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The hearing on HB681 was held yesterday in the Business & Industry Committee. The Bill was left pending which is the Chairman's normal procedure for all bills.

We need everyone to get back on the phones and faxes and politely request that HB681 be voted favorably from the B&I committee during the next meeting/hearing without any amendments. I cannot overstress the importance of keeping up the pressure, especially on the Chairman who gets to decide if and when the bill will be brought up for a vote.

If HB681 languishes in committee before being voted out, then it will get behind the budget and redistricting and it will not pass. Please, please answer this call to action!

Chas.

Here are the Committee Members, their NRA Rating and a link to their contact information:

Joe Deshotel - A: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... istrict=22" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Rob Orr - A: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... istrict=58" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dwayne Bohac - A: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... strict=138" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

John Garza - B-: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... strict=117" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Helen Giddings - C: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... strict=109" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sid Miller - A: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... istrict=59" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chente Quintanilla - A: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... istrict=75" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Burt Solomons - A: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... istrict=65" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Paul Workman - A: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... istrict=47" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Transplanting baldeagle's post:

baldeagle wrote:I'm going to make this easy for y'all.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:Here are the Committee Members, their NRA Rating and a link to their contact information:

Joe Deshotel - A: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... istrict=22" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (512) 463-0662 Phone (512) 463-8381 Fax

Rob Orr - A: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... istrict=58" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (512) 463-0538 Phone (512) 463-0897 Fax

Dwayne Bohac - A: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... strict=138" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (512) 463-0727 Phone (512) 463-0681 Fax

John Garza - B-: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... strict=117" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (512) 463-0269 Phone (512) 463-1096 Fax

Helen Giddings - C: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... strict=109" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (512) 463-0953 Phone (512) 463-5887 Fax

Sid Miller - A: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... istrict=59" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (512) 463-0628 Phone (512) 463-3644 Fax

Chente Quintanilla - A: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... istrict=75" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (512) 463-0613 Phone (512) 463-1237 Fax

Burt Solomons - A: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... istrict=65" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (512) 463-0478 Phone (512) 463-2089 Fax

Paul Workman - A: http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... istrict=47" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (512) 463-0652 Phone (512) 463-0565 Fax

OK, called all of them.

The call takers for Reps Orr and Miller specifically told me, in so many words, their reps supported the bill. I had to leave voicemails for Quintanilla and Workman. Everyone else simply took my message without expressing an opinion one way or another, and occasionally asked for my name again. If anything, Rep Deshotels call taker sounded a bit flat, not terribly enthusiastic.

I just called them all and asked for assistance getting the bill out of committee with no amendments.

Mr. Cotton, BaldEagle and ELB - thank you so much for making the information so easy to access!

I have also just called all members of the committee. Let us hope we can get this on the calendar soon.
Bear

ELB wrote:If anything, Rep Deshotels call taker sounded a bit flat, not terribly enthusiastic.

Hopefully that's because they're getting overwhelmed with calls supporting the parking lot bill.

I just finished calling all nine. At Quintanilla's office, as soon as I said I was in favor of 681, the gal on the phone said their office was working to pass it out of committee with no amendments. I told her she took the words right out of my mouth. When I called Garza's office, the gentleman who answered said that he expects it to get a vote when the committee meets again on Monday the 7th. I dunno if that's accurate or not, but it sounds good to me. The woman who answered the phone for Deshotel seemed kind of eager to get rid of me. I asked for a vote at the next hearing, and her response was that it was just in a hearing yesterday. I told her I was aware of that, but the bill still needs a vote, so I would appreciate if he would schedule a vote as soon as he can.

I cross posted at ar15.com tonight - http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b ... 039&page=1

I faxed all 9 a few minutes ago. I think they will tire of my faxes

artx wrote:I cross posted at ar15.com tonight - http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b ... 039&page=1

I faxed all 9 a few minutes ago. I think they will tire of my faxes

If not yours...then mine.

Honestly, I don't do it to be annoying....I just think that faxes have real impact.

When I visited with my representative, Leo Burman, just before the 09 session he said that he preferred a fax as it could be put in a folder by staff, compiled and looked at at convenience. He prefers faxes over emails. He said that phones to staffers certainly are appreciated, but they take up more of the staff time . I used to work with Leo's wife on a part time basis (my retirement job teaching outdoor education at community college)--maybe I would get more from him by calling the boss.

My first post. This is an important issue for me.

This may not be the right location to ask but what is good baseline info to put into the faxes? Name? The bill? What I want? I guess I am wondering how formal it should be with contact info, address, phone, etc.

Thanks,
Craig

goose wrote:My first post. This is an important issue for me.

This may not be the right location to ask but what is good baseline info to put into the faxes? Name? The bill? What I want? I guess I am wondering how formal it should be with contact info, address, phone, etc.

Thanks,
Craig

I make mine fairly formal (Want to be taken seriously, not look like a 3rd grader wrote it )

On the first line of the body, I usually say what action I want the rep/senator to take (vote bill XXYYY out of committee, no amendments, etc). The next few paragraphs I might talk about what the bill does. I suspect they only read the first couple lines :) Definitely list the bill number.

If you want a template let me know and I can PM you the body of most of my faxes.

According to this schedule, 681 is not up for discussion or vote today. Looks like we'll have to wait another week...

As of today:
Committee report favorably
Report printed and distributed

RPBrown wrote:As of today:
Committee report favorably
Report printed and distributed

Was this for HB681 or SB321? I see that SB321 matches the above status...

I see the House B&I committee meeting is still going on, I'm hoping they vote on it and just didn't have on schedule (is that legal?)