COMMITTEE: Urban Affairs

TIME
DATE: 7:30 PM, Wednesday, May 22, 2013

PLACE: Second
Bar + Kitchen, 200 Congress Ave, Austin, TX
CHAIR: Rep. Harold V. Dutton, Jr.

You can read the rest of this article at: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/83R/schedules/html/C4802013052219301.htm

Relating to the creation of a new category of law enforcement officer who shall be designated a school marshal, the training and appointment of certain employees of a school district or open-enrollment charter school as school marshals, and the rights, restrictions, limitations, and responsibilities of school marshals; authorizing the imposition of a fee.

Committee report printed and distributed 11:12 PM, 05/17/13

You can read the rest of this article at: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/83R/calendars/html/S120130522.htm

You can read the rest of this article at: http://www.danbranch.com/in-the-news/tv-media/item/1724-regents-bill-is-a-rebuke-but-perry-still-should-sign-it

COMMITTEE: Local Consent Calendars

TIME
DATE: 7:00 PM, Tuesday, May 21, 2013

PLACE: 3W.15

CHAIR: Rep. Senfronia Thompson

You can read the rest of this article at: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/83R/schedules/html/C3802013052119001.htm

COMMITTEE: Intergovernmental
Relations

TIME
DATE: 6:24 PM, Tuesday, May 21, 2013

PLACE: Senator Hinojosa’s Desk
CHAIR: Senator Juan Hinojosa

You can read the rest of this article at: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/83R/schedules/html/C5202013052118241.htm

SB 1116             Zaffirini

SP: Kuempel

Relating
to the creation, administration, powers, duties, functions, operations, and
financing of the Crystal Clear Special Utility District; providing
authority to issue bonds; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

You can read the rest of this article at: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/83R/calendars/html/H320130522.htm

Back in 2011 and 2012, my office was contacted by Texans who were concerned that they were being targeted by the federal government simply for exercising their constitutional right to free speech. At the time, these folks were being subjected to inquiries from the IRS that seemed excessive, unreasonable, and improper. Many around Washington and across the country unfairly dismissed these folks as subscribing to wild conspiracy theories.

Well, we found out the Texans who were targeted were right and the IRS was wrong. These abuses are not simply inappropriate, they’re a breach of faith and potentially violations of criminal law.

Below are some of the stories Texans shared with me over the last two years that prompted three separate letters to the Administration, all of which were ignored or dismissed.  

If you have been targeted by the IRS, I invite you to share your story here. Let’s make it clear that Texans will not stand for the kind of behavior typically associated with corrupt tin-pot dictators – not with the greatest democracy in the world.
 
Thank you, and may God continue to bless the great state of Texas.

John Cornyn
 

“The timing of it all is very troubling, especially considering we’ve been married and in business nearly 20 years and never once had any of these agencies contacted us in any way prior to my filing for non-profit status.”
Catherine Englebrecht
Founder, King Street Patriots

“If we were to comply, the costs would be in the thousands of dollars just for the paper, printing, copying, shipping supplies, and postage. If we were to comply, the attorney fees and accounting fees would be astronomical, and in the end, there still would be no guarantee that we would be granted the 501(c)(4) status. Other organizations complied, sent all the information, and were still denied.
“We are told that the IRS would not target tea party or other conservative-leaning groups. We have no doubt that you will stay and fight with us!”
Caroll Waddell
Treasurer, Waco Tea Party

“We responded to… IRS requests for additional information within their timeframe…but, to us, these questions were clearly

You can read the rest of this article at: http://www.cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=feature-redirect&ContentRecord_id=d511f5dd-750d-4160-ab56-7c85050b996f

You can read the rest of this article at: http://kaygranger.house.gov/press-release/granger-statement-oklahoma-tornado-emergency-response-information

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, today released the following statement regarding the tragedy in Moore, Oklahoma:

“The devastation from yesterday’s storm in Oklahoma is heartbreaking and I send my deepest condolences to all of those who have lost loved ones. My prayers go out to the first responders and volunteers as they continue to search for survivors and I hope that all who were injured recover fully.

“My thoughts are also with my fellow Rules Committee member and friend, Tom Cole, who calls Moore his home. I join all of my colleagues in supporting him, his constituents in Moore, and the state of Oklahoma as they mourn the loss of life and work to rebuild their community. As we always have, the American people will come together to assist with local recovery efforts and stand with Oklahomans during this time of grief and destruction.”

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You can read the rest of this article at: http://sessions.house.gov/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=c1edf706-6e2e-4b4f-8321-3fb3cdbd381f

John Wayne Smith,
LP Florida
2014 Candidate
for Governor

John Wayne Smith has ambitious plans for the office of governor of Florida: cutting taxes to the bone, eliminating dozens of agencies and offices, rescinding laws that allow the use of eminent domain to take property for private gain, and getting rid of occupational licensing schemes that prevent so many people from earning a living. And he’s running to win — first, the party nomination, and then, the governorship of the Sunshine State.

There has hardly been a political battle in central Florida during the past 40 plus years in which this 67-year-old Leesburg, Fla., native has not been involved.

In 1969, he ran for the Leesburg City Commission, a race he repeated in 1970 and again in 2001. He threw his hat into the race for the Ocala City Commission in 1983, and for mayor of Ocala in 1985.

In 1986, 2000, and 2004, he was a candidate for the Florida State House, achieving an unprecedented showing in his most recent race.

“In the 2004 race, I received the highest number of votes for a Florida Libertarian in state house races in 2004,” Mr. Smith recalled. “That was 19,124 votes for 24.75 percent. In five of these races, I received over 20 percent of the vote.”

He ran for Florida governor in 2002 and 2006, and for U.S. vice president in 2008 as a candidate of the Boston Tea Party.

The gubernatorial contest in 2014 is expected to be crowded and unpredictable. Incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Scott, a venture capitalist who spent roughly $75 million of his own money on his successful 2010 gubernatorial run, has announced his intent to seek reelection.

Other possible big-name contenders include former governor Charlie Crist, Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch, Florida Senate Minority Leader Nan Rich, and Republican Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford, to name just a few.

Two other Libertarians are also expected to seek the party nomination, current LP Chair Adrian Wyllie and political consultant Roger Stone.

The lackluster economy, Obamacare, and immigration reform are expected to dominate

You can read the rest of this article at: http://www.lp.org/blogs/staff/libertarian-john-wayne-smith-aims-to-downsize-government