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Texas

May 07 2019
0

Calls Needed on Texas End-of-Life Directive Bill

By | Texas | No Comments

SB-2089, a bill relating to advance directives, has been placed on the intent calendar and is expected to be debated in the Texas Senate in the next few days. This pro-life bill respects the wishes of the patient and patient’s family when advanced directives for end of life care have been made.  Currently, if a dispute arises between the hospital, the doctors, and the family about life-sustaining measures, the hospital and doctors convene an ethics committee. If the committee decides in opposition to the family, the family has ten days to seek medical care for the patient in another facility before the hospital and doctors can remove life-sustaining care.  This bill expands the transfer time until another facility can be arranged.  Here is a portion of the bill:

SECTION 2.The purpose of this Act is to protect the right of patients and their families to decide whether and under what circumstances to choose or reject life-sustaining treatment. This Act amends the applicable provisions of the Advance Directives Act

(Chapter 166, Health and Safety Code) to ensure that, when an attending physician is unwilling to respect a patient’s advance directive or a patient’s or family’s decision to choose the treatment necessary to prevent the patient’s death, life-sustaining medical treatment will be provided until the patient can be transferred to a health care provider willing to honor the directive or treatment decision.

Take Action!

  1. Please call your state Senator and ask him or her to vote FOR SB 2089.  Your Senator’s telephone number is 512-463-01xx. The two x’s are your Texas Senate District’s number.  For example:  Sen. Hughes number is:  512-463-0101. Click here to locate your state senator. Type in your address, press Find, and then look for Texas Senate District in the left panel. Be sure to let them know you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Texas.
  2. Please send this alert to family and friends.

Pray that those who care for our citizens in end-of-life situations will recognize the sanctity of life and honor the plans and wishes of the patient as they face their eternal home.  Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Godly ones.”

Ann Hettinger
State Director
CWA of Texas
[email protected]
tx.cwfa.org

May 01 2019
0

Urgent Alert: Schools Need to Protect Students From Porn

By | Texas | No Comments

On Wednesday morning, May 1, the Texas House Culture, Recreation, & Tourism Committee took testimony from witnesses on HB 3730.  The bill requires vendors to filter pornography from materials made available to school districts for web access by students.  In failing to do this, students, working on homework assignments using computers at home with parental guards, have still accessed pornographic materials through the school district portals.  A portion of the bill is copied here:

Sec. 441.231.  ONLINE LIBRARY RESOURCES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.  (a)  The commission shall use funds appropriated to the commission or consortium services fees under Section 441.224(b) collected from school districts to purchase online library resources for primary and secondary schools that have adopted Internet safety policies and technology protection measures meeting the requirements for certification under 47 U.S.C. Sections 254(h)(5)(B) and (C).

(b)  The commission may purchase online library resources under Subsection (a) only if the vendor providing the resources certifies that the resources comply with 47 U.S.C. Section 254(h)(5).

Immediate Action Needed TODAY:

Please contact members of Texas House Culture, Recreation, & Tourism Committee and ask them to pass this bill out of committee:

  • John Cyrier, Chairman, (R-District 17) Phone: (512) 463-0682
  • Mando Martinez (D-District 39) Phone: (512) 463-0530
  • John Bucy (D-District 136) Phone: (512) 463-0696
  • Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D-District 120) Phone: (512) 463-0708
  • Justin Holland (R-District 33) Phone: (512) 463-0484
  • Jarvis Johnson (D-District 139) Phone: (512) 463-0554
  • Kyle Kacal (R-District 12) Phone: (512) 463-0412
  • Geanie Morrison (R-District 30) Phone: (512) 463-0456
  • Steve Toth (R-District 15) Phone: (512) 463-0797

Please pray that legislators will understand the threat to the innocent minds of our children and prioritize this need. In Psalm101:3 David says: “I will set no worthless thing before my eyes…”

Ann Hettinger
State Director
CWA of Texas
[email protected]
tx.cwfa.org

Apr 22 2019
0

Statement on Mental Health Bills

By | Texas | No Comments

Currently, there are multiple bills filed for consideration by the legislature this session which address mental health issues as they relate to school violence. Concerned Women for America of Texas has deep concerns about the approach that has been taken.

