elections. BIG ANNOUNCEMENT We will be giving out two grants related to First Amendment Tuesdays. The first grant will be $500 and an engraved cavalry sword to the individual who attends the most Tuesday trainings. The second grant will be $500 for the organization with the most member check-ins at the La Quinta for training over the course of the legislative session. So come for the training, and return for the prizes! But stay involved to ensure that liberty flourishes in the Lone Star State! Support for Straus Yields No Gains for Liberty BY TONY MCDONALD During the race for Speaker between Joe Straus and Scott Turner, conservative members who supported Straus teetered between claiming that Straus record was already a conservative one and claiming that, despite past failings, Straus s decisions during the 84th session would somehow be different. Now that committee assignments have been made, it is again clear that Straus is no friend of conservatives, and that he has no intention of doing anything different than he has in the past. Straus appears prepared to follow through on threats made by his surrogates during the Speaker s race to kill conservative reforms, and advance a progressive agenda. Straus s appointees to the most powerful committees in the House the gatekeeping Calendars Committee and the Committee on State Affairs nearly mirror his appointments in Conservatives are again blocked entirely from those powerful committees while Democrats and liberal Republicans in Straus s inner-circle are given control over what bills they will allow to come before their colleagues. Likewise, those committees dealing in the most important subject matters of state government Public Education, Public Health, Higher Education, and Transportation are dominated by Democrats and liberal-leaning Republicans. A few more-conservative members were sprinkled into the mix on Appropriations, but they are outnumbered by at least two-to-one by Democrats. It seems inevitable that their positions will be even further degraded when Appropriations subcommittees are announced. Veteran Democrat State Rep. Senfronia Thompson is again the Chair of Local and Consent Calendars. In praising Straus, the leftist Democrat blog Burnt Orange Report related that her appointment meant Straus had made her Queen of Everything. Straus s appointments to the Redistricting Committee may be the most telling of all. Texas remains under threat of having our legislative districts redrawn by a federal court due to the gross incompetence of the map drawers employed by Straus in Despite this threat, Straus split the 11-member committee down the middle, with five Democrats and six Republicans. However, he put recent party switcher, Republican State Rep. J.M. Lozano, in charge of the committee. Just two sessions ago, Lozano was serving in the legislature as a Democrat. Straus appointed another former Democrat, State Rep. Todd Hunter, to serve on the committee as well. When committee assignments came down, the establishment political media crowed about how Straus-supporting conservatives had been given better assignments than the Turner 19. However none of them were elevated to the upper echelons of power in the Straus regime. What s more, they appear to be set-up to sacrifice themselves on Straus s behalf in the war Straus is preparing to wage on conservative reforms coming from the Texas Senate. It has been made clear again, as it has been repeatedly over the last six years, that Joe Straus is not interested in rapprochement with conservatives. Straus and his allies will always side with the liberal Democrats over those members who faithfully represent the strong conservative will of Texans. The only option available to Texans who want to see their will represented in Texas government is to remove those members who lack the principles or backbone necessary to serve their constituents. Texans must elect new representatives who are willing to seize power from the Democrats and liberal Republicans who have usurped it, and return it to the people.

