Pornography, Fiscal Discipline, and the Texas Legislature

Over at Texas Observer, Olivia Messer publishes an "expose" of alleged "sexism" in the Texas Legislature; the otherwise hysterical article contains one gem:

Some told of senators ogling women on the Senate floor or watching porn on iPads and on state-owned computers. [Emphasis Ours]

This helps explain the budget.

One of our recurring themes at Cahnman's Musings is that discipline in your sexual 'expression' begets discipline in finances, and that lack of discipline in sexual matters begets profligacy.

It should surprise no one that Texas Legislators who lack the discipline to refrain from viewing pornography on the chamber floor also lack the disciple to act as prudent stewards of the people's money....

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Tommy Williams' Sham Transportation "Hearing"

With transportation funding legislation having now failed three times this year (during the general session and two special sessions), one might think the 83rd Texas Legislature would solicit greater citizen input during their FOURTH attempt.

Nope.

According to the Texas Tribune:

After Dewhurst referred the bills to the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate recessed so the committee could briefly meet at the desk of Senate Finance Chairman Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands. In less than 3 minutes, the committee held a hearing on both bills. Nichols briefly explained both measures and Williams, surrounded by a small, standing group of Senators, legislative staffers and reporters, asked if there was any "public testimony." There was not. The committee then voted both bills to the Senate floor 10-1, with state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, voting no. [Emphasis ours]

 In other words, even after this transportation nonsense has failed three times, Republicans in the Texas Legislature are still trying to force it through without outside input; kudos to Senator Patrick for voting against this insult to the public.

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Joe Straus planning a 2015 tax increase?!?

So says David Dewhurst:

.@DavidHDewhurst says Straus has told senators he wants a transpo crisis in 2015 to increase pressure for taxes #mysa #hounews #txlege
— Peggy Fikac (@pfikac) July 29, 2013

In today's San Antonio Express-News, Peggy Fikac details Straus' approach:

“Legislators know that Texas needs a much more comprehensive approach to funding our growing state's growing transportation needs, and another 30-day special session will not change that,” Straus said. “Until members are free to consider real options, beyond simply shuffling taxes from one purpose to another, we will not find a responsible solution to this issue.”

 Of course, with this being Joe Straus, one should always be cautious with any talk of "real options."

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Livestream of the Bloodthirsty Texas Capitol Mob

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
 Psalm 23:4

Cahnman's Musings is currently holed up in an undisclosed location at the Texas Capitol.  We are not in danger in any way shape or form.  The Department of Public Safety has asked pro-lifers to stay away from the mob.  We might risk the mob in a little bit.  You can witness events outside the Texas Senate chamber here.

And yes, this is our 666th post!

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On Spiritual Deception at the Texas Capitol

^"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,^{[b] 45} that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet your brethren^[c] only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors^[d] do so? ⁴⁸ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."
Matthew 5:43-48

Last night, Cahnman's Musings was on the ground at the Texas State Capitol.  We arrived at 5:45 pm and left shortly before 1 am.  We were right outside the Texas Senate chamber when the closing events took place.

One observation stands out: heartbreaking spiritual deception.

The pro-life movement does a disservice to ourselves if we portray last night's mob as mind-numbed robots; they weren't.  That mob was thousands of individuals acting together out of their own free will.  And that's much, much worse.

The root cause of last night's activities was spiritual deception over sex.  Regular readers know this is a topic we've discussed extensively.  In March 2012, we outlined the problem.  Last November, we identified a solution.  As we wrote:

Free stuff is the symptom, promiscuity is the disease.  People voted to maintain their sex lives.

 Substitute 'abortion' for 'free stuff' and 'showed up at the Capitol' for 'voted' and you've got a fitting description of last night's crowd.

And that's heartbreaking.

There's only one solution, and that's prayer.  A critical mass of (mostly, but not exclusively, younger) Texans believe the United States Constitution endows them with a right to consequence free sex.  They've bought the lie of 'sexual freedom' hook, line, and sinker.  And that's tragic.  But last night's events were a political manifestation of a spiritual problem, and it requires a spiritual solution.

