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BCRP Office Meeting Room
Doors open at 6:00pm for networking
Program start at 6:30pm
~ MONDAY ~
June 24th, 2024
443 Highway 71 West,
Bastrop Texas
This month’s speaker will be Tom Glass, founder of Texas Constitutional Enforcement.
Tom Glass will be speaking on digital currency and The Texas Gold Reserve. He will pick up the conversation where Senator Schwertner left off at the May Informational Meeting.
Tom Glass is the founder and leader of Texas Constitutional Enforcement, which focuses on how Texas elected officials can stop the feds and globalists from violating the U.S. Constitution in Texas. Tom also runs several other groups, including Texas Legislative Priorities, focused on seeing that the legislative priorities and other platform planks of the Republican Party of Texas are enacted, and protect the Texas Grid, focused on hardening the grid against all hazards.
Tom has sought the GOP nomination for Texas House in HD 17 in Central Texas in 2022 and 2024 and served as the 2022 RPT Platform Committee representative from SD 18. He was honored with one of two 2023 Fearless Conservative Awards from Grassroots America We the People and a 2021 Texas Conservative Leader Award from Texas Scorecard.
Tom Glass is a husband, father, and grandfather. He is retired from ExxonMobil and has earned a Chemical Engineering degree from Texas A&M, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center.
~ Film Alley ~
Doors open at 6:00pm
Program starts at 6:30pm
~ MONDAY ~
May 27th, 2024
~ Film Alley ~
1600 Chestnut Street
Bastrop Texas
This months speaker will be Texas Senator Charles Schwertner, MD
Senator Schwertner will be speaking on AI, Crypto Currency and the Texas Gold Depository. This critically important Informational Meeting will be co-hosted by the Bastrop County Republican Party, Lost Pines Republican Women and Bastrop County Conservatives and will be held at Film Alley, located at 1600 Chestnut Street, at the North West corner of Chestnut Street and TX 95 in Bastrop Texas. (Map)
Senator Charles Schwertner, MD is a sixth-generation Texan and lifelong conservative Republican. Since 2013, Dr. Schwertner has represented Senate District 5, an eleven-county region of central and east Texas that includes Bastrop, Brazos, Freestone, Leon, Limestone, Madison, Milam, Robertson, San Jacinto, Walker, and Williamson counties.
As Chairman of the powerful Senate Committee on Business and Commerce and the Sunset Advisory Commission, Schwertner oversees a number of critical policy areas for the state of Texas, including electric utilities, insurance, banking, technology, and telecommunications. Schwertner also serves as a member of the Senate Committees on Finance, State Affairs, and on the Legislative Budget Board.
Throughout his time in the Texas Legislature, Schwertner has led the way on a number of important policy initiatives including authoring one of the strongest Constitutional Carry laws in the nation, reforming the state’s electrical grid, expanding access to mental health services, improving the state foster care system, strengthening landowner rights, cutting taxes for small businesses, protecting seniors from abuse, and fighting to lower tuition at public universities.
Schwertner and his wife Belinda (an obstetrician/gynecologist and Juris Doctor) reside in Georgetown. They have three adult sons: Carson, Zachary, and Matthew.
Fran Rhodes is currently serving as president of True Texas Project (TTP). Mrs. Rhodes first became interested in politics when Obama was elected. She attended a Tax Day rally in 2009, and joined several grassroots groups, subscribing to their online newsletters. Mrs. Rhodes started attending NE Tarrant Tea Party meetings in the summer of 2009. In 2010, she took on leadership of the Volunteer Liaison program, and in 2013, established the Citizen Advocate program. In 2014 she joined the Board of NE Tarrant Tea Party, and in 2016 became Vice President, and was promoted to President in 2019 when NETTP re-branded and relaunched into the True Texas Project (TTP). Mrs. Rhodes is now helping to lead the organization and grow the grassroots army in Texas.
Mrs. Rhodes’ passion for this service comes from a desire to actually make a difference, influence what goes on in our government, and really make our voices heard. According to Mrs. Rhodes, “Even when we don’t get the outcomes we want, people see that we show up, we put in the time, we do the work, and we are not going away!” Mrs. Rhodes holds a BA in Business Management from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, and is retired from a career in sales and marketing in the office furniture industry. Originally from Illinois, she got to Texas as soon as she could, considers herself a Texan after 3 decades of living in the Lone Star State, and is passionate about fighting for liberty in Texas.
When she is not fighting for legislation, speaking to others about activism, or organizing the latest TTP special event, she is an active member of her church choir, and enjoys sewing, quilting and gardening. Fran can be reached at , on Facebook, Twitter, and MeWe.
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.
5th Annual Boots & Barbecue Fundraiser….
….. is a huge success !!
Republicans from across Bastrop County and throughout Central Texas gathered together Saturday evening, September 24th, 2022 at the Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center for an evening of camaraderie, competitive auction bidding and lively political conversation. Following the opening ceremonies Bastrop County Chair Curtis Courtney introduced all Federal, State, County and Precinct elected officials present. The brand new “Bob and Sue Long Lifetime Achievement Award” created in their honor, was presented to Bob and Sue Long by former County Chair Albert Ellison, for recognition of their forty plus years of commitment and contribution in establishing the Republican Party in Bastrop County. Without the efforts of Bob and Sue Long, there would not be a Republican Party in Bastrop County.
