Citizens in Charge

On Tuesday, June 8, I testified before the subcommittee of the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) Platform Committee that handled the pro-initiative and referendum (I&R) resolutions that came out of the Senatorial District Conventions.  The cards were stacked against us as members of this subcommittee were hand picked and all were anti-I&R.  Shirley Spellerberg, the woman who proudly told me at the hearing that she was the one responsible for getting I&R of the platform in 1996, was selected for this committee to ensure that it would fail again.  When I approached the committee, I was given three minutes to support the pro-I&R plank.

I attempted to scale down my six minute presentation.  I stated that I&R was on the platform for 18 years from 1978 to 1996.  In the two polls conducted by the RPT, the rank & file were in favor by margins of seven to one and five to one.  By the time 1995 rolled around, every statewide elected office had become under Republican control and the Republican party had emerged as the dominant party in our state. The very next year a very small group of party insiders were able to replace the pro-I&R plank with an anti-I&R plank.  Why?  It was all about control and still is.  I explained how special interests monopolize the legislature and are scared to death of I&R.   When I was finished, Mrs. Spellerberg (Senate District 12 ) stated that I&R was unconstitutional according to the Texas Constitution.  I was not allowed to respond.

When another committee member asked a question I was able to explain that the unconstitutionality issue was pure mis-information.  It did not matter.  One of Mrs Spellerberg’s protégés (Denise MacNamara, Senate District 10),  made the comment that I&R will give special interest groups more power.  I was allowed to respond to that statement.  When the smoke cleared, the resolution was defeated 6-0.

I had the opportunity to testify the next day in front of the full committee.  Again I was given three minutes and I did not need a script this time.  I immediately addressed the constitutionality of I&R and told them it is time the Republicans woke up and started listening to the people.  I do not know if I swayed anyone’s opinion because we were not privy to the full committee’s votes, but I did get a rousing round of applause from the gallery of onlookers and others waiting to testify on behalf of their issues.

We have one final chance, albeit a slim one, on Friday, the first official day of the convention.  When the full platform committee gives its report, I believe it is open to testimony by any delegate.  If any of you are delegates to the convention, please step up to the plate,  Send me an email immediately and we will meet on Friday.  The more who testify, the stronger the case.

To find out who is on the full committee, go to this link and click on Platform Committee: