Month: January 2023

OBSERVATIONS OF OPENING SESSION OF THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 10TH THROUGH THE 12th

I had never witnessed a state legislature in session.  I went because I wanted to see the State House of Representatives in their opening week.  This was not just for curiosity sake, but also because I was interested in seeing how this body will embrace the Republican Party platform as designed at our 2022 state convention. 

Of all the components of the platform, I wanted to see what would become of the most popular one, that being “NO DEMOCRAT COMMITTEE CHAIRS”!  Not only was this part of the Republican Party platform, but over 80% of Republican voters cast their ballot supporting this initiative in the mid-term election!  The politicians elected to the House are to represent the people who elected them, and logically this should be a shoe-in, but with the distinct possibility of Dade Phelan being voted in once again as Speaker of the House, his stance on this issue put a dark cloud on the possibility of getting rid of Democrat Committee Chairs!

Sure enough, Dade was once again elected speaker.  After talking to Representatives, it seems that it was a foregone conclusion that most Republicans and all Democrats would be voting for him, as a vote against would put that Representative in a position of being essentially powerless in the House for the next 2 years.  It is Phelan that picks committees and chairmen, and voting against him would be a death knell for anyone that would have the audacity to do so.

Next came proposals to modify the “Rules of the House”.  Representatives Slaton and Tinderholt put  up as many as 7 different modifications to eliminate Democrat Chairs for rules approval, but were summarily shot down by Phelan and his Parliamentarian. Representative Hayes, an attorney and a rules expert, argued to have them heard and voted on, but was also shot down.  These elected officials now show that they do not care about what their constituencies want, instead care about their power within the House, and very little else.  Only a few brave souls stood up for their voters, the rest went along with the easiest pathway to their perceived power. 

One thing did come out of the first week, and that was fines, censorship, and possible removal for Representatives that purposely flee the state to remover the quorum for voting.  The Democrats did that in the last session, going to Washington to eliminate conservative bills from passing. That will help the process, make it cleaner, but what a firestorm it created with the Democrats!  They were lined up at the speaking platform at the back of the room to complain on this proposal, and their arguments fell short, but they were passionate! 

I moved here from California for the freedom and fairness that Texas seemed to represent.  I learned early on that the same process that changed California for the worst, was being reenacted right here in Texas.  That is why my wife and I started a conservative group in my own city here, have worked on elections with truly conservative candidates, and have been fighting to wake up conservatives in Texas.  Texas is due for a rude awakening if people here do not see the threat. 

Get active people, or you will not like the consequences.  The BAD is coming, and you will not be able to hide from it!  Vote, get active supporting conservative causes, because there is an army of people and money from blue states that are actively trying to change the state that we love. 

DRAMA IN THE CAPITAL!

Well, without going through all the painful events of 2022, let’s just say, whew, glad that is over!  Now we are in the New Year, and drama envelops the House of Representatives.  At stake is the speaker ship of the House, 3rd in line for the Presidency.  Kevin McCarthy wants that position badly!  He has made promises to House members in order to find a path to victory, and he needs 218 votes to get him across the finish line.  As of today, on the 6th vote, he is 17 votes behind finding victory.  He just does not have the votes.  Why?  Because he is agnostic politically, and the grassroots conservatives in Congress want the Speaker to embrace Conservative values. 

Why do I say he is agnostic?  He votes by analyzing the political winds, not what his party stands for.  He is one of the people that put together “crisis legislation”, which is bankrupting us.  This is, in shorthand form why we never really get a budget, but at the last minute we see them passing a pork filled bill to keep the government from shutting down and defaulting on their financial responsibilities. He votes historically with Democrats on spending bills.  That is why Conservatives do not want him.  That is why we as citizens should not want him.

It is possible that he will redeem himself, but do not hold your breath!  He will not agree to the demands of the Freedom Caucus.  He will not push for a balanced budget.  He will not push for a negotiated budget ahead of time.  He will not agree to embracing Conservative values.  If he does, he has a slim chance of being Speaker, but that is a long-shot! 

We will have a Speaker in the next week or two.  It will most likely not be Kevin McCarthy, as he is part of the cabal that has taken our country down.  It will be someone that is smart, Conservative, and willing to take up the job.  The job is a hard one, not only do you direct bills in Congress, but you actually fund-raise and build coalitions within your ranks by continually politicking with your Caucus.  That is an 80+ hour a week job, and a thankless one at that!  That man will be praised and vilified at the same time, but a man that will be for the country and the citizens thereof.  He will, in a different way, be like George Washington, who never wanted to be President, but took the job because he was a patriot and knew that his country needed him.  Most likely, he will also step down after 2 terms as George Washington did, as that is the most that any politician needs to be in the same position of power. 

This is a great process!  For once, we are having a debate in Congress, as it was originally designed for!  The Establishment, both Democrats and Republicans, are pushing for Kevin McCarthy to be the Speaker.  A few real Conservative Republicans are saying “NOT ON MY DEAD BODY”!!!!  Dramatic for sure, but it gives all of us hope that we can eventually fix the mess that is Washington! Pray for the process, and understand this is a process that was intended for by our Founding Fathers!