Election 2014

NEJM admits “ObamaCare” isn’t “Affordable” without subsidies

The New England Journal of Medicine has some free articles you might want to read this week. (I’m afraid you will have to register – will you let me know if you do?)
The first asserts that we’re stuck with ObamaCare – but it calls ObamaCare, “ObamaCare.” The author, Jonathan Oberlander, Ph.D, also acknowledges that the only way the ACA (the Affordable Care Act) is “Affordable” is if the Federal government hands out cash subsidies. In fact, if the Supreme Court rules that the language of the law forbids subsidies in States that don’t have their own exchanges,

Here’s an excerpt:
“The calendar cannot be turned back to 2009. The ACA has made some irreversible changes in U.S. health care.

“Even if they have unified control of the federal government in 2017, Republicans will confront the reality that Obamacare has redefined U.S. health policy and the terms of the debate. In practice, future repeal legislation would probably not scrap the whole ACA, but rather remove specific provisions and remake other policies to conform to a more conservative vision. A Republican President could, through waivers and other means, undermine Obamacare in important ways, but he or she could not eliminate it.

“The Supreme Court’s decision to hear a case (King v. Burwell) challenging the legality of providing premium subsidies in federal exchanges is crucial to the GOP precisely because the chances for legislative repeal of Obamacare are so remote. The Court can seriously damage the ACA in a way that congressional Republicans cannot. A decision to prohibit subsidies for helping the uninsured to purchase coverage in the 34 states that have federally run exchanges would destabilize the health insurance marketplaces and unravel the individual and employer mandates in those states, exacerbating the already large disparities in insurance coverage among states. It would cause both a sizable increase in the uninsured population and sizable losses for the insurance industry and medical care providers as millions of Americans lost their health coverage.  Such a ruling could, in turn, produce enormous pressures on affected states and Congress to adopt measures to stave off those outcomes. Yet the ACA’s shaky political foundations would complicate policymakers’ responses, and Obamacare’s opponents would be emboldened to resist any fixes. A ruling against federal subsidies could have a spillover effect, dampening the chances for Medicaid expansion in some states.“ (Emphasis mine)

 

The ACA appears to be on track to destroy the financing of health care in our country, whether or not it is fully implemented.

Dreams of 2017

What “executive priorities” would you like to see implemented by Executive Order of the new Republican President, beginning January 20, 2017?

Even as a “dream,” it’s not easy to write all this. It’s easy to see the objections and possible pitfalls. I need help. I suggest not enforcing any law that can’t be justified in 2 to 3  sentences, using “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” and a plain reading of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. No “penumbras,” no nuances. Make it plain and transparent enough that even Gruber’s criteria of  “the stupidity of the American voters” is met.

Same 90 day deadline Obama set for his immigration fiat?

Here’s a short list:

• Close the border.  Should we deport the “over-stayers” and those on Obama’s “deferment” lists?
• The IRS should phase out, shut down, beginning with Obamacare enforcement.
• The Secret Service will limit it’s scope to protection of dignitaries.
• Tell the EPA, OSHA, EEOC, HHS, Education Energy and others to plan on shutting down as States take over their functions – the way the States want to do those functions.
• Foreign aid should be held until Congress makes new, individual appropriations.
• Any aide that goes to abortion-favorable services stops immediately.
• ?????

Congressional Majorities – Historic “swing”

Take a look at what the New York Times calls the swing. (Their site has more detail than my little pic.)

The majorities have been too large and too long on the Dem’s side. It’s time for more conservative, small government, pro-family, pro-life, and pro-security government from the Right.  We’ve made a good first step

November 2014 Election Day Voting Places

Vote Republican!!

2014 COMAL COUNTY ELECTION DAY POLLING PLACES
OPEN FROM 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
PRECINCT
101 Comal County Senior Citizens Center 655 Landa, New Braunfels
102 Bulverde/Spring Branch Library 131 Bulverde Crossing, Bulverde
103 Freedom Fellowship Church 410 Oak Run Point, New Braunfels
104 Tye Preston Memorial Library 16311 South Access Rd., Canyon Lake
105 Lakeside Golf Club 405 Watts Lane, Canyon Lake
106 Guadalupe Valley Tel. Coop 36101 FM 3159, New Braunfels
201 Peace Lutheran Church 1147 S. Walnut, New Braunfels
202 John Paul II Catholic High School 6720 FM 482, New Braunfels
203 Mission Valley Bowling Club 2311 Hwy 46, New Braunfels
204 Bulverde Community Center 1747 E. Ammann Rd, Bulverde
205 Jay F. Feibelman Garden Ridge 9500 Municipal Parkway, Garden Ridge
Community Center
206 Johnson Ranch Elementary School 30501 Johnson Way @ FM 1863, Bulverde
301 Westside Community Center 2932 S. IH 35, New Braunfels
302 St. Paul Lutheran Church 181 S. Santa Clara Ave., New Braunfels
303 New Braunfels Library 700 E. Common, New Braunfels
304 Comal County Goodwin Campus 1297 Church Hill Dr., New Braunfels
305 New Braunfels Christian Church 734 N. Loop 337, New Braunfels
401 EdenHill Communities 631 Lakeview Blvd, New Braunfels
402 Church in the Valley 14181 FM 306 at Canyon City
403 Fischer Store School Community Center 12400 FM 32, Fischer
404 Cross Lutheran Church 2171 E. Common St., New Braunfels
405 Spring Branch Baptist Church 11755 Hwy 281 N, Spring Branch
406 Faith United Church of Christ 970 Loop 337, New Braunfels

Millitary Pathway to Citizenship: Thank you for your service

Expedited pathway to citizenship for legal residents since the Revolutionary War. 7000 non-residents given citizenship for service in the Korean War and over 20,000 in World War II. And 90,000 naturalized from 2002-2013, since President Bush signed the July 3, 2002 Executive Order 13269.

Isn’t this exactly the sort of immigration that we want to encourage: men and women willing to lay down their lives for our Nation?

Comal County Precinct 4 Sample Ballot 2014

Don’t forget your photo ID!

Comal County Precinct 3 Sample Ballot 2014

Don’t forget your photo ID!

Comal County Precinct 2 Sample Ballot

Don’t forget your picture ID!

2014 Sample Ballot Comal County Precinct 1

Comal County 2014 General Election Early Voting Locations

Early voting for the 2014 General Election is October 20 – 31 — Take your picture ID and vote Republican!!!

Here are the Comal County Early Voting Locations:

The Insider – FeatureID 383

Read this article for a history (you probably don’t know about)  of the many attempts and failures in healthcare reform over the last 20+ years.

In 2001, Rep. Bill Thomas (R-Calif.), chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, brought a tax credit bill to the House floor and passed it over objections of congressional liberals favoring Medicaid expansion. In the Senate, however, Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) blocked the tax credit bill twice. Nonetheless, as a political matter, conservatives were playing offense on health care policy for the first time in memory. While small, the proposal was a psychological victory for those who wanted to fix health care with more free markets.

via The Insider – FeatureID 383.

False “leaders” call for martial law

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/50158577

Occasionally speaking of herself in the third person, Joann Fleming, the self-proclaimed head of an East Texas “Tea Party” group, led a press conference at the Texas State Capitol on Wednesday. The Fleming gang demanded that Governor Rick Perry and Attorney General Greg Abbott order a Special Session of the Texas Legislature (cost: well over $1 Million) in order to spend the Rainy Day Fund (cost: up to $4 Billion) and that the Governor declare martial law (cost: immeasurable).

Fleming (“. . . if you’re like me, your brain will be screaming to you . . .”) shrilly  stated that the Federal government has no right to tax Texans “except when they have declared war or a state of emergency” and that “Maybe we can’t count on our State officials to protect us, either.” Calling Texas a “sanctuary State,” Fleming ignored the fact that Governor Perry “alienated some potential supporters after his push to ban so-called “sanctuary cities” in Texas.”

 
Failed 2014 Republican Congressional candidate, Katrina Pierson, who once called  a US Marine Captain “deformed” because of his war injuries, took the stage to complain that 50% of Texas’ budget comes from Federal dollars! Where does she think “federal dollars” come from?  In fact, through 2010, Texas was a “donor State.  Since then, Texas received a bit more than Texas taxpayers sent to Washington – if you count Medicare, Social Security and the money that supports the military in our State. Sounds like pay back to me.

Another member of the gang, a lawyer, said that the Governor (and Attorney General?) had been getting bad legal advice. When asked what difference this plan would make, since Texas can’t legally deport illegal aliens, the lawyer suggested that the Governor should ignore the law, order the Guard and DPS to deport illegal aliens, and bypass Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He said that the worst that could happen is that President Barack Obama and Holder could sue.

Article 1, Section 10 of the United States Constitution:

“No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.”

 
Under the usual circumstances, the National Guard is under the command of the President of the United States, rather than control of the Governor. As explained by the (far-right wing) Red State last year, the National Guard is not the “militia” of the several States. Instead, the men and women serving in the Guard are considered ‘troops.”

 
It is true that in times of “imminent danger” the Governor may declare a state of emergency and call up the Guard for duty within the State. You may even remember that in 2010, then-US Attorney General Napolitano told Governor Perry that if he wasn’t happy with the 250 troops sent to the Texas border, he was welcome to call them up himself and pay for it.  Unfortunately, the current US Attorney General is Eric Holder.

The emotional demand by one woman, Alice Linahan of Women on the Wall, that Governor Perry and General Abbott “Show us that you’re actually different from Obama,” sums up the cognizant dissonance of the entire press conference.  The gang seems to have no understanding of how quickly President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder ignore the law, at the same moment that they condemn it.

Wider impact of Hobby Lobby ruling? : SCOTUSblog

Remember, no one is forbidden to buy anything.  However, the US Government will not force people or their companies to pay for devices and drugs they believe are immoral.

 

The Affordable Care Act regulations issued by the federal government, however, required twenty different preventive methods or services, including sterilization and pregnancy counseling. Depending upon how lower courts now interpret the Hobby Lobby decision, companies that fit within the Court’s “closely held company” bracket and offer religious objections could be spared from having to provide any of those services through their employee health plans.

In three cases in which a federal appeals court had rejected the challenges to the mandate, the new Supreme Court orders told those courts to reconsider, applying Monday’s decision. The companies or their owners had taken those petitions to the Court.

On three petitions filed by the federal government, involving appeals court rulings rejecting the challenges by corporations. their owners, or both, the Justices simply denied review.

via Wider impact of Hobby Lobby ruling? : SCOTUSblog.

Leaked Lib Megadonor Doc: ‘Fundamentally Change Our Current Political System’ | Media Research Center

Groups profiled by the Democracy Alliance, with funding amounts. The number of Democracy Alliance partners supporting each organization is in parentheses.

America Votes: $3.16 million (24 partners supporting)

American Constitution Society $1.19 million (18 partners supporting)

Black Civic Engagement Fund: $900.000 (3 partners supporting)

Brennan Center for Justice: $2.6 million (32 partners supporting)

Catalist, LLC: $1.18 million (9 partners supporting)

Center for American Progress: $3.3 million (26 partners supporting)

Center for Community Change: $2.15 million (17 partners supporting)

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: $1.91 million (27 partners supporting)

Common Purpose Project: $130,000 (5 partners supporting)

Fund for the Republic: $1.39 million (14 partners supporting)

Latino Engagement Fund: $1.89 million (15 partners supporting)

Media Matters for America: $2.7 million (33 partners supporting)

New Media Ventures: $330,000 (14 partners supporting)

New Organizing Institute: $440,000 (13 partners supporting)

Organizing for Action: $650,000 (10 partners supporting)

Progressive Majority: $600,000 (13 partners supporting)

ProgressNow: $1.8 million (31 partners supporting)

State Engagement Initiative: (created through a partnership with the Committee on States)

State Voices: $1.44 million (20 partners supporting)

Youth Engagement Fund $240,000 (14 partners supported)

The Women’s Equality Center was also highlighted, although it did not receive money during 2013, with the addendum that “[g]oing forward, DA staff will work with WEC to set annual goals and report back to Partners on its performance and impact.”

via Leaked Lib Megadonor Doc: ‘Fundamentally Change Our Current Political System’ | Media Research Center.

Protect the Privacy of Your Medical Records |

I’ve had privately insured and Medicare patients – and at least two families visiting our town from Canada – ask me to keep records about one or another history or ailment. I told them I’d do my best, but explained the legal problems with Medicare laws. Since 1997, doctors have been prosecuted for refusing to allow Medicare auditors to see everything in the office. One woman doctor was arrested for refusing to unlock a drawer in her (private?) desk.

And now, the IRS wants control of your medical care.

 

The confidentiality of the medical relationship and records has to be maintained or patients will not disclose the true nature of their problems. This results in harm to the patient and prevents the physician from truly helping the patient.

via Protect the Privacy of Your Medical Records |.

IRS to Pay $50,000 in Leaking of Marriage Group’s Tax Return, Donors

No punitive damages because the IRS guy plead the Fifth!

Forget ideological issues.  This is not about marriage. It’s intimidation and theft of information that the Federal government forces us to give them at the point of guns.

The leak of confidential tax records should be a crime. Isn’t it time for criminal charges against one of these “leakers?”

 

Testifying under oath in a deposition as part of the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Meisel invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself and declined to disclose the identity of his “conduit.”