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Wendy Davis Does Not Speak for Me

From Konni Burton, Wendy Davis's likely 2014 opponent:

Right now on the Senate floor, Wendy Davis is filibustering a bill that, if passed, will protect those among us that cannot speak for themselves. Those that do not have a voice. The innocent. The unborn.

Wendy Davis is holding that bill hostage so that it does not pass. She wants the world to think she's doing this to stand for "women" and "families". That, my friends, is the height of hypocrisy. So typical of a politician - to use something like this for political gain.

I say... enough. Wendy Davis does NOT speak for me.

Pass it on.

#WendyDavisdoesnotspeakforme

 Amen.

You can donate to Konni's campaign here.

-----

In other Tarrant County news related to this filibuster, several conservative members of the Tarrant County House delegation released the following statement this morning:

TARRANT CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS RESPOND TO WENDY DAVIS’S REQUEST

“Delivering 84,610 blank letters representing those letters that will never be written”

(Austin, TX) In response to Senator Wendy Davis’s request for citizens to send in their stories for her to read during her filibuster on the Senate floor, Conservative Representatives from Tarrant County decided to answer her call Tuesday afternoon by delivering 84,610 blank sheets of paper. Each piece represented a child’s life that was ended in 2011, the most recent year of abortion statistics in Texas.

Texas State Representative Jonathan Stickland commented on the letters, saying “It is my hope and prayer  that Senator Davis would recognize all of the letters that will never be written due to the tragedy of abortion today.”

Referring to the ambulatory services center portion of the legislation, Representative Klick said, “Senate Bill 5 raises the standard of health care for Texas women, but Senator Davis claims it is somehow a ‘war on women’.  Tarrant County constituents know better.  This is simply a political stunt aimed at the far left of the Democratic Party.”

Representative Capriglione said, “I will never meet thousands of my potential constituents - men and women who, instead of serving our great state, have been taken by the tragedy of abortion.”

Representative Krause explained the significance of the letters saying, “As a father of three, the thought of how many innocent pre-born children are denied the most basic right to life every year in Texas is both alarming and heartbreaking. It is my sincerest belief that every life is unique and special, and it is our duty as Americans to defend and advocate for the most fragile and helpless of our society."

Representative Zedler called on Senator Davis saying, “Wendy Davis does not represent the voters of Tarrant County by her actions today. She’s playing political games with the lives of Texans who deserve protection.” 

####

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Wendy Davis Actually Said This

Wendy Davis has been filibustering for four hours and she's already saying absurd things; from the Facebook page of Concerned Women for America's Associate State Director Michelle Smith:

"I use to be so proud to be a Texan, but now if you've got a uterus you've got to leave that state?"

 This thing still has eight and a half hours to go; pray for Wendy Davis to have a repentant soul and overflowing bladder.

And Pray it in Jesus' name.

Amen.

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Testing YOUR Leadership: An Open Letter to Lt. Governor David Dewhurst

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9

"For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb. 
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;^[a]
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well."
Psalm 139:13-14

"So we may boldly say:

“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”

Hebrews 13:6 

The Honorable David Dewhurst.

Dear Mr. Lieutenant Governor,

SB 5 is coming back to the Texas Senate.  Obviously, Wendy Davis and the Democrats are going to attempt a filibuster.  This bill must pass, and it's up to you.

 The Texas Legislature loves to pass the buck.  That's not acceptable on this bill.  Babies lives are at stake.

The entrenched power of business-as-usual has been the great frustration of the 83rd Texas Legislature.  While the causes are many, no one in leadership has stood up.  This is true for the Governor and it's true for you as well.

Here's your chance.  The business as usual forces have lined up against this bill.  Will you defend babies or will you make typical Texas Legislature excuses?!?

 SB 5 needs to reach the Governor's desk.  You have the votes.  Make it happen; no excuses.