County Chair Curtis Courtney presented framed 1800’s vintage Bastrop County maps to Texas Representative John Cyrier HD-17 and to Bastrop County Judge Paul Pape for their years of dedication, commitment and service to Bastrop County. Master of Ceremonies, Representative Cyrier introduced Guest Speakers Tx Senator Dr. Charles Schwertner SD-5, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul CD-10 who provided commentary on the workings of Texas Legislature and our National focus in Washington DC. The introduction of Keynote Speaker Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick brought the crowd to their feet for a standing ovation and much applause as he spoke of travels throughout the state, the importance of Rural Texas’ vote, and what is required to keep Texas Red.
Proceeds from the event will support local party activities, republican candidates, and party administrative needs. The Bastrop County Republican Party is deeply appreciative of the support of table sponsors, attendees, silent and live auction donors, and the many local business that generously supported this event. For more information on party activities and events visit our website at www.bastropctygop.com.
Our office is located at: 443 West Highway 71, in Bastrop Texas. Phone: (512) 409-1415, email: . Office hours, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat, and 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Wed.
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Bastrop County Republican Party and Bastrop County Conservatives are holding a joint informational meeting with Texas Senator Dr. Charles Schwertner, MD as our guest speaker. The meeting will be held September 26th 2022, at Casa Chapala, at 1800 Walnut Street in Bastrop. Networking will begin at 5:30pm, with the program starting at 6:30pm. Remember to arrive early to ensure you are seated.
Dr. Charles Schwertner, MD, resides in Williamson County near the small, central Texas town of Schwertner, that bears his family name. He is a lifelong Republican, a sixth-generation Texan, and a committed fighter for conservative values. Since 2013, Dr. Schwertner has represented Texas Senate District 5, an eleven-county region of central and east Texas that includes Bastrop County.
In 2010, Schwertner was elected to the Texas House of Representatives for District 20. In 2012 he campaigned for and won the Republican Primary for his current seat in the Texas Senate with over 75 percent of the vote. His current term ends in 2027.
Throughout his time in the Texas Legislature, Schwertner has championed a host of diverse and important policies, passed sweeping reforms to the regulation and oversight of the state’s electrical grid and authored one of the strongest Constitutional Carry laws in the nation. In prior sessions, Schwertner fought to expand access to mental health services, reform the state foster care system, strengthen landowner rights, cut taxes for small businesses, protect seniors from abuse, and lower tuition at public universities.
As Chairman of two powerful Senate Committees, he oversees a number of critical policy areas for the state of Texas. Schwertner also serves as a member of the Senate Committees on Education, Finance, State Affairs, and on the Legislative Budget Board, was also appointed to Chair the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission.
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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Courtesy Don Loucks
Contributing columnist to The Statesman
Democrats warn that if they do not get their way in passing their radical legislation through the U.S. Senate, they will do away with the legislative filibuster in order to do so. That’s a dangerous threat.
Let’s review some history of the Senate.
In the original U.S. Constitution, Senators were selected by their state’s legislatures. In the unamended Article I, Section 3, “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.”
Senators were not elected by the voters. Rather, the state legislators who were elected by the people, chose their state’s U.S. senators, accurately described as each state’s ambassadors to the federal government. Thus, there was a degree of separation between the popular culture and governance.
Then came the populist movement in 1913 under Progressive Democrat Woodrow Wilson. The loud complaint was that the Senate was too stodgy and obstructive, and popular and progressive (liberal) legislation was unfairly killed or modified. Also, after the Civil War, many disagreements among state legislators left vacancies in the Senate, some lasting a long time and leaving states without representation in that chamber.
The founders, however, left Senate picks to state legislatures because they knew the dangers of a public that could be easily or temporarily swayed by appealing fads, like socialism.
Then came 17th Amendment — one of several destructive changes to U.S. governance.
The 17th Amendment restates the first paragraph of Article I, section 3 of the Constitution and provides for the election of senators by replacing the phrase “chosen by the Legislature thereof” with “elected by the people thereof.” In addition, it allows the governor or executive authority of each state, if authorized by that state’s legislature, to appoint a senator in the event of a vacancy, until a general election occurs.
Before the 17th Amendment, states were somewhat protected from legislation unfavorable or harmful to them.
The legislative filibuster, a parliamentary procedure used to delay or block legislation in the Senate, also enhanced that protective function.
As it was with the progressives of 1913, our radical Democratic Senate majority of this Congress sees the filibuster as just another impediment to their leftist goals. If the filibuster is eliminated, states will be run over by harmful, unstoppable legislation.
The filibuster is defined by a Senate rule. Under this rule a senator may halt the progress to vote on a bill by invoking their right to continue debate on it. A filibuster may be stopped if three-fifths of all Senators (usually 60) vote to end debate. This vote is commonly called “cloture.”
However, because it is a rule, it can be changed or removed by the Senate if two-thirds of the senators present vote for the change, which would be very difficult to achieve. Senators know the filibuster protects the minority party in that chamber.
Also, the filibuster protects senators from political toss-up states. Those senators are leery of voting for legislation that is unpopular with those who elected them – gun control is a good example.
The Democrat leadership in power now, however, may not honor their desires and may attempt to change the Senate rules without the 67 votes currently required for such a change. The loophole is a provision that requires only a simple majority of 51 votes, to virtually circumvent a Senate rule by an arcane maneuver of claiming “precedence” by allowing for a simple majority vote. This “nuclear option” has been used by Republicans and Democrats, most recently Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., used the option in 2019 to advance President Donald Trump’s executive and judicial nominees.
With Democrats in power now, they will do absolutely anything to ram their radical agenda through to be signed by the president.
Watch closely in the coming weeks to see what the Democrats will try to pass, and watch just as closely as what Congress actually passes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