7 VOL. 1 - ISSUE Committees have been set in both chambers of the Texas Legislature. Here are the committee assignments, including the chairs and vice-chairs. Committee on Administration CHAIR: Kelly Hancock VICE-CHAIR: Carlos Uresti Donna Campbell Kevin Eltife Don Huffines Charles Schwertner Royce West Committee on Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs CHAIR: Charles Perry VICE-CHAIR: Judith Zaffirini Brandon Creighton Bob Hall Juan Chuy Hinojosa Lois Kolkhorst Committee on Business and Commerce CHAIR: Kevin Eltife VICE-CHAIR: Brandon Creighton Rodney Ellis Don Huffines Charles Schwertner Kel Seliger Larry Taylor Kirk Watson John Whitmire Committee on Criminal Justice CHAIR: John Whitmire VICE-CHAIR: Joan Huffman Konni Burton Brandon Creighton Juan Chuy Hinojosa Charles Perry Leticia Van de Putte Committee on Education CHAIR: Larry Taylor VICE-CHAIR: Eddie Lucio, Jr. Paul Bettencourt Donna Campbell Sylvia Garcia Don Huffines Lois Kolkhorst Kel Seliger Van Taylor Royce West Committee on Finance CHAIR: Jane Nelson VICE-CHAIR: Juan Chuy Hinojosa Paul Bettencourt Kevin Eltife Kelly Hancock Joan Huffman Lois Kolkhorst Robert Nichols Charles Schwertner Kel Seliger Larry Taylor Carlos Uresti Kirk Watson Royce West John Whitmire Committee on Health and Human Services CHAIR: Charles Schwertner VICE-CHAIR: Lois Kolkhorst Donna Campbell Craig Estes Charles Perry Van Taylor Carlos Uresti Judith Zaffirini Committee on Higher Education CHAIR: Kel Seliger VICE-CHAIR: Royce West Paul Bettencourt Konni Burton Charles Perry Leticia Van de Putte Kirk Watson Committee on Intergovernmental Relations CHAIR: Eddie Lucio, Jr. VICE-CHAIR: Paul Bettencourt Donna Campbell Sylvia Garcia Robert Nichols Larry Taylor Leticia Van de Putte Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development CHAIR: Troy Fraser VICE-CHAIR: Craig Estes Brian Birdwell Bob Hall Kelly Hancock Juan Chuy Hinojosa Eddie Lucio, Jr. Robert Nichols Carlos Uresti Kel Seliger Judith Zaffirini Committee on Nominations CHAIR: Brian Birdwell VICE-CHAIR: Van Taylor Konni Burton Troy Fraser Craig Estes Kirk Watson Committee on State Affairs CHAIR: Joan Huffman VICE-CHAIR: Rodney Ellis Brian Birdwell Brandon Creighton Craig Estes Troy Fraser Jane Nelson Charles Schwertner Judith Zaffirini Committee on Transportation CHAIR: Robert Nichols VICE-CHAIR: Don Huffines Rodney Ellis Troy Fraser Sylvia Garcia Bob Hall Kelly Hancock Lois Kolkhorst Van Taylor Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations CHAIR: Donna Campbell VICE-CHAIR: Konni Burton Brian Birdwell Sylvia Garcia Robert Hall Eddie Lucio, Jr. Border Security Subcommittee CHAIR: Brian Birdwell VICE-CHAIR: Bob Hall Eddie Lucio, Jr. HOUSE COMMITTEES Agriculture & Livestock CHAIR: King, Tracy VICE-CHAIR: Anderson, Charles Doc González, Mary Springer, Jr., Drew Rinaldi, Matt Simpson, David Appropriations CHAIR: Otto, John VICE-CHAIR: Turner, Sylvester Burkett, Cindy Davis, Sarah Dukes, Dawnna Giddings, Helen Gonzales, Larry Howard, Donna Hughes, Bryan Márquez, Marisa McClendon, Ruth Jones Miles, Borris L. Price, Four Walle, Armando Ashby, Trent Bell, Jr., Cecil Bonnen, Greg Capriglione, Giovanni Koop, Linda Longoria, Oscar Miller, Rick Muñoz, Jr., Sergio Phelan, Dade Raney, John Rodriguez, Justin LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES Sheffield, J.D. VanDeaver, Gary Business & Industry CHAIR: Oliveira, René VICE-CHAIR: Simmons, Ron Collier, Nicole Fletcher, Allen