To get at that fact, Eastman said, the National Organization for Marriage has asked Attorney General Eric Holder to grant immunity from prosecution to Meisel.

The $50,000 to be paid by the IRS represents actual damages NOM incurred responding to the illegal disclosure, not punitive damages, since the marriage group was unable to prove disclosure of the confidential records was deliberate after Meisel took the Fifth.

Meisel provided the marriage group’s tax data to the Human Rights Campaign, documents found as part of the investigation show. HRC is among organizations and activists advocating same-sex marriage that routinely describe NOM as a “hate group” or “anti-gay” for making the case for preserving marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

via IRS to Pay $50,000 in Leaking of Marriage Group’s Tax Return, Donors.

Republicans, the Tea Party, and November

Because of the run-off win by incumbent Mississippi Republican Senator Thad Cochran, there is a renewed effort to split the “Tea Party” from the Republican Party.

Forget for a moment that Senator Cochran was backed by the very Conservative former Governor Haley Barbour and appealed to voters who weren’t traditional Republican voters. (Or that Chris McDaniel voted in the 2003 Democratic Party Primary.)

The question is who will elect the winners – and choose the Senate Majority Leader and Speaker of the House –  in November, 2014?

I‘ve addressed this false divide and question in the past.

We Republicans are the Tea Party. If you look at the Tea Party, you will see the Conservative foundation, the remnant that have opposed “centrists” and “moderates” for years. We are the ones who have known all along what the Dems relearn each election cycle, but some of our own never seem to: Americans are conservative, to the right of center. When all the couch potatoes woke up last year, we were the ones who were here to welcome them and give them somewhere to start.

Some of us sat out the 2006 and even 2008 elections to “teach them a lesson;” that they need to legislate like Republicans if they want us to support them. Where Republicans turned out to vote, we held offices. Where the Republican voters were no-shows, we lost ground and offices. In a few cases, Republicans crossed over in the name of Chaos and strong conservatives were narrowly defeated in the Primaries, leaving us with a choice between a RINO, a Democrat or an under vote. We ended up with candidates chosen by the least knowledgeable voters.

Well, that was successful, wasn’t it?

 

If there is a move to form a “Third Party,” let it be after the November elections.

“Buffer zone” Unconstitutional #Stand4Life #Prolife rules

This should have been obvious, but now it’s the ruling of the Court. Good news

Developing: The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a Massachusetts law banning abortion-clinic protests within a 35-foot buffer zone violates the First Amendment rights of protesters, SCOTUSblog reports.

The court was unanimous in its judgment. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote the opinion (PDF) for the court.

An earlier Massachusetts law had established a six-foot “no approach” zone around abortion clinics that barred leaflets, signs and counseling of persons within the zone absent their consent. It was replaced in 2007 with the new law generally barring people from public sidewalks and public ways within 35 feet of abortion clinics. (People entering the clinics, employees, police and people who happened to be walking by were exempted.)

SCOTUSblog founder Tom Goldstein has this analysis: “The upshot of today’s ruling is that an abortion clinic buffer zone is presumptively unconstitutional. Instead, a state has to more narrowly target clinic obstructions. For example, the police can tell protesters to move aside to let a woman through to the clinic. But it cannot prohibit protesters from being on the sidewalks in the first instance. If in practice protesters still are obstructing the entrance, then it can consider a broader restriction.”

via 35-foot buffer zone for abortion-clinic protests violates First Amendment, SCOTUS rules.

 

From the majority opinion:

But petitioners do not claim a right to trespass on the clinics’ property. They instead claim a right to stand on the public sidewalks by the driveway as cars turn into the parking lot. Before the buffer zones, they could do so. Now they must stand a substantial distance away. The Act alone is responsible for that restriction on their ability to convey their message.

 

Updated to add the quote. BBN 6/26/2014 10:45 AM

All nine justices reject recess appointments in Noel Canning case – The Washington Post

UPDATE: A few quick observations. First, the central holding of the opinion for the Court is that the Senate gets to determine when the Senate is in recess, provided the recess is of sufficient length. This is significant in that it gives Congress the ability to prevent recess appointments.

Second, none of the justices were willing to accept the position of the Obama Administration, which was unnecessarily extreme. In choosing the make the recess appointments in the way it did, such as by not following precedents set by prior administrations (including Teddy Roosevelt) and filling some Board spots that the Senate never had time to fill, the Administration adopted a stance that was very hard to defend, so it could not attract a single vote.

via All nine justices reject recess appointments in Noel Canning case – The Washington Post.

Hidalgo County: Not enough Grayhound buses for illegal aliens

During the 60-minute session, officials revealed that Greyhound buses leaving downtown McAllen station have sold out daily, forcing immigrants trying to travel beyond the Valley to remain here overnight.

Federal immigration officials drop off at the bus station children immigrants travelling with family members. Those family units are given a notice to appear later before an immigration court.

“Greyhound is overwhelmed. They do not have a single empty seat,” said Kevin Pagan, McAllen emergency management coordinator and the city’s attorney. Pagan said there have been 3,000 immigrants helped by Catholic Charities’ makeshift respite shelter at Sacred Heart Church, and at least 500 of them have had to stay overnight in McAllen recently due to the lack of transportation out of the area.

via Hidalgo County says immigrant influx not an emergency – Valley Morning Star : Local News.

Do you feel male, female, American, other?

Can’t help worrying that I might be prosecuted for hate speech for insisting that physical evidence matters, but . . .  if a person can demand a corrected birth certificate based on his/her subjective feelings about his/her gender, why can’t an illegal alien access his/her own new birth certificate if they feel American?

And if it’s all in our heads, why make Medicare pay for surgery?

The same month that the American Medical Association voted that the physical body is irrelevant to gender, President Obama uses his pen to award physical privileges to those people who claim/decide/are born to be transgendered. But he’s doing it very, very quietly.

The latest wins came this month, when the Office of Personnel Management announced that government-contracted health insurers could start covering the cost of gender reassignment surgeries for federal employees, retirees and their survivors, ending a 40-year prohibition. Two weeks earlier, a decades-old rule preventing Medicare from financing such procedures was overturned within the Department of Health and Human Services.

Unlike Obama’s support for same-sex marriage and lifting the “don’t ask, don’t tell” ban on openly gay troops, the White House’s work to promote transgender rights has happened mostly out of the spotlight.

Some advances have gone unnoticed because they also benefited the much larger gay, lesbian and bisexual communities. That was the case Monday when the White House announced that Obama plans to sign an executive order banning federal contractors from discriminating against employees on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

In other instances, transgender rights groups and the administration have agreed on a low-key approach, both to skirt resistance and to send the message that changes are not a big deal, said Barbara Siperstein, who in 2009 became the first transgender person elected to the Democratic National Committee.

Conflicted messages about – and for – illegal immigrant children

President Obama celebrated illegal immigrant children as “Champions of Change” at the White House the same day the Vice President traveled to Central America to convince – bribe? – governments and parents not to send their children here.

And yet, children entering the US illegally today are being told – sometimes by US lawyers – that they can stay if they say they are victims of abuse or refugees from violence. US Border Patrol representatives tell us that very few are returned to their country of origin.   In the meantime,  they are sent to a growing number of shelters like the Fort Worth Catholic Charities, which is celebrating the one year anniversary of its government contract.

We keep hearing from people like Rand Paul, Grover Norquist and Rupert Murdock that we must support “comprehensive immigration reform” that would allow people already here illegally to stay. Wouldn’t that just create a new incentive for more illegal immigrants?

And our heart strings are being pulled in order to convince us to change our immigration laws:

 

A January hearing featured the muffled coos of a toddler in the back row. A 2-year-old Honduran girl named Jennifer Tatiana came in the arms of her mother. The child was the respondent in the case, as those headed for a possible deportation are called. At the government’s request, a venue change was granted to Atlanta where the mother now lives.

Jennifer Tatiana sucked her thumb through the proceedings.

 

Unintended Consequences

While President Obama celebrates the chaos that is the result of his Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA), I doubt that most of the people who sympathize with the plight of illegal aliens are aware of the harmful consequences of what seems to be compassion.   Real people, many of them children, are in harm’s way because they have been misled into believing that they will receive “permisos” and be allowed to stay in the United States.

The danger goes far beyond the strain on US Border Patrol due to this year’s abrupt change in numbers and demographics:

• Southwest border apprehensions: (Oct. 1- May 31) 323,675, a 15 percent increase from fiscal year 2013.

• Rio Grande Valley (South Texas) border apprehensions: (Oct. 1-May 31) 163,542, a 74 percent increase from fiscal year 2013.

• Southwest border apprehensions of Other-than-Mexican citizens: (Oct. 1 – May 31) 162,757, 50 percent of the total Southwest border apprehensions.

• Rio Grande Valley (South Texas) border apprehensions of Other-than-Mexican citizens: (Oct. 1-May 31) 122,070, 75 percent of total Rio Grande Valley apprehensions.

It even goes beyond the danger to us all from diseases entering the Country, like rabies that killed a man from Guatemala last year (after he had been in several holding facilities and two hospitals),  drug-resistant tuberculosis found in a man from Asia last year and other illnesses that result from close quarters with poor hygiene.

The men, women and children from Guatemala, El Salvador and other countries who risk death on the ride in and on top of “La Bestia,”  in order to (illegally) cross Mexico report extortion, rape and physical abuse by the Mexican Federal police and the cartels.  Others aren’t that lucky:

Mexico’s Human Rights Commission estimates that at least 20,000 migrants get kidnapped every year in Mexico, often with the assistance of local police or other officials. The gangs hold the migrants and demand hundreds or even thousands of dollars for their release.

Then, the children are tagged “UAC’s” (Unaccompanied Alien Children) and shipped all over the country to what amounts to “undisclosed locations.” State and local Child Protective Services are not allowed to see the children or investigate the conditions they’re held in, because of Federal bureaucrats. The response to a recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of minors who were abused in government “shelters” seems to be a ban on transparency, imposed on the Border Patrol agents and the caseworkers taking care of the children. Because of the surge, 90% of the children are now released to the custody of non-relative sponsors when the parents can’t be found , and then lost to follow up:  “Only 40 percent of those accused of being in the United States illegally ever show up for court, according to former federal immigration Judge Mark Metcalf.”

The abuse and danger are likely to follow them where ever they try to find work and a place to live.  I was doctor to one family who was still trying to qualify for the 1986 Reagan amnesty through 1998, although everyone in their families knew the couple didn’t meet the criteria of that amnesty. They had children who were born in Texas, but a Houston lawyer convinced them that registering the births or applying for Medicaid would endanger their status. (Perhaps it was more the thousands of dollars they paid him each year?).  They couldn’t afford a place to live and couldn’t get a good job because of their status. I doubt that the system is any  better, even with Obama’s DACA and his Administration’s dismissal of thousands of immigration cases.

Repeating the mistakes of the past, even out of compassion, only puts more of those we would help in danger.

2014 Platform of the Republican Party of Texas

Available in .pdf, here http://www.texasgop.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-Platform-Final.pdf  (the page numbers don’t work, so I took the Table of Contents out.)

Republican Party of Texas

Report of Permanent Committee on Platform and Resolutions As Amended and Adopted by the 2014 State Convention of the Republican Party of Texas
2014 STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM
Permanent Committee on Platform and Resolutions Chairman Tom Mechler

SD 1 William “Butch” Marsalis SD 11 Gabriel Allen SD 21 Troy Swift
SD 2 Dwayne Collins SD 12 Nancy Dillard SD 22 Jack Guthrie
SD 3 Sharron Graves SD 13 Bonnie Lugo SD 23 Leslie Thomas
SD 4 Daniel Ure SD 14 T.J. Scott SD 24 Dee Lott
SD 5 Larry Gonzales SD 15 Rolando Garcia SD 25 Sheryl Holland
SD 6 Artemio Muniz SD 16 Ron Hinds SD 26 David Westbrook
SD 7 Mark Ramsey SD 17 Mike Gibson SD 27 Dorothy Morgan Graham
SD 8 Susan Fletcher SD 18 Edee Sinclair SD 28 Russ Duerstine
SD 9 Sara Legvold SD 19 Art Martinez de Vara SD 29 Mary Holmsley
SD 10 Georgia Stapleton SD 20 Angie Flores SD 30 Danny Pelton
SD 31 Victor Leal

PREAMBLE
We STILL hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Throughout the world, people dare to dream of freedom and opportunity. The Republican Party of Texas unequivocally defends that dream. We strive to preserve the freedom given to us by God, implemented by our Founding Fathers, and embodied in the Constitution. We recognize that the traditional family is the strength of our nation. It is our solemn duty to protect life and develop responsible citizens. We understand that our economic success depends upon free market principles. If we fail to maintain our sovereignty, we risk losing the freedom to live these ideals.

PRINCIPLES
We, the 2014 Republican Party of Texas, believe in this platform and expect our elected leaders to uphold these truths through acknowledgement and action. We believe in:
1. Strict adherence to the original intent of the Declaration of Independence and United States and Texas Constitutions.
2. The sanctity of human life, created in the image of God, which should be protected from fertilization to natural death.
3. Preserving American and Texas sovereignty and freedom.
4. Limiting government power to those items enumerated in the United States and Texas Constitutions.
5. Personal accountability and responsibility.
6. Self-sufficient families, founded on the traditional marriage of a natural man and a natural woman.
7. Having an educated population, with parents having the freedom of choice for the education of their children.
8. Americans having the right to be safe in their homes, on their streets, and in their communities; and the unalienable right to defend themselves.
9. A free enterprise society unencumbered by government interference or subsidies.
10. Honoring all of those that serve and protect our freedom.
11. And we believe in “The laws of nature and nature’s God” as our Founding Fathers believed.

