Houston Lesbian Mayor Directs City to Violate Texas Constitution on Marriage

from Texas Values:

Houston Mayor Annise Parker, who is an open lesbian and has been celebrated by her supporters as the first openly lesbian mayor of a large city, has directed city staff to violate the Texas Constitution on the definition of marriage in Texas. In a memo dated November 19, 2013, Mayor Parker has directed Omar Reid, Director of the City of Houston Human Resources Department, to violate the Texas Constitution by giving legal status and recognition to same-sex marriage in Texas. Specifically, Mayor Parker made the following statement: “[I] am hereby directing that same-sex spouses of employees who have been legally married in another jurisdiction be afforded the same benefits as spouses of a heterosexual marriage.”

Houston Mayor Annise Parker

“It’s outrageous that Mayor Parker and the City of Houston think they have the authority to rewrite the Texas Constitution on marriage and blatantly ignore their citizen approved city charter. Mayor Parker’s self-serving efforts to force city staff to willfully violate the Texas Constitution is one of the most dangerous and egregious forms of a Washington-style power grab I have ever seen. She’s practically telling Governor Perry, Attorney General Abbott and the people of Texas to ‘Come and Take It’,” said Jonathan Saenz, president and attorney of Texas Values.

The memo by Mayor Parker also references a legal memo and conclusion by City Attorney David Feldman as the support for the illegal change in the city policy. The memo by Feldman concedes that the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage does not deprive Texas from its right to define marriage as between one man and one woman. Mr. Feldman goes further to point out that Texas law clearly “prohibits political subdivisions of the state from giving effect to:… a [r]ight or claim to any legal protection, benefit, or responsibility asserted as a result of a marriage between persons of the same sex or a civil union in this state or any jurisdiction.” Mr. Feldman bases his recommendation for this single-handed change on his belief that Texas law is unconstitutional.

In addition to clear Texas law, Houston’s own city charter passed by the citizens in 2001 prohibits the city from offering benefits to same-sex couples. Although the Texas Supreme Court is currently reviewing the issue of recognition of same-sex divorce, it is widely believed that the all Republican nine member Court will certainly do nothing to disturb the clear language of our constitution and protect our state sovereignty.

- See more at: http://txvalues.org/2013/11/21/houston-lesbian-mayor-directs-city-to-violate-texas-constitution-on-marriage-2/#sthash.sEjHUTmm.dpuf

read more here: http://txvalues.org/2013/11/21/houston-lesbian-mayor-directs-city-to-violate-texas-constitution-on-marriage-2/

Dan Patrick Co-Sponsored Merry Christmas Bill to Protect Texas Schools and Christians from Lawsuits

As Christmas nears, I am reminded of the work that Texas State Senator Dan Patrick has done to stand up for our Constitutional, religious rights and freedoms. Texas Lieutenant Governor Candidate Dan Patrick co-sponsored the Merry Christmas Bill that was passed in the 2013 Texas Legislative Session. My own State Senator Robert Nichols filed the bill in the Texas Senate.

The war on Christmas was forcing schools in Texas to fear even mentioning the word Christmas. Teachers and even students were threatened with lawsuits for having a Christmas tree or wearing the colors green and red. Atheist groups and other anti-Christian organizations do not like the fact that Christmas is based on the birth of Jesus Christ. These anti-Christians felt that any celebration of Christmas in schools violated their religions rights. They are dead wrong. They can be offended all they want about Christmas, but the Constitution does not guarantee them the right to not be offended. The Constitution only prohibits Congress from forcing everyone in America to believe in a certain religion by establishing a national church. The Constitution goes on to say that the Congress can also NOT prohibit the free practice of religion. In other words, if an Atheist feels offended by a nativity scene or by a Christmas tree then too bad for the Atheist. The Christmas tree does not force the Atheist to become a Christian. The Atheist can be an Atheist no matter how many Christmas trees they see in a school. The Atheist has the right to be an Atheist. The Atheist does NOT have the right to not be offended because something they see goes against their religion.

Anyways, these Atheists and other anti-Christian groups have been suing and threatening to sue school districts that allow Christmas decorations. Dan Patrick took a stand against this attack on Christmas. Patrick co-sponsored the Merry Christmas Bill that allows School Districts, Teachers and Students the right to celebrate Christmas without fear of lawsuits. The Bill passed and was signed by Texas Governor Rick Perry.

Back when the Merry Christmas Bill was getting passed, Dan Patrick sat down and talked with Jonathan Saenz from Texas Values. They discussed Patrick's work to Stop Common Core and CSCOPE, but at the 8 minute mark into the interview they talked about the Merry Christmas Bill.

