Transportation, Death Panels, Smart Meters and Privacy..bills in Austin

Friday May 10th, 4:30pm
Here is the update of some bills remaining alive after this week’s deadlines. 2nd Amendment bills are not listed here.

TRANSPORTATION:
SB 1018 and SB 1730 – Both of these horrible bills are expansions of Texas transportation policy along the Trans Texas Corridor model. With more give-aways to foreign corporations, toll roads, eminent domain abuses, and all the rest. One of the bills (SB 1018) even allows for diversion of property taxes to toll projects.
SB 1018 will be heard on Tuesday, May 14 in the House Transportation committee. If you can attend, or know anyone who can, and will testify, your participation is critical in helping defeat this bill. At least, please call the entire chamber, beginning with the committee members:

Chair: Rep. Larry Phillips (512) 463-0297
Rep. Armando Martinez(512) 463-0530
Rep. Cindy Burkett (512) 463-0464
Rep. Yvonne Davis (512) 463-0598
Rep. Allen Fletcher (512) 463-0661
Rep. R. D. “Bobby” Guerra (512) 463-0578
Rep. Linda Harper-Brown (512) 463-0641
Rep. George Lavender (512) 463-0692
Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon (512) 463-0708
Rep. Joseph Pickett (512) 463-0596
Rep. Debbie Riddle (512) 463-0572

Find all email addresses here (select tab at top of page for list of Reps): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AhhwkjyRMQi6dE1NRXpwZmV6c0RNQ3FKYUZJamVUeWc&gid=3

SB 1730 – The other disastrous transportation bill, is currently in conference committee – meaning amendments and changes are being worked out.
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SMART METER:
SB 241 – Smart Meter bill – Oncor is working through chambers of commerce to spread untruths (http://texansagainstsmartmeters.com/?p=586)
SB 241 allows opt-out features. Please continue to contact ALL senators, starting with your own urging SUPPORT FOR this bill.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AhhwkjyRMQi6dE1NRXpwZmV6c0RNQ3FKYUZJamVUeWc&gid=2  (select tab at top of page for list of Senators)
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DEATH PANEL:
SB 303 – Will be heard on Monday, May 13, in the House Public Health Committee. Expectations for large crowds on both sides of this argument are expected. If you can possibly attend, please do so AND TESTIFY. We recommend voting AGAINST this bill. While offering some “improvements” over existing law, this bill has made some portions of end-of-life directives WORSE. Either way, we don’t think there’s ever a right way to do a wrong thing. Call the committee members AND YOUR OWN REP IN OPPOSITION.

House Committee on Public Health:
Chair: Rep. Lois W. Kolkhorst (512) 463-0600
Rep. Elliott Naishtat (512) 463-0668
Rep. Garnet Coleman (512) 463-0524
Rep. Nicole Collier (512) 463-0716
Rep. Philip Cortez (512) 463-0269
Rep. Sarah Davis (512) 463-0389
Rep. R. D. “Bobby” Guerra (512) 463-0578
Rep. Susan King (512) 463-0718
Rep. Jodie Laubenberg (512) 463-0186
Rep. J. D. Sheffield (512) 463-0628
Rep. Bill Zedler (512) 463-0374
Find all email addresses here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AhhwkjyRMQi6dE1NRXpwZmV6c0RNQ3FKYUZJamVUeWc&gid=3
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PRIVACY:
HB 912 – This bill offers protections against images taken from unmanned vehicles. We think the original bill has been watered down, but still recommend a vote FOR this bill as it goes to the Senate. Watch action in the yet unnamed Senate committee.

(….Thanks to Nancy for tracking this info!)