Call-To-Action: Hearings on Numerous House Bills

[Watchful]

Emails sent!

[joelamosobadiah]

Is emailing as effective as a call and/or fax? Is there a preferred method of communication for maximum impact with the representatives?

[Charles L. Cotton]

Is emailing as effective as a call and/or fax? Is there a preferred method of communication for maximum impact with the representatives?

Calls and faxes are more effective because they take more effort on the voter's part. Emails are useful for volume but should be sent in addition to calls and/or faxes.

Chas.

[artx]

For those of us without landline phones, there are online services to send faxes from email. I use one called greenfax.com (not affiliated in any way, but am a satisfied customer)

To send a fax, I simply create a MS word or other document with my letter, and email it to repfaxnumber@greenfax.com with a passcode in the subject line. You set up the passcode when you register.

Also, HB553 is the only bill on the Federalism and Fiscal Responsibility committee. All of the other bills are on the Homeland Security committee.

[RPB]

Send Free Faxes From the Web

https://www.google.com/search?q=faxzero ... =firefox-a" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[joelamosobadiah]

Is emailing as effective as a call and/or fax? Is there a preferred method of communication for maximum impact with the representatives?

Calls and faxes are more effective because they take more effort on the voter's part. Emails are useful for volume but should be sent in addition to calls and/or faxes.

Chas.

Thanks Charles. Faxes sent.

[RHenriksen]

I've called and left voicemail for all committee members.

Thanked Rep Lavender for authoring OC, and Fletcher for the campus carry bill.

[RHenriksen]

"HB553 - Creating an office for Texas peace officers aiding in the enforcement of certain federal gun laws."

Shouldn't this be 'Creating anoffense...' rather than 'office'?

[RHenriksen]

BTW, I've posted a link to this OP on a few forums and FB groups to recruit additional people to call. This is the post I used:

====================

Austin: call to support some pro gun bills THURSDAY, March 14!!

Hi all,

Gun rights! The Homeland Security & Public Safety committee in Austin is hearing testimony on the campus carry and open carry bills tomorrow, Thursday, March 14. Please take 10-15 minutes out of your day and call the nine committee members and express your support for these bills. These calls need to hit THURSDAY to have any impact!

viewtopic.php?f=125&t=64138" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's not enough to just vote in November; committee members and your representative & senator need to hear from you when important bills come up for consideration! I promise you the hand-wringing liberals are hollering & screaming in opposition to these bills. Your calls are badly needed to counterbalance the opposition's squeaky wheels. Do some squeaking, too!!

If you're not sure how to conduct such a call, it's easy. When you get voicemail, or a staffer on the line, just say 'I'm calling to express my support for the campus carry & open carry bills. My name is _____, I'm a resident of _______. If you have any questions I can be reached at ______' Then hang up (on voicemail), or chat with the staffer if they have any follow up questions for you or you want to throw in any extra thoughts. Just be polite & professional - much more effective than huffing & puffing.

Thanks to all who'll spend those 10-15 minutes helping out!

[Douva]

Send Free Faxes From the Web

https://www.google.com/search?q=faxzero ... =firefox-a" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

FYI, I've been told that faxes now go to staffers' email boxes, so it seems that there is no longer any advantage to sending a fax over sending an email.

[RPB]

Twitter accounts *usually* to the Reps, rather than staffers are in Red


House Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee:

Rep. Joseph Pickett - Chairman (512) 463-0596
http://votesmart.org/candidate/biograph ... oe-pickett" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... istrict=79" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.txdirectory.com/online/person/?id=17099" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Rep. Allen Fletcher - Vice-chairman (512) 463-0661
http://www.texastribune.org/directory/allen-fletcher/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.txdirectory.com/online/person/?id=33956" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Twitter: @AllenFletcher
https://twitter.com/AllenFletcher" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Rep. Philip Cortez (512) 463-0269
Twitter @CortezPhilip
https://twitter.com/CortezPhilip" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... strict=117" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.texastribune.org/directory/phillip-cortez/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://votesmart.org/candidate/78684/philip-cortez" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Rep. Tony Dale(512) 463-0696
Twitter @TonyDaleTX
https://twitter.com/TonyDaleTX" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://texansfortonydale.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... strict=136" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.txdirectory.com/online/pers ... fice=16825" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.texastribune.org/directory/tony-dale/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Rep. Dan Flynn (512) 463-0880
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... district=2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.daflynn.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.daflynn.com/bio.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.texastribune.org/directory/dan-flynn/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Twitter @Dan_Flynn
https://twitter.com/Dan_Flynn" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt (512) 463-0682
Twitter @RepKleinschmidt
https://twitter.com/RepKleinschmidt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... istrict=17" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.texastribune.org/directory/tim-kleinschmidt/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.timkleinschmidt.com/home/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://votesmart.org/candidate/56621/tim-kleinschmidt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[b]Rep. George Lavender (512) 463-0692
Twitter: [/b] @teamlavender last tweet was August 28)

