Mediaboss Marketing

Photo: Ben Sklar, Getty Images

Activist holds a sign as others belonging to the tea party movement rally at the State Capitol in 2011. Tea party groups returned Monday to register their discontent at how the legislature is moving on some issues.

Activist holds a sign as others belonging to the tea party movement rally at the State Capitol in 2011. Tea party groups returned Monday to register their discontent at how the legislature is moving on some

These politicians are Texas Tea Party-approved.

These politicians are Texas Tea Party-approved.

Tea party groups blast Texas House over sanctuary cities, budget

AUSTIN -- Get it done or face payback at the polls.

That was the message that hundreds of tea party activists brought to the Texas Capitol on Monday, displaying their anger over a plan to tap the state's savings account to balance the budget, the failures of a strong ban on sanctuary cities and property tax reforms to quickly pass into law.

Also on their list: passage of the Senate's version of the so-called "bathroom bill," repealing gun licensing laws to allow any Texans who can own a pistol to carry one, a halt on new toll roads, a ban on dismemberment abortions and passage of legislation to guarantee religious liberties.

"I would grade the House with an F at this point, and the Senate a B-plus," said JoAnn Fleming, executive of Grassroots America, a leading conservative activist group.

WRAP IT UP: Texas House passes budget after 15 hours of debate

"Once again in this building, there are elected Republicans -- particularly in the House -- who are saying they don't care what they promised during the campaign, what voters elected them to do, and the people of Texas are here to make them care.

"If they get a C rating, they should be fired. C is not good enough," she said. "There's no space alien criteria that will save them."

The activists, many of them wearing black t-shirts emblazoned with the slogan "Don't California My Texas," said the budget and property tax reforms, along with a ban on sanctuary cities, are at the top of their list to be passed by the Legislature.

"People are hot. They're mad about their property taxes," said Aaron Harris, executive director of Direct Action Texas, applauding a Senate bill that would limit how much local officials can raise property taxes without voter approval. "This is the single biggest issue at the local level we encounter . . . And I'll tell you this, they will remember this bill, come election season."

He said property taxes in Texas are the fourth highest among all states in the nation.

CHALLENGE RISES: Tea Party-backed Senator draws Democratic challenger in 2018

Echoing the sentiment that some key bills for conservatives may die because lawmakers are not acting fast enough, Dana Hodges, state director of Concerned Women for America, said the Senate version of the so-called "bathroom bill" needs to to pass the House, not a House-revised version, before time runs out.

Terri Hall, founder of Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom, said the continuing proliferation of toll roads -- and the Legislature's reluctance to stop new ones from being built -- "is the fastest ticket to destroying Texas' stable economy.

"Our message to the Republicans in this building is that you should do what you say you're going to do and, if you don't, there will be consequences at the polls," Fleming said.

Senate and some House leaders declined to respond publicly to the criticism, saying privately the activists were entitled to their opinions.

"The Texas House has approved a balanced budget that reduces overall spending while prioritizing public education and the protection of vulnerable children," said Jason Embry, a spokesman for House Speaker Joe Straus. "Speaker Straus appreciates the input of Ms. Fleming and the 35 other people who came to her rally today."

Scroll through the gallery above to see the Tea Party's favorite Texas politicians

Go here to read the rest:
Tea party groups blast Texas House over sanctuary cities, budget - Chron.com