Category: Commentary

    Remembrance Day, 2023

    September 11, 2023 by Mark L. Torrey in / / /

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    Our thoughts come around to “Let’s Roll” every year. On that brilliant September morning 22 years ago, while millions of Americans were preparing to start their day, we remember the attacks that struck our Nation. To all the First Responders, Firefighters, Police, EMTs, Flight Crews, Attendants, the brave passengers and civilians, and the many other heroes lost… We Honor and Remember you this day. You will Never Be Forgotten.

     

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    Informational Meeting – September 25th, 2023

    September 9, 2023 by Mark L. Torrey in / / / /

    Tim Hardin serves as the president and CEO of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR). Texans for Fiscal Responsibility is an independent educational non-profit organization seeking to illuminate the actions of government, educate and equip citizens to effectively advocate for pro-taxpayer reforms, and hold lawmakers accountable for their actions. TFR has addressed hundreds of organizations and groups all across the Lone Star State.

    Consistent with their guiding principles, TFR has identified key legislative priorities in the wake of the 88th Texas Legislature. While Republicans maintain a strong majority, there are no excuses for lawmakers to be derelict in their duty to pass commonsense reforms called for by the grassroots. The Texas Prosperity Plan is TFR’s policy goal to achieve a fiscally responsible Texas.

    Tim has an undergraduate degree in philosophy and political science from the University of North Texas. He also earned his master’s degree in biblical studies from West Coast Baptist College. Tim is a small-business man and pastor and served as a chief of staff in the Texas House for eight years. He resides in Fort Worth with his wife, Luisa, and their five children, Elijah, Noah, Micah, Jeremiah, and Selah.

    “32nd Annual Rockne Homecoming Parade”

    September 6, 2023 by Mark L. Torrey in / /

    Riding together as “We the People” were members and supporters of the Bastrop County Republican Party on a float of patriotic Red, White and Blue, in the 32nd Annual Rockne Homecoming Parade. This years parade was dedicated to Grand Marshall Arthur Goertz, celebrating his 100th birthday on September 25th, rode at the front of the procession in a bright yellow convertible with horse silhouettes mounted on the sides. The parade route started at Red Rock Grocery at Fohn Road and FM 20 from there up to FM 535 then into downtown Rockne where crowds cheered and waved American flags for the largest parade in Homecoming history. BCRP and BCC thanks everyone who came out to cheer and wave.

    Informational Meeting with Cindi Castilla

    September 1, 2023 by Mark L. Torrey in / /

    The Informational Meeting on Monday August 28th, drew a large crowd of serious Bastrop and adjacent Counties residents, as Cindi Castilla from The Texas Eagle Forum shared her knowledge on the status of several key Texas legislation. Many discussion topics are closely related to the Legislative Priorities passed at the 2022 Republican Party of Texas State Convention. Special note was given to those targeting improved Texas’ education, removing pornography from public schools, efforts on the ban of gender modification, the continued effort of illicit drug trafficking and more. Her presentation style encouraged spontaneous questions which worked well to clarify points of information while fresh in the audience minds. The TEF is working to encourage Governor Abbott to include those key legislation in an upcoming special session to ensure they are addressed in a timely manner.

    The Bastrop County Republican Party Informational Meetings are held the 4th Monday of every month at 6pm with the goal of sharing issues important to the resident of Bastrop County and Texas as a whole. Check out the BCRP website and calendar for more information and article links for each meeting.

    Informational Meeting – May 22, 2023

    April 23, 2023 by Mark L. Torrey in / /

    [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]… will be held at the BCRP Office Meeting Room, located at 443 Highway 71 West, Bastrop, Texas (next door to Harbor Freight)

    Doors open at 6:00pm for Networking,  Program starts at 6:30pm.

    This months Informational Meeting will feature Kelly Perry, also known as a “Border Warrior”.  She is a  current SREC Committeewoman for SD 19.  Kelly is a Proud Patriot of Texas, and she has served as Legislative Priorities Chair, Sub Committee Border Security; and Border Security Advisor for the National Board of Moms of America.  Kelly is Vice President Special Events and Past President for Kinney County Republican Women.

    Kelly will discuss her continued full time tasks of fighting the Border Crisis, her efforts working and supporting Legislative priorities, including strengthening penalties for Drug Smugglers and Human Trafficking.   Last September Kelly hosted a Border Security Summit at the Texas Capitol, assembling the greatest Border Experts from around the state and nation. Kelly will also be discussing living in a Border County, and how you can make a difference in the fight to save our state and country.

    Come Early to ensure you get a good seat !!

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    Informational Meeting – April 24th, 2023

    April 3, 2023 by Mark L. Torrey in / /

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    Meeting location will be at the BCRP Office Meeting Room, 443 Highway 71 West, Bastrop.
    (Between First National Bank and Tractor Supply, Next door to Harbor Freight.)

    The April BCRP Informational Meeting will feature Austin Prochko.  Austin is the Deputy Campaign Director for Next Generation Texas, the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s (TPPF) education-focused campaign. Prior to joining TPPF, he was an educator at private and charter schools, where he taught literature, history, and government. Between his stints as a teacher, Austin worked on various political campaigns throughout Texas.

