It's time to head to Austin!

Important hearings scheduled the week of March 11, 2013, for certain bills of
interest to liberty minded patriots.

NOTE: Hearings are sometimes canceled and/or rescheduled.  Do not assume
any hearing will be scheduled or rescheduled with significant notice.  This
is politics.

For more information call the Capitol switchboard:

Texas State Capitol

(512) 463-4630   (8-5 PM)

1100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX

Click here for the Texas Legislature's website.



Monday, March 11:

Ways & Means, 2:00pm, E2.014
HB 78, Simpson, "Relating to the exemption from the sales and use tax for

certain coins and precious metals."

Tuesday, March 12:

Criminal Jurisprudence, 10:30am, E2.016
HB 184, Dutton, "Relating to the penalties for possession of one ounce or
less of marihuana or a synthetic cannabinoid."

Wednesday, March 13:

Public Health, 8:00am, E2.012
HB 740, Crownover, "Relating to newborn screening for congenital heart
defects."

Urban Affairs, 10:30am, E2.016
HB 1299, Stickland, "Relating to municipal regulation of electric stun
guns, knives, and personal defense sprays."

State Affairs, 1:00pm, JHR 140
HB 649, Stickland, "Relating to tax reimbursement for businesses that
refuse to comply with certain federal health care coverage requirements
based solely on the religious convictions of the owners of the businesses;
authorizing tax refunds and credits."

Federalism & Fiscal Responsibility, Select, 2:00pm, E2.036
HB 553, Otto, "Relating to firearms and the preservation of the Second
Amendment to the United States Constitution; providing penalties."
HB 627, Krause, "Relating to exempting the intrastate manufacture of a
firearm, a firearm accessory, or ammunition from federal regulation."
HB 872, Laubenberg, "Relating to exempting the intrastate manufacture of a
firearm, a firearm accessory, or ammunition from federal regulation."
HB 928, Krause, "Relating to the enforcement of certain federal laws
regulating firearms, firearm accessories, and firearm ammunition within the
State of Texas."
HB 1049, Laubenberg, "Relating to the enforcement of certain federal laws
regulating firearms, firearm accessories, and firearm ammunition within the
State of Texas."
HB 1076, Toth, "Relating to certain firearms, firearm accessories and

firearm ammunition within the State of Texas; providing an exemption from
federal regulation and providing penalties."

HB 1314, Creighton, "Relating to the unlawful seizure of a firearm by a
governmental officer or employee; providing penalties."

Thursday, March 14:

Homeland Security & Public Safety, 8:00am, E2.010
HB 434, Riddle, "Relating to the persons authorized to take a blood
specimen from a vehicle operator to test for alcohol concentration or other
intoxicating substances."
HB 435, Turner, "Relating to the authority of a peace officer to take a
blood specimen from the operator of a motor vehicle or watercraft to test
for alcohol concentration or the presence of other intoxicating
substances."
HB 1658, King, "Relating to requiring the arrest and collection of a breath
or blood specimen of persons operating a motor vehicle or watercraft while
intoxicated under certain circumstances."
HB 1038, Eiland, "Relating to the creation of DNA records for the DNA
database system."
HB 972, Fletcher, "Relating to the carrying of concealed handguns on the
campuses of and certain other locations associated with institutions of
higher education."
HB 1313, Creighton, "Relating to the carrying of concealed handguns on
certain premises of or locations associated with schools or institutions of
higher education."
HB 1078, Kleinschmidt, "Relating to the carrying of concealed handguns on

certain premises of or locations associated with institutions of higher
education."

HB 706, Capriglione, "Relating to the carrying of concealed handguns on
certain premises of or locations associated with schools or institutions of
higher education."
HB 1009, Villalba, "Relating to the creation of a new category of law
enforcement officer who shall be designated a school marshal, the training
and appointment of certain employees of a school district or
open-enrollment charter school as school marshals, and the rights,
restrictions, limitations, and responsibilities of school marshals;
authorizing the imposition of a fee."
HB 1298, Stickland, "Relating to the carrying of concealed handguns by
certain license holders on certain locations associated with a public or
private school or educational institution."
HB 1896, King, "Relating to firearm training and the authority of certain
employees of a school district or open-enrollment charter school to carry
or possess a handgun on certain school premises; authorizing a fee."
HB 700, Lavender, "Relating to the authority of a person who is licensed to

carry a handgun to openly carry the handgun; providing penalties."

