Protesters March on Texas Capital Over Feds Blocking Anti-TSA Groping Bill

[FrankRep]

Infowars.com:
Texans Take to Capitol, Demand Representatives Resist TSA Tyranny (http://www.infowars.com/texans-take-to-capitol-demand-representatives-resist-tsa-tyranny/)


Dallas News:
Anti-TSA protesters storm through Capitol halls (http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/05/anti-tsa-protesters-storm-thro.html)

Austin Statesman:
Boisterous protest over airport-groping bill (http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2011/05/25/protestors_try_to_storm_senate.html)


May 25, 2011



A boisterous group of protesters angry over the Texas Senate’s failure to vote on the airport groping bill tried to enter the public gallery this afternoon and were blocked by state troopers.

Shouting “treason” and “cowards” and carrying signs and placards, the group of perhaps as many as 100 people entered the State Capitol shortly after 3 p.m. and first went to the House chamber.
...

The group then marched to the Senate side of the Capitol and tried to enter the third-floor public gallery. Troopers with arms folded blocked them from entry.

They stood outside for several minutes, chanting: “Co-wards, co-wards,” Trea-son, trea-son,” and shouted slogans accusing senators and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst of being “federal pimps” and “scallawag trash.”

They vowed to vote out of office Dewhurst and the senators who opposed passage of the bill.
...


Full Story:
http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2011/05/25/protestors_try_to_storm_senate.html

[FrankRep]

Background:


http://thenewamerican.com/images/stories2011/08aMay/tsapatdown-t-ap.001.jpg



Texas bill H.B. 1937 that would have made Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents liable for sexual assault when groping passengers without probable cause was pulled from the Senate floor after the Department of Justice sent a letter threatening to create what critics called a “no-fly zone” over the state by preventing flights to or from Texas airports.


Feds "Mess With Texas," Attack Anti-TSA Bill (http://thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/7620-feds-mess-with-texas-attack-anti-tsa-bill)


Alex Newman | The New American (http://thenewamerican.com/)
25 May 2011


A Texas bill (http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=HB1937) that would have made Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents liable for sexual assault when groping passengers without probable cause was pulled from the Senate floor after the Department of Justice sent a letter (http://www.lonestarreport.org/Home/tabid/38/EntryId/1177/DOJ-letter-TSA-would-likely-be-required-to-cancel-any-flight.aspx) threatening to create what critics called a “no-fly zone” (http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2011/05/24/feds-issue-threat-no-fly-zone-for-texas/) over the state by preventing flights to or from Texas airports. However, as will be demonstrated in a follow-up report by a colleague, there may well be "life after death" for this bill.

The legislation, which was aimed at securing the rights enshrined in the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, sailed through the Texas House (http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/7481-anti-tsa-bill-passes-texas-house) earlier this month as H.B. 1937 with a unanimous vote. It was then sent to the state Senate.

But before Texas senators had a chance to vote on the legislation, U.S. Attorney John E. Murphy sent high-ranking state officials a stark warning: Kill the bill or else. “Under the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution, Texas has no authority to regulate federal agents and employees in the performance of their federal duties or to pass a statute that conflicts with federal law,” Murphy alleged in the letter (http://www.lonestarreport.org/Home/tabid/38/EntryId/1177/DOJ-letter-TSA-would-likely-be-required-to-cancel-any-flight.aspx), which was obtained by the Lone Star Report.

And if the legislation were enacted, Murphy threatened that the federal government would likely seek an emergency court order prohibiting its implementation. If the courts refused to stop the bill, “TSA would likely be required to cancel any flight or series of flights for which it could not ensure the safety of passengers and crew,” Murphy said, concluding with an ominous warning urging state officials to “consider the ramifications” before supporting the bill.

After the threatening letter was circulated, the Senate bill’s sponsor, Sen. Dan Patrick, was forced to withdraw the legislation from the floor. Patrick’s office confirmed to The New American that the state Senator did not have enough support to bring the bill up for a vote. At least a dozen senators backed down after the federal threats.