PRESERVING AMERICAN FREEDOM LIMITING THE EXPANSE OF GOVERNMENT POWER
Reaffirm Texas Sovereignty as Reserved Under the 10th Amendment, United States Constitution- We strongly urge the Texas Legislature ignore, oppose, refuse, and nullify any federal mandated legislation which infringes upon the states’ 10th Amendment Right. All federal enforcement activities in Texas must be conducted under the auspices of the county sheriff with jurisdiction in that county.
Opposition to Socialism- Socialism breeds mediocrity. America is exceptional. Therefore, the Republican Party of Texas opposes socialism in all of its forms.
Full Repeal of the 17th Amendment of the United States Constitution- Return the appointment of United States Senators by the state legislatures.
Unelected, Appointed Bureaucrats and Agencies- We decry the appointment of unelected bureaucrats, and we urge Congress to use their constitutional authority to defund and abolish these positions and return authority to duly elected officials, accountable to the electorate. In the interim, we hold Congress responsible for agency decisions. Executive decisions by agencies must be reviewed and approved by Congress before taking effect.
Constitutional Citations on Legislation- We urge that all bills presented in the United States Congress and Texas Legislature include citations to the authorizing constitutional provision, cost to implement, and impact on the family.

Line-Item Veto- Amend the Texas Constitution to enhance and strengthen the Governor’s line- item reduction veto authority over the state budget.
Agency Sunset Review Process- Reform the Sunset Commission to be a majority citizen-led commission on government reform (appointed by Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker of the House).
Unfunded Mandates- Amend the Texas Constitution and statutes to restrict the power of the Legislature to impose unfunded mandates on local governments.
If It’s Good Enough For Us It ’s Good Enough For Them- The Government shall not, by rule or law, exempt any of its members from the provisions of such rule or law.
Law Enforcement- We support limitation of criminal jurisdiction of federal law-enforcement agencies into state and local jurisdictions, and encourage them to enforce the laws under federal jurisdiction. The states have the right to protect their citizens if the federal government fails to enforce its applicable laws.
Border Security- The United States border must be secured immediately! It is the fundamental responsibility of our federal government to do so. Narcotics, arms and human trafficking have a

devastating effect on our nation. By using every available resource to achieve 100% border security and control, it will enhance the protection of all Americans, especially border residents. The State of Texas has the right to protect its citizens, businesses and ranches if the federal government fails to enforce its applicable laws.
Preserving National Security- We believe terrorism is a major threat to international peace and to our own safety. We urge our national leadership to:
• Protect and defend our natural and constitutional rights and swiftly wage successful war on terrorists
• Eliminate aid and cease commerce with any nation threatening us or aiding terrorists or hostile nations
• Support other nations fighting terrorists
• Reasonably use profiling to protect us
• Prosecute national security breaches
• Revise laws or executive orders that erode our essential liberties.
Repeal Patriot Act- We urge the repeal of the USA Patriot Act and spying on law abiding Americans must stop immediately. We support court ordered warrants on an individual basis in cases directly involving national security.
Abolish NDAA- The Republican Party of Texas abhors any policies of indefinite detention of United States citizens without due process. We urge our government to terminate any practice of detention without due process, including, but not limited to, any enforcement of federal law by the military within the State of Texas, under Sections 1021 and 1022 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Repeal the Lacey Act- Due to abuse such as suffered by the Gibson Guitar Company, we condemn the over-criminalization nature of the Lacey Act.
Repeal Portions of the 2014 Farm Bill- The Republican Party of Texas supports a repeal of all portions of the Farm Bill legislation that can result in depriving landowners of the use of their property and constitutional rights such as due process, including “swampbuster” provisions.
Emergency War Powers and Martial Law Declarations- We strongly urge Congress to repeal the War Powers Act and end our declared state of emergency. Any declaration of martial law should be approved by Congress.
Elimination of Executive Orders- We reject the unconstitutional use of executive orders and other mandates lacking Congressional approval.
Inter-jurisdictional Agreements- We oppose inter-jurisdictional agreements with any state that prevent the governor from controlling the Texas Military Forces, police, other emergency management personnel, and/or State of Texas resources. We call for repeal of any existing agreements.

Census- We oppose the Census Bureau obtaining data beyond the number of people residing in a dwelling, and we oppose statistical sampling adjustments. We support the actual counting of people and oppose any type of estimation or manipulation of census data. Only United States citizens should be counted for the purpose of adjusting legislative districts.
Preservation of Republican Form of Government- We support our republican form of government in Texas, as set forth in the Texas Bill of Rights, and oppose initiative and referendum. We also urge the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress to enact legislation prohibiting any judicial jurisdiction from allowing any substitute or parallel system of law, specifically foreign law (including Sharia Law), which is not in accordance with the United States or Texas Constitutions.
Germane Contents Requirement- All content of any bill must be germane to the title of the act.

Legislative Accountability Requirement- All bills passed in the United States Congress or Texas Legislature, or their respective Senates, should require a recorded and preserved vote; and no bill voted on may be changed after the vote. We support rules requiring that all votes on bills cast in the Texas House of Representatives and Senate be made freely available to the electorate.
Recall Elections- Texans should have the right to recall their elected officials.

Constitutional Convention- We strongly oppose any constitutional convention to rewrite the United States Constitution. We encourage the Texas Legislature to rescind its 1977 call for such a convention. We call upon other states to rescind their votes for such a convention.
Article V Convention- Under no circumstances shall the Bill of Rights, the first 10 constitutional amendments, be changed in any manner. We urge the Texas State Legislators to take the lead in calling for an Article V Amending Convention of States, for the specific purpose of reigning in the power of the federal government. Any proposed amendments must be ratified by ¾ of the states to take effect.
Affirmative Action- The Republican Party of Texas believes in equal opportunity for all citizens without regard to race or gender. Affirmative action casts doubt on minority achievement, making such achievement as seemingly unearned. We believe that true minority advancement will come from a demand for personal responsibility, accountability, and competitive excellence.
Reparations- We oppose any form of reparations.

Government Takings and Restrictions- We reaffirm our belief in the constitutional concept of the right to own property without governmental interference, and that property ownership and free market enterprise form the foundation of our collective wealth. NO government entity should abridge or deny these rights. To that end, we urge legislative changes to address the protection of these bedrock rights. Areas of concern from our grassroots constituency are:
• Annexation; all affected parties of a proposed annexation should be allowed a vote on said proposal, and must pass with a 2/3s vote.

• Eminent domain and property forfeiture; the taking of property under eminent domain or property forfeiture should specifically exclude seizing private property for public or private economic development or for increased tax revenues. Additionally, we support fair market value compensation to the property owners for all damages from all sources as a direct result of any taking. Government should return to the basic form of property rights and readopt “Fee Simple Absolute,” which gives all property owners the maximum extent possible in the land under the law.
• Natural resources and conservation easements; groundwater and/or mineral rights are a vested ownership. Conservation easements, involving watersheds, green areas and nationalization of lands should be resisted in the strongest manner applicable.
• We support the rights of each and every property owner to fight in their local judicial venue against any taking of their private property.
• We oppose the International Property Maintenance Code as a violation of the 4th Amendment right to privacy and an invasion of personal property.
All private property owners involved in these matters should be notified of their rights, under law, with regard to condemnation, annexation, or easement; and the condemner should be required to show the public need and necessity by petitioning a court of jurisdiction. Taking of property should result in immediate compensation of fair market value to the owner. These issues should always be administered by organizations and elected officials accountable to voters.
Confiscation without Compensation- Taking a property—real, oil or gas, or other minerals – without just compensation by oil and gas operators, and sanctioned by the Railroad Commission, is unconstitutional and against the principles of the Republican Party of Texas. In particular, “Rule 37” exception takings by the Railroad Commission for industry should not be permitted without the granting of a no-cost, full-working interest in mineral rights to owners of the property confiscated.
Water Districts- We strongly applaud the decision made by the Texas Supreme Court rejecting regulation, regulatory taking, metering, and restricting production of individuals’ underground water. We advocate fair market value compensation for the taking of an individual’s private water supply. We urge the restriction of water districts to their original purpose of supplying clean drinking water and/or the purpose of reporting regarding underground water. We ask the legislature to allow citizens who are impacted by said water, irrigation, fresh water supply districts the ability to vote on the selection of the board or committee members of these districts, and allow the voters the ability of recall of these elected officials of an irrigation district, fresh water supply district, municipal utility district, or any other special purpose district. If citizens are restricted in using water, all city, state, and local government facilities and public-private partnerships be subject to similar restrictions. Except for the purpose of emergency services.
Protect Groundwater Property Rights from Water Marketers- We demand the State of Texas protect the groundwater rights of the property owners from water marketers and within developments/subdivisions in the State of Texas.

Protection from Extreme Environmentalists- We strongly oppose all efforts of the extreme environmental groups that stymie legitimate business interests and private property use. We believe the Environmental Protection Agency should be abolished.
Climate Change- While we all strive to be good stewards of the earth, “climate change” is a political agenda which attempts to control every aspect of our lives. We urge government at all levels to ignore any plea for money to fund global climate change or “climate justice” initiatives.
Homestead Protection- We support continuance of Texas’ homestead protection.

Livestock and Pet Location- We support the repeal of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).
Banning the Use of Red Light Cameras- We call for the ban on red light cameras in the State of Texas.
Drivers Licenses- We propose that every Texas driver’s license shall indicate whether the driver is a United States citizen. No such license shall be issued to anyone not legally in the country.
Free Speech for the Clergy- We urge amendment of the Internal Revenue Code to allow a religious organization to address issues without fear of losing its tax-exempt status. We call for repeal of requirements that religious organizations send the government any personal information about their contributors.
Government Regulation on Religious Institutions-The state should have no power over licensing or training of clergy. The State should withdraw all imposed regulations.
Restore Constitutional Integrity in the Legislative Process- We call upon the United States. Congress to pass legislation to restore constitutional integrity in the legislative process. We strongly recommend single issue legislation that prohibits the current practice of inserting, into otherwise unrelated legitimate legislation, funding for or federal regulations on special interest issues into virtually every piece of legislation. We oppose the use of signing statements by the President to circumvent the law.
The Rights of a Sovereign People- The Republican Party of Texas supports the historic concept, established by our nation’s founders, of limited civil government jurisdiction under the natural laws of God, and repudiates the humanistic doctrine that the state is sovereign over the affairs of men, the family, and the church.
Defending American Citizens- We call for Congress to act, as President Obama has dismissed the IRS targeting of specific political groups and individuals, which calls into question the President’s and the Department of Justice’s commitment to citizens constitutional rights; and we call for Congress to act on the Benghazi cover up and the failure to protect American citizens

including United States military personnel by the Obama Administration; and we call for Congressional investigations into other federal agencies.
Preserving Private Enterprise- We believe that the products of gardens, farms, ranches, cottage industries and manufacturing which are not transported across state lines should not be federally, or by any other government, regulated more than the minimum necessary to prevent disease, fraud, injury to others, or other infringement of citizens’ unalienable rights.
Fairness Doctrine- We oppose any attempt by Congress or any federal agency to implement any policy comparable to the “Fairness Doctrine” as terminated in 1987.
Empowering Local Entities Concerning Religious Meetings- We support the right of local entities to determine their own policies regarding religious clubs and meetings on all properties owned by the same, without interference.
Real ID Act-As the Real ID Act effectively creates an unconstitutional and privacy-inhibiting national ID card, we hereby call for its immediate repeal
Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and Laws- We oppose government regulations which would coerce business owners and employees to violate their own consciences, beliefs, and principles.
Government Intrusion into the Internet or Communications- We support the United States maintaining continued control of the internet. We also demand that no American government, at any level, should have any kind of “kill-switch” capability, either by executive order or by statute. We oppose the government’s ability to shut down websites either directly or through intimidation without a warrant or judicial hearing.
REFORMING THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM
Direct Election of State Judges- We support our right to select our judges by direct vote.

Visiting Judges- We support legislation prohibiting judges defeated by the electorate from serving as visiting judges, or acting as judges in any capacity, until such time they are reinstated by the electorate through a subsequent election.
Jury Reform- We support the right to privacy and security of prospective jurors during jury selection. Courts must show relevance of questions asked of jurors and perform a balancing test between the prospective juror’s right to privacy and lawyers’ need to know. Either party in a criminal trial should have a right to inform jurors of their right to determine facts and render a verdict.
Administrative Justice- Citizens have a right to full participation in administrative law processes.

