The following message is from Aaron Harris, Executive Director, Direct Action Texas:
On August 16th, Direct Action Texas and Grassroots America held a joint press conference in which we announced a Texas Conservative Grassroots Coalition letter to Gov. Abbott asking him to direct the Secretary of State to begin verifying the citizenship of registered voters in Texas.
We asked the Governor to do this because 1) the Texas Secretary of State is appointed by the Governor, 2) the Governor has the constitutional executive authority to mandate citizenship verification of registered voters, and 3) Governor Abbott has strongly supported Coalition efforts to pass election integrity and ballot security reforms. In fact, upon signing Senate Bill 5 (increased penalties for people who commit election crimes related to mail-in ballots), Governor Abbott issued a statement declaring, “It is a primary function of government to protect citizens’ right to vote, and I will not allow the integrity of the ballot box to be compromised in Texas.”
In the press conference, I released figures that have understandably garnered quite a bit of attention and caused heartburn for some government officials. Many questions are circling; I’m going to address several of those now. Some will be better answered at a future time and place, after we’ve completed necessary follow-up work.
We can agree that government suffers from a disease of inaction. Even with the best of intentions, important projects simply die in government, especially those that are political hot potatoes – like election integrity. This is simply a political reality.
For nearly a year, the Texas Attorney General has had information about the problems with Texas’ voter rolls, and this project has simply stalled. In January, in discussions with multiple senior level staffers in the AG’s office, I predicted they would get nowhere by mid-year in 2018 and promised that – if they did nothing – I would go public in July or August. As I had originally feared, the project has stalled. Last week I followed through on my promise to release the information.
It is important for us to remember that we aren’t talking about stalling on a minor issue. Since my discussions with high level Texas AG staffers about non-citizens being registered to vote in Texas, the March 2018 Primary Election happened. The May 22 Primary runoff election happened, and the May 2018 local municipal, school board, and bond elections took place, not to mention other local runoffs and special elections. Now, in just a few months, we’ll have the November 2018 General Election. How does this not rise to the level of a priority as election after election goes by?
In 2017, government analysts compared Texas’ voter rolls against the Department of Public Safety (DPS) database. Most Texans don’t realize the Secretary of State (SoS) checks the DPS database every time they register a voter. This is done in accordance with federal statute.
They verify the applicant’s name, address, and date of birth. DPS has citizenship information, but the SoS does NOT verify that status, even though it is illegal for non-citizens to vote!
In checking the voter rolls against the DPS citizenship status, the analysts found 280,000 registered voters who – at the time they were issued a DPS ID – were not citizens. Again, non-citizens are illegible to register and to vote.
Some of these were registered to vote when they got their ID (motor voter), and some were registered to vote at a later date. Some of these likely became naturalized citizens since they obtained their DPS ID, but surely not all of them. The fact is – we simply do not know.
Texans deserve to know.
There are over 21.5 million DPS-issued IDs in Texas. There are 14 million registered voters.Of the 14 million registered voters, more than 4 million of them do not match up to anyone in DPS’s database or other databases available to the analysts.
We’ve spoken with several conservative legislators the last couple of days. We are incensed that NONE of the independent gun rights groups were invited to the Abbott table and that our conservative legislators were shut out of the conversation too.When gun control advocates leave the Governor’s meeting high-fiving each other, you know there’s a reason for concern.
In short order, we will plan a Coalition effort with conservative legislators to stand against erosion of gun rights and to support laws already on the books that are not being enforced. We support school safety, but we do not support criminalizing lawful gun-owners in the process.
The following is our initial read on Governor Abbott’s May 30, 2018 School and Firearm Safety Action Plan:
1) His proposal creates a de facto mandatory storage law and makes every gun owner a potential felon.
2) His proposal makes it a potential felony to store a gun in your automobile.
3) His proposal will make it a potential felony to make firearms accessible to you or your properly-trained teenagers in the case of an emergency.
4) His proposal effectively outlaws unsupervised shooting by anyone under the age of 18, regardless of training or ability.
We are also concerned with potential “red flag” laws that could target gun owners on an anonymous tip, allowing judges to temporarily seize an individual’s firearms if that person is considered an imminent threat. If a citizen speaks against a tax increase or a bond election, would local officials consider that citizen an imminent threat? What about citizens who hold prayer vigils outside abortion clinics or groups who hold Tax Day rallies? Oh, yes indeed, some officials would call that an imminent threat in a heartbeat!
