Category: 2013 – 83rd Regular

HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMMITTEE Public Hearing in DALLAS

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TIME & DATE: 10:00 AM, Thursday, September 25, 2014

PLACE: Dallas, Texas
CHAIR: Sen. Huffman and Rep. Thompson, Senfronia

The Joint Interim Committee to Study Human Trafficking will hear invited and public testimony on Thursday, September 25th at 10:00 a.m. at
Dallas Police Department
Jack Evans Police Headquarters
Donald Stafford Conference Room
1400 S. Lamar Street
Dallas, Texas 75215

The Committee will:

Hear testimony on services and resources available to victims of human trafficking; and

Discuss current efforts in North Texas region to combat human trafficking.

Public testimony will be limited to 2 minutes per person.

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/83R/schedules/html/C9002014092510001.HTM

…find more legislative public hearings: https://ntcl.org/resources/calendar/

DPS – More Smoke & Mirrors; by quoting 3 words

(updated 9-10-14 @ 3:00pm)

Smoke & mirrors can fool the best citizen activist but, sifting through the smoke and splintered facts with patience can uncover the truth. Taking a statement out of context, and quoting one section of the Texas Transportation Code can claim just about anything a director of the Department of Public Safety may wish to claim, but the truth is found when the entire Code is read, especially when legislative intent is examined.

The current Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety was allowed to DPS fingerprint scannerwrite a brief article in a Dallas paper on Sept. 3, 2014, attempting to “clear up any misconceptions related to the legality of the expanded fingerprinting process within Texas driver’s license system”, claiming DPS authority by quoting three words from the Texas Transportation Code; “thumbprints or fingerprints”. Continue reading “DPS – More Smoke & Mirrors; by quoting 3 words”

YOU DECIDE-Is DPS Violating Texas Law?

Since January of 2014, the Texas Department of Public Service (a very powerful bureaucracy) has been collecting fingerprints of all 10 digits to obtain an original driver license, renewal of driver license, or a duplicate driver license. This change also applies to the photo I.D. cards obtained through DPS.5-5-05 HSE Chamber-2nd reading

Texas law reads:
(b) The application must include:(1) the thumbprints of the applicant or, if thumbprints cannot be taken, the index fingerprints of the applicant

YOU DECIDE whether the legislative intent was to extend the thumbprint collection to all 10 digits. Watch the videos… Continue reading “YOU DECIDE-Is DPS Violating Texas Law?”

9 Proposed Amendments – Put Through the Constitutional Test

Here is a taxpayer’s view of the intended and unintended consequences of the efforts of our noble Austin legislators.Constitution

First, one must read the proposed legislation because the brief explanatory statement of the nature of each proposed amendment listed on the ballot is not even close to addressing what is in the amendment. If a proposed amendment has enabling legislation (many do), the details of the amendment with taxing authority, penalties for violations, and other changes/additions to other state statutes may be found there. In short, you have to read the amendment/enabling bill to find out what’s in it and often times we have to pass the amendment/bill to find out what’s in it. On some of the proposed amendments, the enabling legislation is silent (deficient) in certain areas. Where there is silence in the enabling legislation, once the amendment is passed then it may be up to the courts to decide the intent of the author(s) of the amendment or enabling legislation. This is unfortunate but true.

Second, one should understand the Purpose and Consequences of laws.

Third, one should put each proposed amendment to the 3 question test of “constitutionality”. Continue reading “9 Proposed Amendments – Put Through the Constitutional Test”

All Laws Must Pass the Constitutional Test

All legislative matters, the conduct and actions of government officials, and the enforced ordinances and laws which restrict human activity, should pass the three question test:Constitutional Test

1.) Is it “constitutional”?
(Supports the constitutional republic)

2.) Is there a need?
(Do all the People have a need for and benefit from the proposed government intervention?)

3.) Affordability?
(Can the People afford it? Is the cost equal and uniform?)

Continue reading “All Laws Must Pass the Constitutional Test”

ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT THE TEXAS 84TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

Dennis Scharp
Dennis Scharp

Are you satisfied with Texas’ 83rd legislative session?  Perhaps a better question would be:  Were you aware of Texas’ 83rd legislative session?  Did you follow it?  Did you participate (contact your legislators, go to Austin in support of or against pieces of legislation) during the legislative session?

Positives during the 83rd legislative session: Continue reading “ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT THE TEXAS 84TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION?”

Transportation, PPPs, TEF, and Our Appetite for Imports

Gov. Perry’s press release announced that TEXAS taxpayers are providing $800,000 through the Texas Enterprise Fund to close a deal with Fritz Industries, Inc. in Greenville, TX.

COULD THIS HAVE ANYTHING to do with the “Blacklands Corridor Feasibility Study”, proposing to build the new multimodal (includes toll road option) transportation facility along or near the Northeast Texas Rural Rail Transportation District (NETEX) right-of-way, from IH-30 in Greenville (Hunt County), through Collin County, to the President George Bush Turnpike in Dallas County? By the way, NETEX already signed a lease agreement on Jan 9, 2013 with a private company named Cotton Belt Turnpike LP (public private partnership) to do such a thing, so this study is a “cart before the horse” study. Continue reading “Transportation, PPPs, TEF, and Our Appetite for Imports”

Nov 5, 2013…Nine Proposed TEXAS Constitutional Amendments

Hot off the press….
Nine (9) propositions will appear on the Nov 5th ballot, in the attempt to amend our state constitution  [this has been done every 2 years since 1879] 
Does Austin want more of your savings account?

Below, you can find 2 state legislative produced documents that outline the 9 propositions that you will be asked to vote on this Nov 5th. Before you read, please understand who is directing the narrative on these 2 publications:
HRO Steering Committee and the Governing Body of the TX Lege Council
These are the very people that wrote the bills and managed to pass them. As you read, you will see more details are attributed to the “supporters” than the “opponents”. Read them very carefully and do some research. It’s only your money they are spending. Continue reading “Nov 5, 2013…Nine Proposed TEXAS Constitutional Amendments”

Fiscal Responsibility Scores for North Texas Senators

S172 Senate The Fiscal Responsibility Index for the 2013 Texas Legislature was published today.  Here is an excerpt of the full list showing the Texas Senators in the north Texas area.

See the entire list, more details, and clickable profiles for each legislator at Fiscal Responsibility Index or download the details in the pdf document.  The index is “a measurement of how lawmakers perform on size and role of government issues. Texans for Fiscal Responsibility uses exemplar votes on core budget and free enterprise issues that demonstrate legislators’ governing philosophy.”   Continue reading “Fiscal Responsibility Scores for North Texas Senators”

Fiscal Responsibility Scores for North Texas Representatives

H309 House DFW H309 House Tarrant Dallas The Fiscal Responsibility Index for the 2013 Texas Legislature was published today.  Here is an excerpt of the full list showing the Texas Representatives in the north Texas area.

See the entire list, more details, and clickable profiles for each legislator at Fiscal Responsibility Index or download the details in the pdf document.  The index is “a measurement of how lawmakers perform on size and role of government issues. Texans for Fiscal Responsibility uses exemplar votes on core budget and free enterprise issues that demonstrate legislators’ governing philosophy.”  Continue reading “Fiscal Responsibility Scores for North Texas Representatives”