Fully-Informed Jury- We support the right to inform the jurors of their common law power to judge law, as well as the evidence, and to vote on the verdict according to their conscience.
Judicial Restraint- We urge Congress to adopt the Constitutional Restoration Act and support the principle of judicial restraint, which requires judges to interpret and apply, rather than make the law. We support judges who strictly interpret the law based on its original intent. We oppose judges who assume for themselves legislative powers.
Remedies to Activist Judiciary- We call Congress and the President to use their constitutional powers to restrain activist judges. We urge Congress to adopt the Judicial Conduct Act of 2005, and remove judges who abuse their authority. Further, we urge Congress to withhold Supreme Court jurisdiction in cases involving abortion, religious freedom, and the Bill of Rights.
American Law for American Courts (ALAC)- No foreign law or international edict shall preempt the United States Constitution or the Texas Constitution, or be used as the basis for any decision, except required by contract between the individual parties.
Judicial Nominees- We urge Republican Senate leadership to ensure that a record vote is taken on every judicial nominee.
Information Disclosure on Judicial Candidates- The Republican Party of Texas should foster a judicial archive site on the internet with personal history, qualifications, and past rulings made by all judicial candidates.
Statutory Authority for Regulation- Defendants charged with violating a governmental regulation should have the right to see the enabling law.
Strengthen Tort Reform- We strongly support continuation of common sense tort reform that puts justice back into our civil justice system.
RESTORING INTEGRITY TO OUR ELECTIONS
Unions- We support legislation requiring labor unions to obtain consent of the union member before that member’s dues can be used for political purposes. We strongly oppose card check.
Campaign Contributions- We support full disclosure of the amounts and sources of any campaign contributions to political candidates, whether contributed by individuals, political action committees, or other entities.
Candidate Eligibility- A candidate running for office should be required to reside within the geographical boundaries of the office sought. The Secretary of State shall be required to certify that state and federal candidates placed on ballots proffered in Texas meets the statutory requirements for the office sought. For federal offices, all candidates must submit written authorization for the Secretary of State to obtain a certified copy of the candidates’ birth

certificate from the original issuing authority, so as to prove they are constitutionally eligible, in order to have their name placed on the GENERAL election ballot.
Voter Registration- We support restoring integrity to the voter registration rolls and reducing voter fraud. We support repeal of all motor voter laws; re-registering voters every four years; requiring photo ID of all registrants; proof of residency and citizenship, along with voter registration application; retention of the 30-day registration deadline; and requiring that a list of certified deaths be provided to the Secretary of State in order that the names of deceased voters be removed from the list of registered voters.
Selection of Primary Candidates- The SREC should study the Utah model for selecting primary candidates.
Electoral College- We strongly support the Electoral College.

Voting Rights- We support equal suffrage for all United States citizens of voting age who are not felons. We oppose any identification of citizens by race, origin, or creed and oppose use of any such identification for purposes of creating voting districts.
Voter Rights Act- We urge that the Voter Rights Act of 1965, codified and updated in 1973, be repealed and not reauthorized.
Felon Voting- We affirm the constitutional authority of state legislatures to regulate voting, including disenfranchisement of convicted felons.
Protecting Active Military Personn el’s Right to Vote – We urge the Texas Secretary of State and the United States Attorney General to ensure that voting rights of our armed forces will neither be denied nor obstructed, and all valid absentee votes shall be counted.
Fair Election Procedures- We support modifications and strengthening of election laws to ensure ballot integrity and fair elections. We strongly urge the Texas Attorney General to litigate the previously passed Voter ID legislation. We support increased scrutiny and security in balloting by mail, prohibition of internet voting and any electronic voting lacking a verifiable paper trail, prohibition of mobile voting, prosecution for election fraud with jail sentences, repeal of the unconstitutional “Help America Vote Act”, and assurance that each polling place has a distinctly marked, and if possible, separate location for Republican and Democrat primary voting.
Election of the Speaker of the House- We support an amendment to the Texas Constitution to make the Texas Speaker of the House a state wide elected position.
Texas House Leadership Caucus- As long as Texas House members choose the Speaker of the House, we call for the Republican members of the Texas House of Representatives to convene in caucus after each November general election to determine, by secret ballot, their candidate for Speaker of the House, and that rules be instituted to ensure the integrity and security of the secret

ballot, so that members may vote without risk of retribution by the prevailing party. We also call for the Republican members of the Texas House to vote as a unified body for their selected speaker candidate when the legislature convenes in regular session and a vote for speaker is called on the House floor.
Residency Requirements- We support legislation that determines residence in accordance with common-law rules, as recognized by the courts, except as otherwise provided by the Texas Election Code and to be enforced by the Secretary of State.
Campaign Finance Reform- We urge immediate repeal of the McCain-Feingold Act.

Enforcing the Platform- Every Republican is responsible for implementing this platform. Party candidates should indicate their positions on platform planks before their acceptance on the ticket, and such information should be available on the Party website.
Censuring a Republican Office Holder for Cause- The delegates to the state convention of the Republican Party of Texas should adopt a rule allowing the delegates of state convention, or the State republican Executive Committee, to vote to adopt a resolution censuring a Republican officeholder for cause, including but not limited to consistent actions taken in opposition to principles of the Republican Party of Texas, defined in the preamble of the party platform as described in rule 43 A.
Conflicts of Interest- We support legislation prohibiting influencing or voting of any elected official or appointee where a conflict of interest exists. No such official should represent paying clients before a state agency.
Lobbying Limitation- We support legislation to prohibit former officials and government employees from lobbying for a foreign government and/or any business for five years after leaving public service. We support legislation to prevent lobbying by any organization receiving federal grants except that relating to its tax status.
AWOL Legislators- We urge the Texas House and Senate to compel attendance of absent members and penalize those who attempt to break the quorum by not being in attendance.
Governor’s Veto- We urge a constitutional amendment permitting the Legislature to return for a three-day session in response to the governor’s veto.
House Speaker Pledge Cards- We call on the Texas Legislature to cease the use of pledge cards in all future House Speaker races.
Filibuster- We support return to the traditional filibuster in the United States Senate.

Rosebush-Blocker Rule- We strongly oppose the Rosebush-Blocker rule in the Texas Senate.

Consolidated Elections- All public elections, with the exception of specially called elections, should be consolidated to Primary and General Election days and locations.
Rights versus Products- We oppose calling welfare and other income and product redistribution schemes “rights” or “entitlements”. We know that fundamental human rights are inherent to individuals, and are granted by God and are protected by the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution. They are not products of others’ labor. Unalienable rights such as life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, property rights, free speech, religious freedom, self-defense, etc. do not impose on others’ rights, whereas income and product redistribution invariably do.
HONORING THE SYMBOLS OF OUR AMERICAN HERITAGE
Religious Symbols- We oppose any governmental action to restrict, prohibit, or remove public display of the Ten Commandments or other religious symbols.
Pledge of Allegiance- We support adoption of the Pledge Protection Act. We also urge that the national motto “In God We Trust” and national anthem be protected from legislative and judicial attack.
American English- We support adoption of American English as the official language of Texas and of the United States.
Flag Desecration- Any form of desecration of the American Flag is an act of disregard for our nation and its people, and penalties should be established for such.
Symbols of American Heritage- We call upon governmental entities to protect all symbols of our American heritage from being altered in any way.
Confederat e W idow’s Plaque- We call for restoration of plaques honoring the Confederate Widow’s Pension Fund contribution that were illegally removed from the Texas Supreme Court building.
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES, PROTECTING LIFE, AND PROMOTING HEALTH CELEBRATING TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE
Family and Defense of Marriage- We support the definition of marriage as a God-ordained, legal and moral commitment only between a natural man and a natural woman.
• We support withholding jurisdiction from the federal courts in cases involving family law, especially any changes in the definition of marriage.
• We shall not recognize or grant to any unmarried person the legal rights or status of a spouse.
• We oppose the recognition of and granting of benefits to people who represent themselves as domestic partners without being legally married.
• We urge the legislature to rescind no-fault divorce laws and support covenant marriage. Judicial Activism in Marriage- We oppose the assault on marriage by judicial activists.

Enforcement of the Defense of Marriage Act- We support the enforcement of the State Defense of Marriage Act and oppose benefits for partnerships outside of marriage provided by political subdivisions.
Protection for Religious Institutions- We believe religious institutions have the freedom to recognize and perform only those marriages that are consistent with their doctrine.
Family Values- We support the affirmation of traditional Judeo-Christian family values and oppose the continued assault on those values. We strongly support a woman’s right to choose to devote her life to her family and children. We recognize her sacrifice in the face of the assault on the family. Additionally, we recognize the challenges of single parents and applaud their efforts in creating a stable and moral home.
Human Trafficking- The Republican Party of Texas adamantly opposes any form of human trafficking.
Homosexuality- Homosexuality is a chosen behavior that is contrary to the fundamental unchanging truths that have been ordained by God in the Bible, recognized by our nation’s founders, and shared by the majority of Texans. Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable alternative lifestyle, in public policy, nor should family be redefined to include homosexual couples. We believe there should be no granting of special legal entitlements or creation of special status for homosexual behavior, regardless of state of origin. Additionally, we oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values.
Reparative Therapy- We recognize the legitimacy and efficacy of counseling, which offers reparative therapy and treatment for those patients seeking healing and wholeness from their homosexual lifestyle. No laws or executive orders shall be imposed to limit or restrict access to this type of therapy.
Pornography- We encourage the enforcement of laws regarding all forms of pornography, because pornography is detrimental to society.
PROTECTING INNOCENT HUMAN LIFE
Thank You- We applaud the Texas Legislature for passing strong women’s health and pro-life legislation.
Right to Life- All innocent human life must be respected and safeguarded from fertilization to natural death; therefore, the unborn, the aged, and the physically or mentally challenged have a fundamental individual right to life, which cannot be infringed.
Roe v. Wade- We are resolute in our support of the reversal of Roe v. Wade.

Natural Life- We revere the sanctity of human life and therefore oppose genocide, euthanasia, and assisted suicide.
Funding Abortion- We support the elimination of public funding or the use of public facilities to advocate, perform, or support elective abortions.
Fetal Pain- We strongly encourage consideration of fetal pain in any future legislation

Abortion Legislation- Until our final goal of total constitutional rights for the unborn child is achieved, we support laws that restrict and regulate abortion including, but not limited to:
1. Parental and informed consent;
2. Prohibition of abortion for gender selection;
3. Prohibition of abortion due to the results of genetic diagnosis
4. licensing, liability, and malpractice insurance for abortionists and abortion facilities;
5. Prohibition of financial kickbacks for abortion referrals;
6. Prohibition of partial-birth, late-term abortions
7. The prohibition of the manufacturing and sale of abortifacients (e.g. morning after pill);
8. New causes of action for so called “wrongful birth” or “wrongful life”;
9. Enactment of any other laws which will advance the right to life for unborn children;
10. Health insurance coverage for abortion services and abortifacients, which under Texas law should be considered supplemental coverage and billed to the beneficiary; and
11. Repeal of judicial bypass.

Candidate Support- The Republican Party of Texas should provide financial support only to those candidates who support the right to life planks.
Alternatives to Abortion- We urge the Republican Party of Texas and the Texas legislature to assist in educating the public regarding alternatives to abortion, especially adoption.
Human Embryos- We support the adoption of human embryos and the banning of human embryo trafficking.
Conscience Clause- All persons and all legal entities have the right of conscience, and should be protected under Texas law if they conscientiously object to participate in practices that conflict with their moral or religious beliefs.
Fetal Tissue Harvesting and Stem Cell Research- We support legislation prohibiting experimentation or commercial use of human fetal tissue, which requires or is dependent upon the destruction of human life. We encourage adult stem cell research using cells from umbilical cords, from adults, and from any other means that does not kill human embryos.
Human Cloning- We seek a ban on human cloning.

Patient Protection- We support patients’ rights, especially near the end of life, and call for reform of existing legislation so that:
1. Texas law should provide that medical personnel may not deny care, change advanced directives, or originate directives for any patient without the permission of the patient or the patient’s designate.
2. No “Do Not Resuscitate” order may be ordered for a patient without his/her own or family’s knowledge and consent;
3. Hydration and nutrition may not be withheld as life ends. We also support the passage of legislation to amend the Advance Directive Act by requiring hospitals intending or threatening to withdraw life-sustaining treatment against the patient’s wishes or their advance directive to continue all treatment and care for such patients pending transfer to another facility;
4. Families are provided more notice of any review committee meetings to determine the future treatment of hospitalized individuals;
5. Medical personnel may assist in transferring patients to other personnel or another facility in order that their conscience not be violated.

Pregnancy Centers- We urge the legislature to protect pregnancy centers from harassing ordinances and regulations.
PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN
Parental Rights and Responsibilities- We believe that parental rights, authority, and responsibilities are inherent and protected by the United States Constitution. Local, state, or federal laws, regulations, or policies shall not be enacted that limit parental rights in the rearing of both biological and adopted children. Parents have the right and responsibility to direct and guide their children’s moral education.
United Nations Treaty on the Rights of the Child- We unequivocally oppose the United States Senate’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Jurisdictional Disputes- Parents and/or grandparents should not be denied court-ordered visitation because of jurisdictional disputes between states.
Child Abuse Prevention- We believe that no individual convicted of child abuse or molestation should have the right to custody or adoption of a minor child. An abused child should be given the option of declining visitation with his/her abuser. If court ordered, visitation with minor children by such persons should be supervised.
Adoption- We support reducing the time, bureaucracy, and cost of adoption. We oppose mandates that deny mothers a choice in selecting a traditional home for their children. We oppose mandatory open adoption. We oppose any government agency from forcing faith-based adoption or foster care organizations to place children with same-sex couples.
Foster Care- We support eliminating bureaucratic prohibitions on corporal discipline and home schooling in foster homes.

