Texas GOP Vote

A TSA agent grabbed the genitals of Texas Republican Congressman Canseco at a San Antonio Airport. The Congressman reacted instinctively to protect his private parts and the Congressman pushed down the hand of the TSA agent. Now the TSA agent is crying and saying the Congressman assaulted him. Are you serious? Is this even America?

Congressman Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) has introduced legislation to rein in the Transportation Security Administration and provide more transparency for American travelers. H.R. 3608, the Stop TSA's Reach In Policy (STRIP) Act, would prohibit any TSA employee not trained as a federal law enforcement officer or eligible for federal law enforcement benefits from wearing law enforcement uniforms or wearing a police-like metal badge.

Yesterday, in a move of uncharacteristic dexterity, the Texas Senate passed the TSA Anti-Groping Bill. The bill now is in the hands of our Texas House where I am confident it will be dispatched to the Governor for signing and a future court battle over Texans' right to travel without being molested and unreasonably searched.   Read more »

Today, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst issued the following statement regarding the passage of Senate Bill 29, the TSA pat-down bill:

"We all want our skies to be safe and we all want to fight terrorism. But airport security must focus on stopping terrorists, not harassing innocent travelers. With the passage of SB 29, the Texas Legislature is not only telling the TSA to change their policies − we're telling the Obama Administration we will not be intimidated and we will vigorously defend our Constitutional rights."   Read more »

(Austin) – This afternoon the Texas House of Representatives took the next step toward restricting government officials from groping innocent citizens as a condition of travel without cause, passing HB 41 on second reading by voice vote. Three amendments were offered and passed by the bill’s author Representative David Simpson (R-Longview), Representative Allen Fletcher (R-Houston), and Representative Pete Gallego (D-Alpine).   Read more »

This statement on the passage of the second reading of House Bill 41, or the “TSA pat-down bill”, was released today from the offices of Texas House Speaker Joe Straus (R-San Antonio).

"I want to thank the numerous members of the Texas House who worked hard over the weekend to resolve the major concerns with HB 41.   Read more »

Monday evening, Texas Governor Rick Perry stepped up and drew a line in the sand challenging the TSA's authority to conduct invasive and unwarrented searches of Texans by issuing a proclamation granting the Texas Legislature the authorization to consider and approve legislatio   Read more »

Update: Gov. Perry Adds Legislation to Special Session Call Related to Security Procedures

The following is a letter from State Rep. David Simpson (HD-7):

Dear Governor Perry:

If you are willing, there is still time to enact legislation to protect the dignity of travelers in Texas. Egregious intrusive searches without probable cause continue every day by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Texans and indeed Americans around this nation are fed up with this out of control federal bureaucracy that has promulgated practices that violate the 4th Amendment and that treat grandmothers, the handicapped, Iraqi war veterans with prosthetic limbs, boys, girls and infants as criminal suspects—touching their private parts as a condition of travel.   Read more »

Texas Governor Rick Perry has held the Texas Legislature in place by calling for a Special Session to deal with a school finance plan blocked by Democrats in the regular session. The session will also deal with Medicaid cost savings.

The Special Session can last up to 30 days and can only deal with issues brought forward by the Governor.  Certain rules, like the Senate "Blocker Bill" rule, are also not in effect, making it more difficult for Democrats to block Conservative legislation.   Read more »

(Austin) – Despite overwhelming support from the public for HB 1937, a bill to protect the Fourth Amendment rights of Texas citizens, the federal Department of Justice (DOJ) succeeded in intimidating the Texas Senate into submission with a threatening letter full of misleading statements. The bill was brought up again for discussion by its Senate sponsor Dan Patrick (R-Houston) late Wednesday night, but after the DOJ’s bullying tactics several Senators were unwilling to sign back on to the bill. Rep. David Simpson’s (R-Longview) office is currently