TX LT Gov. Dewhurst requests Special Session for Abortion and Gun Bills that Straus Killed

Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus and the Leaders of Joe Straus killed major bills in the Texas House of Representatives that would further restrict abortions in Texas and give the people of Texas more gun rights. Texas Lieutenant David Dewhurst is not happy that Joe Straus killed these important conservative bills (Straus did not want too much controversy and wanted the Democrats to be happy) so Dewhurst has asked Governor Perry to add some of these bills to the upcoming Special Session.

the following is from statesman.com:

By Jonathan Tilove | Friday, May 24, 2013, 07:53 AM

Some of the conservative bills I fought for this session may be gone…but not for long #campuscarry #prolife #tcot #txlege
— David Dewhurst (@DavidHDewhurst) May 23, 2013

Stay tuned. MT @ statesman : Drug testing approved for jobless aid, but not welfare applicants in Texas bit.ly/16byLs1 #txlege
— David Dewhurst (@DavidHDewhurst) May 23, 2013

Good morning Austin.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst wants a special session of the Legislature so that conservatives can have their way on concealed carry, abortion, drug-testing of welfare recipients and other issues near and dear to their hearts without having to suffer the rules of the regular session that have enabled the Democratic minority to thwart the will of the Republican majority.
The lieutenant governor signaled his desire in the two tweets above, but made his most declarative statement in an interview yesterday with Dave Montgomery of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Montgomery is a jewel of the Capitol press corps, a canny Columbo of the “just one more thing … maybe I’m the only one who doesn’t understand this,” style of interrogation, the cunning of his approach further obscured by his Huckleberry Hound delivery but unmasked, daily, in the excellence of his copy.
Here is the top of Montgomery’s story on his interview with Dewhurst:
“Angered by the demise of key bills considered priorities by conservatives, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst declared in an interview Thursday that Gov. Rick Perry should quickly force lawmakers back to the Capitol for a special session after adjournment Monday.
Dewhurst wants to revive a bill that would require drug tests for welfare recipients, one that would permit students with concealed-handgun licenses to carry guns inside campus buildings and a package of bills that would further restrict abortions.
His request also includes political redistricting; school vouchers, also known as school choice; an end to the state’s windstorm insurance program “without a rate shock”; and a more restrictive constitutional cap on state spending.

read more here from the statesman story here: http://pushjunction.com/l/CoL

Rep. Simpson for TX Speaker asks BOTH SIDES to Stop hating and Threatening

Press Release from David Simpson for Texas Speaker
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 14, 2012
Contact – SimpsonForSpeaker@gmail.com or 512-677-4502

THE POLITICS OF A SPEAKER RACE

(Austin) – Today Representative David Simpson (R-Longview) issued the following statement on the public conversation surrounding the Speaker race.

“One week into my race for Speaker of the House, I find some advocates in the race an apt example of the problem that prompted me to run. Certain individuals on both sides are using inflammatory rhetoric and intimidation tactics to try to force members to vote for a particular candidate.

“My candidacy is not about policy or the degree or quality of conservatism. It is about maintaining principle as the standard by which we govern. Those who personally attack members or threaten to attack members over their choice for Speaker are engaging in the exact type of intimidation and retribution that my candidacy is fighting against. Those who do so may not understand my purpose or frankly our system of ‘free government’ espoused by the Texas Constitution.

“If a Speaker is elected on the sole basis of a political platform, then the ability for the Speaker to resist letting the ends justify a political means becomes very difficult. This pressure invites corruption and erosion of the rules. And that corruption undermines the thorough and open deliberations that are the hallmark of a successful republic.

“Though we disagree on some important issues, in this race I am not challenging Speaker Straus’ conservatism. I do, however, challenge his approach to fair administration of the rules and the culture of intimidation and retribution that has developed under his leadership. For example, I do not fault Speaker Straus for personally disagreeing with the Anti-Groping TSA bill. I do however fault him for refusing to follow the rules. Instead of bringing the business of the house before the members, he abruptly adjourned and immediately told the media that there was no quorum present despite having called the House to order and having declared a quorum present.

“The Speaker is chosen by members of the House to administer the House Rules and the business of the chamber. I believe the choice of Speaker is primarily about earning the trust of and having respect for the members. It is about honoring the process. I believe the Speaker should lead by example, respect principles, and honor the rules. The race should hinge on fairness in administration and not who may amass the most power for their own position.

“Policy is an area for debate and compromise. However, rules and the promises they represent should remain inviolate.”

Representative Simpson lives in Longview with his wife of 27 years, Susan, and their children. Simpson, a seventh-generation Texan, runs a family business and previously served as the mayor of Avinger for several years.