HB 1194, Paddie, "Relating to the authority of a person who is licensed to
carry a handgun to openly carry the handgun; providing penalties."

Remember, our state legislature only meets once every two years. 

Now is the time to show up and make our voices heard.

For Liberty,

Debbie McKee
Campaign for Liberty, Texas


P.S.

NOTE: Hearings are sometimes canceled and/or rescheduled.  Do not assume
any hearing will be scheduled or rescheduled with significant notice.  This
is politics.

For more information call the Capitol switchboard:

Texas State Capitol

(512) 463-4630   (8-5 PM)

1100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX

Click here for the Texas Legislature's website.

Property rights battle! Stand with the landowner in Paris, Texas this Friday!

Should a privately owned foreign company be allowed to seize land from Texas landowners to use for their private profit?

This is a landmark case, it could decide whether or not companies such as TransCanada can exercise the "right of eminent domain" in Texas.

Join us Friday at noon if you can (hearing starts at 1:30 pm) at the Lamar county courthouse 119 North Main to stand with the landowner. We MUST NOT be outnumbered by union workers hired by TransCanada to show up in force! They did that in Houston and Austin for the hearings. Bused in lots of them to try to shut us out...... This hearing concerns the temporary restraining order the landowner filed against TransCanada. It was standing room only last Friday, so come early to get a seat!

Do you own land? Or know others who do? Take a stand for ALL of us and our children....

Debbie McKee (a notice below with link to sign a petition and an article from the Star-Telegram at the bottom of the email)

from IndyTexans:
Thanks to many of you who moved so quickly to support Julia Trigg Crawford and family. Their efforts to maintain a temporary restraining order on TransCanada's trenching of their property in NE Texas for the Keystone XL pipeline, without any federal nor state approval, is still in place. BUT the hearing continues this Friday in Paris.

CONTINUATION HEARING on Temporary Restraining Order: THIS coming Friday, Feb. 24, Paris, Texas, 1:30 pm. There will be no protest, but we hope some of you can help fill the courtroom of Lamar County Courthouse, 119 North Main- Paris, Texas. We will listen and hope that the court does the right thing.

No matter where you live in Texas, please click on this link to sign the petition calling for state of Texas public hearings on eminent domain abuse and then Facebook it to your Texas friends and family -- or just forward this entire email to them with a note asking them to sign.

Note: A legal defense fund is getting established for the Crawford family. Watch for those details as their full case comes to trial in April.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February 17th post:
http://netxconnect.blogspot.com/2012/02/protesting-transcanadakeystone-pipeline.html

Protesting the TransCanada/Keystone Pipeline & Eminent Domain in Paris, Texas

A group of us were in Paris, Texas to protest the fraudulent use of eminent domain to take privately owned land for the profit of a private company. TransCanada and the Keystone pipeline. Come with us on April 19th for the pre-trial hearing!!! We are going to court folks!!!! WOOO HOOO!!!! We had a great mix of Independents, Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Occupy Dallas, Tea Party, etc. etc.... We MUST come together to fight these things!!! (Sorry about the wind noise in the video. It was cold and windy!)

Part one: link
embedded:


Part two: link
embedded:


Texas becomes a battleground in Keystone XL pipeline controversy

dmontgomery@star-telegram.com (Dave Montgomery)

Posted: 02/22/2012 1:37 PM

AUSTIN -- The politically volatile Keystone XL pipeline is becoming embroiled in a widening controversy in Texas as supporters tout the promise of jobs and other economic benefits while increasingly vocal opponents say the project would trample property rights and endanger water supplies in East Texas.

Although President Barack Obama rejected the application by TransCanada, the pipeline company says it plans to resubmit its proposal to transport heavy crude oil from Canada to refineries in Texas. The project holds $2 billion of economic potential for Texas, more than for any other state, according to a survey commissioned by TransCanada.

Its high-profile supporters include Gov. Rick Perry and Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, all Republicans. Perry made the pipeline an element of his failed presidential bid by blasting Obama's rejection of the application, accusing the president of squandering the chance to create jobs.

"There is not a politician in Texas in their right mind -- I don't care if you're a Democrat or Republican -- that doesn't know the importance of this to all of Texas," said Bill McCoy, president of the Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce. At least two Port Arthur refineries, Motiva Enterprises and Valero, would be on the receiving end of the 1,661-mile pipeline.

