Posted on 05/31/2015 5:56:58 AM PDT by Kaslin
Last Wednesday, the Texas Legislature pushed through, and I mean pushed, controversial legislation which repeals portions of the First Amendment, effectively ending citizen journalism in the Capitol.
How quaint, eh?
Yep, when Texas legislators found out about the undercover video footage about to be released by Hannah Giles (of ACORN fame) and Joseph Basel with the American Phoenix Foundation, they flipped out and quickly jammed through legislation, SB19, which would criminalize this First Amendment practice from 1985 forward. Why they picked 1985 only lawless liberals and repugnant Republicans can know. I would have thought for an apropos Orwellian effect they’d pick 1984, but then again … who am I? Anyway …
The new law is an attempt for legislators to shield themselves from scrutiny even in public areas of the Capitol building.
Silly Texans. Who are we to want to monitor what these dipsticks we naively elected and pay for are actually doing on our taxpayer dime?
Indeed, in a stunning show of bipartisanship, the Texas House rushed through SB19 which includes provisions which radically curtail the rights of the press to know and report what these cats are actually doing on the clock. That’s our clock. Pardon my redundancy.
Civil penalties for video reporting could now include $10,000 fines per occurrence.
With over 800 hours of footage looming over their nefarious noggins, in a full on Corrupt-O-Crat sweat, the following Texas Republicans voted to pass SB19.
The reason I singled out Republicans is because we expect such fascism from Liberals. But Republicans? Good Lawd! Tell yo’ granny.
So, without further ado, here are the Texas State House Republicans that voted to muzzle the First Amendment in Texas. Please drop ‘em a line or tweet at them and let 'em know what you think of the Constitution.
Trent Ashby (HD 57) @TrentAshbyTX,
Jimmy Don Aycock (HD 54) @Aycockjda,
Cindy Burkett (HD 113) @CindyBurkett_TX,
DeWayne Burns (HD 58) @BurnsForTexas
Angie Chen Button (HD 112) @AngieChenButton
Giovanni Capriglione (HD 98) @VoteGiovanni,
Travis Clardy (HD 11) @TravisForTexas
Byron Cook (HD 8)
Tony Dale (HD 136) @TonyDaleTX
Drew Darby (HD 72) @drewdarby4Tx,
Sarah Davis (HD 134) @SarahforHD134,
Gary Elkins (HD 135) gary@garyelkins.com
Wayne Faircloth (HD 23) @WayneFaircloth
Dr. Marsha Farney (HD 20) @DrMarshaFarney,
John Frullo (HD 84) @FrulloForTexas,
Rick Galindo (HD 117) @GalindoForRep
Charlie Geren (HD 99) @charliegeren
Larry Gonzales (HD 52) @larrygonzales52,
Patricia Harless (HD 126) @PatriciaHarless,
Dan Huberty (HD 127) @DanHuberty,
Todd Hunter (HD 32) @toddahunter, @Dist32StateRep,
Kyle Kacal (HD 12) @KyleKacal,
Jim Keffer (HD 60) @RepJimKeffer,
Ken King (HD 88) @KingForTexas,
Linda Koop (HD 102) @LindaKoopHD102
John Kuempel (HD 44)
Lyle Larson (HD 122) @RepLyleLarson,
Jose Manuel Lozano (HD 43) @RepJMLozano,
Morgan Meyer (HD 108) @MorganMeyerTX,
morgan@morganmeyerfortexas.com
Doug Miller (HD 73) @DougMiller73,
Rick Miller (HD 26) @Vote4Rick,
Jim Murphy (HD 133) @JimMurphy133,
John Otto (HD 18) @RepJohnOtto,
Tan Parker (HD 63) @tparker63,
Larry Philips (HD 62) shmdad@yahoo.com
Four Price (HD 87) @FourPriceTX
John Raney (HD 14) @RaneyForTexas,
Debbie Riddle (HD 150) @debbieriddle
Dr. J.D. Sheffield (HD 59) @dr_sheffield,
Ron Simmons (HD 65) @RonSimmonsTexas,
rsimmons@raa.com
Wayne Smith (HD 128) waynesmith128@comcast.net
Ed Thompson (HD 29) @RepEdThompson,
Gary VanDeaver (HD 1) @GaryVanDeaver
Jason Villalba (HD 114) @JasonVillalba,
Paul Workman (HD 47) @PaulWorkman,
John Wray (HD 10) @wrayfortexas10
This link shows the language of the bill in question.
That said, there were some who weren’t terrified about freedom of the press (remember that?) and here is the proposal from Rep. Matt Schaefer to remove these items from the bill SB19. Here is the official request to amend the bill.
Now, for the record, the following is the Roll Call on this motion to remove portions of SB19. By removing Article 5, and Article 7.05, it would ensure there would be no suppression of First Amendment rights given explicitly to the press. Please note how many Republicans voted
when given the chance to remove Article 5 and article 7.05.