  • Creation of a new bureaucracy (identified by several different names in the various bills) that will dramatically expand the Texas budget (see footnote on budget requirements).
  • Provisions provide for research data retrieval through invasive student assessments for ALL students, and by insinuation, all families. That data is supposedly restricted to the use of the new bureaucracy (made up of university research teams), and there is no provision for its eventual destruction.
  • The prime source of the mental evaluation of a student is the classroom teacher who is to receive approximately sixteen hours of continuing education. This is in addition to their primary assignment of meeting Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards for all twenty-plus students. So now they must be para-psychologists.
  • The most egregious, however, is the absence of parental involvement. Texas families provide young citizens with remarkable capabilities. In a minority of cases, there are families who are dysfunctional to the degree that they produce children with extraordinary needs. Evaluating ALL students is a waste of resources and serves only to dilute attention to those with urgent needs.
  • The evaluation standards being proposed are, at best, in a development stage with no universal agreement on definitions, yet they are being institutionalized in legislation. What is “trauma-informed care?” What are “adverse childhood experiences?” What is the definition of “social-emotional learning?”
  • The religious beliefs taught in homes must be respected by public schools and are not subject to “culturally defined norms” established by public education. Questioning the mental health or viability of those families is not the prerogative of a teacher, mental health advocate, or psychiatric evaluator.

Concerned Women for America of Texas recognizes that school safety is a necessary issue for this session. We feel, however, that these measures violate conservative standards and fail to place optimum resources in critical venues at expeditious times. Measures that afford free access to mental health professionals by families in crisis would cost a fraction of this expense to the State, be more alert to actual, active circumstances, and provide more relevant services in a crisis. We are ready to work together with any legislator willing to address our concerns.

Footnote on budget requirements:

Quoting from the Budget analysis for SB 10: “The cost, timing, and institutional recipients of the funding authorized by the bill are not known. Costs of the funding may vary depending on the size, infrastructure, and existing resources of the member institutions.

For illustrative purposes, the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth estimated they would need approximately $1.8 million per fiscal year to implement the provisions of the bill related to access centers and workforce expansion. Their estimate includes costs related to hiring providers (including behavioral health specialists and a pharmacist) and staff members, two psychiatry residents, telemedicine units for each provider and resident, and other ongoing annual costs related to running a residency program.”

From the Budget analysis for SB 11: “The bill would direct each local mental health authority (LMHA) to employ a non-physician mental health professional to serve as a mental health and substance use resource for school districts, in conjunction with each education service center (ESC) served by an LMHA”…This analysis assumes that each of the 37 LMHAs and the two Local Behavioral Health Authorities would hire one additional non-physician mental health professional at an average salary of approximately $74,000. This analysis assumes that the cost of these additional employees would be appropriated to HHSC and then distributed to the local entities. The cost of these employees including benefit costs would be approximately $2.9 million per fiscal year. Additional costs would likely result from employee benefits, as well as rent, supplies, and technology costs… School districts are likely to see increased costs resulting from several of the bill’s provisions, including the bill’s requirements that districts comply with TSSC noncompliance findings. These include the following requirements: – Adoption of trauma-informed care policies and training …”

From HB 10 the bill fiscal analysis says: “The cost, timing, and institutional recipients of the grants authorized by the bill are not known. Costs of the grants may vary depending on the size, infrastructure, and existing resources of the member institutions.”

 

 

Mar 22 2019
0

Deep in the Heart of Texas

By | Blog, Defense of Family, Texas | No Comments

For the ninth time during a session of the Texas Legislature, Concerned Women for America of Texas hosted “Dinner with Texas Legislators.”  This year, seventeen Texas legislators participated in the program on Tuesday evening, March 12, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Austin.

Each legislator had a moment at the mic to speak to the gathering about issues important in the current session.  Several spoke of CWA’s current prayer campaign to encourage legislators during the session.

Rep. Bill Zedler, long-time advocate for life and family values in the Texas Legislature, was awarded the 2019 CWA Family Advocate Award.  Mrs. Pat Hanson, who was the South Texas Area Director was commended for many years of service before her retirement. Lastly, Dr. Shea Garrison, Vice President of International Affairs for CWA, was the dinner’s keynote speaker and addressed gender identity issues confronting women and their families in the current culture.

Several young women who are part of Young Women for America’s leadership on Texas college campuses were present. The dinner preceded the subsequent day’s rally at the capitol, where several hundred participated in visiting with legislators about Faith-and-Family issues.

Mar 08 2019
0

Texas Born-Alive Infant Protection Act Needs Your Support

By | Texas | No Comments

Concerned Women for America of Texas applauds state Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano) for filing HB 16 protecting infants born-alive after an attempted abortion. The bill says: “A physician who performed or attempted the abortion must exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious physician would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age.”  Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Benham) is set to file the companion bill, SB 23, in the Senate.

Act:  Make your voice heard!  Ask your Texas representative to co-author this bill. You can find your Representative here. Be sure to let him/her know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Texas.

Pray: Ask God to open the eyes and ears of legislators to the reality of infanticide taking place in Texas and to give them the courage to oppose it.

Help make Texas safe for babies.