Opposition campaign

But landowners, environmentalists and property rights advocates have begun stepping forward in an impassioned campaign against the 376 miles of pipeline that would stretch through 18 counties in East Texas.

Opponents accuse TransCanada of using bullying tactics to seize land rights for the project and say a spill could pollute vital water resources in drought-ridden Texas.

Sign-wielding protesters gathered outside a court hearing in Paris on Friday to support Julia Trigg Crawford in her efforts to block TransCanada from digging on a 600-acre farm that has been in her family since 1948.

Crawford, who manages the farm, says the pipeline threatens Bois d'Arc Creek, which flows through the Northeast Texas property, as well as Native American archaeological remains.

"My hope is that our state leaders will see that their landowners are being bullied," Crawford told the Star-Telegram earlier in the week.

The opposition campaign has also re-energized a property rights coalition that flexed its muscle during the last decade to upend one of Perry's most ambitious projects, the Trans-Texas Corridor.

The project was originally envisioned as a $145 billion-plus supernetwork of tollways, rails and utility lines. It dissolved after it was attacked as a land grab that would encroach on thousands of private acres. The involvement of a foreign contractor, Spain-based Cintra, further angered opponents.

"We certainly have shades of the corridor fight resurrecting themselves," said Wharton businesswoman Debra Medina, who ran against Perry in the 2010 gubernatorial race and is a leading opponent of the Keystone project.

"You've got a foreign company. You've got a private property battle. If I know Texans like I think I do, I think the landowners will win," Medina said.

The project would complement an existing TransCanada pipeline in the United States, doubling the system's total capacity to 1.1 million barrels of crude a day into U.S. markets, the company said. The 1,661-mile, 36-inch, $7 billion pipeline would start in Alberta, Canada, and stretch through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

Obama turned down the application over concerns about the route's potential impact on the environmentally sensitive Nebraska Sandhills, but he left the door open for a new application. Republicans accused the president of turning his back on a project that supporters say would create more than 100,000 jobs.

Shawn Howard, a TransCanada spokesman, said the company plans to resubmit the application to reroute the pipeline away from the sand hills, but the rest of the route, including the Texas portion, would remain the same.

Waco economist Ray Perryman, in a TransCanada-sponsored study that critics dispute, says the pipeline would create at least 50,000 jobs in Texas, by far the most of any pipeline state. Perryman also predicts $41 million in state government revenue and $7.6 million for local governments during construction.

Water worries

But many of those in or near the proposed route say the uncertainties and potential hazards outweigh the positives. In Reklaw, population 266, Mayor Harlan Crawford says fighting the pipeline has become his principal mission in a job otherwise filled with the predictable litany of small-town complaints, such as stray dogs and water problems.

The community, which Crawford, 77, describes as "just a blink in the road," was founded in 1890. Settlers wanted the name Walker but, learning that it was taken, opted for the backward spelling. Many current inhabitants are aging retirees.

After learning that the pipeline would run near the town, residents joined forces with Gallatin, another small farming community, to form the equivalent of a regional compact that would give them more power to challenge the pipeline. One big concern for the alliance is the potential contamination of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, which lies underneath 60 counties.

"This is some nasty stuff, and we look to get it stopped," Crawford said.

Others say TransCanada representatives also applied not-so-subtle pressure when they began acquiring access to property to build the pipeline.

"They were pushy and would intimidate you and said you had to sign this thing," said Eleanor Fairchild, who lives near Winnsboro in Wood County. Like others, she said, she "got into the fight" out of concern over possible water contamination.

"We can live without oil," she said, "but we cannot live without water."

Michael Bishop, a retired Marine who owns 20 acres in Nacogdoches County, hired an attorney to fight the project after learning that the route would cut through his orchard and garden.

"It's going to totally disrupt my life as I know it," he said. "Is it fair for a foreign-owned company to come over here and take land for their private use and their personal gain?"

Eminent domain

As with the Trans-Texas Corridor, the pipeline dispute seems certain to reopen a legislative debate over eminent domain powers, which governmental entities and so-called common carriers such as utilities and pipelines use to acquire land for public projects after compensating the owner.

TransCanada has used eminent domain to acquire a number of tracts, but critics of the company are challenging that authority, citing a 2011 Texas Supreme Court decision that makes it harder for pipelines to meet the definition of a common carrier.