“There was a time in this state, there was a time in our history, where we stood up to the federal government and we did not cower to rules and policies that invaded the privacy of Texans,” Sen. Patrick said (http://www.texastribune.org/texas-legislature/82nd-legislative-session/fed-threat-shuts-down-tsa-groping-bill-in-texas/) before withdrawing the bill. "I will pull HB 1937 down, but I will stand for liberty in the state of Texas." He also told reporters that representatives of the TSA were allegedly “lobbying” against the bill.

But the real blame for the legislation’s setback in the Senate should be pinned on Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, according to Sen. Patrick. “When you stand on the Senate floor and the president of the Senate calls the bill up, he’s not supposed to be working against the bill while you’re debating it,” Patrick explained (http://www.texastribune.org/texas-legislature/82nd-legislative-session/fed-threat-shuts-down-tsa-groping-bill-in-texas/). “This was a case of the federal government bullying Texas, and apparently they bullied the lieutenant governor.”

The author of the legislation, state Rep. David Simpson, was outraged as well. “The federal government is attempting to deprive the citizens of Texas of their constitutional rights under the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article 1, Section 9, of the Texas Constitution,” he charged (http://www.lonestarreport.org/Home/tabid/38/EntryId/1177/DOJ-letter-TSA-would-likely-be-required-to-cancel-any-flight.aspx) in response to the federal government’s bullying. “If we do not stand up for our citizens in the face of this depravation of their personal rights and dignity, who will?”

The legislation, known as the “anti-groping” bill, was wildly popular among Texans and their lawmakers. In the absence of probable cause, it would have criminalized “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly touching the anus, sexual organ, buttocks, or breast of the other person, including touching through clothing, or touching the other person in a manner that would be offensive to a reasonable person” by federal agents.

But the feds, of course, would have none of it. And all across the country, like in Texas, the Obama administration has been ramping up federal bullying of states.

On May 24, The New American reported that the administration was threatening to withhold federal Medicaid funds from poor people in Indiana if the state refused to continue subsidizing abortion providers like Planned Parenthood (http://thenewamerican.com/usnews/health-care/7607-feds-threaten-poor-in-indiana-over-abortion-law). And more and more states standing up for their citizens are finding themselves in federal crosshairs.

But it hasn’t gone unnoticed by critics and constitutionalists. The Tenth Amendment Center, commenting (http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2011/05/24/feds-issue-threat-no-fly-zone-for-texas/) on the Department of Justice’s recent threat to enforce a “no-fly zone” against Texas, highlighted a number of other serious instances of unconstitutional federal bullying of state governments. The Center warned, however, that the feds shouldn’t celebrate their apparent victory in Texas just yet.

“As individuals are being unjustly molested on a daily basis, it is increasingly becoming apparent that there exists a strong, emotionally-charged undercurrent of resistance against the TSA and its invasive searches and seizures,” the Center noted (http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2011/05/24/feds-issue-threat-no-fly-zone-for-texas/). “If anything, the withdrawal of Texas’ legislation last night should be seen as the calm before the coming storm of state-based opposition to the TSA.”

A massive campaign to resurrect the legislation being waged by a broad coalition of organizations is currently underway. Activists are being urged to contact Lt. Gov. Dewhurst and state senators to get the bill back on the floor. May 25 is the last day or the legislation will have to wait for the next session.

But Texas is not alone. At least four other states are working on similar measures. And according to the Tenth Amendment Center, at least ten more are expected to join the battle in 2012.


SOURCE:
http://thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/7620-feds-mess-with-texas-attack-anti-tsa-bill


Related Article:

Anti-TSA Bill Passes Texas House (http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/7481-anti-tsa-bill-passes-texas-house)

[Austrian Econ Disciple]

Scallawag trash...haha made me laugh. Alex with all his hysterics is still an asset (as much as I disagree with him on quite a few things).

[TheDrakeMan]

See this is why Ron needs to run for Governor (if he's not President). We need a Libertarian Governor that will stand up to the federal government and set an example of the rest of the nation. If we could take back states' rights then who cares about the White House?

[tpreitzel]

Personally, I think Alex should yield his bullhorn in favor of a protest sponsored by Medina's "We Texans". It'll give Medina some more exposure on a very substantive issue in favor of states-rights under the 10th amendment which defines Medina's political orientation.

