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04/24/2003
THE
REPUBLICAN LIBERTY CAUCUS OF TEXAS eNEWSLETTER
April 24, 2003
http://www.rlctexas.net/newsletters/2003_04_24.htm
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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SUPPORT
HB-1752 -- CPS REFORM BILL, LET'S GET IT OUT OF COMMITTEE:
WHY THIS BILL SHOULD LEAVE COMMITTEE: How would you feel if
someone had the power to arbitrarily come into your home without any notice,
take away your child and not give you any idea as to their whereabouts?
During the time it would take to decide whether there was any truth to
possible allegations of abuse in your home, your child would not only be in
totally unfamiliar surroundings but, statistically, the odds of abuse are much
higher in foster situations.
Representative Suzanna Hupp has
authored a bill that would maintain the integrity of the family and lessen the
trauma to the child by allowing the family to choose a temporary guardian
while the Child Protective Services determines whether any abuse has taken
place. This is especially important when allegations prove to be false and
would prevent unneeded family distress. The new system would also protect your
child from molestation in a foster setting.
HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO: We encourage you to call Representative Todd
Baxter (512) 463-0631, Representative Joaquin Castro (512) 463-0669, and
Representative Joe Moreno (512) 463-0614 since they are the key swing votes on
the Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committee to get this bill out to the
Floor. We can't emphasize how important this bill is. Please make those calls
to protect your children from potentially being abused. This will only
take ten minutes.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: If you have been a victim or know someone that
has been traumatized by Child Protective Services (CPS), please contact Gary
Gates at GWGates@ev1.net . Gary
Gates has setup a Non Profit Organization called "Texas Center for Family
Rights", which protects children in the system and helps bring accountability
to CPS through education and legislation.
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STOP
HB-901 -- THE TRAFFIC SPY CAMERA BILL, ENCOURAGE A "NO" VOTE BY FRIDAY, APRIL
25th:
HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO: Please phone your state Representative to
oppose HB-901 by Friday, April, 25th! That's when it's up for a vote on the
House floor. We need your help today to oppose a bill in the Texas Legislature
that's poised to be voted on in the Texas House of Representatives this week.
We need you to call your State Representative in the Texas House of
Representatives today! Let them know you oppose HB 901 installing cameras at
intersections for traffic enforcement. We’ve provided some background
information below that will help you prepare to make your call. If you don’t
know who represents you in the Legislature, use the search engine on the Texas
capitol web site to quickly figure it out at
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm Please make the call.
This is important – once they’re in place, surveillance cameras powerful
enough to distinguish a license plate number can conceivably be used for any
purpose, both aboveboard and nefarious. It’s important to stop this bad idea
now before the cameras are in place and they become a lot more difficult to
regulate. These are trying times, and it’s important that those of us who care
about liberty and freedom continue speak out. Thanks for calling your State
Representative as soon as possible, and thank you for your support for civil
liberties in Texas.
WHY THIS BILL SHOULD BE KILLED:
Don’t be surprised if the person who answers the phone asks a question or two
about the bill. Here’s some background to read before you make your phone
call:
Tiananmen Example:
o HB 901 authorizes up to 20,000 linked government digital surveillance
cameras to spy on Texans as we move about in public throughout the state. The
bill's supporters justify this expansive surveillance system by the need to
limit cars running red lights. But once in place, the system could be used for
any security purpose. In Tiananmen Square during the pro-democracy uprising in
1989, cameras originally installed to regulate traffic were used to identify
individual protesters for retribution – hundreds received imprisonment or
worse because they were identified from the surveillance cameras hanging from
traffic signals.
Current Law:
o Traffic tickets are issued in person by law enforcement officers.
Privacy - One Nation Under Surveillance:
o Developments in digital video, infrared, x-ray, wireless, GPS, biometrics,
image scanning, voice recognition, DNA, and brain wave fingerprinting provide
government with new ways to "search" individuals and collect vast databases of
information on law-abiding Texans. The proliferation of government and private
databases with our personal information in it is a real cause for concern. Big
Brother is possible today.
o Personal information about Texans that is captured by our government is
typically sold and frequently ends up on television or the internet.
Government already sells embarrassing personal scenes involving Texans to TV
shows like “Cops”.
o Government can use digital cameras to enforce criminal laws against Texans.
Texas Attorney General John Cornyn (Opinion JC-0460) held that government can
use surveillance cameras to enforce criminal laws against Texans. This
practice has been banned in the European union to limit privacy abuses by law
enforcement. After these 20,000 cameras are installed, government can arrest
individual Texans for any criminal violations committed in public, including
failure-to-wear-a-seatbelt and jay-walking.
o The sponsor of the bill hasn’t even considered all the consequences. Asked
whether there will be a privacy problem when rental car companies must provide
all of our private rental information to the government, Representative Phil
King (R-Weatherford) replied: “I hadn’t thought about it from that
standpoint.”