Sincerely,

Adam Cahn

Austin, TX

June 24, 2013

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Status of the #TXLEGE Special Session

Today's Austin American-Statesman has an update on the special session:

The special session started May 27 with predictions from legislative leaders that they could wrap up their one piece of business -- redistricting -- in as little as three days.  But rather than simply approve court-drawn maps for Congress and the Texas House, legislators decided to consider changes to the district boundaries and to solicit input from Texans in hearings across the state.  Now, the initial optimism has given way to grumbling about the slow pace and predictions that the session could drag out for most, if not all, of its maximum 30 days.

And we don't know if the Governor will add anything:

 [Lt. Gov. David] Dewhurst has asked Gov. Rick Perry to include guns [sic] laws, tougher abortion restrictions, windstorm insurance changes, and other topics to the agenda.  Conservative House Republicans have asked for other items.  And prosecutors are asking that a new loophole in the state's death penalty law covering 17-year-olds be plugged.

 Only Perry can add subjects to the agenda.  So far, he has remained non-committal, although he hinted to reporters last week that he would want some indication there is consensus on an issue before he added it.

So far, there appears to be no consensus on much of anything.  And, with the clock ticking, an increasing number of lawmakers are openly doubting that bills on other subjects could go through the process -- filing, public hearings, and floor votes in both chambers -- by the time the session ends.

Cahnman's Musings will have more to say on this topic next week

 

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Separated at Birth?!?

Texas State Senator Tommy Williams or New Jersey Governor Chris Christie?!?

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

7)

Answer:
Williams: 1,2,5
Christie: 3,4,6,7

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OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT: Konni Burton for Texas Senate!!!

Cahnman's Musings wasn't planning to jump into Election 2014 before sine die.  Legislative outcomes during final week of the General session and the upcoming Special session(s) remain our top state level priority.  But it's Friday and this one's a no-brainer.

Konni Burton has worked behind the scenes the past few election cycles.  She helped lead the revolution that swept the Tarrant County GOP during 2012.  She also supported Ted Cruz in 2011, back when doing so was (to put it mildly!) controversial.

Konni Burton has been an advocate of school choice and an opponent of educrats for a long time.  In post CSCOPE Texas, with the school finance lawsuit expected to come to a head in 2014, an irreconcilable clash of visions is brewing.  Cahnman's Musings encourages Konni Burton to focus on the moral case FOR school choice while simultaneously mocking educrats and their financial enablers.

That being said, another aspect of Konni Burton's platform holds special appeal:

Work to reduce the state’s dependence on federal dollars.

 This is VERY important, and it highlights a concern that drives everything Cahnman's Musings does at the state level.  40% of Texas' Budget comes from Washington.  This is dangerous.  Washington is not a reliable business partner.  Cahnman's Musings is pleased to see Konni Burton make this issue a priority.

While the case FOR Konni Burton is strong enough on it's own, Cahnman's Musings must also comment about her opponent, incumbent State Senator Wendy Davis (D - Educrats).  In 2011, Wendy Davis held taxpayers hostage to flush more money down the rat-hole of public education.  In addition, the relationship between Wendy Davis' law practice and her votes in the Texas Senate are questionable at best.  Wendy Davis uses a self-righteous mask to cover crony corporatist double dealing.  It's just as easy to oppose Wendy Davis as it is to support Konni Burton.

An irreconcilable clash of visions over education is brewing in Texas.  In one corner are parents, children, and taxpayers who want options and a reasonable rate of return on their investment.  In the other are a group of self-serving bureaucrats protecting their boondoggle.  Konni Burton is the former; Wendy Davis is the latter.  For this reason, Cahnman's Musings unapologetically and unconditionally endorses Konni Burton for Texas Senate!!!

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Ramparts 360: Texas Senate Does It's Job, House Drags it's feet

A Must Read Piece from Ramparts 360; re-posted in full:

Texas Senate Does Its Job, House Reps Drag Their Feet

by Sibyl West | May 14, 2013 | Citizen Report

“This is probably the first session I’ve seen in a long time where the Texas Senate has been far more conservative than the House. They’ve [the Senate] managed to pass meaningful legislation that conservatives support while the House has twiddled their thumbs, waiting for time to run out.”