Entities with eminent domain powers typically first seek to negotiate with a landowner. If they can't agree, the entity sues to take the land. The courts also appoint a three-member commission to set a price.

Howard, the TransCanada spokesman, called eminent domain proceedings "an absolute last resort" for the company and said "we do everything we can" to reach a voluntary agreement instead of going to court. He also said the company uses the property as a right of way for the pipeline and does not take ownership.

The company has obtained 99 percent of the easements needed to build the pipeline in Texas, with only 19 tracts outstanding, he said.

Medina, who now heads We Texans, a conservative advocacy group, says she has documented at least 89 lawsuits in which property owners were taken to court. She also said others have been forced to negotiate because they couldn't afford a legal battle.

Dave Montgomery,

512-476-4294

Twitter: @daveymontgomery

Our trip to Austin, May 10th 2011

(Click here for a little video that we made on the way home)
Testimony before the House committee hearing on SB9:

http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=42175

We made a last minute, whirlwind trip to Austin, I had to wait and see if donations came in to pay for the trip! I'm so glad we went. Besides speaking at the hearing we were able to meet with others working for our freedom and visit some legislator's offices.

After testifying I was approached by a member of Sen. Williams staff who assured me that those terrible REAL ID elements had been removed from the bill. I am distressed that they were even there in the first place - introduced and co-sponsored by Republicans. It's in the Rep party of Texas platform - they are against REAL ID. Some may say we were overreacting, but we have learned from past experience that anything can happen up until the eleventh hour and fifty-ninth minute. We have seen it with TxDOT and the Trans Texas Corridor (not dead and renamed) bills, amendments slipped in at the end that totally voided all our hard work. If they even thought about the implementation of REAL ID and random check points (this has come up in other legislation) then we needed to cry foul as loudly as possible - only then do we get their attention and help stem the tide of tyranny.

A gentleman spoke who came here from Ethiopia in the early 1940's, he fought for the US in WW2. He said he came to live in a free country and we aren't free anymore. He was very passionate and emotional as you can imagine. He is the perfect example of how others can see what's happened here, but too many of us native born Americans have become accustomed to it little by little like the frog in the kettle, we haven't noticed how hot the water has become.

If we don't stand up and say NO - the state as well as local and federal government will continue to bleed us dry and control us more and more, by littles.

Here are my rough draft comments I distributed to the committee members: I didn't have a chance to say much when testifying, I was rushed and interrupted by the chair, oh well, I did what I could. (I put these down quickly while getting ready to leave Monday night, didn't have time to polish and fine tune.)

Several reasons I oppose any legislation that brings us further into compliance with the Federal REAL ID ACT.

1. Unfunded mandates, the people can't take anymore increases in fees/taxes, etc.

2. Unlikely to help curb illegal immigration with our porous borders and welfare/public services/citizenship incentives, mainly it will serve to hassle and harass law abiding people.

3. Collecting finger prints of law abiding people is an invasion of privacy (I know this has been done for several years, and I protest it).

4. Check points for any reason other than road blocks for specific crimes/criminal suspects ie: man hunt - UNCONSTITUTIONAL

5. GPS tracking without court order - UNCONSTITUTIONAL

6. Federalizing state databases UNCONSTITUTIONAL. It is the duty of the state government to protect her citizens from the Federal government. Whether it's REAL ID, no child left behind or mandatory health care.

7. When will Texas stand up to DC and say NO to these encroachments? Do you realize that we are becoming a more and more controlled society? We are looking more and more like the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany. We aren't free. If you aren't part of the solution then you are part of the problem. You work for us, not the Federal government. You work FOR us, we don't work for you. In the testimony before the Senate hearing an assistant to the director of DPS/License bureau referred to us as customers. We aren't customers if we have no choice in whether we do business with you. We sure aren't customers if we can go to jail for refusing to do business with you. After the War for Independence can you imagine George Washington or Thomas Jefferson being stopped and checked for their papers or obtaining a license to ride their horse to town or church?

Yes, we live in very different times, but I put it to you that many of the evils we face are a result of government actions and more government actions will not solve the underlying problems. It's the classic Hegelian Dialectic. Cause a problem, provoke a reaction, and provide the solution. The real result is more and more tyranny.

Campaign for Liberty has 18,988 members in Texas. The overwhelming majority of our members oppose this legislation.

