Further attempt to disenfranchise Texas voters - House Committee hearing tomorrow (April 25)

[LeftInTX]

Last week, the Senate passed SB 949 that would cap legal fees owed to successful challengers of redistricting and school finance claims to $250,000. This comes on the heels of yet another federal court ruling that found that Texas intentionally diluted minority votes when drawing the State House Districts in 2011. To date, the ongoing litigation surrounding this court case has topped $5 million. According to Senator Kirk Watson, D-Austin, “[This] bill will make it harder for citizens of this state who are aggrieved by actions that violate the Constitution, to bring these cases.”

HB 2221 is the House companion bill to SB 949, and it’s in the House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence. The bill is set for a hearing on Tuesday. We need to slow this bill down. NOW IS THE TIME TO CALL THESE COMMITTEE MEMBERS and tell them you OPPOSE gerrymandering and therefore also OPPOSE HB 2221:

Chair: Rep. John T. Smithee [phone]
Vice Chair: Rep. Jessica Farrar [phone]

Members:
Rep. Roland Gutierrez [phone] ***
Rep. Ana Hernandez [phone]
Rep. Jodie Laubenberg [phone]
Rep. Andrew S. Murr [phone]
Rep. Victoria Neave [phone] ***
Rep. Matt Rinaldi [phone]
Rep. Mike Schofield [phone] (the AUTHOR of HB 2221)

*** Representatives that we know already will oppose HB 2221. But still okay to call to say thanks.

Next, CALL YOUR HOUSE REP and tell them to OPPOSE HB 2221.

From:

https://www.indivisibleaustin.com/actions-for-the-week/

___________________________________________________________________________

I called everyone on this list and said: I ask that this bill not be brought forward. It is designed to decrease voter participation in the electoral process. It is a threat to our republic. It is unpatriotic and a violation of the First Amendment to the US Constitution. "Congress shall make no law respecting .....the right of the people ....to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

_________________________________________________________________________

They snuck and passed that senate bill last week with barely a peep. This is the only MSM source I can find. I can't even find anything in the Texas Tribune:

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/senate-oks-bill-capping-legal-fees-250-000-certain-cases/uxLxzVQV3JDIShLlQXiyaP/

[LeftInTX]

1. I found out that this bill does not apply to federal lawsuits due to jurisdiction issues.

It will apply to three-judge district state courts.

But apparently, the author of this bill (Schofield) created 3 three-judge district courts a few years ago.
He created them with the intention of destroying the litigation they created.

I believe the three-judge district state courts apparently handle some redistricting plans and the way public schools are financed. I think public education is the target here.

This is still a bad bill......

If Texas could apply this to federal lawsuits, (Perez vs Perry which is now Perez vs Abbott) I'm sure they would.