Blessings,

Ann Hettinger

State Director

CWA of Texas

[email protected]

tx.cwfa.org

 

Jan 29 2019
0

Fifth Circuit: Planned Parenthood Undercover Videos Authentic and Not Deceptively Edited

By | Legal, News and Events, Planned Parenthood, Sanctity of Life, Texas | No Comments

CWA President & CEO Penny Nance talks with CMP Founder David Daleiden at the 2019 March for Life

After being exposed for their unscrupulous attempts to sell baby body parts for profit, Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the nation, tried to discredit the evidence in a massive PR campaign. They claim the videos which clearly showed they sought to benefit from the sale of aborted baby hearts, brains, lungs, etc. were “deceptively edited.”

This blatant lie was so flagrantly promoted by the liberal mainstream media that many Americans, including some judges, took it as fact.

Thankfully, we still have independent-minded judges who refuse to adjudicate based on popular beliefs, choosing instead to follow the law as written, even in difficult cases. Such was the case with a panel from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals who took a look at the evidence in Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas v. Smith.

The panel found a district court who had fully sided with Planned Parenthood’s characterization of the video evidence based on their word alone had abused its discretion. The Fifth Circuit panel composed of Judges Edith Jones, E. Grady Jolly, and Catharina Haynes, said, “The district court stated, inaccurately, that the CMP video had not been authenticated and suggested that it may have been edited” (Emphasis mine). The appellate panel was not just acting on emotion or personal preference by writing this, there was no evidence, aside from Planned Parenthood’s word, to sustain the district court’s characterization of the videos. The court notes:

In fact, the record reflects that [the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Office of Inspector General (OIG)] had submitted a report from a forensic firm concluding that the video was authentic and not deceptively edited. And the plaintiffs did not identify any particular omission or addition in the video footage. (Emphasis mine)

This simple statement of truth has sent shockwaves around the country. And we shouldn’t be surprised. Just as darkness cannot withstand the light, lies crumble at the sight of truth. The court’s acknowledgment is also great vindication for David Daleiden, the founder of The Center for Medical Progress (CMP), who produced the groundbreaking undercover videos exposing the dubious, unethical, immoral, and potentially criminal enterprise.

Daleiden said in a statement: “CMP’s undercover video series caught Planned Parenthood’s top leaders openly admitting to selling baby body parts for profit in violation of federal law. Tonight, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vindicated our citizen journalism work by debunking Planned Parenthood’s smear that the videos were ‘heavily edited’ or ‘doctored.’”

The Texas case dealt with the state’s efforts to terminate its Medicaid provider agreement with Planned Parenthood after their unethical behavior was revealed by the CMP videos. Federal law allows states to terminate a Medical provider agreement when, as in this case, there is evidence of a program violation. The Court explained that, “A ‘program violation’ includes any violation of federal law, state law, or the Texas Medicaid program policies.”

Federal law makes it a crime “to knowingly acquire, receive, or otherwise transfer any human fetal tissue for valuable consideration if the transfer affects interstate commerce” (42 U.S.C. 289g-2). Not only that, it also requires “no alteration of the timing, method, or procedures used to terminate the pregnancy [be] made solely for the purposes of obtaining the tissue” (42 U.S.C. 289g-1(b)(2)). This is exactly what we see in the forensically-authenticated CMP videos.

The court noted several statements where the videos clearly show Planned Parenthood was willing and able to change the abortion procedure to obtain “intact specimens.” Quoting their representative:

Yeah. So she knows what’s involved in modifying what we need to do to get you the specimens that are intact because she’s done it. … And she was doing those here.

Note Planned Parenthood not only admits it is willing to alter its abortion procedures for this purpose in the future, but it alleges they have done it in the past, also. There are numerous statements of this nature. The lower court dismissed all those statements because it wholeheartedly took Planned Parenthood’s word that they didn’t mean any of it. The appellate panel said, “The district court credited [Planned Parenthood’s] self-justifying explanations.”

It would be like a court believing an abuser because he shows up in court and says he didn’t do anything, while dismissing outright all the bruises and testimony from the victim. The district court’s decision was not based on facts but preference. One can see that when the appellate court notes the lower court actually concluded there was no “evidence, or even a scintilla of evidence,” for Texas’ conclusions about Planned Parenthood. Whatever you think of their decision, any reasonable observer can see that the videos are something – gosh, are the millions of people troubled by them just uneducated troglodytes?

It is that type of extreme, unmeasured action by a judge which shows they are not approaching a case and the evidence in good faith. The appellate court, on the other hand, approached the case with the evenhandedness that is at the heart of ensuring a just outcome. It identifies the case as a case of “judicial review of an agency action.” And accordingly, it gives proper deference to the state agency on its determinations. It noted, “despite being litigated with the trappings of the abortion debate, this is fundamentally a statutory construction case, not an abortion case.”