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." ~Benjamin Franklin

Interesting tibbits from our visit to Austin:

http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=42177

One fellow named John came to testify. He was wearing a t-shirt that said "TYRANNY - enough is enough". While going through security he made some comment about the technology used these days, the trooper didn't care for what he said, I suppose. He was detained and had his photo taken. He was late to join us and told us what happened. After we were done with the hearing we went to file a complaint with the DPS office there in the building. We traipsed into the supervisor's office - about a dozen of us. There is a video of it, I hope to see it posted somewhere soon. It was quite interesting, especially the fact that there was an "assault rifle" (I'm guessing that's what it was) propped up in a corner just inches from where my daughter ended up standing. (we were crowded in and some of us were in the doorway).

Another fellow with us was given a hard time by a trooper at the security check point over his hair style. One of our group later made the comment (paraphrased) "How do you like that? Coming into to your own house and being insulted by your hired doorman? " How inappropriate is that?

It was an interesting day.

For Liberty,

Debbie McKee

Letter to the Editor About Redistricting (with info on submitting your testimony)

My letter to the editor published in the Greenville Herald Banner 10.03.10 with additional notes AND info on submitting YOUR testimonies for the public record.

I attended the Texas Redistricting committee hearing last week in Richardson. I testified, saying that although I'm a member or organizer for several different grassroots groups I was there to represent myself and I felt confident that I was speaking for millions of Texans.

1. I urged them to be fair, independent and non-partisan, do what is best for Texas. 40% of Texans consider themselves politically independent.

2. I urged them to get this worked out before the session starts and to not let this issue bog it down. There are many vital issues to address and we don't want valuable time wasted fighting over this.

3. I urged them to put blindfolds on and do NOTHING to protect ANY seats. Too many have been in office for far too long, and if their district gets redrawn, they can run for office like anyone else. I urged them to be open and transparent about the entire process, no back room deals.

I neglected to mention one issue, frankly because I couldn't imagine that it WAS an issue. The longer I sat (I was there for over 4 hours) and listened to comments from committee members (half of whom were not present at any given time), and the testimonies, the more I realized that it WAS an issue. Carving out districts for "communities of interest". There are some genuinely racist folks in ALL groups, but I truly believe the vast majority of Texans are color blind. We look past skin color or last name and judge people based on their character.

The voting rights act was mentioned as the legal basis for this practice. If the lines are drawn fairly and impartially to keep cities and towns together as much as possible, no one can claim they are being disenfranchised.

I really don't understand how any one group thinks it should have some special benefits from or access to the government. Our representatives should represent ALL of us. Doing what is best for an entire county or city will benefit ALL the residents. If government was limited to its proper role, there wouldn't be such a fight to get our snouts in the trough.

What if I insisted that as a homeschooling family they should carve out districts that represent us - so that we can have our own representatives in office- how ridiculous does that sound? It's just as ludicrous to think that your skin or heritage warrants that type of treatment. Groups don't have rights; individuals in groups have individual rights.

Do what's best for Texas! Who cares if the Feds think we should draw lines differently? As long as it's fair and impartial there should be no complaint. It's been over 30 years since it was enacted This KEEPS the wounds open, keeps us divided - let's heal, come together, work together, grow up and get over it. As some testifying put it, "we work together, go to school together, shop together, play together, it's time to move on".

Additional notes not included in letter to the editor:

Rep. Marc Veasey, Ft. Worth, hurt his cause and his people when he exhibited such a disgraceful, arrogant and unprofessional attitude. I was shocked to watch how he disrespected people with his body language, facial expressions and words. When Barbara Harless spoke about the Constitution and the members' oaths they had taken, he covered his face, turned away and began typing on a keyboard. He was the acting chair at that time. It was utterly disgraceful.

The fact that half the time half the committee wasn't there and that so many didn't even seem to pay attention to the people who took time out of their busy lives, took time from work to come and testify was very disappointing and disturbing. THEY are our elected public SERVANTS, we hired them to do a job and we expect them to take it seriously.

Do the right thing and follow the simple Golden Rule.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To enter your testimony into the public record without attending a hearing in person: (you can do this with any committee, just find the clerk listed on the committee web page.) http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/MnuCommittees.aspx

Mail your testimony to the clerk of the committee:

Gregory Watson

Clerk of the Committee on Redistricting

Texas House of Representatives

Suite E2.142

POB 2910

Austin, Texas 78768