See interview video below:

We Need YOU at Pro Life Rally Monday July 8th, 2013 in Austin, TX!

Pro-Life Rally in Austin, Texas, Monday, July 8, at 7:00 p.m. CDT

from Concerned Women For America LAC:

Texans Stand for Life - Join us in Austin for Pro-Life Rally - July 8 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord …. (II Timothy 1:7 & 8a) Now is the time for every person who fears God and wants our country to have laws that respect His principles to stand up, travel to Austin and let your presence and your voice be counted. Monday, July 1, the Omnibus Pro-life bill (HB 2) was presented on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives. It was read for the first reading and then assigned to committee. It was heard in the State Affairs Committee on Tuesday, July 2. After many hours of testimony, the bill was passed out of the committee on an 8-3 party line vote. Now the bill will go to the full House for a vote. That could happen as early as Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. A companion bill, SB 1, has been referred to Health and Human Services and is being heard on Monday July 8th at 10am. WE NEED YOU! Monday, July 8, at 7:00 p.m. six pro-life organizations in Texas are asking pro-life Texans to join them on the south steps of the Texas State Capitol for a giant Pro-Life Rally. We need you to be the voice for the unborn. We are excited to have a wonderful line-up of pro-life leaders and elected officials. The list of speakers includes: Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar - TV personalities from 19 Kids and Counting Gov. Mike Huckabee and Mrs. Janet Huckabee - Radio and TV talk show host and former Governor of Arkansas Dr. Robert Jeffress - Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Dallas Former Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave - Vice-President of Government Affairs, Susan B. Anthony List Penny Nance - CEO and President of the Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott Lt. Governor David Dewhurst Members of the Texas House and Senate and other elected officials Please plan to join us on the south steps of the Texas State Capitol on Monday, July 8, at 7:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you! Please invite and share this with all your friends. Participants are encouraged to wear blue in support. Event Sponsors are: Concerned Women for America Heidi Group Texans for Life Texas Eagle Forum Texas Right to Life Texas Values Event Details: Pro-Life Rally Date: Monday July 8, 2013 Location: Texas State Capitol Building 112 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78701 Time: 7 p.m. CDT

from JoAnn Fleming:

Please send this information out ASAP.  The Occupy Movement for Pro-Death cannot be allowed to monopolize our State Capitol.

Note:  We need some TEA Party/9-12/Grassroots leaders to help with a few tasks on Monday and later in the week.  Melissa with Texas Right to Life will be sending me more info over the holiday weekend.  Please let me know ASAP if you can be at the Capitol Monday morning even if you cannot stay for the rally Monday evening.  Just e-mail me & I will send you any details over the weekend.  jafleming3@juno.com  Liberty!  JoAnn

Friends,

Background:  The following article explains what happened last week with the pro-life bill that would have prevented abortions of babies at 20 weeks and older (five+ months).  SB 5 would have held abortion clinics to the same high standards of other medical facilities which perform operations.  This would prevent clinics of horrors in Texas that mirror that of the convicted murderer Kermit Gosnell.    

The failure to pass the bill did not have to happen.  See the following article to get an idea of what actually went on.  Watching the proceedings, anyone could see it was out of control and Lt. Gov. Dewhurst did not have order and was not insisting upon it.

http://www.texastribune.org/2013/06/26/dewhurst-critical-failure-large-audience/

The Occupy crowd is still here.

By now you have likely heard that the pro-death mob inside the Texas State Capitol chanted "hail Satan" while the pro-life groups gathered  to sing "Amazing Grace."  Planned Parenthood ran ads on Craig's list to hire people from all over the country to come into our capitol to protest a bill that would shut down clinics such as the one in this article.  They are the Occupy crowd - apparently with no other job.

Caution:  These articles are very disturbing and graphic, but are evidence that we have our very own murder mills at work in Texas where late-term abortions are performed.  This kind of evil needs to be run out of Texas.

http://blog.chron.com/bigjolly/2013/05/will-houstons-version-of-kermit-gosnell-be-investig ated-and-charged/

http://veneremurcernui.wordpress.com/2013/05/16/dear-lord-another-gosnell-this-time-in-tex as/

Pro-lifers: We need you in Austin!

Please plan to come to Austin Monday morning.  Warning: if you cannot cope with being in close proximity to crude, vulgar, rough people who come as close to spewing venom as we've ever seen, this isn't the scene for you.  But if you can rely on your faith to hold up under tense situations, we need you.  More details on where and when to meet at the Capitol will come over the weekend.   JoAnn will be in Austin all next week and is coordinating with Texas Right to Life on volunteer tasks we'll need help with on Monday.   