- Eliza Vielma, AFP Legislative Affairs & New Media

What’s up at the TxLege? Well there doesn’t seem to be much sense of urgency in the house. Yet. They’re still in the tease-the-reporters phase. Over at Trailblazers we find this:

“Asked if he was keeping all his options open, Pitts downplayed the referral of the bill by Straus’ office to Appropriations. ‘Uh, they didn’t refer a lot of Senate bills until now,’ he said.” [Pitts is saying Straus didn't refer the bills until now.]

Continue reading Pitts won’t say if House will punt water-fund issue to voters

Senators are very concerned about the House’s slow pace with only 13 days left in the 83rd Legislative Session. It’s now or never to push the House to do the job we sent them there to do and get some of these important bills heard.

Details – Great Conservative Senate Bills  that the House needs to push to pass:

• SB 2 – Expanding Charter School Cap – This bill was placed on the General State Calendar for this week, but just got taken off the agenda and is back in calendars again.
• SB 7 – Health Care Savings - Description here; currently sitting in calendars
• SB 8 – Targets Medicaid Fraud; sitting in calendars
• SB 11 – Drug testing before receiving benefits; Hasn’t been heard in House Human Services yet
• SB 12 – Allowing admission of more evidence in a trial re: sexual offenses committed against a child – Background here; sitting in calendars
• SB 21 – Drug screening before receiving unemployment benefits; sitting in calendars
• SB 149 – Clarifies and Strengthens conflict of interest provisions at Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT);  made it out of committee, headed to calendars.
• SB 150 – Paying down debt of CPRIT through their collected royalties, etc to help alleviate taxpayer cost; sitting in House Public Health
• SB 1263 – Parent Trigger (Ed Reform); sitting in House Public Education Committee
• SB 1406 – CSCOPE Oversight; Placed on General State Calendar for tomorrow (5/15)
• SB 1458 – Revisions to Teacher Retirement System of Texas law in relation to benefits; sitting in calendars
• SB 1655 – Financial Relief for Electric Customers; Relating to authorizing the Public Utility Commission of Texas to direct the comptroller to return the unappropriated balance of the system benefit fund to retail electric customers; sitting in House State Affairs

I hope you’ve got your rep on speed dial. Let’s get to work. Click here to find out who represents you.

Cahnman's Musings has intended to put together something like this for awhile; thanks to Ramparts360 for doing so.

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ACTION ALERT: YES on SB 101 and SJR 10

Following the biggest conservative victory of the 83rd #TXLEGE in the Texas House on Wednesday, Conservatives now need the Texas Senate to act on the following two pieces of legislation:

• SB 101 -- This is the corresponding legislation to the bill the Texas House passed on Wednesday; "Relating to the constitutional limit on the rate of growth of appropriations of revenue."

• SJR 10 -- This will place a strict spending cap in the state Constitution; "Proposing a constitutional amendment concerning the limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations of revenue."

These two pieces of legislation are major components of the Texas Budget Compact, which Lt. Governor David Dewhurst endorsed last year.

Concerned citizens should contact BOTH Lt. Governor David Dewhurst AND their own Senator and respectfully request a vote on SB 101 and SJR 10 on the floor of the Texas Senate.

Lt. Governor David Dewhurst:

(512) 463-0001

Facebook: David Dewhurst

Twitter: @DavidHDewhurst

Texans can contact their individual Senator here.

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ACTION ALERT: NO on SB 33; the Texas Death Panel Empowerment Act

Wow:

Via Texas Eagle Forum re: SB 303 by: Dr. Bob Deuell
"The Texas Medical Association (TMA) is supporting this bad bill: Texas SB 303.

Despite opposition by numerous pro-patient activists, the Texas Senate Health & Human Services Committee passed SB 303 this week. This sets up a showdown on the floor of the Texas Senate, with patient rights in Texas hospitals hanging in the balance.

SB 303 allows hospitals to impose "do not resuscitate" orders and cause their patients' deaths without the consent of patients or their families.

The death panels predicted by Sarah Palin become a reality in this bill, as it authorizes hospitals to set up and control decisions to end patients' lives. As soon as Medicare or Medicaid payments on a patient expire, hospitals can insist on pulling the plug, even when patients could recover. Hospitals will try to coerce physicians to do what the hospitals want, not what is best for the patient.