This is the model of judicial restraint that should be paramount in our judicial system. The court gives deference to the state agency in making its determination based on legitimate evidence of misconduct.

Planned Parenthood argued that Texas could not even make a determination on them because “OIG has insufficient expertise to determine the qualifications of abortion providers.” Unbelievably, the lower court had gone along with Planned Parenthood in that argument too.

Fortunately, the appellate panel gave a proper smackdown to that inane notion:

We reject this argument. OIG is the agency that the state of Texas has empowered to investigate and penalize Medicaid program violations. The agency is in the business of saying when providers are qualified and when they are not. That the Chief Medical Officer is a surgeon—and not himself an abortion provider— does not mean that he deserves no deference when deciding whether a provider has failed to meet the medical and ethical standards the state requires. It is even odder to claim that federal judges, who have no experience in the regulations and ethics applicable to Medicaid or medical practice, much less in regard to harvesting fetal organs for research, should claim superior expertise. (Emphasis mine)

The appellate court ultimately vacated the preliminary injunction imposed by the district court. It remanded the case back to limit the review to the agency record, taking a serious look at the evidence in the videos and not merely at Planned Parenthood’s self-serving explanations after the fact. It also asked the lower court to review the case under the proper arbitrary-and-capricious standard. Here’s hoping they follow through on their application of the law this time, regardless of the political pressures that come with any case even remotely associated with Planned Parenthood.

—

Mario Diaz, Esq. is CWA’s general counsel. Follow him on Twitter @mariodiazesq.

Jan 11 2019
0

What You Can Do to Secure the Texas Electric Grid!

By | Texas | No Comments

Did you know that there are only three power grids in the United States?  And did you know that one of those grids is entirely within the state boundaries of Texas?

CWA is serious about National Sovereignty and in Texas we are working to secure our electric grid.  In the event of a man-made or natural catastrophic attack on our grid, we need to be able to be up and running as soon as possible.  A long-term failure of our electric grid is a life-threatening situation for millions.  One of CWA’s legislative priorities for the 2019 Texas Legislative Session is securing our Texas electric grid.

We need your help!  Sen. Bob Hall (Senate District 2) and Rep. Tony Tinderholt (House District 94) are hosting the Texas Energy Security Summit this Monday, January 14, at the Capitol in Austin.  It is important that as many legislators as possible attend.  The purpose of this summit is to educate our legislators and the public about the importance of securing our grid and the potential economic benefits to Texas that accompany such an achievement.

Here is the step-by-step of how you can help with this important issue:

  1. Please pray that our legislators will understand the gravity of the situation in the event that our electric grid should fail.
  2. Call and/or email your state senator and your state representative now and ask them to please attend the Texas Energy Security Summit on Monday, January 14. Be sure to provide the link to the event and let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Texas.  Click here to find and contact your legislators.
  3. Head to Austin so you can attend the Summit as well.

◦   Texas Capitol Auditorium

◦   Monday, January 14.  Two opportunities to attend: 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

To learn more about the importance of securing the electric grid, please click here.  You can watch Sen. Bob Hall discuss this issue here.

We hope to see you and your legislators at the Texas Energy Security Summit!  Let’s secure the Texas electric grid!

Blessings,

Ann Hettinger
State Director
CWA of Texas
[email protected]
tx.cwfa.org

Other sources:

Population of Texas is over 28 million.

Oct 26 2018
0

Get Out the Vote with CWA of Texas!

By | Texas | No Comments

Dear friend,

As you know, we are at a breaking point in history where the rule of law and civil discourse are being threatened by some politicians and radical activists who insist on getting their way, no matter what. Some are actually inciting that violence to be directed at those with whom they disagree.

It is up to you and me to stand up to this mob mentality by praying against these malicious tactics and voting this November.  Will it be mob rule or the rule of law?!

There are three simple steps that can have a significant impact on our state and nation’s future. Please join us in carrying them out. 

#1 Pray
As a Christian organization, we are first and foremost committed to prayer. As November 6th approaches, will you join us in praying for our state and nation? Please join us by setting a time daily to pray for this next election. Will you do that? Set an alarm on your phone, your computer, put a sticky note on your mirror, whatever works.

# 2 Encourage
As a Christian organization, we are committed to educating and encouraging others to vote. Will you join us in this? Encourage friends and family through Facebook, Twitter, email, etc.

#3 Vote
It is our duty, as citizens and as Christians, to participate in the process by both praying and voting. The institution of government was ordained by God as seen in Romans 13:1-4.

Take a look at the candidates:

Opposed Justice Kavanaugh: Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas), “If I were in the Senate, I would have voted no. The events of the past two weeks — including Dr. Ford’s courageous, powerful, and credible testimony and Judge Kavanaugh’s temperament in his response — have only added to my concern that he does not meet the bar to serve on the Supreme Court.” 