    Austin will be speaking about efforts to empower parents with Education Savings Accounts, which are state-managed accounts that can be directed towards various educational expenses, including private school tuition, instructional materials, certain kinds of transportation, and other education-related expenses.

    Austin is the author of Foundations of Freedom: The Layman’s Guide to the Philosophy of the American Founding. He has a B.A. in Politics from Hillsdale College and a Master of Politics from the University of Dallas.

    Doors open at 6:00 for networking, and the program starts at 6:30pm.


     

     

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    Bastrop County GOP Club

    March 7, 2023 by Mark L. Torrey in / /

    Pints & Politics Monthly Meetings March 7th

    The Bastrop County GOP Club hosts a monthly social called Pints & Politics.

    We meet at Cedar’s Mediterranean Grill in Bastrop at 6PM on the second Tuesday of the month.

    You can have dinner, just enjoy fellow Republicans, or have a pint! We’re fired up to Keep Texas Red.

    Please register in advance.

    Tuesday, March 7, 2023 
    PROGRAM: Bastrop ISD Proposed $321.5 Million Bond for May 6 Election.

    Did you know that Bastrop ISD has a $321.5 million dollar bond issue on the May 6, 2023 election? Superintendent Barry Edwards and Deputy Superintendent Dr. Kristi Lee will provide an update on the 2021 bond issue and detail what’s in the May 6 proposed bond issue.Reservations: https://stormzero.wufoo.com/forms/kbnp5t10bi43nf/

    “I Voted” Sticker Contest

    March 6, 2023 by Mark L. Torrey in / / /

    The Bastrop County Elections Office conducted their First Ever “I Voted” and “Future Voter” sticker contest announcing the winners and presented awards at the Commissioners Court on February 27th.

    “I Voted” Sticker Contest Winners

    Congratulations to Sophia Royster, a Junior attending Smithville High School, for winning First Place!  In second place is Avery Fobert, a 7th Grade student at Bastrop Middle School. Third place goes to Mateo Martinez, a Sophomore homeschool student, and son of BCRP Precinct 1003 Chairwoman Cathy Martinez and husband George.

    “Future Voter” Sticker Contest Winners

    Congratulations to Kyla Coleman, a 2nd Grade student at Bluebonnet Elementary School, for winning Bastrop County’s first “Future Voter” Sticker Contest! In second place is Isaiah Mubasher, a 3rd Grade homeschool student. Third place goes to Henley Duty, a 1st Grade student at Smithville Elementary School.

    For the rest of the story, the full winners list, and winning designs, visit BastropVotes.org

    Informational Meeting ~ March 27th 2023

    March 2, 2023 by Mark L. Torrey in / / /

    The March 27th Informational Meeting will feature Rebekah Warwick, Central Regional Coordinator and Lobbyist for Heritage Action for America, based in Mansfield, TX.   Meeting location will be announced by email and website update …   As usual, the doors open at 6:00pm for networking, and the program will start at 6:30pm.

    Prior to Heritage Action Rebekah worked for the Majority Whip of the Colorado Senate Republicans and on various local campaigns in the Denver Metroplex. She holds bachelor’s degrees in history and political science.

    As Central Regional Coordinator, Rebekah partners with 4,000 Heritage Action Sentinels and over 125,000 grassroots activists to hold lawmakers accountable and advocate for conservative policies. She is an experienced public speaker and regularly hosts trainings with activists on how to influence the policy debates at the federal and state level. Her editorials have been published in the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

    Heritage Action Mission:

    Heritage Action’s unique strategy combines inside-the-Beltway lobbying with outside-the-Beltway grassroots pressure. They communicate directly with lawmakers in Congress and in our state capitals and work with grassroots on the ground to know the issues and take effective action to influence the legislative process. Through this strategy Heritage Action works to bring about the conservative policies that hold true to our Founding Fathers’ ideals. Heritage Action exists to ensure that these ideals are not only maintained but flourish, both now and for future generations.

     

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    Gun Owners of American (GOA) Sues ATF

    February 17, 2023 by Mark L. Torrey in / /

    Thanks to overwhelming support from GOA members, we filed suit yesterday against the ATF’s pistol brace rule.

    Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the Gun Owners Foundation (GOF) jointly filed a lawsuit with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton challenging the Biden Pistol Brace Ban. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

    This new rule, which took effect on January 31st of this year, will force Americans to register or destroy approximately 40 million of their lawfully owned brace firearms within 120 days, or face possible felony charges.

    The Gun Owners’ lawsuit, which can be read HERE, documents how the ATF has waffled on the topic of pistol-braced firearms for almost ten years. Originally, the agency stated that such braces would not convert a pistol into a Short-Barreled Rifle (or SBR). And in 2014, the ATF even stated that if gun owners were to brace such a pistol against one’s shoulder, that would not reclassify the pistol as an SBR.

    The preceding excerpt is from a recent email from the Gun Owners of America. Click HERE to view the full context. Or, you can visit the Gun Owners of America website HERE.

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