ASSISTING FAMILIES TO SELF SUFFICIENCY
Welfare Reform- Welfare should offer a hand up to transition families and individuals through hard times. Welfare reform should encourage partnerships with faith based institutions, community, and business organizations to assist individuals in need. The current system encourages dependency on government and robs individuals and generations of healthy motivation and self-respect. It should be limited in scope. We encourage welfare reform in the following areas:
1. Denying benefits to individuals who cannot prove citizenship;
2. Welfare reforms should require recipients to work, learn, and train;
3. Reforms should require recipients to remain substance-abuse free in exchange for temporary benefits not exceeding two years;
4. Recipients should be required to submit to random drug testing in order to receive benefits;
5. Welfare cards should be confined to food and vital essentials, and be issued with a photo of the approved user; and
6. Prisoners should be removed from welfare rolls.
Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Accountability- We support the appointment of local elected officials to review charges of abuse of discretion by the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) with respect to intervention into the family unit.
Removal of a child from a home shall be pursuant to a court order or in response to an immediate threat.
Social Security- We support an immediate and orderly transition to a system of private pensions based on the concept of individual retirement accounts, and gradually phasing out the Social Security tax. We insist that Social Security benefits be non–taxable. To protect the Social Security System, its funds should not be co-mingled or spent with general revenues or invested in private or public corporate stock.
Medicaid Reform- We support Medicaid block grants to the states and returning Medicaid to its original purpose – to be a temporary assistance to our able-bodied citizens who, due to unfortunate circumstances, find themselves in need.
Gambling- We oppose the expansion of legalized gambling and encourage the repeal of the Texas State Lottery. We oppose dedicating any government revenue from gambling to create or expand any government program.
Caring for our mentally disabled citizens- We urge the Legislature to continue funding and operating all state-supported living centers for the mentally disabled, increase training standards of state-supported living center employees, and ensure efficient funding and quality of service.

EMPOWERING FAMILIES TO DIRECT THEIR HEALTH CARE
Health Care- Health care decisions should be between a patient and health care professional and should be protected from government intrusion. Abortion is not healthcare.
Parental Consent- Parental consent is required for all medical care, counseling, etc., for all minors.
The Patient P rotection an d Afford able Care Act ( “ Obamacare”) – We demand the immediate repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which we believe to be unconstitutional.
Health Care Choice- We urge the passage of health care reform which results in more affordable healthcare through a market-based, competitive, and transparent health care system, including tort reform, interstate competition, genuine accountability and oversight.
Medical Records and Informed Consent- We oppose any state or federal medical record computer database or registry (with exception to diseases that are a public health threat, i.e., HIV and/or Tuberculosis), which stores personal identifiable records on citizens without their written consent.
Conscience Clause- We support conscientious objection in the medical community. We believe that doctors, nurses, pharmacists, any employees of hospitals and insurance companies, health care organizations, medical and scientific research students, and any employee should be protected by Texas law if they conscientiously object to participate in practices that conflict with their moral or religious beliefs. This includes, but is not limited to, abortion, the prescription for and dispensing of drugs with abortifacient potential, human cloning, embryonic stem cell research, eugenic screenings, euthanasia, assisted suicide, harmful futile procedures, and the withdrawal of nutrition and hydration. We call on the Texas Legislature to pass legislation to strengthen and clarify the current conscience clause in the Occupational Code to include the above-mentioned persons and practices. We further encourage legislation that requires hospitals and clinics to inform all health care personnel of their right to refuse to become involved in abortion or euthanasia and their protection from prosecution and retaliation under Texas law.
Health Care and Nutritional Supplements- We oppose any efforts to mandate that vitamins and other natural supplements be on a prescription–only basis, and we oppose any efforts to remove vitamins and other nutritional supplements from public sale. We support the rights of all adults to their choice of nutritional products and alternative health care choices.
Food Choice- We support the right of individuals to make their own dietary decisions. We oppose any laws regarding the production, distribution, or consumption of food. Government should not restrict non-genetically engineered seeds.

Immunizations- All adult citizens should have the legal right to conscientiously choose which vaccines are administered to themselves, or their minor children, without penalty for refusing a vaccine. We oppose any effort by any authority to mandate such vaccines or any medical database that would contain personal records of citizens without their consent.
EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN
American Identity, Patriotism and Loyalty- We favor strengthening our common American identity and loyalty, which includes the contribution and assimilation of different racial and ethnic groups. Students should pledge allegiance to the United States and Texas flags daily to instill patriotism. Students have the right to display patriotic items on school property. Students should have the right to read the Bible on public school property.
Basic Standards- We favor improving the quality of education for all students, including those with special needs. We support a return to the traditional basics of reading, writing, arithmetic, and citizenship with sufficient discipline to ensure learning and quality educational assessment.
Bilingual Education- We encourage non-English speaking students to transition to English within three years.
Career and Technology Education- We support career and technology education in public schools.
College Tuition- We recommend three levels of college tuition: (1) In-state requiring proof of Texas legal residency; (2) out-of-state requiring proof of United States citizenship; and (3) nonresident legal alien. Non-United States citizens should not be eligible for state or federal grants.
Controversial Theories- We support objective teaching and equal treatment of all sides of scientific theories. We believe theories such as life origins and environmental change should be taught as challengeable scientific theories subject to change as new data is produced. Teachers and students should be able to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of these theories openly and without fear of retribution or discrimination of any kind.
TEKS Compliance- We encourage the Texas Legislature to develop a review and compliance process to ensure that Texas’ local school districts’ curriculum complies with the TEKS standards. We also believe local school district funding be granted only upon successful compliance.
Early Childhood Development- We believe that parents are best suited to train their children in their early development, and oppose mandatory pre-school and kindergarten.

Equal Access to State Grants- We believe that all Texas students, whether graduating from public, private or home schools, should have equal access to all state supported grants, scholarships and loans, based upon measurable academic criteria such as an SAT score.
Foreign Culture Charter Schools in Texas- We oppose public funding of charter schools which receive money from foreign entities. We demand that these charter schools have accountability and transparency to local parents, taxpayers, and the State of Texas, as do current public schools, including U.S. citizenship of public school trustees.
Funding of Education- Education spending should prioritize classroom instruction and minimize administrative overhead.
Higher Education- We oppose the use of quotas, diversity, and the ten percent rule. We support Texas college admissions based solely on merit.
Higher Education Budgets- We call on the University Boards of Regents to reduce administrative expenses.
Juvenile Daytime Curfew- We strongly oppose juvenile daytime curfews. Additionally, we oppose any official entity from detaining, questioning and/or disciplining our children without the consent of a child’s parent.
Knowledge Based Education- We oppose the teaching of values clarification and similar programs that focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority. Rather, we encourage the teaching of critical thinking skills, including logic, rhetoric and analytical sciences
Local Control for Education- We support school choice and believe that quality education is best achieved by encouraging parental involvement, protecting parental rights, and maximizing local independent school district control. District superintendents and their employees should be made solely accountable to their locally elected boards. We support sensible consolidation of local school districts. We encourage local ISDs to consider carefully the advantages and disadvantages of accepting federal education money.
National Core Curriculum- We oppose use of national or international standards in the State of Texas (i.e. Common Core, CSCOPE, United Nations Inclusion, etc.) We also oppose the modification of college entrance exams to reflect any national core philosophies. Furthermore, any independent school district that violates state law banning the use of a national core curriculum or standards shall lose all state funding until said curriculum or standards are removed and no longer being utilized in the classroom.
No Taxpayer Paid Lobbyists- We support the prohibition of any paid public school employee or contractor to lobby the legislature or the SBOE, unless on an unpaid basis and in an unofficial capacity. No registered lobbyist should be allowed to run for SBOE.

Parental Rights in Education- We believe the right of parents to raise and educate their children is fundamental. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from any specialized program. We urge the legislature to enact penalties for violation of parental rights.
Permanent School Fund- We believe that because the Permanent School Fund is not paid by taxpayers, the principle balance should be safeguarded and not viewed as a source of additional funding for our state budget, but for its constitutionally intended purposes of instructional materials.
Political Community Organizing in Texas Schools- We believe neither Texas public schools should be used nor their students should be instructed by groups such as SEIU or other community organizers as instruments to promote political agenda during the instructional school day.
Private Education- We believe that parents and legal guardians may choose to educate their children in private schools to include, but not limited to, home schools and parochial schools without government interference, through definition, regulation, accreditation, licensing, or testing.
Religious Freedom in Public Schools- We urge school administrators and officials to inform Texas school students and district personnel specifically of their 1st Amendment rights to pray and engage in religious speech, individually or in groups, on school property without government interference. We urge the legislature to end censorship of discussion of religion in our founding documents and encourage discussing those documents, including the Bible as their basis. Students and district personnel have the right to display Christian items on school property.
School Choice- We encourage the governor and the Texas Legislature to enact child-centered school funding options which fund the student, not schools or districts, to allow maximum freedom of choice in public, private, or parochial education for all children. Furthermore, we support a state constitutional amendment prohibiting state or federal regulations imposed on private schools, including home schools (as established by Leeper vs. Arlington ISD).
School Health Care- We urge legislators to prohibit reproductive health care services, including counseling, referrals, and distribution of condoms and contraception through public schools. We support the parents’ right to choose, without penalty, which medications are administered to their minor children. We oppose medical clinics on school property except higher education and health care for students without parental consent.
School Surveys and Testing- Public schools should be required to obtain written parental consent for student participation in any test or questionnaire that surveys beliefs, feelings, or opinions.
Parental rights, including viewing course materials prior to giving consent, should not be infringed.

Sex Education- We recognize parental responsibility and authority regarding sex education. We believe that parents must be given an opportunity to review the material prior to giving their consent. We oppose any sex education other than the biology of reproduction and abstinence until marriage. We should prohibit entities and their affiliates that have a conflict of interest with our beliefs from conducting sexuality education in public schools and from conducting teacher training. The social aspects of sexuality should be left to the family.
State Board of Education (SBOE)- We believe that the SBOE should continue to be an elected body consisting of fifteen members. Their responsibilities must include:
• Appointing the Commissioner of Education
• Maintaining constitutional authority over the Permanent School Fund
• Maintaining sole authority over all curricula content and the state adoption of all educational materials. This process must include public hearings.
The SBOE should be minimally staffed out of general revenue.

Supporting Military Families in Education- Existing truancy laws conflict with troop deployments. We believe that truancy laws should be amended to allow 5 day absence prior to deployments and R&R. We support the waiver of out-of-state tuition for any dependent of military personnel stationed in Texas.
Tenure- We support frequent post- tenure review in order to maintain the quality of the teaching staff.
Textbook Approval- The Texas Education Code (TEC) must be amended to empower the SBOE to require each ISD that adopts non-state approved instructional materials to conform to the state approval process to protect citizens’ right to petition, correct factual errors, prevent corruption and fulfill legislative intent in the TEC. Local ISD boards must hold public hearings on such materials. Parents should have access to review classroom materials upon request.
Traditional Principles in Education- We support school subjects with emphasis on the Judeo- Christian principles upon which America was founded and which form the basis of America’s legal, political, and economic systems. We support curricula that are heavily weighted on original founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and Founders’ writings.
Transparency- We support legislation requiring all school districts to post their expenditures online or be made readily available to the public.
U.S. Department of Education- Since education is not an enumerated power of the federal government, we believe the Department of Education (DOE) should be abolished, and prohibit the transfer of any of its functions to any other federal agency.

Zero Tolerance- We encourage local ISD’s to use their best judgment in determining the enforcement of zero-tolerance based policies, consider intent, specify violations, and post on ISD websites.
Responsibility of the State in Education- The State of Texas must acknowledge that the education of children is primarily the responsibility of the parent or the guardian. The role of the state is to help facilitate that responsibility.
PROMOTING INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM AND PERSONAL SAFETY
Judeo-Christian Nation- As America is a nation under God, founded on Judeo-Christian principles, we affirm the constitutional right of all individuals to worship as they choose.
Right to Keep and Bear Arms- America’s founding fathers wrote the 2nd Amendment with clear intent – no level of government shall regulate either the ownership or possession of firearms.
Therefore, we strongly oppose all laws that infringe on the right to bear arms. We oppose the monitoring of gun ownership, the taxation and regulation of guns, ammunition, and gun magazines. We collectively urge the legislature to pass “constitutional carry” legislation, whereby law-abiding citizens that possess firearms can legally exercise their God-given right to carry that firearm as well. Until such time, we urge the state to re-introduce and pass legislation easing current restrictions on firearms such as open carry and campus carry. Stiff penalties shall be imposed for frivolous litigation against legitimate firearm manufacturers. All federal acts, laws, executive orders, and court orders which restrict or infringe on the people’s right to keep and bear arms shall be invalid in Texas, not be recognized by Texas, shall be specifically rejected by Texas, and shall be considered null and void and of no effect in Texas. We urge the Texas Legislature to enact legislation to protect law-abiding firearms owners from having their right to bear arms infringed by federal agencies due to such minor mental health diagnoses as non-severe PTS (post-traumatic stress), seeking counseling for minor depression or other minor mental health diagnoses.
Federal Firearms License Act- We believe that Federal Firearms License (FFL) holders should be free from harassment and license revocations and denials against firearm dealers based on violations consisting of largely inconsequential record-keeping errors, and encourage the BATFE to consider lesser gradation of sanctions for such errors. Firearms and ammunition manufactured and sold in the state of Texas are not covered under the Commerce Clause (Article I Section 8 of the United States Constitution) and therefore are not subject to federal regulation.
CHL Laws Applied to Texas Truckers- We call for truckers working within the state of Texas to enjoy the full benefits of the Texas Concealed Handgun License law irrespective of unreasonable and intrusive federal regulations.