Voted YES on Justice Kavanaugh: Ted Cruz (R-Texas), “I read through the entire supplemental FBI report. Ten witnesses interviewed by the FBI, meticulously detailed, and not a single piece of corroborating evidence. In a fair process, that should be compelling.”

Voter Guides:

Two push cards to freely print and distribute:

Party Platform Comparison (print double-sided 14” X 8 ½”)

Together we will impact our state and nation’s future – Pray, Encourage, and Vote!

Ann Hettinger
State Director
CWA of Texas
[email protected]
tx.cwfa.org

Sep 12 2018
0

New CWA Chapter to Have Its First Meeting on September 17

By | Texas | No Comments

Do you, or someone you know, live in or near Post, Texas?  If so, read on.  If not, read on, there is something here for you, too.

I am excited to announce that a new CWA of Texas Prayer/Action Chapter is having its first meeting next week on Monday, September 17, in Post.

Local chapters are the back bone of CWA of Texas.  They are the prayers and action that make it happen.  If you live in or near Post, please make plans now to attend.  And be sure to bring a friend.

Click here for more information on the Post Chapter and to view and print their flyer.

Whether you are able to attend or not, please say a prayer for this new chapter that many will be able to attend and that they will have an impact.

You don’t live in or near Post?  No problem!  Go to our website and click on the Area Director that oversees your zip code area.  She will let you know if there is a chapter in your area and/or answer any questions you may have about starting one.

In short, a Prayer/Action Chapter meets monthly to review current issues on the local, state and national level. Meetings include time to educate the group on an issue, pray about the issue and for our state and nation, and then take action such as writing a letter or committing to make phone calls. At times they may hold a baby shower for a local crisis pregnancy center, or put on an event with a special speaker, or hold a candidate forum, to name a few.  Meetings typically run from one to one and one-half hours.

In His service,

Ann Hettinger
State Director
CWA of Texas
[email protected]
tx.cwfa.org

Aug 15 2018
0

San Antonio City Council Set to Appoint Abortion Advocate Medical Director – TOMORROW

By | Texas | No Comments

Do you, or someone you know, live in San Antonio?  If so, your assistance is desperately needed TODAY for the unborn of San Antonio. 

The San Antonio City Council has placed on their agenda for TOMORROW, Thursday, August 16, at 9:00 a.m., the appointment of Chichi Junda Woo as Medical Director for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District.  

Woo is bad health care for San Antonio!

  • Woo was previously the Medical Director of Planned Parenthood Trust of South Texas
  • Woo is currently Chief Medical Officer over STDs, infectious disease, and immunization clinics.  As such she oversees Project Worth.  Project Worth currently has a goal to “Reduce Teen Birth Rates among females age 15 – 19 in Bexar County by 25%” by 2020. Note that they did not state that they wanted to reduce the “pregnancy rates.”  No, they want to reduce the “birth rates”. So if they do not see teen pregnancy as a problem, yet do see teens giving birth as a problem, what might their solution be? One guess.

Woo was first appointed to the position of Medical Director for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District in 2015.  Due to a strong pro-life backlash, then Mayor Ivy Taylor, reassigned her to the position of Chief Medical Officer over STDS, infectious disease, and immunization clinics. 

Don’t delay!  If you live in San Antonio please take action on behalf of the unborn of your city now!

  1. Contact Mayor Ron Nirenberg at [email protected]
  2. Contact your city councilman.  If you are unsure what district you are in simply click here to find out.

District 1: CM Roberto Trevino at [email protected] 
District 2: William Cruz Shaw at [email protected] 
District 3: Rebecca Viagran at [email protected] 
District 4: Rey M Saldana at [email protected]   
District 5: Shirley Gonzales at [email protected]  
District 6: CM Greg Brockhouse at [email protected]   
District 7: Ana Sandoval at [email protected]    
District 8: Manny Pelaez at [email protected]
District 9: John Courage at [email protected]    
District 10: Clayton Perry at [email protected]  

3.      Consider attending the City Council meeting tomorrow to observe and pray. It will be held in the City Council Chambers on the first floor of the Municipal Plaza Building, located at 114 W. Commerce St.

4.      Consider submitting testimony. Click here to submit written testimony.

Please pray.  Ask the Lord to thwart the plans to make Chichi Junda Woo Medical Director for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District.

For Life!

Ann Hettinger
State Director
CWA of Texas
[email protected]
tx.cwfa.org
 

May 07 2018
0

Can a Conservative Survive in a College Classroom? Event – A Great Success

By | Texas | No Comments

Dear Friend,

Our monthly Action Breakfast was a resounding success with over 40 people attending. Ben Larrabee, Senior Field Representative of Turning Point USA, was an exhilarating speaker with a sound understanding of what is happening on our college campuses and how to approach the students with a message that resonates with what is important to them.