Whom should Texans thank for this abomination? The Texas Hospital Association and its minion, the Texas Medical Association, insist on passage of this bill, and Senators Jane Nelson, Joan Huffman, and Bob Deuell push the THA and TMA agenda as they do every session.

But there are 31 Senators and this bill can still be blocked and defeated. Hospitals and the TMA have less influence on the floor of the Senate than in the Health Committee. Please contact your Senator and urge him or her to stand up for patients, and join the growing list of opponents to this death panel bill, SB 303.”

Please ask your Senator to VOTE NO on SB 303, the death panel bill."

 Texas Right to Life has more here.

 Contact YOUR Texas Senator here.

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Don't Overreact to Texas House Medicaid Shenanigans

Sigh, of course they did.

Last night, during the budget debate, Texas House Republicans played a dangerous game with Medicaid expansion.  Thankfully, they backed down before they did any damage.  The true colors of the Republican caucus in the Texas State House are, yet again, on display to anyone paying attention.

That being said, there is too much doom and gloom today; while many are guilty, this hysterical post from Erick Erickson at Redstate takes the cake:

Late Thursday afternoon, the Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives took the first step toward capitulation on the Obamacare Medicaid expansion. A few hours later, the amendment directing the Texas state healthcare bureaucracy to start preparing for the expansion was reconsidered and rescinded after a handful of conservatives scrambled to rescue the situation — but the fact that it passed at all is a wake-up call.

Here’s the bottom line: Texas is closer to caving on the Obamacare Medicaid expansion than people realize. It’s no surprise that Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, elected with the votes of Democrats and liberal Republicans, would let this happen.

.....

There’s no excuse for this happening in Texas. It’s time for Texas conservatives — and their conservative Governor — to wake up and take the reins before the 83rd Texas Legislative session spirals completely out of control.

Everyone needs to calm down.  Nothing new happened last night.  We've known that Joe Straus sucks for quite some time.  That Texas House Republicans are a bunch of cowards also isn't news.  While the Texas Senate and the Governor leave us cautiously optimistic, conservatives have known we would have to fight tooth and nail in the House since the beginning of the session.

So what, pray tell, is new here?!?

Also, for the record, Rick Perry outlined his Medicaid alternative at CPAC.

People need to pace themselves.  The real work of the session happens in May.  Wasting energy on a tempest in an April teapot won't accomplish anything.  It's a beautiful day in Austin.  Enjoy your weekend.

Update: Erickson has backed off from the Ledge.

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TheBlazeTV does CSCOPE

 Glenn Beck devoted his entire television program to an expose on CSCOPE today.

First up, David Barton explains the origins of CSCOPE in the Texas Textbook wars of 3-4 years ago:



HIGHLIGHTS:

• Since SBOE monitors curriculum, they call CSCOPE 'instructional material.'

• Teaching globalism, not American Exceptionalism.

• Taking out: Nathan Hale, Liberty Bell, Christopher Columbus' faith.

• Replacing with: Respect and fairness, Dolores Huerta.

• Replacing George Washington with Kay Bailey Hutchinson (yeah, wrap your mind around that one!)

• Emphasis on Contemporary over History.

• Refused to teach abundance alongside scarcity: "The other members considered all resources scarce."

Next, two teachers talk about CSCOPE from the Inside:



HIGHLIGHTS:

• CSCOPE sets up a system where educrats control everything.

• Shocked by the mediocrity of the content.

• Teachers are constantly monitored by educrats.

• Teachers have been fired for speaking out to school boards.

• "There's tremendous coercion."

Finally, Texas Senator Dan Patrick, chair of the Senate Education committee updates the state of play in his committee's ongoing investigation of CSCOPE:



HIGHLIGHTS:

• Talks about the runaround he's gotten: CSCOPE formed the shell company to hide everything.

• "We don't have the votes" to shut down CSCOPE.

• Apple will probably put CSCOPE out of business.

You can read the Blaze's write-up of this episode here.

Finally, if you don't yet get theBlazeTV, you can get it here.

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