http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... district=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.georgelavender.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://votesmart.org/candidate/biograph ... e-lavender" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Rep. Kenneth Sheets (512) 463-0244
Twitter @RepKenSheets
https://twitter.com/RepKenSheets" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.texastribune.org/directory/kenneth-sheets/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Rep. Ron Simmons (512) 463-0478
Twitter @RonSimmonsTexas
https://twitter.com/RonSimmonsTexas" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Tweet 16 hours ago:
Ron Simmons ‏@RonSimmonsTexas

Facebook
" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ron Simmons Sandra - I have co authored HB 1076 which keeps the Feds off our guns in Texas and have also co authored HB 760 which puts CScope under the supervision .....

http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... istrict=65" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.texastribune.org/directory/ron-simmons/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[TREKFAN]

Called to get my representatives opinion on campus carry...... mid ring, I realized she is the one who authored it! Lol. Im so ashamed It slipped my mind on who authored it.

[RPB]

House Select Committee on Federalism & Fiscal Responsibility


Rep. Brandon Creighton - Chairman (512) 463-0726
Twitter @RepCreighton
https://twitter.com/RepCreighton" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Rep. Cindy Burkett (512) 463-0464
Twitter @CindyBurkett_TX
https://twitter.com/cindyburkett_tx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.texastribune.org/directory/cindy-burkett/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Rep. Eddie Lucio III (512) 463-0606
http://www.texastribune.org/directory/eddie-lucio-iii/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.txdirectory.com/online/perso ... fice=22666" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://votesmart.org/candidate/56543/eddie-lucio-iii" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... istrict=38" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Rep. Scott Turner (512) 463-0484
Twitter @ScottTurnerTX
https://twitter.com/ScottTurnerTX" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/me ... istrict=33" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.texastribune.org/directory/scott-turner/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Rep. Armando Walle (512) 463-0924
Twitter @RepWalle
https://twitter.com/RepWalle" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RPB]

Live stream links

http://www.house.state.tx.us/video-audio/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

==============

Twitter Results for txlege (can be anyone tweeting about anything Texas Legislature related)
https://twitter.com/search?q=txlege" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Virtual Capitol ‏@VirtualCapitol 3 minutes ago

Cigarroa renews opposition to campus-carry bill http://bit.ly/ZCjQ0U" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; #txlege

Followed by Dan Flynn and 2 others

In 2011, Twitter was an effective way to see Live Tweets, and sometimes to communicate directly with a Rep during a Session or Hearing, whereas a Fax or E-mail goes to staffers back in the office.
I'd expect it to be less effective if they have tons of followers flooding their I-pad/phone etc, but is still a good way to read what they tweet during the hearings/sessions.
Was at least interesting seeing some anti-gun misinformed "feelings-based" Tribune reporters tweeting back and forth to some statistically uninformed Reps

Robbie Cooper ‏@RobbieCooper 10 mins ago

@PaulWorkman as my Representative, I'm hoping you'll show your support for HB 700 and HB 1194 (Open Carry bills) in the #TXLege #2ndAmendmnt

[RPB]

Live now 11:34 AM 3/14/2013
Realplayer needed (or .ram player)
Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
Livestream 2
– Watch Now [realplayer video]realplayer
http://www.house.state.tx.us/fx/av/live ... cmte36.ram" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

calling out 4 bills at a time
first 4 are:
HB972
HB1313
HB1078 - Decriminalizes carrying on college "premises," activity grounds and buses (Like Virginia Tech was, not illegal, but expellable offense and allows CIVIL sanctions?)
HB 706

3/14/13:
HB700 - Open-carry (Lavender)
HB706 - Comprehensive campus-carry
HB972 - Primary campus-carry bill (Fletcher, Vice-Chairman of committee hearing bill)
HB1077 - Extends "employer parking lot" bill to college campuses - applies to students and employees
HB1078 - Decriminalizes carrying on college "premises," activity grounds and buses
HB1298 - Clarifies what constitutes a school "activity ground"
HB1313 - Comprehensive campus-carry

ORAL Testimony limited to 3 minutes
(no limit on Written)

Clearly state FOR or AGAINST the bill