FSL Transportation Security Administration (TSA)- We call for the disbanding of the TSA and place airport security into the more accountable and capable hands of the state and local law enforcement.
State Militia- We support the establishment and maintenance of a volunteer Constitutional State Militia with assistance from County Sheriffs.
Militia vs. Paid Army- We recognize that the original meaning of the word “militia” in the Constitution refers to an armed citizenry, not the formal paid professional military.
Freedom of Access Act- We urge repeal of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Law. Those who assault peaceful protesters acting under the Constitution should be vigorously prosecuted. Picketing and literature distribution do not fall under the RICO Act.
Religious Expression- The Republican Party of Texas will protect the rights of commercial establishments to refuse to provide any service or product that would infringe upon their freedom of conscience of religious expression as stated in the 1st Amendment.
Safeguarding Religious Liberties- We affirm that the public acknowledgement of God is undeniable in our history and is vital to our freedom, prosperity, and strength. We pledge our influence toward a return to the original intent of the 1st Amendment and toward dispelling the myth of separation of church and state. We urge the legislature to increase the ability of faith- based institutions and other organizations to assist the needy and to reduce regulation of such organizations.
Religious Liberties Abroad- We urge Congress to sanction any foreign government that persecutes its citizens for their religion.
Health and Human Services Mandate- We strongly oppose any federal or state requirement or other mandate to provide abortions or contraception and sterilization, since this would clearly violate many individuals, businesses, churches, and non-profit personnel’s faith and beliefs.
Government must obey the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution!

Electronic Privacy- We believe all law-abiding citizens should be free from government surveillance of their electronic communications except in cases directly involving national security, by court order. Except for non-citizens, we further oppose any national ID program, including the Real ID Act and the use of Radio Frequency Identification Chips (RFID) on humans.
Personal Confidentiality- Necessary dissemination of personal information among government entities must be safeguarded with the threat of criminal penalties.
Equality of All Citizens- We deplore all discrimination. We also deplore forced sensitivity training and urge repeal of any mandate requiring it. We urge immediate repeal of the Hate

Crimes Law. Until the Hate Crimes Law is totally repealed, we urge the Legislature to immediately remove the education curriculum mandate and the sexual orientation category in said Law.
GMO Labeling- We support labeling of all products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs), as well as cloned organisms, in a uniform and recognizable fashion.
Smart Meters- We oppose the mandated use of Smart Meters, as well as the use of collected data to reduce freedoms of U.S. citizens. Our opposition is based upon security, property damage, energy inefficiencies, privacy, health issues, and the use of Smart Meters to ration electricity.
Texans should be allowed to opt-out of or opt-in to the use of Smart Meters.

Internet Access- We support a free and open internet – free from intrusion, censorship, or control by government or private entities. Due to the inherent benefit of anonymity, the anonymity of users is not to be compromised for any reason, unless consented by the user, or by court order.
We also oppose any mandates by the government to collect and retain records of our internet activity. We support continued stewardship of DNS (Domain Name System) by U.S. Department of Commerce over ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) in order to guarantee continued worldwide freedom of speech on the internet.
Prison Reform- We believe our prison systems should emphasize protection of society and punishment of offenders, ever mindful of their human rights. Prisoners should be required to perform meaningful work. Prisoners should not have access to private information of any citizen. No extraordinary medical care, including organ transplants or body part replacement, should be performed on prisoners at taxpayer expense.
Sentencing Reform- We call for disclosure to juries of prior convictions of the defendant and the actual time likely to be served before parole. We believe punishment should be assessed in proportion to the crime and should be a deterrent. We support imprisonment for life without parole for habitual felons. Convicted criminals should be required to make restitution to their victims. Prisoners without a high school diploma must be required to attend GED or vocational training. No inmate with a history of drug abuse should be eligible for parole before completing treatment.
Crime Shouldn’t Pa y- No convicted criminal should be allowed to profit from sale of rights to their story for books, movies, etc., while incarcerated, on parole, or on probation.
Capital Punishment- Properly applied capital punishment is legitimate, is an effective deterrent, and should be swift and unencumbered.
Juvenile Justice- Juvenile justice reforms should continue, including private programs, “boot camps,” and trying juveniles as adults when appropriate. We condemn incarcerating juveniles and adults in the same facility.

Child Abuse- We recognize the family as a sovereign authority over which the state has no right to intervene, unless a parent or legal guardian has committed criminal abuse. Child abusers should be severely prosecuted. We oppose actions of social agencies to classify traditional methods of discipline, including corporal punishment, as child abuse. As a condition of funding, publicly funded agencies are to report all instances of abuse.
Unborn Victims of Violence- We believe a person who injures or kills an unborn child should be subject to criminal and civil litigation.
Sexual Assault- Adults convicted of sexual molestation of a minor should receive mandatory prison sentences without probation or parole up to and including capital punishment. We support increasing the penalty for failure to report child sexual assault cases, and we urge vigorous prosecution of such failure.
Addictive Behaviors- We encourage state and federal governments to severely prosecute illegal dealers and manufacturers of addictive substances, including pornography, and/or pedophilia. We urge Congress to discourage import of such substances into our country. Faith based rehabilitation programs should be emphasized. We oppose legalization of illicit and synthetic drugs. We support an effective abstinence-based educational program for children. We oppose any “needle exchange” program. We urge vigorous enforcement of our DUI laws.
Property Search and Seizure without Due Process- We need to reinstate the rights embodied in the 4th Amendment that have been rendered null and void by activist courts and government overreach. We oppose search and seizure of private property without due process. Neither law enforcement agencies nor their parent organizations should be allowed to benefit from such seizures.

GOVERNMENT SPENDING

STRENGTHENING THE ECONOMY

Budget and Appropriations- Whereas, Government Spending is out of control at the federal level, and to a lesser degree in Texas at the state level, action is needed. We urge Congress and the Texas State Legislature to become fiscally responsible by immediately enacting the following items:
• Adopt a balanced budget by cutting spending without increasing tax rates or adding new taxes and capping spending with a percent of GDP as calculated prior to 2009.
• We support the implementation of a federal balanced budget amendment only if the above principals are adhered to.
• Adopt zero-based budgeting at all levels of government.
• Adopt Sunset Laws at all levels of government.
• Adopt a policy of requiring public audits of each governmental department at least every 3 years.

Downsizing the Federal Government-
• We encourage the abolishment of any and all federal agencies not based on an enumerated power granted by the United States Federal Constitution.
• All non-military spending should be returned to at least pre-2008 levels.

Unfunded Mandates- We oppose all unfunded mandates by the federal, state, and local governments.
• Amend the Texas Constitution and statute to restrict the power of the legislature to impose unfunded mandates on local governments.

Truth in Taxing- We urge that taxes established for a particular purpose shall not be used for any other purpose.
• Pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting the use of statutorily-dedicated accounts for budget certification, beginning in the 2023-24 biennium.

Congressional Pay and Benefits-
• Congressional pay raises should not exceed the rate of inflation times 0.5.
• Congress shall pass no law affecting average Americans that does not equally apply to themselves and all other federal employees.
• We recommend that the Congressional retirement system be abolished.

Bailouts and Subsidies-
• We encourage government to divest its ownership of all business that should be run in the private sector and allow the free market to prevail.
• We oppose all bailouts of domestic and foreign government entities, states and all businesses, public and private.

Government Lobbying- We oppose paying lobbyists with tax dollars.

Improper Government Funding- We support enforcement of current law prohibiting public assets being used for private groups without proper vetting and authorization, and urge the Texas Legislature to enact civil and criminal penalties for violation of the law which currently has no enforcement mechanism.
Funding Special Interest Organizations- We oppose any direct financial support of special interest organizations, such as ACORN and the ACLU, by any level of government.
Education Spending- Since data is clear that additional money does not translate into educational achievement, and higher education costs are out of control, we support reducing taxpayer funding to all levels of education institutions.
Governmental Transparency- We support statewide and local taxing entities compiling and publically posting their current debt and future obligations on their official websites.

TAX BURDEN
Tax Burden- We in the Republican Party of Texas believe in the principals of constitutionally limited government based on Federalist principles. To this end we encourage our elected officials at all levels of government to work to reverse the current trend of expanding government and the growing tax and debt burdens this places on we the people. We believe the most equitable system of taxation is one based on consumption, and wish to see reforms towards that end at all levels of government, furthermore, we believe that the borrower truly is a slave to the lender, and so long as we continue to increase our tax and debt burdens we will never be a truly free people. Towards these ends, we support the following:
Reformation of the current systems of taxation at all levels of government; federal, state and local. Examples of these reforms include the following:
• The “Fair Tax” system
• A Flat Tax
• The 1-2-3 No Federal Tax
• We support the abolishment of property taxes, but in the interim, property taxes should be paid on the price of the property when it was initially purchased.
• Abolishment of estate taxes or the “Death Tax” as it’s more commonly known
• Abolishment of capital gains taxes
• Abolishment of franchise and business income taxes
• Abolishment of the gift tax.
• Discontinuation revenue generating licensing fee
• Exemption of inventories from property taxes

State Income Tax Ban- We support maintaining the current ban on state income taxes in Texas.

Internet Taxation- We oppose any internet taxation unless it is part of a complete reformation of our taxation systems, preferably in tandem with the abolishment of direct taxation of citizen’s incomes.
Government Authority- We believe any government authority that has the ability to level a tax on the people should be accountable to those who pay the taxes via the electoral process from the local level to the federal level.
Management Districts- We oppose the creation of management districts with the authority to impose taxes and bond debt.
Gambling Tax Revenues- We oppose gambling because we believe that gambling tax revenues are unreliable as a source of funding for any government activities. And gambling is damaging to those in the lowest income quintiles.
Taxation by a Foreign Entity- We believe that any attempt to allow the United Nations or any other foreign entity to levy taxes on United States citizens or governments should be rejected.

Restrictions by Government Agencies- We oppose any restrictions by any government agency on individual taxpayer contributions to churches, faith-based charities and other non-profit organizations.
Truth in Budgeting- Pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting the use of statutorily-dedicated accounts for budget certification, beginning in the 2023-24 biennium.
STATE AND LOCAL DEBT
Transparency Requirements- Create clear and concise transparency requirements for the disclosure of debt information to voters in state and local bond elections prior to voting and on the ballot.
Bond Election Transparency- To ensure that voters are adequately informed about any new debt that they are being asked to approve, state and local bond election ballots should be required to include the amount of debt currently outstanding, current debt service payments, current per capita debt obligations, the amount of new debt being proposed, estimated debt service for the new debt, and estimated per capita burden being proposed.
Financial Statements- Require all local taxing entities to post their financial statements and local government contracts online.
Vendor Contracts- Requiring each local taxing entity to post all vendor contracts over certain values and financial statements online, or to submit them to the state for inclusion in a website maintained by the Comptroller or the Legislative Budget Board, would ensure that both the state and its political subdivisions are subject to the same transparency requirements.
CONSTITUTIONAL SPENDING LIMIT
Spending Limitations- Amend the Texas Constitution and state statute with a stricter spending limitation based on population growth times inflation, and apply the new limit to all General Revenue and General Revenue-dedicated state spending. (The SREC has been made aware of the fact that different results can be obtained from this formula depending on whether whole numbers or fractions are utilized. The SREC wants to make clear that this plank does not call for an increase in government beyond population growth and inflation but rather should be interpreted so that government growth is restrained.)

Two-Thirds Vote- Require a two-thirds vote to override the constitutional spending limit.