As our action item we wrote out and signed 25 cards that will be sent to some of CWA’s Young Women for American (YWA) presidents around the country as an encouragement.

We are so grateful to Kathaleen Wall and husband Holly Frost for opening their beautiful home to us and providing help in preparing refreshments and doing cleanup, making it easier for our steering committee members to focus on connecting with all who attended.

Contact me today if you would like to be notified of future Action Breakfasts in the Houston area.

If you would like to get involved on a local level through a CWA Prayer/Action Chapter, go to our state webpage and see which area director covers your zip code, and contact her.

Note: YWA is a student-oriented initiative that is geared toward high school and college campuses to bring active groups of young like-minded women together to promote conservative values to their schools and the nation. The mission of YWA is to train the next generation to protect and promote Biblical values among all citizens — first through prayer, then education, and finally by influencing our society. For more information about YWA, click here.

Beverly Roberts
Area Director
CWA of South Texas

Mar 01 2018
0

Voter Guide for Primary Election

By | Texas | No Comments

A voter guide is available for the March 6, primary election in Texas.  Go to:  www.ivoterguide.com  and put in your home address.  You will get information on all the candidates on your ballot, federal, state, and local along with an assessment:  Very Conservative to Very Liberal.  You will also have access to their answers to survey questions, their endorsements, and their financial contributions.

Feb 28 2018
0

Important Evening Ahead – March 6

By | Texas | No Comments

Following the Primary Election Day, next Tuesday, March 6, the political parties will host meetings in each precinct.  The date and time for those meetings is available through your County Election Department.  Normally they are held at the voting location for your precinct when the polls close on Election Day, again, normally at 7:00 p.m.

One of the three functions of this meeting is the introduction of resolutions that when given an affirmative vote are advanced to the Senate/County convention in preparation of the State Party platform.  Any voter in that precinct has the right to introduce a resolution.

Concerned Women for America of Texas has eight proposed resolutions that you may introduce at your meeting.  Click here to access them.  Take a minimum of three copies of each resolution to your meeting—each resolution must be on a separate page.  Instructions on completing the form are available by clicking here.

“The time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them. … Christians have been exceedingly guilty in this matter. But the time has come when they must act differently. … Christians seem to act as if they thought God did not see what they do in politics. But I tell you He does see it – and He will bless or curse this nation according to the course they Christians take in politics.” – Charles Grandison Finney, American Presbyterian minister and leader in the Second Great Awakening in the United States. He has been called The Father of Modern Revivalism.

Ann Hettinger
State Director
CWA of Texas
[email protected]
tx.cwfa.org

Feb 23 2018
0

Guide to Precinct Meetings and Resolutions

By | Texas | No Comments

Attend your Precinct meeting on the evening of election at the site of your precinct election. A notice will be posted there for the meeting location if it has been changed.

The meeting is called to order upon the closing of the polls there, usually 7:00 p.m.

There are three activities of that meeting:

  1. Selection of a temporary chairman for the meeting. This is usually the permanent precinct chairman.  An envelope of instructions and forms are provided by the Election personnel.
  2. Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Senate/County Convention are elected based on an allotted number for the precinct.
  3. Resolutions are proposed planks for the Party platform. They are introduced by those attending the meeting who have voted in that Party’s Primary election.  Three copies of each resolution are required to be presented.  (It is usually an effective practice to take as many copies of your resolution as anticipated people attending the precinct meeting for clarity of presentation.)  Each resolution is voted on separately and only those with affirmative votes are sent to the Senate or County Resolutions Committee. The following paragraph is attached to the end of each resolution:

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be sent to the ____(1)__________Senate District/County Convention Resolutions Committee from Precinct #___(2)___ of the ___(3)_________ County _____(4)__________ Party, with the recommendation that it be passed and sent to the State Convention Platform Committee of the___(5)_____ Party of Texas.

(1) If your voting precinct is in a county with multiple Texas Senate Districts then you will attend the Senate District Convention representing your Texas Senator. If your voting precinct is in a county with a single Texas Senate District, then you will attend a County Convention.

(2) Your Precinct number can be found on your Texas Voter Registration card. On Election day, that is where you will vote if you have not voted early and that is the site of your Precinct meeting.

(3) Name of your County

(4) Either Democratic or Republican

(5) Either Democratic or Republican

 

Feb 22 2018
0

Platform Resolutions that CWA of Texas Supports

By | Texas | No Comments

This list of resolutions is regularly being expanded.  Please check back periodically.

Jan 22 2018
1

The remarks from CWA of Texas State Director, Ann Hettinger, at the Voices for Life event held in the courtroom where the Roe v. Wade case was decided:

By | Texas | No Comments

How do you comprehend the loss of 60 million lives?