Other language in the plan approaches criminalization of gun owners if they fail to report a missing firearm in a specified government- mandated time frame.
We will oppose any legislation that makes it harder for citizens to use their firearms for the core lawful purpose of self-defense.
Stay tuned. Our right to self-defense PRE-DATES the Second Amendment. It is a God-given right – not a right bestowed by the government. We intend to fight to preserve it. What about you?
I’m excited to share some good news with all of our Grassroots America members and supporters and to say to my colleagues in the Texas Conservative Grassroots Coalition, “Well done!”
On July 17 as we were about to start the legislature’s special session, the Coalition sent a powerful letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton thanking him for efforts he had made to stand against voter fraud and asking him to look into issues regarding the constitutionality of voting machines in use in Texas. [See the Coalition letter here.]
The Texas Constitution is very clear. Article VI, Sec. 4 reads: “in all elections by the people, the vote shall be by ballot, and the Legislature shall provide for the numbering of tickets and make such other regulations as may be necessary to detect and punish fraud and preserve the purity of the ballot box.” This simply means that every ballot must be numbered.
The problem? Some voting machines currently in use in Texas, and new ones available for sale (using our tax dollars), specifically DRE machines, DO NOT number ballots. In fact, many simply are not capable of sequentially numbered paper trail back ups, but rather only “cast vote records”.
Election integrity and ballot security are not trite political matters. We simply must stand against operatives in both the Democratic and Republican parties and vendors who may try to stand in the way of cleaning up this big voter fraud mess in Texas.
After what happened during the regular session, it is clear that we have Republican obstructionists in the legislature who will do whatever it takes to thwart election integrity reforms. So, for the operatives and shills for the vendors who read this, let mebe clear. There will be no compromise and no acceptance of excuses for a situation in which the Secretary of State’s Office seemingly has rogue employees who can just ignore the state constitution and all controlling legal authorities.
Since I’m not used to asking permission to do the right thing, there will be NO retreat. Period. It matters not to me if folks post tacky little remarks on social media and get all spun up about the issues being raised by the two folks I consider to be subject matter experts on ballot security and election integrity. In fact, the more push back we get, the more determined we are!
Aaron Harris, Executive Director of Direct Action Texas, worked his heart out during the special session to get improvements in mail-in ballot security. He was successful. Aaron has four criminal cases on voter fraud, and this bulldog is just getting warmed up.
Dr. Laura Pressley, Save our Texas Vote, continues to tear up and down the highways of Texas, speaking to any group that will listen about the deficiencies in our election processes and the lack of transparency and accountability in how elections are carried out. She has bled for this and deserves respect.
As a result of the Coalition’s letter to General Paxton, we had a meeting with the AG’s Office in August. I am confident the Attorney General understands our concerns and has reviewed all of the evidence brought forward.
Now, Laura has some great news. Please share this with your friends and organizations.
The Austin Swamp-draining conservative grassroots army we are building is growing! We also have Coalition projects aimed at the DC Swamp. Since January, we have launched 29 Coalition projects that have drawn both state and national attention. Our support is in demand at the Capitol during the Special Session, which began yesterday.
We are working will fellow coalition-builders Teresa Beckmeyer (Lone Star Voice), Dale and Mary Huls (Clear Lake TEA Party), Toni and Tom Fabry (Frisco TEA Party) and Ray Myers (Kaufman County TEA Party) to hold quarterly Grassroots Leadership Summits that encourage unity around conservative principles and team-building among like-minded activist leaders. The following information about Grassroots America’s statewide coalition-building project will help you understand HOW and WHY this is working!
The Coalition is about conservative, limited government principles – not personalities. It is about supporting the Texas GOP Platform as long as it is a constitutionally conservative platform.
This Coalition has been wildly successful at the Capitol, and the Coalition has grown 78% since we began activities in January. We will continue to hold quarterly Coalition meetings that are meaningful.
Partners continue to operate asindependentgroups, but when necessary, act as a strong coalition,united around first principles. This is not a substitute for any local group’s work, nor is it intended to replace local efforts.
Partners include local TEA party/conservative groups, statewide conservative groups, SRECs, GOP county chairs, GOP precinct chairs, GOP club leaders, and professional associations (such as the Texas Association of Physicians & Surgeons) who agree on a particular issue.
It’s about helping even the smallest conservative local group be successful and make their voices heard.
It’s about adding value to groups that don’t have the resources to take on big projects.
It’s about building an enduring Texas conservative grassroots movement in every Senate District (which also covers the State House Districts).
It’s about raising a higher standard for both elected officials and for Texas grassroots activists.
It is about framing the debate and being on offense, rather than playing defense and being reactionary.
It is about passing good conservative reform bills and killing bad bills in spite of a rogue Speaker and the Austin Cartel, because there will always be a liberal, big government Republican in power somewhere. That is the nature of unprincipled men and women.
Grassroots training will be important. Long term, we will prevail by working smarter and upholding principles over political expediency.
The Coalition will not vet candidates. That is the responsibility of local groups.
The Coalition will not endorse candidates because we are not a PAC.
There are no Coalition membership dues or fundraising. Our database will not be shared or sold.
Participation does not require a groups allegiance to every issue.
The Coalition is fluid because it is based on issues.If your group agrees with a stated position, they sign on. If your group doesn’t agree, don’t sign. Individuals signing on for a Group/Organization do so with that Group’s/Organization’s agreement and approval – implied or explicit.
When a coalition partner signs on to a letter or statement, they do so knowing full well that the author of the letter or statement will NOT equivocate or back down should the heat get too hot for any coalition partner.
Letters and statements will be based on sourced facts and first principles. If the Coalition project inflames the media, local/Austin/DC Cartels, the establishment GOP, an elected official, the Left, or the Tooth Fairy, there will be NO retreat, so Coalition partners should not ask for one. Partners assumepersonal responsibility when they sign on.
This Coalition is not in competition with anybody. It is a unique effort with a heart to serve and to build a stronger, more principled Texas grassroots movement that will keep Texas free.
If the leaders of your TEA party, GOP Club, your SREC, your GOP County Chairman, your GOP Precinct Chair, or other constitutional conservative group leaders are not a part of the Coalition, have your leadership contact us atgrassrootsleadership@gawtp.com.
JoAnn Fleming, Teresa Beckmeyer, Toni & Tom Fabry, Mary & Dale Huls, Bill Hussey, Ray Myers
We don’t go looking for a fight, but if you bring one, like all good Texans, we’ll rise to the occasion to remind you about values, conservative principles, and your job description. If you want to avoid a messy “clean up on aisle 9” that you most certainly will not enjoy, these are key points to remember…
Know your purpose and stay in your lane. Be sure your staff understands this, along with thenext ten items.
Respect is a two way street.
Remember that you werehired at the ballot box to do a job defined by statute & oath. Do it.
Remember that we do not work for you; therefore, we will not ask your permission to speak out on issues.
Remember that we do not work for you; therefore, we will not allow you to define our role as activists, set our priorities, or tell us when we can and cannot interact with your office.
Remember the times you’ve needed us to have your back when you were unfairly attacked? BEFORE you get all whiny because we ask a question you don’t like, you might want to take a walk, have an ice cream cone, or take a deep breath, ‘cause you really don’t want to go there!
Be thankful that some of us have enough mercy to ignore unbecoming and childish behavior the first time, but don’t count on not being publicly called out if you keep it up (and that goes for the silly social media stunts you think we don’t see).
Remember your Oath of Office. Some of us expect you to keep it and hold true to it in every way. That means following and upholding the rule of law – all of it, all of the time.
We don’t post or traffic in rumors about officials, but your voting record, your public comments, and how you conduct yourself is your job performance record, which makes it our business.
Just as is the case with any employee, you will be rated on what you do, as well as what you do not do. Failure to do your job, pass the buck, point fingers at others, and constantly make excuses is cause for non-support or opposition.
An endorsement from us is not a life-long commitment on our part. From the day you take office, you are being evaluated. It is an entirely reasonable expectation that you will keep your promises and pledges, and that you will hold true to the values and principles you extolled when you were a candidate. Veer from that at your own peril.
Thank you for serving in public office. For those who really try to do it right, it is a very tough job. We get that. So, make sure you and your staff don’t make your job harder than it already is. If you stay in your lane, keep your promises, work hard, respect the folks, and do what is right, we’ll have your back!
