2011 TEA Party Caucus Legislative Update

2011 TEA Party Caucus Legislative Update

For the first time in Texas history, concerned citizens and members from various Tea
Party groups came to Austin on a regular basis to be part of this year's Legislative
process. Due to the hard work of many legislators and members of the Tea Party and
due to the leadership of the Caucus Chairman, Senator Dan Patrick, the results for this
legislative session were very positive. As promised by the Tea Party Caucus, here is a
brief summary of this year's legislative achievements.

First, it is important to state that the Texas House has delivered on important priorities
for all Texans. At the beginning of the session, the Tea Party groups got together in
Austin and compiled a list of priorities they wanted the Tea Party Caucus to pursue this
legislative session. The Tea Party Caucus is pleased to anno unce that we believe we
have succeeded in accomplishing many of the agenda items presented to us at the
beginning of the session. This list included:

1. Balanced Budget
2. No new Taxes / Broad-based Fees
3. Voter ID / Photo ID
4. Election Integrity Reforms
5. Redistricting
6. 10th Amendment
7. Gun rights
8. Sanctuary Cities
9. Sonogram
10. Eminent Domain
11. School Finance (discuss)

LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1. Budget
HB 1 - 2012-13 State Budget

From the beginning, the House was committed to these principles in crafting the
biennial budget.
• No new taxes and no new Rainy Day Fund in next biennium
• Limited government
• Hold the line on spending
• Limited use of the Rainy Day Fund (do the conservative thing and pay our
debts in the current biennium)

The work continues, but you can be assured that the principles remain intact.
This week, we took a big step forward with the budget agreement from the
Senate and House conferees of $80.6 billion in General Revenue on House Bill 1

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2011 TEA Party Caucus Legislative Update

Our budget writers have brought forward a budget that is disciplined, fiscally
conservative and that lives within our means. The agreement that we reached
with the Senate today funds nursing homes, our public schools and universities,
and provides financial aid for college students while keeping substantial revenue
in reserves and avoiding any new taxes.

2. New Taxes
NO tax bills were passed by the House. The 2012-13 state budget will rely
on no new taxes.

Broad-based Fees - NO broad based fees were approved by the House

3. Voter ID
CSSB 14 - Voter ID
Attempts to further ensure the integrity of the election process by addressing
requirements to vote, including presenting a form of photo identification.

4. Election Reforms
Additional ways to protect the integrity of our elections

CSHB 174 (Placed on S Local & Uncontested Calendar 5/24)

Amends current law relating to the cancellation of the voter registration and to the
eligibility to vote of persons who are deceased or not citizens of the United
States.

HB 2817 (Placed on S Intent Calendar 5/20)

Makes various changes to the Election Code with regard to state and local
election process. These changes address frequently asked questions to and from
election officials and will result in more efficient elections.

HB 2589 (Referred to S State Affairs 5/13)

Seeks to prevent voter intimidation and voter fraud by increasing the penalty for a
volunteer deputy registrar who knowingly provides the registrar applications
containing false information.

HB 2190 (S Committee Report Printed & Distributed 5/20)

Amends current law relating to the deadlines by which provisional ballots must be
processed and the state canvass must be conducted for certain elections.

HB 804 (Referred to S State Affairs 5/16)

Creates a separate offense for a noncitizen who votes or attempts to vote and a
related affirmative defense.

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2011 TEA Party Caucus Legislative Update

5. Redistricting
Passed a fair and legal House map, SBOE map and Senate map - first time in
twenty years that the House and Senate maps have been passed duri ng regular
session.

6. 10th Amendment
HCR 50 - State sovereignty (passed House; out of Senate committee)
HCR 18 - Federal Balanced Budget (on the way to the Governor)
HCR 94 - Repeal of Dodd/Frank Wall Street Reform Act (passed House)
HB 5 - Health Care compact (passed House; out of Senate committee)
HB 2510 - Light Bulb Bill (passed House; out of Senate committee)

7. Gun Rights
SB 321 Guns on private property - "parking lot bill". (passed House and Senate -
in conference committee)

8. Immigration Reform
HB 12 -- (S Reported w/out amendments from Senate Transportation and
Homeland Security)

Sanctuary Cities
• HB 12 addresses concern that some cities are “sanctuary cities” for illegal
immigrants by prohibiting the enforcement of state and federal immigration
laws.
• Prohibit local governmental entities from enacting policies or rules that
would restrict the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
• HB 12 leaves to the discretion of the arresting officer to ask about
immigration status after a lawful arrest or lawful detention based on a
suspected or actual state/local law violation.
• HB 12 prohibits a governing body of a municipality, county, or special
district or any of its employees from adopting a policy that would restrict
the enforcement of state and federal laws relating to immigration, including
the federal Immigration and Nationality Act.
• Allows the Texas attorney general to file a petition for a writ of mandamus
or other equitable relief in a district court of a county in which the local
entity is located in order to compel the entity to comply with this law.

HB 197 (Referred to S Transportation and Homeland Security)

Requires a person applying for any state license to provide documentation of
citizenship.

HB 875 (Referred to Senate Transportation and Homeland Security)

Requires a sheriff or other officer in charge of a correctional facility to make a
reasonable effort to verify the immigration status of a prisoner charged with a
felony or intoxication offense before they are release on bail.

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2011 TEA Party Caucus Legislative Update

HB 892 (Referred to Senate Transportation and Homeland Security)

Creates an offense transport (smuggling) of an illegal alien.

9. Sonogram
HB 15 (Signed by the Governor)
Prior to obtaining an abortion, as part of the informed consent process, and
except in the case of a medical emergency:
• a sonogram must be performed;
• the practitioner must describe the development of the embryo or fetus;
and
• a woman must be given the option to view the sonogram and hear the
heartbeat.

10. Eminent Domain

CSSB 18 (Signed by the Governor)

Makes changes to provision in state law relating to eminent domain and
condemnation in an attempt to reform various aspects of the power of eminent
domain and condemnation in Texas.

These achievements were largely made possible due to the direct participation of
the various Tea Party groups from around the state. The fact that many of the
members got personally involved in the legislative process captured the attention
of many legislators and obviously had a direct impact in how the legislators
voted.

Now that the session is over, it is highly recommended that each person stay
politically engaged and informed about the candidates and the issues. The next
election is 18 months away.

Prepared by Raul Torres, Secretary of Tea Party Caucus