Due Process - No Actual Notice Required . . . Car Impounded:
o The proposed citations will not punish the driver -- a citation will be
mailed to the owner of the car no matter who was driving. HB901 will have
little or no effect on commercial drivers, teenage drivers, car thieves, and
other non-owner drivers. There is no requirement that the owner actually
receive notice of any violation. Nonetheless, the punishment for repeated
failure to respond is the government can impound your vehicle.
Government Abuse - Yes, Even In Texas:
o Even the very best governments are burdened by some abuse. In this case, the
potential for abuse will increase with the surveillance powers –
exponentially. In Washington DC police were caught using police surveillance
databases to gather information on certain paramours the then blackmailing
citizens who were married. In Detroit police used their police surveillance
databases to help their friends or themselves stalk women, threaten motorists,
and track estranged spouses.
Ineffective - No Heinous Deaths Prevented By Mailed Citation:
o The proposed camera system will not fulfill its purported function. The
camera system is being proposed to decrease the number of traffic fatalities
caused by drivers who run red lights. Drivers who commit the senseless and
irrational act of driving so fast and late through a red light that they can
cause a fatality or serious wreck will not be stopped by the notion that the
owner of the vehicle might later have to pay a small civil fine. Such a
heinous act is so perilous and life-endangering that it defies reason.
Unfortunately, HB901 will have no effect on this type of irrational crime.
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CONGRESSMAN RON PAUL'S
INTERVIEW WITH THE NEW AMERICAN:
A Timely Proposal
Interview of Congressman Ron Paul by Thomas R. Eddlem
Rep. Ron Paul has reintroduced H.R. 1146, a measure that would end U.S.
involvement in the United Nations. With anti-UN sentiment growing, the time
may be right to Get US out!
Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas), a medical doctor, represents the 14th district
of Texas. He is one of the few steady voices for fiscal restraint and strict
adherence to the U.S. Constitution.
Recently, Dr. Paul reintroduced in the new Congress H.R. 1146, a measure that
would end U.S. involvement in the United Nations and rescind diplomatic
immunity for United Nations officials. Dr. Paul was interviewed on March 27th
about H.R. 1146 and the war in Iraq.
THE NEW AMERICAN: What prompted you to introduce H.R. 1146, a bill that
would get the United States out of the United Nations?
Congressman Ron Paul: I introduced this legislation because I do not
believe it is in our interest to be in the United Nations, principally because
it undermines our national sovereignty. And I think current events verify
that.
TNA: Nearly all politicians say that they support national sovereignty,
but most people only have a vague idea of what national sovereignty means.
What is national sovereignty?
Paul: That means that a country’s citizenry controls its own destiny.
In our case, the people through their representatives and the contract of the
Constitution determine everything we do, whether it has to do with trade,
immigration, borders, or national defense. And the responsibility falls on the
legislature rather than any international body, like NATO, the WTO, NAFTA, or
any of these organizations that make decisions for Congress. Even though they
may be well-intentioned and even correct at times, the principle of
sovereignty ought to be protected. And if they have a correct position, we
should implement that position on our own rather than by some type of a
mandate from an international body.
TNA: You said that current events have borne out that there is a threat
to our sovereignty. How so?
Paul: Today, we are in the midst of a war, which is a continuation of a
UN war started in 1990-91, and that is still in process. Even this
administration has used UN resolutions as an excuse to go into Baghdad and
into Iraq. And ironically it is without the explicit approval of the UN. But
that’s still the excuse for going in. And I maintain that once we do that, we
don’t win wars. And we certainly haven’t been very victorious over the last 50
years. I think we can go back to Korea where we first got involved in fighting
an undeclared UN war, and we are still in Korea. Our relationship with North
Korea is as bad as ever, and the war really wasn’t won even though a lot of
men were killed. We still face potential danger there, and we went there under
a UN resolution. And I suspect that despite our great power and military
dominance over Iraq we are going to have a tough time having what we call a
good victory. ...
<FOR THE REST OF THE ARTICLE GO TO THE LINK BELOW.>
http://www.thenewamerican.com/tna/2003/04-21-2003/vo19no08_paul_print.htm
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CALL FOR RLC OF TEXAS COUNTY
COORDINATORS:
If you'd like to become a County Coordinator or Contact, for the RLC of Texas,
please volunteer today! We're now focusing on the Houston metro area. If you'd
like to host evening LIBERTY GET TOGETHERS in the Houston area,
Please email us at HQ@rlctexas.net
-- OR --
Go to this link to fill out the form:
http://htmlgear.tripod.com/feed/control.feed?a=render&i=1&u=rlctx
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CONGRESSMAN RON PAUL'S WEEKLY
PHONE UPDATE:
Don't forget to listen to Congressman Ron Paul's weekly voice recorded update,
it's always insightful and thought provoking.
1-888-322-1414
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RLC MEMBERS HELP FIGHT AUSTIN
COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S 80% TAX HIKE:
April 25, 2003 - AUSTIN PRESS CONFERENCE
Groups and individuals opposed to the proposed Austin Community College 80%
tax increase, under the slogan "Save Our Taxpayers", are holding a press
conference at the Travis County Commissioner's Court Room, 314 W. 11th St.