ECONOMIC STABILIZATION FUND
Permissible Uses of Fund- Amend the Texas Constitution to narrow the permissible uses of the Economic Stabilization Fund to cover revenue shortfalls in the current biennium, debt retirement, one-time infrastructure projects, and expenses related to a state of disaster as declared by the governor

State Hiring Decisions- Repeal the Sunset Act provision protecting state bureaucracy. If the Sunset process determines that an agency is no longer needed, the state should not continue to employ someone simply because they once worked for a state agency that is now defunct.
Public Private Partnerships- We oppose the construction of transportation projects which surrender control or ownership to foreign interests, such as public private partnerships (or P3s). We oppose the use of eminent domain for private gain for toll projects, as well as the construction of a “Trans-Texas Corridor” or similar project which would create a federal corridor through Texas.
Transportation and Fuel Taxes- We call for all transportation and fuel taxes collected to be used for road construction, improvement, and maintenance only. We resolve that tax revenue derived from gasoline taxes and all other taxes/fees on our vehicles (including vehicle sales tax) should only be used for highway construction, and not be diverted to any other use, including mass transit, rail, and bicycle paths.
Oil and Gas Producing Counties- Counties with oil and gas production should receive a portion of the production taxes the state collects so that the road system can be maintained for the dual purpose of accommodating the needs of the industry and providing adequate public safety.
Toll Roads- We believe that tolls should come off the road when the debt is retired, and if the debt is ever restructured or refinanced; the pay-off date needs to remain the same or receive voter approval in order to extend the toll tax longer. Maintenance should then revert to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).
Toll Road funding- We oppose the use of taxpayer money to subsidize, guarantee, prop-up, or bail out any toll projects, whether public or private, and we call upon both state and federal lawmakers to adequately fund our highways without hidden taxes, tolls, or raiding emergency funds.
Diversion of Property Taxes- We oppose the diversion of property taxes to build, subsidize, and/or guarantee the loans of toll projects, which is primarily being done through transportation reinvestment zones. The State needs to properly fund the Texas State highway system to prevent the use of LOCAL property taxes being diverted to STATE roads.
Comprehensive Texas Energy Plan- We urge development of a comprehensive Texas energy plan that ensures development of domestic energy sources and reduce or eventually eliminate our need for foreign energy and ensure export of compressed natural gas and distillates with elimination of onerous environmental regulations. Further, we recommend that the plan include development of coal energy resources, completion of the Keystone Pipeline Project, and invites to other states to participate.
Removal of Government Barriers- We support immediate removal of government barriers to free market solutions to production and distribution of energy including restrictions on:

• Export of LNG and CNG worldwide
• Drilling and production operations on public and private lands and waters
• Modernization of existing and construction of new refineries
• Electric power generation and distribution
• Federal gas mileage standards (CAFÉ standards) and fuel blends

Land Drilling- We support land drilling and production operations including hydraulic fracturing.
Cap and Trade- We oppose the implementation of any cap and trade (aka “Cap and Tax”) system through legislation or regulation.
U.S. Department of Energy- We still support the elimination of the Department of Energy.

Keystone XL Pipeline- We support the immediate approval and construction of the Keystone XL and other pipelines that will reduce our reliance on imported oil and natural gas from unstable or unfriendly countries.
Ethanol- We support the repeal of legislation mandating ethanol as a fuel additive and/or primary fuel.
Natural Gas Exports- We insist on expedited design, construction, and implementation of facilities required to export LNG, CNG and natural gas worldwide, to include exports to Mexico/Canada, even if destined for re-export to non-Free Trade countries, and elimination of federal government onerous restriction and interference.
Alternative Fuel- We urge the use of natural gas as an alternative transportation fuel and as complimentary fuel to gasoline and diesel.
• We support the manufacture of vehicles that utilize natural gas as an alternative fuel and/or a complimentary fuel
• We support and encourage the conversion of existing private fleets to natural gas as a dual use fuel
• We support the use of natural gas in electric power generation and other industrial uses

Alternative Energy Sources- We encourage the development and use of wind energy, coal-fired plants, solar, and nuclear power, and bio-sources without government subsidies.
Incandescent Light Bulbs- We support the freedom to continue to use and manufacture incandescent light bulbs.
Electrical Grid- We encourage the Texas Legislature to take steps to ensure our electrical grid is kept independent, safe, and secure from attack.
Business and the Economy- We believe that a favorable business climate and strong economy emerges when government is limited by low taxation, sensible regulation, and tort reform. The

American private sector powers our economy and is the true creator of jobs. When government, through legislation, executive action, statute or agency, overreaches, we believe it is then our duty to protect the American free market, private sector actors and our economy. Because we believe that competition in the free market is vital to a strong economy and business climate, we stand for the equal representation of all sectors and economic actors in government action including small business owners, farmers, ranchers and the taxpayer. The establishment of a transparent and accountable monetary system is paramount in the pursuit of a strong economy.
Small Business- We urge the federal and state legislatures to mitigate the impact of regulations on small businesses and to ensure that such businesses are adequately represented in the regulatory process. We support the removal of any unreasonable legal or economic barriers to home-based work.
Right to Work- We oppose the Employee Free Choice Act (card check) and any action that eliminates the secret ballot. Every worker should have freedom to work in their preferred job without being forced to join or pay dues to any organization. Our right-to-work law has provided this freedom and a good climate for industrial expansion, higher employment, and a stable management-labor relationship and should be retained. We also encourage the adoption of a National Right-to-Work Act.
Minimum Wage Repeal- We believe the Minimum Wage Law should be repealed.

Prevailing Wage Law- We urge Congress to repeal the Prevailing Wage Law and the Davis Bacon Act.
Workers Compensation- We urge the Legislature to resist making workers’ compensation mandatory for all Texas employers.
Exotic Livestock- We encourage the freedom of farmers, ranchers, and producers to be able to raise and promote all livestock, wildlife and other protected species for conservation, consumption, and economic development.
Rural and Volunteer Fire Departments- We urge Congress to overturn the rules of the United States Department of Labor restricting volunteerism by paid firefighters and emergency medical technician personnel and protections similar to those provided to national guardsmen for service during declared emergencies.
Water Shortages-We recommend the Texas Legislature, in coordination with the Texas Water Development Board, immediately appropriate required revenue and authorize sale of revenue bonds to finance, design, and construction of a large desalination facility or facilities using sea water from the Gulf of Mexico and from underground salt water aquifers using leading-edge technologies such as, but not limited to, reverse-osmosis (RO), electro dialysis, and reed-root constructed wetlands, to bring long-term resolution Texas’s critical water shortage problem.

Also, to relieve reliance and depletion on fresh water aquifers from the Panhandle to the Permian Basin, Concho Valley, Hill Country, south, southwest, and west Texas, etc., and thereby ensure continued economic stability and growth. These current leading-edge technologies offer feasible capabilities to treat seawater, brackish inland water, sewage, oilfield waste water, etc. to provide new innovative potable water resources. We further recommend that affordability, effectiveness, and free market forces drive the selection of the best technologies to bring new water solutions.
Mineral Leasing and Development- We believe more Bureau of Land Management resources should be open to mineral leasing, and development be permitted.
Hemp Cultivation- We support legislation allowing for industrial hemp cultivation in Texas upon such delineation of industrial hemp by Congress.
Raw milk and dairy products- We support legislation confirming local dairy farmers’ rights to produce and sell natural milk and dairy products within the State of Texas.
Federal Reserve System- We believe Congress should repeal the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 thereby abolishing the Federal Reserve Banking System. In the interim, we call for a complete audit of the Federal Reserve System and its Board of Governors followed by an immediate report to the American people.
Federal Rese rve S ystem’ s Dual Mandate- We call for the removal of the “full employment” part of the Federal Reserve System’s current dual mandate.
Sound Money- Our founding fathers warned us of the dangers of allowing central bankers to control our currency because inflation equals taxation without representation. We support the return to the time-tested precious metal standard for the United States dollar.
Sarbanes Oxley Legislation- We support the repeal of Sarbanes Oxley legislation.

Repeal Dodd Frank- We support the immediate repeal of Dodd Frank legislation.

Community Reinvestment Act- We support the repeal of the Community Reinvestment Act.

Free Market for Utilities and Insurance- We encourage free market solutions for providing utilities whenever possible. We support that all property insurance rates should be set through free-market forces alone. We support efforts to shrink the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association to reduce the liabilities it imposes on state taxpayers.
Law Basis for Regulations- We urge that all regulations written should be sent to the originating committee of the supporting legislation for approval before being implemented.
Climate Change- We believe we are to be good stewards of our planet and thus manage the resources it provides. We believe current evidence is not conclusive on the cause of climate change; we reject the use of this natural process to promote more government regulation of the

private economy. Furthermore, we reject the idea of “climate justice” and the accompanying redistribution of wealth that comes with accepting it.
Frivolous Lawsuits- We support further reform to discourage frivolous lawsuits. We oppose the abusive use of class action lawsuits.
Transparency in Government Litigation- We demand that all state agencies, municipalities, and public entities pay greater attention to thwart frivolous lawsuits by trial lawyers. We urge our elected officials to pay greater attention to out-of-control legal expenses to ensure being a good steward of the taxpayers’ money.
Tidelands/Water Resources and Rights to State Waters- We demand that the State of Texas and all costal states enjoy and maintain jurisdiction and control of their offshore waters up to the international water boundaries as well as state inland waterways in regards to all natural resources therein, and that the federal government shall not set limits on harvesting or taking natural resources therein, nor allow foreign entities to harvest or take such natural resources therein, including minerals, game, fisheries, and hydrocarbons. Also, we demand that no entity shall usurp Texas’ original tideland boundaries.
UNITED STATES SOVEREIGNTY, LEADERSHIP, AND FOREIGN POLICY SOVEREIGNTY
Limited Federal Powers- We strongly support state sovereignty reserved under the 10th Amendment and oppose mandates beyond the scope of federal authority, as defined in the United States Constitution. We further support abolition of federal agencies involved in activities not originally delegated to the federal government under a strict interpretation of the United States Constitution.
National Sovereignty- The United States is a sovereign nation independent of all foreign entities with power held solely by the people. Therefore, we insist that the President and Congress defend our national sovereignty in accordance with their oaths of office. The United States government must remain free of all external control and influence.
United Nations- We support the withdrawal of the United States from the United Nations and the removal of United Nations headquarters from United States soil.
United Nations Agenda 21- We oppose implementation of the United Nations Agenda 21 treaty policies and its supporting organizations, agreements, and contracts which were adopted at the Earth Summit Conference in 1992. We oppose the influence, promotion, and implementation of all international nongovernmental organizations’ programs and policies, in the metropolitan and/or regional planning organizations, Councils of Government, and International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), and the use of American taxes to promote these programs.

Homeland Security- We support the strengthening of our nation’s homeland security while protecting the constitutional rights of all United States citizens and lawful resident aliens.
Decommission Homeland Security- We support decommissioning the Department of Homeland Security and reorganizing into previously existing structures. The communication barriers between security agencies should be reconciled.
National Defense- We support a strong national defense that protects United States interests, freedoms and sovereignty at home and abroad.
Citizenship- We call on the Texas Legislature to pass a constitutional amendment that defines citizenship as those born to a citizen of the United States or through naturalization.
Texas State Guard- We recommend that the Texas State Guard Reserve Militia be activated on a quarterly basis, for purposes of organization and training. These musters should be of a voluntary nature, and be held for a minimum of two days each.
United States Ports- We urge the federal government to support and participate in the ongoing efforts to review the emergency military deployment requirements and peacetime security needs of United States ports, and that this review should be coordinated with all relevant federal, state and local law enforcement and security-related agencies, including public port authorities. We object to foreign governments, states or companies owning or managing United States ports.
Texas Fiscal Sovereignty- We urge the State Legislature to conduct a study and enact legislation to determine total federal receipts by departments and establish plans for operating with 5% or greater reduction per year in federal funds, and develop contingency plans to provide core services.
United Nations World Heritage Sites- We oppose the transfer of the Alamo and the other Franciscan missions to the United Nations. We urge the Texas General Land Office to respect the hallowed ground of the Alamo and what it means to the people of Texas. We support maintaining control of these historic sites in Texas hands, and we oppose granting jurisdiction and sovereignty over Texas’ cultural sites to any international body.
MILITARY AND SPACE EXPLORATION
Support of our Armed Forces- The men and women who wear our country’s uniform, whether on active duty or in the Reserves or National Guard, are the most important assets in our military arsenal. They and their families must have the pay, health care, housing, education and overall support they need. Injured military personnel deserve the best medical, mental health and rehabilitative care our country has to offer. We must always remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice; their families must be assured meaningful financial assistance. It is the solemn duty we owe and honor we give to those who bravely don the uniform of freedom. We

support our government in continuing to seek and act upon all information concerning our military personnel and other citizens listed as Missing in Action or Prisoners of War.
Defense Spending- We strongly oppose any cut in the defense budgets and troop levels at this time.
Arming the Military on Military Bases- In light of the recent terrorist attacks at Fort Hood, we call for base commanders to provide sufficient armament of military personnel on military bases to provide for their self-defense.
National Defense Authorization Act- We call on the state Attorney General to challenge in court all provisions of federal laws or executive orders which authorize unconstitutional detention of citizens by federal law enforcement without due process or any enforcement of federal law by the military within the State of Texas, including sections 1021 and 1022 of the National Defense Authorization Act.
Strategic Defense Initiative- We urge the United States Congress to continue funding the Strategic Defense Initiative for missile defense. We further call for renewed efforts and funding for nuclear shield development and for the immediate implementation of such a shield for us, Poland, Czech Republic and other allies.
Military Rules of Engagement- Military Rules of Engagement, as defined by the President or Congress, should not preclude the safety nor deny the immediacy of tactical decision making of the military personnel in the field. Military personnel shall not be criminally or civilly liable for reasonable actions taken in the field.
Returning Veterans- We support the accommodation and reintegration of our troops once their military commitment has expired. Returning veterans must have access to educational benefits, job training, and a wide variety of employment options.
Veteran ’s Administration – We are outraged by the mistreatment given to our military veterans. The Veteran’s Administration must become more responsive and more efficient by eliminating its backlog and reducing wait times for treatment. We support the privatization of veteran’s healthcare.
NASA- We strongly encourage the federal government and NASA to work with American citizens and American businesses to research and develop a new vehicle to continue human space flight and maintain America’s leadership in space exploration.
FOREIGN POLICY
Foreign Policy- We support the spread of representative forms of government, free market enterprise, private humanitarian aid to developing countries, continued favorable treatment of proven allies, censure of adversarial entities that seek destruction of other countries and strong