There is no doubt the reason you are here tonight is to try to comprehend the issue of what I consider a crime against our God.   Let’s consider other catastrophes in America. At Pearl Harbor, 2,403 people were killed; in the 9-11 attacks 2,996 people were killed; in Oklahoma City 168 people were killed in 1995; at the Boston Marathon in 2013, 5 people were killed.

These numbers pale in comparison to 60 million.

As I was trying to comprehend the impact of 60 million human lives, I compared it to populations in our country.   What if by some attack, major American cities were annihilated?  Using the census data from 2010, here are the cities where no human would be left alive: New York City, (8,175,133); Los Angeles, (3,792,621); Chicago, (2,695,598); Houston, (2,099,451); Philadelphia, (1,526,006); Phoenix, (1,445,632); San Antonio, (1,327,407); San Diego, (1,307,402); Dallas, (1,197,813); Honolulu, (953,207); San Jose, (945,942); Jacksonville, (821,784); Indianapolis, (821,445); San Francisco, (805,235); Austin, (790,390); Columbus, OH, (787,033); Louisville, (780,532); Fort Worth, (741,206); Detroit, (713,777); El Paso, (649,121); Memphis, (646,889); Baltimore, (620,961); Boston, (617,594); Seattle, (608,660); Washington, DC, (601,723); Nashville, (601,222); Denver, (600,158); Milwaukee, (594,833); Portland, OR, (583,776); Las Vegas, (583,756); and that brings the total to only 38,435,307!  You would have to continue to 103 more American cities before it would total 60 million.  Every human in those cities would have to die to equal the number of babies aborted in America.  Can you imagine the anguished outcry if this would have happened?

In struggling to answer the question “why”, I looked at the judges whose duty it was to deal fairly.  Judge Sarah Hughes, of the three-panel court that made the initial judgement here in Dallas, was the only woman judge involved in the decisions.  After completing law school, she could not find a job because she was a female.  She became a strong female advocate.  Judge Goldberg of the 5th Circuit depended on a prior decision of the Supreme Court that interpreted the 9th amendment to mean that government was to stay out of the affairs of citizens as much as possible.  In the Supreme Court, Lewis Powell had a previous associate whose girlfriend had died from an abortion.  Thurgood Marshall was the first African-American Justice on the Supreme Court and in his realm of reality through his work with the NAACP, he saw many struggling women.  His opinion of the Constitution was that it is a living document meant to respond to societal needs.  William Douglas, William Brennan and Harry Blackmun joined Marshall in his belief in a “living constitution.”  All three were strong advocates against the death penalty.  Chief Justice Warren Burger later recanted his position and wished to see the matter litigated again.

Almost without exception, not related to appointment by a particular political party, each of these judges had a reason in their past that would predicate a sympathy for women in distress.  Almost without exception, these judges revealed a liberal interpretation of the constitution.  Almost without exception, these same judges opposed the death penalty.  For me, that is the height of inconsistency.

“So what, Ann?” you say.  Zephaniah 3:5 says, “But the unjust knows no shame.” I don’t think we should count on the public at large to care.   II Chronicles 7:14 says clearly, “If my people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Until then, we, God’s people, must work through education and public policy involvement to halt this horror.

Tonight, we will memorialize those 60 million little ones.  I’m asking that you approach the Bar of Justice, take a battery operated candle, please turn it off, and place it in the basket.  As you take the candle, say a prayer that as we work to educate people and love and support them in adversity, that this stigma on our culture will cease.

***

The prayer continued:  Melissa Ferrer, a mother, prayed for young girls in crisis; Joanne Vuckovic, Director of Rockwall Crisis Pregnancy Center, prayed for the workers and volunteers in crisis pregnancy centers; Tom Schlueter, Pastor and Director of Texas Apostolic Prayer Network, prayed for judges and lawyers in the litigation process; Jim Haines, Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church in Dallas, prayed for families in crisis and the pastors who minister to them; Texas Sen. Bob Hall prayed for the lawmakers as they work to write legislation protecting the unborn; Carol Silvage, a teacher, prayed for the teachers in classrooms across America as they struggle to deal with the young women in this culture.

Ann Hettinger
State Director
CWA of Texas
[email protected]
tx.cwfa.org

Nov 22 2017
0

Statue of Goddess Plethora to Be Erected in San Antonio

By | Texas | No Comments

Believe it or not, the Bexar County Commissioners Court in San Antonio, Texas, has decided to use tax dollars to fund a monument dedicated to a pagan goddess. It is to be placed by the San Pedro Creek, which is actually on property under the San Antonio River Authority. The artist commissioned to create this statue has stated his statue will represent the pagan goddess Plethora. According to The Rivard Report, Rodriguez-Gerada states in his proposal that the sculpture is an allegorical representation of an archetypal goddess, evoking an image of “a maternal, providing protector who is venerated and powerful.” The county has decided to spend $735,000 on a statue that favors a specific religion. How can a county do this?