(former Stokes Bldg.) at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 25th.
Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) of Texas Executive Director Don Zimmerman will
announce formation of the RLC-TX PAC, a general purpose committee formed
primarily to oppose tax increases and defend taxpayers against oppressive
taxation and regulation.
The RLC-TX PAC was filed too late to be used in fighting the 80% ACC tax hike
on the May 3rd ballot, so Zimmerman is using his own private funds and
personal efforts to fight the tax increase which does not effect him
personally. (Information on the RLC-TX is at www.rlctexas.net)
"Some in Travis County have shown compassion on indigenous cave beetles and
salamanders. My heart goes out to the Travis County taxpayers being taxed out
of their habitat-homes. Let's 'Save Our Taxpayers'!", Zimmerman recently
commented.
Other groups including TexasCAN and CSE are expected to join the press
conference, and will announce separately. Mayoral candidate Brad Meltzer will
also underscore his opposition to tax increases at this press conference.
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CENTRAL TEXAS
POLITMASTER MONTHLY MEETINGS IN AUSTIN:
Every Monday night - Austin
Central Texas Politimasters - public speaking organization that focuses on
politics and current events
Every Monday night
Threadgill's on North Lamar
7:00 - 8:00pm (dinner and socializing afterwards, but not required to stay)
Visitors welcome. Stop by to see if you would like to join.
Open to all, regardless of political views
Currently, the membership is comprised of Libertarians
Questions: Call Michele Messina @ 296-3713
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JOIN US!
If you like what we're doing and you'd like to be a part of our organization,
consider becoming a member. If it's been over a year since you've paid your
membership dues, please renew today. If you are still sitting on the fence,
undecided about becoming a member of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas,
please consider officially joining us. We look forward to your commitment to
joining us in our fight for LIBERTY. Our
main focus is to encourage fellow Republicans to get involved in pro-LIBERTY Republican
campaigns to win. In order to
accomplish this goal we need to continue to grow our network of pro-Liberty
Republicans. There is strength in numbers. We want to work with
you. Join us today. If you can't contribute financially but would like
to volunteer for an upcoming campaign please contact us:
HQ@rlctexas.net And please forward our eNewsletters to those
that would enjoy our reports.
Membership
Options (Receive RLC License
Plate Frame 
and One Ounce Silver "Liberty" Dollar):
 $30 Regular
Membership
$50
Premium Membership
$100
Sustaining Membership
$250
Patron Membership
$500
Associate Membership
$1000
Roundtable/Lifetime* Membership
Special
Membership Options. (Receive RLC
License Plate Frame):
$10
Limited Trial
Membership
$20
Military Membership
$20
Student Membership
$15 Emeritus Membership
(Age 65 and above)
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Our Purpose:
After decades of New Deal and Great Society social
activism ... combined with the rapid decline in civics and American history
education in our government-run public schools ... mixed with a growing
population of ill-informed and apathetic voters ... government at
every level in this country continues to be too big, too intrusive and
too expensive.
Founded in 1990, the Republican Liberty Caucus of
Texas works to advance the principles of limited
government, individual liberty and free markets within the Republican
Party and throughout Texas. Our focus is on a broad range of issues, including
education, taxation, property rights, gun rights, free speech, federalism and
the proper role of government.
In addition to giving disenfranchised smaller-government Republicans a home by
creating incentive to stay in our party, the Republican
Liberty Caucus of Texas helps avoid
a potential exodus to Libertarian, Constitutional, and other third parties,
which would end up weakening our thin margin over the Democrats, thus opening
the door to big-government victories from leftist candidates. The Republican
Liberty Caucus of Texas is
proud to promote the GOP's smaller-government message. Our limited
government, individual liberty and free market ideas will win by inclusion.
There is strength in numbers.
While rolling back decades of government "nannyism" will require a
great deal of public education and grassroots lobbying, the most important
means of changing public policy is to change public officials. Therefore, the Republican
Liberty Caucus of Texas works
to elect pro-liberty Republicans to offices at all levels,
partisan and non-partisan, in both primary and general elections.
The Republican Liberty Caucus of
Texas is committed not to just electing more Republicans
... but better ones, as well.
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COMMITTEE:
Executive Director:
Mr.
Don Zimmerman
Austin,
TX
(512)
250-8649
dzimmerman@rlctexas.net
Chairman:
Mr. Jerry
Patterson
Austin,
TX
jerry@rlctexas.net
Vice Chairman:
Mr. Lonnie
Brantley
Houston,
TX
lbrantley@rlctexas.net
Secretary:
Mr. Trey Summitt
Dallas, TX
gsummitt@rlctexas.net
Treasurer:
Mr. John Reed
Buda,
TX
jreed@rlctexas.net
At-Large:
Tammi Kannar
Austin, TX
tkannar@rlctexas.net
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