[Nate-ForLiberty]

See this is why Ron needs to run for Governor (if he's not President). We need a Libertarian Governor that will stand up to the federal government and set an example of the rest of the nation. If we could take back states' rights then who cares about the White House?

nah, whatever the next 5 years entail for Dr. Paul, they will most likely be his last in the political arena. I'm sure he'll still give speeches and write books, but he is getting up there in age. Texas has so many people that could be good governors. We just have to break through the media.

[TheDrakeMan]

nah, whatever the next 5 years entail for Dr. Paul, they will most likely be his last in the political arena. I'm sure he'll still give speeches and write books, but he is getting up there in age. Texas has so many people that could be good governors. We just have to break through the media.

I don't really see anyone else with potential, and Texas is one of the leading states fighting against tyranny. Or at least trying...

[Nate-ForLiberty]

I don't really see anyone else with potential, and Texas is one of the leading states fighting against tyranny. Or at least trying...

if you are talking about name power as "potential" then I might agree with you. But the last go around for governor saw a no name Tea Partier start out will single digit polling and rise all the way to 22%. It can be done. It just has to be done better than before.

[FrankRep]

Infowars.com:
Texans Take to Capitol, Demand Representatives Resist TSA Tyranny (http://www.infowars.com/texans-take-to-capitol-demand-representatives-resist-tsa-tyranny/)

[nocompromises]

If 100 people protested today, 1,000 need to protest tomorrow, 10,000 the day after, and increasing until the those who opposed the bill are removed from office.

[tpreitzel]

I'll second the motion that each day bring more and more protesters to Austin, TX in defiance of the federal government's threatened act of war (embargo) against the state of Texas. Personally, I'd like to see 500,000 Texans eventually surround the state Capitol.

[FrankRep]

Action Alert: Texas is Debating to Push the Anti-TSA Groping Bill - Your Input is Needed!
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?295136-Action-Alert-Texas-is-Debating-to-Push-the-Anti-TSA-Groping-Bill-Your-Input-is-Needed


http://washingtonexaminer.com/files/blog_images/Don%27t%20mess%20with%20Texas.jpg

[tpreitzel]

Apparently, Mr. Slick Perry can smell an opportunity to bolster his credentials for a run as the GOP nominee for POTUS as his office is sniffing into the wind to gauge the political winds over this hot issue. Debra Medina, don't let Mr. Slick get away with it!

[Jandrsn21]

See this is why Ron needs to run for Governor (if he's not President). We need a Libertarian Governor that will stand up to the federal government and set an example of the rest of the nation. If we could take back states' rights then who cares about the White House?

Exactly! We put so much emphasis on federal elections. My fear is that people will realize to late that this strategy is a lost cause. The federal government is a lost cause, run for state and county offices! The fight is there!

[Pericles]

Exactly! We put so much emphasis on federal elections. My fear is that people will realize to late that this strategy is a lost cause. The federal government is a lost cause, run for state and county offices! The fight is there!
Much truth in that.

[doodle]

I'm not so sure PA can be ended realistically:

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?295166-Playing-with-Fire-How-can-PA-be-removed-while-Obama-increases-military-aid-to-Israel&p=3300302&viewfull=1#post3300302

[Napoleon's Shadow]

TX Gov Rick Perry got cornered yesterday at the RLC about his refusal to sign a bill banning the TSA from Texas. This video was just posted and is very fresh.

Watch him squirm:




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NoUIFdaNC8&feature=player_embedded#at=88

[One Last Battle!]

TX Gov Rick Perry got cornered yesterday at the RLC about his refusal to sign a bill banning the TSA from Texas. This video was just posted and is very fresh.

Watch him squirm:




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NoUIFdaNC8&feature=player_embedded#at=88

Are you going to post this in every old thread that mentions the TSA?

[Napoleon's Shadow]

Are you going to post this in every old thread that mentions the TSA?
no, just the ones that relate to Gov Perry

[LibertyEagle]

I already called Perry's office and left a message.

Let's go, Texans!!

[LibertyEagle]

Are you going to post this in every old thread that mentions the TSA?

I'm glad he did. It was quite appropriate of him to do so.

[LibertyEagle]

// Please delete.

[MikeStanart]

I already called Perry's office and left a message.

Let's go, Texans!!

Just did this as well.

[Chester Copperpot]

IM on hold with perrys office for like 10 minutes still