Minutes of: 05/23/2013
Produced: May 30, 2013
Wichita Falls Tea Party Patriots Minutes
Call To Order: 7:00pm
Opening Prayer:
Pledges to Texas and American Flag
Opening Announcements:
Member expresses concern with turnout at IRS Protest
Gun Show Upcoming
o Announced by a council member
o May 25th 9am – 6pm & May 26th 10am – 5pm at MPEC
o Letter read aloud, request for opposition to HR 141 and any future infringement on 2nd amendment
rights
o Tea Party needs volunteers to help distribute information during booth times
Constitution Class: Slave Trade
Article 1 Section 9 Clause 1
First time in history restrictions were put on legislative body, restrictions are not exclusive
Discussion of slavery, its reprehensibility, and its particular historical situation at the time of the Constitution’s
drafting
Noted Jefferson’s first political act was to attempt to end slavery, despite modern perspective that he was a
proponent of slavery
Noted British government prevented Virginia from ending slavery on regular occasion
Noted Madison thought that “Slavery is evil, but disunion is worse”
Ten dollar tax limit is to ensure economic forces are not used to effectively end slavery importation before 1808
Founders wanted a period of twenty years to “work it out”
Program: Term Limits
Speaker: our meeting host and council member
Source: Patrick Basham from Our Generation on term limits
Host intends to provide resources for home study and provide letters relevant to the term limit issue
Host would like to focus on term limits specifically
Matt Salmon, proposed an amendment to limit the number of congressional terms
Believes term limit is the only way to “clean house” and the only way to prevent the “kicking down the road” of
tough issues
Host notes that in Texas term limit proposal for governor failed in the house
Term Limits balance playing field between freshmen and incumbent representatives
While campaigning incumbents receive salaries of ~$130,000
Term Limits ensure congressional turn over, turnover is typical below 10%
Notes both Elaine Hays and Dr. Pam Barlow, Thornberry challengers, support term limits
Term limits secure Congress’s independent judgment
Minutes of: 05/23/2013
Produced: May 30, 2013
Member Response
o Membership seems to be in agreement with term limits
o Member feels we have a “parliament of prostitutes” and term limits are necessary
o Member suggests that states place their own term limits on federal representatives rather than
expecting the federal government to place those limitations
o Member notes a plan to remove water boards in control of water supplies and could be a dangerous
proposition as it could place more power in the governor’s hands
Closing Announcements:
Texas 83rd Legislature Update
o Announced by a council member
o Aforementioned attempt to place term limits on the governor failed in the house
o HB 928
 Texas protection of firearms from federal powers
 Awaiting a vote, running short on days
o HB 912
 Drone Privacy Bill
 Amendments were passed by Senate, and went into conference committee – running short on
time
o SB 303
 Death Panel Bill
 Allows in some scenarios 3rd party to make decisions about life and death decisions about
patients – appears to have died in committee
o HB 308
 Merry Christmas Bill
 Sent to Governor, may become law
o HB 78
 Removes sales tax from precious metals under $1000
 Sent to Governor, may become law
o SB 1052
 Electronic Privacy Bill
 Requires warrants for taking of electronic communication, such as email
 Sent to Governor, may become law
o SB 346
 Requires Disclosure of donors to the politically affiliated
 Sent to Governor, may become law
o HB 972
 College Hand Gun Bill
 Waiting for vote in Senate, expected it will be allowed to die like other good gun bills
o HB 1314
 Penalties for seizure of firearms not in accordance with Texas State Law
 Waiting Senate vote
o SB 1730
 Allows conversion of public Highways into private Toll ways
Minutes of: 05/23/2013
Produced: May 30, 2013
 Uses private-public-partnership, common tool of the UN
 Sent to Governor, may become law – expected to be signed
o Four days remain in Texas 83rd Legislature
o Suggested to contact on Governor
Member notes many people participate in other political action groups or activities but hopes we can expand
the Tea Party and make it more active
Member inquires about Immigration Bill
Member notes Keep Texas Red in response to Blue State migration into Texas
Council member suggests articles from Cato as a regular information source
Closing Prayer:
Closing: 8:04pm