From Texas Values: Stand for Life Rally at the Capitol Monday eveningwith Mike Huckabee & others

The time is here for Texans to take a stand for life! Please join us for a pro-life rally on Monday July 8 at 7 p.m. on the south steps of the Texas State Capitol. We are asking every Texan supportive of life to come to Austin to stand in unison in protection for the unborn and women. Bring a bus, fill vans, bring your church - bring everyone willing to take a stand for life. Please make plans to attend and wear blue in support! 

  

It is critically important that pro-life Texans have a large presence at the Capitol next week. It is expected that the Pro-Life Omnibus Bill, HB 2, could be heard on the House floor as early as Tuesday. It also is anticipated that the Senate version of the bill, SB 1, will have a committee hearing as early as Monday morning. This life-saving bill will protect the unborn after 20 weeks and protect women who choose abortion by placing reasonable regulations on clinics in Texas. 

Date: Monday July 8, 2013  

Location: South Steps of Texas State Capitol Building 

Time: 7 p.m.  

Speakers: Gov. Mike Huckabee, The Duggars family, First Baptist Dallas Pastor Robert Jeffress, CWA President Penny Nance, March for Life President Jeanne Monahan, and our leading pro-life state elected officials and leaders.

  

Please join us as we continue to stand for those that cannot stand for themselves!   

Update on Pro-Life Omnibus Bill: HB 2 Passes House Committee

  

Just after midnight last night, the Pro-Life Omnibus Bill, HB 2, passed the House State Affairs Committee on a vote of 8-3. Over 3,500 people registered a position on the bill, with 2,181 signing in to support the bill. We thank the thousands of pro-life Texans who came to the Capitol yesterday and packed the committee hearing and several overflow rooms. It was truly an inspiring show of support for life. We also thank the many women who shared powerful testimonies with the committee about how they had been harmed by abortion.  

It is expected that HB 2 could be heard on the House floor as early as next Tuesday, July 9. It is also anticipated that the Senate version of the bill, SB 1, will have a committee hearing as early as Monday morning, July 8.Please continue to contact your State Representative and Senator on this issue. 

Photos, videos & articles of this week's events 

http://www.texastribune.org/2013/07/01/video/

http://www.texastribune.org/2013/07/02/first-day-second-session-slideshow/

http://www.texastribune.org/2013/07/02/house-panel-meets-move-abortion-restrictions-forwa/

###

JoAnn Fleming, Executive Director (volunteer), Grassroots America - We the People  www.gawtp.com

Chair - Advisory Committee to the TX Legislature's TEA Party Caucus

(903) 894-7204 home office or (903) 360-2858 cell

Texas Faith and Family Day March 26, 2013 - Governor Perry to Speak

article from Wallbuilders and Texas Values:

Texas Faith and Family Day

From time to time, WallBuilders likes to make you aware of special events and opportunities. We thought you might be interested in participating in Texas Faith and Family Day.

Texas Values Update Gov. Perry to Speak at Rally During Texas Faith and Family Day We are excited to announce that Gov. Rick Perry will be joining us for the Texas Faith and Family Day on Tuesday, March 26th, at the Capitol in Austin. Texas is blessed to have a Governor that champions important family values issues of religious liberty, marriage and family, and life.   If you have ever wanted to learn how to make an impact on your state government, this is your day. This will be the largest gathering of values-supporting Texans at the Capitol this year and will be a great opportunity to have your voice heard and to make an impact for Texas values. In the morning, family values leaders will provide an issue briefing on important issues and bills and provide you with an overview of how to make a impact during the legislative session.   Then at noon, hundreds of Texans from across the state will rally on the south steps of the Capitol for the Faith and Family Rally. The rally will feature Gov. Perry along with other state leaders and pastors from across the state. After the rally, there will be time for prayer and for people to meet with their elected officials and encourage them to stand firm for our values.   Please make plans to attend and invite your church, pastor, friends, family, and local groups and clubs to come. To get all the information and to register visit TexasFaithandFamily.com.     Protecting the Texas Constitution and Taxpayers   Republican State Representative Drew Springer has filed legislation that would further protect traditional family values and tax-payers from schools districts like Pflugerville I.S.D. that seek to approve same-sex domestic partnership benefits. HB 1568 would eliminate the healthcare funding for any school district that seeks to offer insurance or any other benefits to a person that is not a school district employee or a spouse or child of a district employee. Texas Values has argued in detail, including in a brief filed with Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, that the creation and recognition of “domestic partnerships” by the Pflugerville I.S.D board or any other governmental entity in Texas is a clear violation of the Texas Constitution. Read more.

