State Convention, Sen Cornyn, Guns and voting

Thanks to all the delegates who attended and participated in the process especially those who did the heaviest lifting and worked on committees; within a week votes should be tallied and we will have the list of the eight Legislative Priorities and which of the 270 planks made the final cut. Thankfully, our State Convention ended sans any violent incident.

There were some “fiery” incidents: e.g. the vote for the Vice Chair and the response to Sen Cornyn presence and his speech. I will speak to the latter.

Following the recent shootings in Buffalo, NY and Uvalde, TX, Sen Cornyn was tasked to head up a bipartisan committee to work on gun legislation. Now, I really you need to stick with me and don't get ahead of me on this one – I was surprised to see that the “PROPOSED” legislation did not go as far to the extreme as many, myself included, imagined. Note: this is not an endorsement in any sense to the plan.

Here's what I understand to be in the proposed legislation:

- Incentives for States to create their own red flag laws

- Upload juvenile records so that they could be included in background checks

- Ending the “boyfriend loophole” (current domestic violence restriction does not apply to dating partners)

- Clarify/expand the definition of “federally licensed firearms dealer” to include people who repeatedly sell firearms for a profit

- Increase funding for mental health and school safety

[I may have missed something. I just don't want this to grow legs like the falsely labeled FL legislation, which was dubbed the “Don't Say Gay Bill”]

I was shocked and saddened to hear what happened to Sen Cornyn during his speech. I did not witness it because we, SD25, were still in our Senatorial session. This is behavior we accuse the Far-Left of doing to shutdown speakers. In my “opinion”, more appropriate things for delegates to do would have been to either: turn their backs on him while he was speaking or walk out. After all he is our seated US Senator.

I know there's a general disdain for Sen Cornyn. When working mobile headquarter events, it's generally tough that our rhetoric does not match our voting behavior at the polls.

The data shows, we talk a good game yet are afraid of following up with actions; in short we demonstrate a fear of CHANGE. In the 2020 Primary, Sen Cornyn garnered 76% of the vote in Guadalupe County, 81% in Comal County and 83% in Bexar County, despite there being viable alternatives. This author favored, Dwayne Stovall. However, Stovall won less than 10% of the vote in the previous listed counties.

The same can be said about Gov Abbott – voting support does not match the rhetoric. Our Party Platform calls for Ending/Repealing Property Tax. At the Convention, there were many people walking around with the “Red Axe” to promote the legislative priority. Yet in the same fashion Gov Abbott, the only candidate who did not support the issue, garnered the lion's share of the votes in the primary: 70% Guadalupe, 61% Comal and 71% Bexar. At the rate things are moving, people on fixed incomes, primarily seniors will be taxed out of their homes. We will never get to truly own our homes.

We are our own worst enemy at times.

Looking ahead I ask this question: Will the same fear of change paralyze us in the CD-28 race in Nov? Will REPUBLICANS support our Republican nominee Cassy Garcia or will they vote for the Democrat Henry Cuellar, the familiar name? I pray that it's the former.

Summarizing up the Convention: lots of good work was completed. Now WE need to follow up with our “representatives” and press them on ensuring that the legislative priorities get voted on and not killed in committee. Our legislators should NOT for a Speaker who will give Democrats a Chairmanship position.