For Everyone – Page 6 – North Texas Citizens Lobby

Licensed Open Carry – SB 348

Last week, Senator Estes introduced SB 348. This legislation aims to create open carry laws from our existing concealed handgun license laws. The result will provide the option for CHL holders to carry concealed or openly. The ‘concealed’ will be dropped wherever currently used, so a Concealed Handgun License would become a Handgun License.

Many second amendment advocates believe requiring a license to carry a gun violates second amendment, and would like to do away with licensing. This is commonly known as ‘Constitutional Carry’. (for example Senator Huffines‘ bill SB 342)

Win Rates vs Liberal-Conservative Ranking

This chart shows the win rate of the Texas Representatives compared to their liberal-conservative score. Blue lines are Democrats, red are Republicans, with green being people who voted for Scott Turner. (source: Mark P. Jones on twitter)

A few personal observations: Continue reading “Win Rates vs Liberal-Conservative Ranking”

Contact List – Senate – Texas 84th

Contact list for the Senate of the Texas 84th legislative session (2015)

NAME	ROOM	EMAIL	PHONE	COMMITTEE	TWITTER
Sen. Bettencourt, Paul	E1.712	Paul.Bettencourt@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0107	Education, Finance, Higher Education, Intergovernmental,
Sen. Birdwell, Brian	E1.706	brian.birdwell@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0122	Natural Resources, Nominations, State Affairs, Veteran Affairs, Border Security	@SenatorBirdwell
Sen. Burton, Konni	GE.7	Konni.Burton@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0110	Criminal Justice, Higher Education, Nominations, Veteran Affairs	@KonniBurton
Sen. Campbell, Donna	3E.8	donna.campbell@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0125	Admin, Education, Health, Intergovernmental, Veteran Affairs	@DonnaCampbellTX
Sen. Creighton, Brandon	E1.606	brandon.creighton@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0104	Agriculture, Business, Criminal Justice, State Affairs,	@SenCreighton
Sen. Ellis, Rodney	3E.6	rodney.ellis@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0113	Business, State Affairs, Transportation,	@rodneyellis
Sen. Eltife, Kevin	3E.16	kevin.eltife@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0101	Admin, Business, Finance,
Sen. Estes, Craig	3E.18	craig.estes@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0130	Health, Natural Resources, Nominations, State Affairs,	@EstesForTexas
Sen. Fraser, Troy	1E.12	troy.fraser@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0124	Natural Resources, Nominations, State Affairs, Transportation,
Sen. Garcia, Sylvia R.	3E.12	Sylvia.garcia@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0106	Education, Intergovernmental, Transportation, Veteran Affairs	@SenatorSylvia
Sen. Hall, Bob	E1.808	Bob.Hall@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0102	Agriculture, Natural Resources, Transportation, Veteran Affairs, Border Security
Sen. Hancock, Kelly	1E.9	kelly.hancock@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0109	Admin, Finance, Natural Resources, Transportation,	@KHancock4TX
Sen. Hinojosa, Juan “Chuy”	3E.10	juan.hinojosa@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0120	Agriculture, Criminal Justice, Finance, Natural Resources,	@TxChuy
Sen. Huffines, Donald	E1.608	Donald.Huffines@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0116	Admin, Business, Education, Transportation,	@DonHuffines
Sen. Huffman, Joan	1E.15	joan.huffman@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0117	Criminal Justice, Finance, State Affairs,	@joanhuffman
Sen. Kolkhorst, Lois W.	3E.2	lois.kolkhorst@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0118	Agriculture, Education, Finance, Health, Transportation,	@loiskolkhorst
Sen. Lucio, Eddie, Jr.	3S.5	eddie.lucio@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0127	Education, Intergovernmental, Natural Resources, Veteran Affairs, Border Security	@SenatorLucio
Sen. Nelson, Jane	1E.5	jane.nelson@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0112	Finance, State Affairs,	@SenJaneNelson
Sen. Nichols, Robert	E1.704	robert.nichols@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0103	Finance, Intergovernmental, Natural Resources, Transportation,
Sen. Perry, Charles	E1.810		(512) 463-0128	Agriculture, Criminal Justice, Health, Higher Education,	@electcharles
Sen. Rodríguez, José	E1.610	jose.rodriguez@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0129	Agriculture, Education, Health, Nominations, Veteran Affairs	@Josefortexas
Sen. Schwertner, Charles	E1.806	charles.schwertner@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0105	Admin, Business, Finance, Health, State Affairs,	@DrSchwertner
Sen. Seliger, Kel	GE.4	kel.seliger@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0131	Business, Education, Finance, Higher Education, Natural Resources,	@kseliger
Sen. Taylor, Larry	GE.5	larry.taylor@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0111	Business,Education, Finance, Intergovernmental,	@Taylor4Senate
Sen. Taylor, Van	E1.708		(512) 463-0108	Education, Health, Nominations, Transportation,	@VanTaylorTX
Sen. Uresti, Carlos	4E.2	carlos.uresti@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0119	Admin, Finance, Health, Natural Resources,	@CarlosUresti
Sen. Van de Putte, Leticia	3S.3	leticia.vandeputte@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0126	Criminal Justice, Higher Education, Intergovernmental,	@leticiavdp
Sen. Watson, Kirk	E1.804	kirk.watson@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0114	Business, Finance, Higher Education, Nominations,	@KirkPWatson
Sen. West, Royce	1E.3	royce.west@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0123	Admin, Education, Finance, Higher Education,	@SenRoyceWest
Sen. Whitmire, John	1E.13	john.whitmire@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0115	Business, Criminal Justice, Finance,	@whitmire_john
Sen. Zaffirini, Judith	1E.14	judith.zaffirini@senate.state.tx.us	(512) 463-0121	Agriculture, Health, Natural Resources, State Affairs,	@JudithZaffirini

Two Gun Nullification Bills Filed Today by DFW Representatives

Two DFW area representatives filed strong second-amendment protection bills today:

Matt Krause, (R-Ft. Worth) filed House Bill 422 (HB422). This bill would require that Texas refuse to enforce almost all federal gun control measures enacted at anytime – past, present or future.

Craig Goldman (R-Ft. Worth) filed House Bill 413 (HB413). This bill declares all federal restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms to be “invalid” and “not enforceable” within the state of Texas.

These bills will need strong grassroots support to pass.

A Coincidence? 3 of 5 Pledge Letters are Identical

When the 84th Texas House of Representatives opens for business at noon on Tuesday January 13, 2015 the first order of business will be to elect one member (out of 150 members) to serve as the presiding officer of the Texas House; the House Speaker (a.k.a. the gatekeeper of legislation to be passed). A simple majority vote is required (76 of the 150 members).

Is it a coincidence that within the past week, 42 of the 98 Republicans in the House have signed pledge letters to vote for 3-term incumbent Rep. Joe Straus as Speaker and not for Rep. Scott Turner? Turner announced his intent to run for Speaker against the incumbent Straus this summer. One could suppose these recent pledge letters are a coincidence.

But how much of a coincidence could it be that three of five pledge letters have identical sentences in the publicly released statements…: Continue reading “A Coincidence? 3 of 5 Pledge Letters are Identical”