Texas Bill Seeks to Strip Mother, Father References from Birth Certificates

article from TXValues.org:

 

Bill Seeks to Strip Mother, Father References from Birth Certificates

Democrat State Rep. Rafael Anchia (Dallas) has filed a bill, with the support of radical “gay-rights” group Equality Texas, to strip the specific references to a mother and father from supplementary birth certificates for adoption. HB 201 would apply to all heterosexual parent(s) seeking these birth certificates, not just those that consider themselves homosexual, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, gay, cisgender, or pansexual. Stripping mother and father from supplementary birth certificates creates a clear conflict in the law and is part of the larger homosexual agenda to ultimately demand that all birth certificates should be stripped of mother and father references. Mother and father references in Texas law is the current standard for birth certificates. We firmly believe this bill will affect mother and father references for all birth certificates. Texas Values will be leading the charge in the coming 2013 legislation session to oppose the bill and all others that seek to undercut our family values. Watch our interview on this issue here.

Jonathan Saenz: Pflugerville ISD Power Grab Breaks Texas Same-Sex Marriage Constitutional Amendment

Op-Ed by Jonathan Saenz of Texas Values Published in the Statesman: 

The Pflugerville power grab

In Texas, government officials are not above the Texas Constitution. In addition to defining marriage as only a “union of one man and one woman,” the Texas Constitution states “this state, or a political subdivision of this state, may not create or recognize any legal status identical or similar to marriage.” Efforts by the government to legally recognize “domestic partnerships” are a clear violation of the Texas Constitution.

The Texas Marriage Amendment was passed in 2005 by an overwhelming majority of over 76 percent of Texas voters after having been passed by a bipartisan supermajority in the Texas Legislature. The reason was and still is as clear as the text of our Constitution itself: Texans support the definition of marriage as it has always been and reject all other legal statuses seeking to undermine our most basic and important social institution.

But that hasn’t kept the homosexual lobby and their enablers in various parts of government from trying. The most recent example: Pflugerville Independent School District Superintendent Charles Dupre made an executive policy change to create a “domestic partnership” category, similar to marriage in several ways, that will allow the district to provide benefits to same-sex partners. The district’s “affidavit of Domestic Partnership” requirements include not being married to someone, being at least 18 years of age and not a blood relative, to name a few.

Sound like marriage? This was done without the approval of the elected school board members, without any evidence of a financial impact analysis or without even a public hearing. This power grab by an unelected government official looks more like what we expect from Washington, D.C., than how things get done in Texas.

The people of Pflugerville were clearly not happy about being ignored and dismissed as irrelevant. Residents responded by overwhelming the next school board meeting, with outraged residents forced to stand as every seat was filled. One after another, members of the community showed up to voice their opposition to the substance and process of this anti-Constitution decision by Dupre. Is this how the government works in Pflugerville — govern by force and might, and shut the people out? Has Dupre forgotten that his salary is paid by the taxpayers?

With the outrage building, state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, has sent a letter to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, requesting an opinion on whether the Texas Constitution’s definition of marriage precludes any governmental body in Texas from recognizing a domestic partnership legal status by allowing the government to provide benefits to same-sex partners. As Patrick stated, “The will and the respect of the Texas people is being trampled, and I cannot sit by and watch this any longer.” I agree.

This reckless and poorly planned decision is a prime example of why we must demand accountability from our government. If nothing else, government officials are at least expected to follow the law. And now that the Texas attorney general’s office is involved in investigating this matter, we expect this clear violation of the Texas Constitution to be exposed, laying blame squarely at the feet of Dupre. But the elected Pflugerville school board is also at fault. The people of Pflugerville had been emailing and calling the school board about this matter long before their meeting on Oct. 18th. In fact, the district was presented with a specific letter at the board meeting from state Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa and House author of the Texas Marriage Amendment, on how this new policy violates the actual words and intent of our Texas Constitution.

The district’s refusal to address this matter, in light of the outcry of Pflugerville residents and the concerns about the constitutionality of this policy, shows they must approve and support the actions of Charles Dupre, the new King of Pflugerville.

Yes it’s true. It seems a monarchy has arrived in Pflugerville, and King Dupre is accountable to no one, except maybe to the ACLU and the homosexual lobby. Is this how we want our local government run — by Washington, D.C., groups and unaccountable government officials? I suspect that our elected attorney general and other state lawmakers will see this issue differently, and they should. And so should you, the Texas voter and taxpayer.