policies on confronting terrorists. We oppose United States aid to any foreign entity that consistently votes against our interests or is openly hostile to our nation.
Declaration of War- A lawful “Declaration of War” is necessary for the United States to enter into armed conflict, and we urge Congress to reclaim its Constitutional responsibility as implemented under the War Powers Act. Any breech of this power by the President is an impeachable offence.
Foreign Aid- We oppose foreign aid, except in cases of national defense or catastrophic disasters, with Congressional approval.
Free Trade- We support free trade as a necessary component of American capitalism and of the United States’ influence in the world.
International Organizations- We support United States withdrawal from the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, and the World Bank.
Israel- We believe that the United States and Israel share a special long-standing relationship based on shared values, a mutual commitment to a republican form of government, and a strategic alliance that benefits both nations. Our foreign policy with Israel should reflect the right of sovereign nations to govern themselves and have self-determination. In our diplomatic dealings with Israel, we encourage the continuation of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, but oppose pressuring Israel to compromise their sovereignty or security. Our policy is inspired by God’s biblical promise to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel and we further invite other nations and organizations to enjoy the benefits of that promise.
Mexico- We support United States policies which help Mexico strengthen its Constitution. We support aggressive military and law enforcement cooperation to address corruption, the drug cartels, and human trafficking. We support Mexico’s efforts to privatize their nationalized industries in order to strengthen their economy.
Taiwan- We support full diplomatic recognition of Taiwan as an independent and sovereign nation. We urge Congress to work with the Taiwanese government to preserve and enhance the human rights of all people.
Investigate Benghazi- We call upon the United States House of Representatives to appoint a select committee and a special prosecutor in order to subpoena testimony to fully investigate all aspects of the Benghazi debacle, including, but not limited to, the reason Ambassador Stevens was in Benghazi; the denied assistance before and during the attack, the accounts of personnel who participated in the defense of the embassy annex, and the apparent attempt by the White House to deceive the American public with a concocted story about a spontaneous reaction to a YouTube video. We call for bringing those responsible to justice, including jail time.

Congressional Apology- The Republican Party of Texas endorses and supports the Proposed Congressional Apology to the Chinese Americans for governmental actions that denied equal rights to and adversely harmed the Chinese in America.
IMMIGRATION
America is proudly a nation of immigrants. Throughout our history, our nation has attracted productive, industrious and gifted people to America because she is exceptional, and those immigrants and their descendants helped make America the world’s unrivaled economic and military superpower. It remains imperative to create fair and consistent procedures that will again enable freedom-loving, hard-working and law-abiding immigrants to join us, by providing them an efficient, practical method of legal entry, so they can lawfully take positions where their labor is needed, without exploitation or harassment.
Our national interests are poorly served by our broken, embattled, and outdated immigration system, and patchwork attempts to mend its deficiencies will not prepare us to continue to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex global economy that demands the legal movement of people to fill jobs at all skill levels. An efficient, pro-family and market-based system will provide a more workable solution that is compassionate, equitable and respects the rule of law.
But by failing to create a rational and effective system that encourages and facilitates legal immigration to the benefit of the nation, Congress has forced states to deal with the consequences of a broken immigration system, including human, sex and drug trafficking, the direct criminal activities of cartels and gangs. This situation must end so America can, once again, enjoy the fruits of a vibrant and beneficial system of legal immigration.
In addition, with 92 million Americans not working, the labor force at 36-year low and a lethargic economy, the United States of America can ill-afford a guest worker program designed to depress wages.
The following outlines specific actions needed to address these critical issues:

• Secure the borders through:
o Increasing the number of border security officers
o Increasing joint operations and training with local law enforcement, DPS and the Texas State Guard
o Contiguous physical barrier coupled with electronic, infrared and visual monitoring
• Ending in-state tuition for illegal immigrants
• Enhancing state smuggling laws
• Prohibiting sanctuary cities
• Prohibiting the knowing employment of illegal immigrants
• Providing civil liability protections for landowners against illegal immigrants

• Protecting the ability of law enforcement officers to inquire of the status of someone in custody
• Modernizing current immigration laws to address the following:
o Any form of amnesty should not be granted, including the granting of legal status to persons in the country illegally
o We support replacement of the current employment visa system with an efficient cost effective system
o We support ending country of origin quotas
o We support ending the annual green card lottery
• Once the borders are verifiably secure, and E-Verify system use is fully enforced, creation of a visa classification for non-specialty industries which have demonstrated actual and persistent labor shortages

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF PRIORITIZING CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY LEGISLATION
We call upon the 84th Texas Legislature to propose to the people of Texas a constitutional amendment to strike “; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime” from Article I, Section 23 of the Texas Constitution.
Further, we request the State Party Chair and the State Republican Executive Committee consider adoption of such an amendment and other legislation necessary to remove restrictions on Texans’ right to own and bear arms a legislative priority for the Republican Party of Texas for the 2015 legislative session and to utilize reasonable Party resources necessary to promote and support their passage.

Justice Department’s Latest Action Violates Federal Immigration Law

There is one big problem with Holder’s plan to fund legal representation for illegal aliens: It violates federal law. Federal immigration law (8 U.S.C. §1229a) lays out the rules governing removal proceedings in the immigration courts, which are administrative courts run by the Justice Department, not Article III federal courts. Under Section 1229a(b)(4)(A), aliens have the “privilege of being represented, at no expense to the government, by counsel of the alien’s choosing.” Thus, there is no question illegal aliens can be represented by lawyers in immigration removal proceedings, but it also is clear representation cannot be at the expense of the government.

via Justice Department’s Latest Action Violates Federal Immigration Law.

Obama honors law breakers, denies “Dreamers” responsible for border crisis

How’s this for  (I can’t think of a decent way to say this other than a poke in the eye  with the middle finger) from President Obama?

The White House will honor 10 young adults on Tuesday who came to the United States illegally and qualified for the president’s program to defer deportation actions.

Each person has qualified for the government’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program, which delays removal proceedings against them as long as they meet certain guidelines.

They will be honored as “Champions of Change,” the White House said in a statement Monday because they “serve as success stories and role models in their academic and professional spheres.”

They emigrated from Mexico, Colombia, Morocco, India, Taiwan and the Philippines, and many of them work in professions related to immigration policy or have helped launch initiatives that promote reform.

 

 

Get that? Not only are they recipients of Obama’s back door illegal amnesty executive order, these “Dreamers” work to further undermine our Nation’s immigration laws!

The honorees have all worked to support comprehensive immigration reform in some way. They include a ThinkProgress writer and two people involved with Mi Familia Vota, ”a national non-profit organization working to unite the Latino community and its allies to promote social and economic justice through increased civic participation” by, among other things, ”expanding the electorate through direct, sustainable citizenship, voter registration, census education, GOTV and issue organizing in key states.”

 

And that Deferred Action program is exactly why Central American mothers and fathers are bringing their children 1800 miles through Mexico – or sending them on alone – often at the mercy of not only the cartels, but Mexico’s own Federal police:

 

Bercian Diaz said they found corruption in the Mexican government.

“They were asking for 500 pesos, 600 pesos. The federals took that money from us,” she said.

She said the Mexican federal police and immigration officers asked for money to “turn the other way.”

“The immigration officers took 1,500 pesos,” Bercian Diaz said.

 

In the meantime, White House press secretary Josh Earnest mocks Republican legislators:

“I wouldn’t put a lot of stock in the ability of Republican members of Congress to divine the thoughts and insights of children in Central American countries,” Earnest answered. “My point is, I’m not sure this withstands a whole lot of scrutiny.”

 

and Homeland Security Chief Jeh Johnson says he doesn’t believe the reports from 230 illegal aliens’ own explanations about why they are crashing our borders:

As it turns out, the Republican explanation does withstand a whole lot of scrutiny. Recent days have been filled with anecdotal reports, from local news outlets in Central America to major American newspapers, citing immigrants who say they came because they believe U.S. law has been changed to allow them to stay. And now comes word that Border Patrol agents in the most heavily-trafficked area of the surge, the Rio Grande Valley sector of Texas, recently questioned 230 illegal immigrants about why they came. The results showed overwhelmingly that the immigrants, including those classified as UACs, or unaccompanied children, were motivated by the belief that they would be allowed to stay in the United States — and not by conditions in their homelands. From a report written by the agents, quoting from the interviews:

“The main reason the subjects chose this particular time to migrate to the United States was to take advantage of the “new” U.S. “law” that grants a “free pass” or permit (referred to as “permisos”) being issued by the U.S. government to female adult OTMs traveling with minors and to UACs. (Comments: The “permisos” are the Notice to Appear documents issued to undocumented aliens, when they are released on their own recognizance pending a hearing before an immigration judge.) The information is apparently common knowledge in Central America and is spread by word of mouth, and international and local media. A high percentage of the subjects interviewed stated their family members in the U.S. urged them to travel immediately, because the United States government was only issuing immigration “permisos” until the end of June 2014…The issue of “permisos” was the main reason provided by 95% of the interviewed subjects.”

. . . Several Republican senators cited the Border Patrol report in the hearing with Secretary Johnson last week. Johnson said he had not seen the paper. “The document you read from, I have never seen,” Johnson told Republican Sen. John Cornyn. “It’s supposedly a draft document. I don’t know that I agree with the assessment there.”

“Well, they’re interviews with 230 of the people detained coming across the border,” Cornyn said.

“I’m not sure I agree that that is the motivator for people coming in — for the children coming into south Texas,” Johnson answered. “I think it is primarily the conditions in the countries that they are leaving from.”

 

 

Oh, that photo? That’s the result when I clicked on the Google News headline for the WH press release about the event. But, hey! What’s another Obama website fail?

On the other hand . . .

Is it true that a US citizen can’t enter because of high-handed bureaucrats?

Olivas was returning to the United States from Mexico officials unlawfully refused to allow him to enter the United States, may have issued an order of removal against him, and referred him for a hearing at an unspecified date that occurred,” according to the complaint.

Olivas says he has a U.S. birth certificate, but a State Department official coerced his mother into saying that the certificate was falsified. Olivas was issued a “delayed registration of birth” certificate in 1970, five months after he was born, because his mother – then a Mexican national – “was fearful of giving birth in a hospital and instead delivered Mr. Olivas in a private residence with the assistance of a midwife,” the complaint states.

via Courthouse News Service.

 

More on the lawsuit at Breitbart.com.

New York: to Grant Undocumented Immigrants State Citizenship?

This Bill hasn’t passed, and the article doesn’t indicate that it has much chance. However, isn’t this news just one more (giant) magnet for illegal aliens?

(And wouldn’t the rest of the US have to subsidize Medicaid?)

While Congress drags its feet on immigration reform, New York State lawmakers are mulling an immigration bill of their own: It would grant state citizenship to some noncitizen immigrants, including undocumented residents, allowing them to vote and run for office. Under the New York Is Home Act, noncitizen residents who have proof of identity and have lived and paid taxes in the state for three years could apply for legal status that would let some qualify for Medicaid coverage, professional licensing, tuition assistance, and driver’s licenses, as well as state and local—but not federal—voting rights. The responsibilities of citizenship would also apply, including jury duty.

via In New York, a Bill to Grant Undocumented Immigrants State Citizenship – Businessweek.

Best of the Web Today: The Lois Stretch – WSJ

Not only are the emails lost, but they hoped the notice would be, also:

Camp notes that the IRS decided to “bury” the claim of lost emails “deep in an unrelated letter on a Friday afternoon.” He isn’t kidding. It appears on the 15th page of the document, which is actually the seventh page of the first attachment to an eight-page letter, addressed to Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Orrin Hatch of Utah, respectively chairman and ranking Republican of the Senate Finance Committee.

The IRS asserts that it has “determined that Ms. Lerner’s computer crashed in mid-2011. . . . The data stored on her computer’s hard drive was determined to be ‘unrecoverable’ by the IT [information technology] professionals.” The agency further claims to have “confirmed that back-up tapes from 2011 no longer exist because they have been recycled.”

via Best of the Web Today: The Lois Stretch – WSJ.

 

And there’s more:

IT professionals from outside the administration say the Lois Stretch is quite a stretch, too. Norman Cillo, identified as “an Army veteran who worked in intelligence and a former program manager at Microsoft,” tells TheBlaze.com that if the IRS is telling the truth, it means the agency is “totally mismanaged and has the worst IT department ever.” According to Cillo, there should be multiple backups, on server hard drives as well as tape.

Texas State Guard is our militia

Wonder if this group may be the answer to our border problems?

The Texas State Guard is one of three components of the Texas Military Forces (TXMF), operating under the command of the Adjutant General of Texas and the Governor as Commander-in-Chief of all state military forces. The TXMF includes the Texas Army National Guard and the Texas Air National Guard.

The mission of the Texas State Guard (TXSG) is to provide mission-ready military forces to assist state and local authorities in times of state emergencies; to conduct homeland security and community service activities under the umbrella of Defense Support to Civil Authorities; and to augment the Texas Army National Guard and Texas Air National Guard as required.

Headquartered at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas, the TXSG functions as an organized state militia under the authority of Title 32 of the U.S. Code and Chapter 431 of the Texas Government Code.

via Home – Texas State Guard.