Tarrant County Republican Party

President Barack Obama to visit Dallas in August

sklick — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:06:40 +0000

The Dallas Morning News is reporting that President Obama plans fundraising visits to several Texas cities in August, including Dallas.

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama will be mining for money next month in Dallas, but hes not expected to make any public appearances. The Aug. 9 trip will be Obamas third to Texas since he took office, and his first to Dallas since the March 2008 primary. He will headline a dinner at the Highland Park home of plaintiffs lawyer Russell Budd and his wife, Dorothy, who hosted Vice President Joe Biden for a March 26 fundraiser.

more via President Barack Obama to visit Highland Park on August fundraising trip | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | National Politics.

Your New Health Care System

sklick — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:19:56 +0000

	For Immediate Release
	July 28, 2010

	AMERICA’S NEW HEALTH CARE SYSTEM REVEALED
UPDATED CHART SHOWS OBAMACARE’S BEWILDERING COMPLEXITY

Washington, D.C. - Four months after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi famously declared “We have to pass the bill so you can find out what’s in it,”a congressional panel has released the first chart illustrating the 2,801 page health care law President Obama signed into law in March. Developed by the Joint Economic Committee minority, led by U.S Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas and Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the detailed organization chart displays a bewildering array of new government agencies, regulations and mandates.

“For Americans, as well as Congressional Democrats who didn’t bother to read the bill, this first look at the final health care law confirms what many fear, that reform morphed into a monstrosity of new bureaucracies, mandates, taxes and rationing that will drive up health care costs, hurt seniors and force our most intimate health care choices into the hands of Washington bureaucrats,”said Brady, the committee’s senior House Republican. “If this is what passes for health care reform in America, then God help us all.”

Sen, Sam Brownback, the committee’s ranking member, added, “This updated chart illustrates the overwhelming expansion of government control over health choices and the bewildering complexity facing everyone affected by this law. It doesn’t take long to see how the recently signed health care bill causes a hugely expensive and explosive expansion of federal control over health care. Personal choices that should be between a doctor and a patient will quickly be strangled in a never ending web of bureaucracy.”

Senate Steering Committee Chairman Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) called Obamacare “a bureaucratic nightmare. The Democrats’ takeover of health care creates a byzantine network of 159 new federal programs and bureaucracies to make decisions that should be between just the patient and their doctor. It should concern everyone that at the center of this regulatory web is the new CMS chief, Donald Berwick, who has championed rationing and European socialized medicine. Americans were rightly outraged that this big government bill was rushed through Congress before anyone read or fully understood the bill’s consequences. Republicans will fight to repeal this reckless takeover and to ensure health care freedom to American families.”

In addition to capturing the massive expansion of government and the overwhelming complexity of new regulations and taxes, the chart portrays:

$569 billion in higher taxes;
$529 billion in cuts to Medicare;
swelling of the ranks of Medicaid by 16 million;
17 major insurance mandates; and
the creation of two new bureaucracies with powers to impose future rationing: the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and the Independent Payments Advisory Board.

Brady admits committee analysts could not fit the entire health care bill on one chart. “This portrays only about one-third of the complexity of the final bill. It’s actually worse than this.”

Renew the Tax Cuts

sklick — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:53:14 +0000

On Dec. 31, 2010, almost every working American will be hit with a massive, across-the-board tax increase on their income and investments unless they are renewed by Congress.

If the tax cuts are not renewed, it could have catastrophic consequences for the economy. Now is not the time to raise taxes!

Texas Congressman helps arrange Humvees for border sheriffs

sklick — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 03:29:05 +0000

The Federal goverment continues to do a poor job of securing America’s borders. Texas Republican Congressman Ted Poe has helped local law enforcement secure some new tools.

From the Houston Chronicle:

You can run. But you can’t hide.

That’s the word for Mexican drug cartels from Rep. Ted Poeafter the Republican congressman from Humble helped expedite the turnover of six retired Army Humvees to sheriffs in six Texas counties.

The congressman says he helped facilitate the sheriffs’ requests for the surplus equipment from the Pentagon. Gear first gets offered to federal, state and local agencies before being sold off.

continue reading via Texas congressman helps arrange Humvees for border sheriffs | Texas on the Potomac | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle.

Congressman Kenny Marchant

sklick — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:09:41 +0000

Telling it like it is

Birdwell Appointed Judge of 342nd District Court

sklick — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:09:21 +0000

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Wade Birdwell of Mansfield as judge of the 342nd District Court in Tarrant County for a term to expire at the next general election.

He was selected by the Tarrant County Republican Precinct Chairs last month, as the Republican Nominee for the November ballot.

Birdwell is an attorney at Wallach and Andrews P.C. He is admitted to practice law in the Northern District of Texas, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and U.S. Supreme Court. He is a member of the Federal Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, Tarrant County Bar Association, and Texas Association of Defense Counsel, and is a sustaining life fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. Birdwell received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas and a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center.

New Rasmussen poll – In the race for Texas Governor

sklick — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:47:21 +0000

Republican incumbent Rick Perry holds a modest lead over Democratic challenger Bill White again this month in his bid for an unprecedented third term as governor of Texas.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the Lone Star State shows Perry with 50% support. White, a former mayor of Houston, picks up 41% of the vote. Two percent (2%) like another candidate in the race, and seven percent (7%) are undecided.

In mid-June, Perry held a 48% to 40% lead over White

more via Election 2010: Texas Governor – Rasmussen Reports™.

Filibuster is not off the table

sklick — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:29:20 +0000

Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama says a filibuster of Elena Kagan “is not off the table.”

Bill White’s Campaign about ‘Nothing”

sklick — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:09:40 +0000

Lt. Governor Announces Changes to Senate Committees

sklick — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:44:02 +0000

Lt. Governor David Dewhurst Announces Changes to Senate Committee Assignments

AUSTIN—Lt. Governor David Dewhurst today announced changes to Senate Committee assignments for the 81st Legislature, including eight committee chairmanships, in order to allow the members to prepare for the upcoming 82nd Legislative Session.

“Texas is facing a number of complicated challenges, from creating jobs and balancing the budget, to securing our border, improving public education, building new highways and ensuring a clean environment,” said Lt. Governor Dewhurst. “That’s why it is critical to continue to have experienced legislators serving as committee chairs, as we prepare to meet these important challenges when the 82nd Legislature convenes in January.”

The following changes were made in committee chairs:
Administration - Sen. Kevin Eltife (Tyler)
Business & Commerce – Sen. John Carona (Dallas)
Economic Development – Sen. Mike Jackson (La Porte)
Jurisprudence - Sen. Chris Harris (Arlington)
Natural Resources – Sen. Troy Fraser (Horseshoe Bay)
Nominations – Sen. Bob Deuell (Greenville)
Transportation & Homeland Security - Sen. Tommy Williams (The Woodlands)
Select Committee on Veterans Health – Sen. Jeff Wentworth (San Antonio)

“With some changes in Senate membership, we saw an opportunity to re-align senators’ individual expertise and priorities with the several committees,” said Lt. Governor Dewhurst. “I appreciate the hard work and dedication of all the 31 fine members of the Texas Senate. Each is deeply committed to ensuring a bright future for the people they represent in their respective districts and all 25 million Texans.”

Updated List of Full Committee Assignments