Using public funds to erect a statue of a goddess on public property is illegal and unconstitutional. The Constitution of Texas and the United States Constitution both have a clause regarding the establishment of religion. This action by the Bexar County Commissioners Court violates this clause.

This pagan statue will offend many citizens of San Antonio as it does not represent their values and beliefs.

Interestingly, the synonyms for the word “plethora” are excess, overabundance, superabundance, surplus, glut, superfluity, surfeit, and profusion.  With a price tag of $735,000, the name is quite appropriate.

The Scriptures clearly teach about the penalty for worshipping pagan gods.  Ezekiel 6:4-7 says, “So your altars will become desolate and your incense altars will be smashed, and I will make your slain fall in front of your idols. (5) I will also lay the dead bodies of the sons of Israel in front of their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars. (6) In all your dwellings, cities will become waste and the high places will be desolate, that your altars may become waste and desolate, your idols may be broken and brought to an end, your incense altars may be cut down, and your works may be blotted out. (7) The slain will fall among you, and you will know that I am the LORD.”

Please Pray:  Ask the Lord to thwart the plans of the enemy.  Pray insurmountable issues arise that prevent this statue from being built and erected.

Take Action:

  1. If you live in Bexar County, please contact the judge and county commissioners of the Bexar County Commissioners Court as well as the San Antonio River Authority Board of Directors. Express your disapproval of this statue and that you would like them to do all they can to reverse the decision.
  2. Please forward this e-alert to all those you know in Bexar County and ask them to both pray and act on this situation immediately.

The Judge and County Commissioners of Bexar County Commissioners Court:

The Honorable Judge Nelson Wolff
Bexar County Commissioners Court
(210) 335-2626
[email protected]

Commissioner Sergio “Chico” Rodriguez
Bexar County, Precinct 1
(210) 335-2611
[email protected]

Commissioner Paul Elizondo
Bexar County, Precinct 2
(210) 335-2612
[email protected]

Commissioner Kevin Wolff
Bexar County, Precinct 3
(210) 335-2618
[email protected]

Commissioner Tommy Calvert
Bexar County, Precinct 4
(210) 335-2614
[email protected]

The San Antonio River Authority Board of Directors:

Michael W. Lackey, P.E.
Bexar County District 3
Chairman of the Board
[email protected]

Hector R. Morales
Bexar County At-Large
Secretary
[email protected]

James Fuller
Goliad County
Executive Committee Member-At-Large
[email protected]

Jim Campbell
Bexar County District 4
[email protected]

Alicia Lott Cowley
Goliad County
[email protected]

John J. Flieller
Wilson County
[email protected]

Gaylon J. Oehlke
Karnes County
Vice-Chair
[email protected]

Darrell T. Brownlow, Ph.D.
Wilson County
Treasurer
[email protected]

Lourdes Galvan
Bexar County District 2
Executive Committee Member-At-Large
[email protected]

Jerry G. Gonzales
Bexar County District 1
[email protected]

Deb Bolner Prost
Bexar County At-Large
[email protected]

H.B. “Trip” Ruckman III
Karnes County
[email protected]

 

Blessings,

 

Ann Hettinger

State Director

CWA of Texas

[email protected]

tx.cwfa.org

 

Nov 22 2017
0

Texas State Director Addresses the Press Concerning the Texas Privacy Act

By | Texas | No Comments

On Wednesday, November 15, 2017, Ann Hettinger, Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Texas State Director, spoke at a Texas Values-sponsored press conference at the state Capitol in Austin.  The occasion preceded the lame-duck hearing in the State Affairs Select Committee on Texas Economic Competitiveness, which is chaired by Rep. Byron Cook, who is not seeking re-election.  In the 2017 regular session and in the special session, the committee refused to hear testimony on The Texas Privacy Act. This bill would have prohibited males in female bathroom and locker room facilities in government buildings. The Texas Business Association alleged that such legislation would be detrimental to Texas businesses, and the committee refused to hear the case based on these accusations. However, studies show unmistakable evidence to the contrary.

During the press conference, Mrs. Hettinger reported on a situation she encountered earlier this year at a hotel conference facility in Austin.  “As the director of a women’s organization, I can tell you for sure that I will not book any event in any place that jeopardizes the comfort and security of my attendees. Businesses will ultimately pay the penalty for ignoring these issues,” stated Mrs. Hettinger.

Click here to watch video footage of the entire press conference.

Ann Hettinger
State Director
CWA of Texas
[email protected]
tx.cwfa.org