Rinaldi, Matt Romero, Jr., Ramon Villalba, Jason Calendars CHAIR: Hunter, Todd VICE-CHAIR: Lucio III, Eddie Alonzo, Roberto Cook, Byron Davis, Sarah Geren, Charlie Giddings, Helen Harless, Patricia Huberty, Dan Johnson, Eric King, Ken Larson, Lyle Price, Four Riddle, Debbie Rodriguez, Eddie Corrections CHAIR: Murphy, Jim VICE-CHAIR: White, James Allen, Alma Keough, Mark Krause, Matt Tinderholt, Tony County Affairs CHAIR: Coleman, Garnet VICE-CHAIR: Farias, Joe Romero, Jr., Ramon Spitzer, Stuart Burrows, Dustin Stickland, Jonathan Tinderholt, Tony Wu, Gene Criminal Jurisprudence CHAIR: Herrero, Abel VICE-CHAIR: Moody, Joseph Simpson, David Canales, Terry Hunter, Todd Leach, Jeff Shaheen, Matt Culture, Recreation & Tourism CHAIR: Guillen, Ryan VICE-CHAIR: Dukes, Dawnna Larson, Lyle Smith, Wayne Frullo, John Márquez, Marisa Murr, Andrew Defense & Veterans Affairs CHAIR: King, Susan VICE-CHAIR: Frank, James Schaefer, Matt Aycock, Jimmie Don Blanco, César José Farias, Joe Shaheen, Matt Economic & Small Business Development CHAIR: Button, Angie Chen VICE-CHAIR: Johnson, Eric Anderson, Charles Doc Rodriguez, Eddie Vo, Hubert Faircloth, Wayne Isaac, Jason Metcalf, Will Villalba, Jason Elections CHAIR: Laubenberg, Jodie VICE-CHAIR: Goldman, Craig Fallon, Pat Israel, Celia Phelan, Dade Reynolds, Ron Schofield, Mike Energy Resources CHAIR: Darby, Drew VICE-CHAIR: Paddie, Chris Anchia, Rafael Craddick, Tom Herrero, Abel King, Phil Riddle, Debbie Canales, Terry Dale, Tony Keffer, Jim Landgraf, Brooks Meyer, Morgan Wu, Gene Environmental Regulation CHAIR: Morrison, Geanie VICE-CHAIR: Rodriguez, Eddie Kacal, Kyle Reynolds, Ron Thompson, Ed Isaac, Jason King, Ken King, Phil Lozano, J. M. General Investigating & Ethics CHAIR: Kuempel, John VICE-CHAIR: Collier, Nicole Davis, Sarah Hunter, Todd Larson, Lyle Moody, Joseph Turner, Chris Government Transparency & Operation CHAIR: Elkins, Gary VICE-CHAIR: Walle, Armando Leach, Jeff Turner, Scott Galindo, Rick Gonzales, Larry Gutierrez, Roland Higher Education CHAIR: Zerwas, John VICE-CHAIR: Howard, Donna Crownover, Myra Morrison, Geanie Zerwas, John Alonzo, Roberto Clardy, Travis Martinez, Armando Raney, John Turner, Chris Homeland Security & Public Safety CHAIR: Phillips, Larry VICE-CHAIR: Nevárez, Poncho Metcalf, Will White, Molly Burns, DeWayne Dale, Tony Johnson, Eric Moody, Joseph Wray, John House Administration CHAIR: Geren, Charlie VICE-CHAIR: Márquez, Marisa Allen, Alma Alonzo, Roberto Ashby, Trent Farney, Marsha Howard, Donna King, Ken Paddie, Chris Raney, John Vo, Hubert Human Services CHAIR: Raymond, Richard Peña VICE-CHAIR: Rose, Toni Klick, Stephanie Naishtat, Elliott Peña, Gilbert Keough, Mark King, Susan Price, Four Spitzer, Stuart Insurance CHAIR: Frullo, John VICE-CHAIR: Muñoz, Jr., Sergio Sheets, Kenneth Workman, Paul Bonnen, Greg Guerra, R.D. Bobby Meyer, Morgan Paul, Dennis Vo, Hubert International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs CHAIR: Anchia, Rafael VICE-CHAIR: Lozano, J. M. Koop, Linda Anderson, Rodney Burrows, Dustin Turner, Scott Investments & Financial Services CHAIR: Parker, Tan VICE-CHAIR: Longoria, Oscar Flynn, Dan Parker, Tan Capriglione, Giovanni Landgraf, Brooks Pickett, Joe Stephenson, Phil Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence CHAIR: Smithee, John VICE-CHAIR: Farrar, Jessica Hernandez, Ana Laubenberg, Jodie Raymond, Richard Peña Clardy, Travis Schofield, Mike Sheets, Kenneth Thompson, Senfronia Juvenile Justice & Family Issues CHAIR: Dutton, Jr., Harold VICE-CHAIR: Riddle, Debbie Rose, Toni White, James Hughes, Bryan Peña, Gilbert Sanford, Scott Land & Resource Management CHAIR: Deshotel, Joe VICE-CHAIR: Thompson, Ed Bell, Jr., Cecil Krause, Matt Lucio III, Eddie Sanford, Scott Licensing & Administrative Procedures CHAIR: Smith, Wayne VICE-CHAIR: Gutierrez, Roland Guillen, Ryan Thompson, Senfronia Geren, Charlie Goldman, Craig Kuempel, John Miles, Borris L. Miller, Doug Local & Consent Calendars CHAIR: Thompson, Senfronia VICE-CHAIR: Clardy, Travis Burkett, Cindy Capriglione, Giovanni Dale, Tony Gonzales, Larry Guerra, R.D. Bobby Gutierrez, Roland Isaac, Jason Muñoz, Jr., Sergio Nevárez, Poncho Sheets, Kenneth Springer, Jr., Drew Natural Resources CHAIR: Keffer, Jim VICE-CHAIR: Ashby, Trent Bonnen, Dennis King, Tracy Lucio III, Eddie Burns, DeWayne Frank, James Kacal, Kyle Larson, Lyle Nevárez, Poncho Workman, Paul Pensions CHAIR: Flynn, Dan VICE-CHAIR: Alonzo, Roberto Stephenson, Phil Hernandez, Ana Klick, Stephanie Paul, Dennis Rodriguez, Justin Public Education CHAIR: Aycock, Jimmie Don VICE-CHAIR: Allen, Alma Deshotel, Joe Dutton, Jr., Harold Farney, Marsha Bohac, Dwayne Galindo, Rick González, Mary Huberty, Dan King, Ken VanDeaver, Gary Public Health CHAIR: Crownover, Myra VICE-CHAIR: Naishtat, Elliott Coleman, Garnet Guerra, R.D. Bobby Sheffield, J.D. Zedler, William Bill Blanco, César José Collier, Nicole Davis, Sarah Miller, Rick Zerwas, John Redistricting CHAIR: Lozano, J. M. VICE-CHAIR: Davis, Yvonne Gonzales, Larry Hunter, Todd Keffer, Jim Oliveira, René Parker, Tan Pickett, Joe Thompson, Senfronia Rules & Resolutions CHAIR: McClendon, Ruth Jones VICE-CHAIR: Kacal, Kyle Alvarado, Carol Bell, Jr., Cecil Blanco, César José Button, Angie Chen Faircloth, Wayne Murr, Andrew Rodriguez, Justin Rose, Toni Sheffield, J.D. Special Purpose Districts CHAIR: Miller, Doug VICE-CHAIR: Alvarado, Carol Miller, Doug Stickland, Jonathan Faircloth, Wayne Fallon, Pat Martinez Fischer, Trey Zedler, William Bill State Affairs CHAIR: Cook, Byron VICE-CHAIR: Giddings, Helen Farrar, Jessica Menéndez, José Oliveira, René Smithee, John Turner, Sylvester Craddick, Tom Farney, Marsha Geren, Charlie Harless, Patricia Huberty, Dan Kuempel, John Transportation CHAIR: Pickett, Joe VICE-CHAIR: Martinez, Armando Davis, Yvonne Fletcher, Allen Martinez, Armando Phillips, Larry Pickett, Joe Burkett, Cindy Harless, Patricia Israel, Celia McClendon, Ruth Jones Menéndez, José Murr, Andrew Paddie, Chris Simmons, Ron Urban Affairs CHAIR: Alvarado, Carol VICE-CHAIR: Hunter, Todd Anderson, Rodney Elkins, Gary Schaefer, Matt White, Molly Ways & Means CHAIR: Bonnen, Dennis VICE-CHAIR: Davis, Yvonne Bohac, Dwayne Button, Angie Chen Murphy, Jim Turner, Chris Darby, Drew Martinez Fischer, Trey Parker, Tan Springer, Jr., Drew Wray, John

8 PO Box Austin, TX Prsrt Std U.S. Postage P A I D San Antonio, TX Permit No. 244 ON THE S THIS WEEK TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE: Local Control at Taxpayer Expense PAGE 3 INSIDE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS DIGEST AT PG 2 PG 4 Profiles in Citizen Leadership Last Exit To Servitude PG 6 Straus Again Empowers Democrats, Liberal Republicans PG 6 Support for Straus Yields No Gains For Liberty PG 4 HISD comes up short again PG 7 Legislative Committees: The List HIGHER EDUCATION Is a Democrat the Real Chair of Higher Ed? ESTABLISHMENT TO CONSERVATIVES: Play the Game or Get Played