After a “purple” legislative session earlier this year—which has Democrats celebrating while none of the Republican Party of Texas’ legislative priorities progressed—grassroots have called on lawmakers to support the Lone Star Agenda, a package of conservative reforms to be passed during a special session intended to unite voters ahead of the upcoming elections.
Now State Reps. Kyle Biedermann (R–Fredericksburg) and Tony Tinderholt (R–Arlington) say they are on board.
“Many of my constituents have signed the agenda, and I join them in supporting it,” Biedermann said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, True Texas Project CEO Julie McCarty says Tinderholt informed her that he both supports the agenda as well as the call for a special session to address those issues.
Biedermann, however, stopped short of calling for a special session but added, “If a special session is called, I will be filing multiple pieces of legislation on the agenda and sponsoring any other bills filed. If not, I will be filing portions of the agenda in 2021.”
Biedermann and Tinderholt join State Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R–Bedford) as the only lawmakers currently publicly endorsing the plan called for by 300 Texas organizations, SREC members, and other grassroots leaders across the state.
The Lone Star Agenda includes the following 11 items:
1. Allow families to make mental and physical health decisions for themselves.
2. Stop wrongful removal of children from families by restoring due process rights for parents.
3. Stop local ordinances that interfere in private employer-employee relationships.
4. Increase protections for unborn Texans.
5. Improve election integrity (paper ballot backup audit trail; citizenship verification).
6. End taxpayer-funded lobbying.
7. End union dues withholding from public sector paychecks.
8. Protect Texas monuments.
9. Secure the southern border (interior enforcement to end the “magnet” effect).
10. Stop human trafficking.
11. Protect the rights of Texans to bear arms.
A letter was sent in September to Gov. Greg Abbott demanding a special session for these issues, but it has so far been met with silence.
Citizens who desire to see these conservative reforms become reality are encouraged to contact their state lawmakers to see whether they support a special session for the Lone Star Agenda.