For the dull amongst us … “Nay” means they chose not to remove the articles, (5) and (7.05), that blatantly violate the First Amendment and heavily penalize the press for doing their job, i.e. keeping the representatives accountable to the people they serve. Please see Article 5 and 7.05. Two-party consent laws are made for those who have something to hide and have no place in the people of Texas’ House.
So there you have it, Texans: Republicans, many of whom you elected and trusted to uphold our Constitution and Bill Of Rights, whizzing on freedom of the press simply because some have been busted on video doing dirty deeds.
Please let them know how you feel about SB19 and encourage Governor Abbott not to sign it into law.
I will be very surprised if Abbott agrees with and signs this SB 19.
Best move now is to advise the Governor our view of this infringing SB 19.
Lucky my Texas State Rep. Matt Schaefer is conservative and opposed this mess.
Fascism is as rampant among the GOP as it is the Dims. The really sad part is that some “conservative darlings” are as fascist as any of them and we look the other way. It’s what they count on.
C’mon people. We are NOT Libtards.
Sarah Davis (HD 134) @SarahforHD134,
this RINO is my Texas rep. - how unsurprising - Primary is March 3 2016. looking forward to unseating her - Last cycle she had opposition. This time we may be able to replace her
You’re welcome
To me a RINO is someone who votes at least 75% with the rats, not occasionally
What do you do when you have a two-party system, and both of ‘em suck?
How do you determine this?
I just checked up on her in vote smart.org, she definitely is a RINO. She’s got good grades though regarding guns
There is no recall in TX except at the municipal level, depending on the home rule charter.
Easy, search for US Senate votes and go to the site. With the house vote it’s a little different and I am not quite sure how to do that
Doesn’t matter either Texas or any other State include the Federal Government. It is so damn corrupt that Americans will never know this crap we elect.
during bushies second term i laid this out, only to be ridiculed and ostracized...
it is us versus them..
not pub and dem..
not lib and so called conservative..
but the people versus politicians..
until we the people stop listening to the pundits and start electing our neighbors, we are doomed..
Patrick is a snake.
I don’t listen to the pundits and I don’t vote for those who make a lot of promises, which most don’t have any intention to keep anyway and some might want to, but are unable to
This is not a freedom of speech issue; hardly any major case is. It is always a freedom of the press issue - and such issues are not infrequently wrongly decided. For example, McCain-Feingold was wrongly upheld in the infamous McConnell v. FEC ruling by SCOTUS.Why emphasize freedom of the press over freedom of speech? Both are crucial, but the signal difference between the two is that "the press" is a technology, and "the press" costs money - at a minimum, ink and paper money, in reality the cost of the press itself, and pay for the operators of the press. So freedom of the press ineluctably entails unregulated freedom to spend money to promote ideas - political, religious, or other.
As to the "technology" aspect:
- The Congress shall have power . . . To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries . . . - Article 1 Section 8.
This implies that although the framers and ratifies of the Constitution could not specifically anticipate the Internet, the TV, the radio - or even the telegraph - they peremptorily approved of all of them, with the caveat that
- Article. V. provides for modification to the Constitution if a technology should become destructive.
The government - of Texas or of the United States - cannot regulate the press, including the internet, without establishing an illegitimate "title of nobility" or established priesthood of people who are allowed to publish on the internet.
You'd think that from the propaganda that emanates from Texas, but the facts are that we have a huge number of legislooters in Texas that are democrats with an "(R)" by their name, because they know they can't get elected if they are honest about it.
Bob Strauss is the definition of RINO.
Texas is way behind the curve on gun rights, and we only just got open carry passed (with an unconstitutional permit required), but it doesn't take effect until January.
I knew Villaba would be on that list.
The situation with SB19 is both better and worse than the author states. I may have to write an article on it.
First, the bill has to, at minimum, go to conference committee because the house radically changed the bill from one about ethics to one that protects the legislators from the people. So, it has to go to the conference committee, have these measures stay in, then go the Senate and be passed, and go back to the House and be passed, then be signed by the Governor. There is a good chance to stop it at each of these points.
Second, the legislators did not limit this to only the Capitol. They put in an amendment to include their home offices! That is correct. If you meet with your legislator in your district, and record the conversation without their permission, this law would allow them to sue you.
Yes, we should mount a campaign to stop this and to defeat the legislators who proposed and pushed it.
Release the tapes outside of Texas and see how far their stupid law gets them. LOL.
Bump
http://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/27/house-kicks-ethics-reform-debate
State Sen. Van Taylor, a Plano Republican who has carried ethics reform in his chamber, quickly issued a statement on Tuesday night expressing “astonishment for the elimination of meaningful ethics reform” in the House version of the bill.
“Some in the House apparently don’t think elected officials are the problem and instead muddled the bill with a litany of bizarre measures that point the finger at everyone besides themselves, including a page from Hillary Clinton’s playbook to launch an assault on the First Amendment,” Taylor’s statement said. “This is one of those head shaking moments that rightfully raise doubts in the minds of our constituents as to the Legislature’s resolve to serve the people above all else.”
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