Thread by @cjtackett

HB1035, which has a public hearing in the Texas House on Wednesday is the kitchen sink of discriminatory bills, tossing in a whole lot of hate toward the LGBTQ communities in Texas. #txlege @EqualityTexas @TFN

https://twitter.com/EqualityTexas/status/1117197078571159553

I've written previously about Project Blitz (you can read my article in the attached link), and HB1035 was a centerpiece in the article. It takes what the playbook calls for and goes nuts. medium.com/@cjtackett/pro…

Let's remember what Project Blitz is about. It's a 148 page playbook of model legislation and talking points, designed to inject religion into schools and government and allow discrimination against the LGBTQ community. rewire.news/wp-content/upl…

Project Blitz was assembled by the Congressional Prayer Caucus and WallBuilders. It has 4 categories of bills / resolutions it pushes for. Category 1 is on page 5 of the playbook and pushes "Legislation Regarding Our Country's Religious Heritage"

Category 2 in the Project Blitz playbook is on page 6. This category is for "Resolutions and Proclamations Recognizing the Importance of Religious History and Freedom", pushing our country's "Judeo-Christian heritage"

Category 3 is on page 6 of the Project Blitz playbook. This is "Religious Liberty Protection Legislation" "to define public policies of the state in favor of biblical values concerning marriage and sexuality" and "the enormous costs of homosexual intercourse and gender confusion"

Category 4 is discussed on page 7 and is made up of "Talking Points to Counter Anti-Religious Freedom Legislation", because "Legislation is being introduced in states around the country to try to limit religious opposition to the LGBT lifestyle"

Ok, now we are grounded on what the agenda is all about. Here are some specifics on the Project Blitz playbook as it relates to HB1035. You can find the Marriage Tolerance Act on page 70 of the playbook.

In HB1035, this is where "Sincerely Held Religious Beliefs" get defined. For this bill, its just two things:
-Marriage is one man and one woman
-Man and woman are defined by your anatomy when you were born

Note that the Project Blitz playbook, on pg 70, doesn't call out anatomy. But, if you go a little earlier in the playbook, to page 49, you realize that item (2) is a callback to one of the Blitz resolutions in Category 3(a), on birth gender.

Here is how Project Blitz defines things for the "Marriage Tolerance Act" on page 71-72, and how HB1035 defines things. Notice the similarities?

In section 6 & 7 of the Project Blitz "Marriage Tolearance Act", it has the accreditation and interpretation. For HB1035, it's referred to as Construction of Chapter, but it's really the same thing.

Now here is where HB1035 goes all in. In the Project Blitz playbook, on pages 72 & 73, they take a high level approach, not calling out areas to which it applies, stating "Government shall not take any discriminatory action" if someone acts with "sincerely held religious beliefs"

HB1035 isn't having any of these broad statements on whom their bill will allow to discriminate. They spell it out. It allows any religious organization to discriminate against the LGBTQ community.

HB1035 also allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community as it relates treatment, counseling or surgery for sex reassignment or gender identity, as well as psychological, counseling or fertility services.

HB1035 also allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community as it relates to ANYTHING to do with a marriage ceremony. Like really, anything:
- photography
- videography
- disc jockey
- printing
- floral arrangements
- dress making
- hall or venue rentals
- jewelry
- etc

The tactic taken in HB1035, section 110A.053, in the tweet above, is actually from another section of the Project Blitz playbook, on page 98, the "Clergy Protection Act", which looks to make sure EVERYONE who might possibly be involved with a wedding ceremony can discriminate.

Now HB1035 shifts to "sincerely held religions beliefs" and "sex-specific policies and standards" for employee and student dress, as well as... wait for it... wait for it... yep, BATHROOMS! Of course a form of the bathroom bill from last session would try to sneak in.

If that wasn't enough, HB1035 presses on, now giving governmental employee's to discriminate via speech or conduct against LGBTQ people, as long as the discrimination is based on "sincerely held religious beliefs"

Of course, any bill that is this toxic toward the LGBTQ community must include either recusal for Marriage Licensing or Marriage Performance. This bill provides both. This part is actually from the Clergy Protection Act on page 98 of the Project Blitz Playbook.

Not being able to stop, truly being the kitchen sink of LGBTQ discrimination, HB1035 also reaches to the Licensed Professionals Civil Rights Act on page 106 of the Project Blitz Playbook, which covers the same ground as SB17 in the Texas Senate, which passed there 19-12.

Who authored HB1035? 16 people
- Bill Zedler
- Kyle Biedermann
- Dewayne Burns
- Briscoe Cain
- Cody Harris
- Cole Hefner
- Justin Holland
- Phil King
- Mike Lang
- Mayes Middleton
- Rick Miller
- Tom Oliverson
- Jonathan Stickland
- Valoree Swanson
- Steve Toth
- James White

It most cases, if you follow the money, you can see who is behind things. Based on the authors of HB1035, notice that 7 of the 16 are from the House Freedom Caucus
- Bill Zedler
- Kyle Biedermann
- Briscoe Cain
- Mike Lang
- Mayes Middleton
- Jonathan Stickland
- Valoree Swanson

Let's go through and look at some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 16 authors of HB1035
1. Bill Zedler (HD96 - Freedom Caucus)
- Empower Texans
- Farris Wilks
- Dan Wilks
- Tim Dunn
- Texans For Lawsuit Reform

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 16 authors of HB1035
2. Kyle Biedermann (HD73 - Freedom Caucus)
- Empower Texans
- Jonathan Stickland campaign
- Texas Right To Life
- Texans For Lawsuit Reform
- Kyle Stallings
- Stacy Hock
- Briscoe Cain

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 16 authors of HB1035
3. Briscoe Cain (HD128 - Freedom Caucus)
- Empower Texans
- Farris Wilks
- Dan Wilks
- Kyle Stallings
- Holloway Frost
- Darlene Pendery
- Michael Olcott
- Dick Saulsbury

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 16 authors of HB1035
4. Mike Lang (HD60 - Freedom Caucus)
- Empower Texans
- Farris Wilks
- Texas Right To Life
- Texans For Lawsuit Reform
- Stacy Hock
- Jonathan Stickland campaign
- Dan Wilks

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 16 authors of HB1035
5. Mayes Middleton (HD23 - Freedom Caucus)
- Himself
- Holloway Frost
- Texans For Lawsuit Reform
- Windi Grimes
- Jeff Sandefer
- Farris Wilks
- Stacy Hock

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 16 authors of HB1035
6. Jonathan Stickland (HD92 - Freedom Caucus)
- Empower Texans
- Farris Wilks
- Tim Dunn
- Darlene Pendery
- Kyle Stallings
- Monty Bennett
- Dick Saulsbury
- Windi Grimes
- Stacy Hock

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 16 authors of HB1035
7. Valoree Swanson (HD150 - Freedom Caucus)
- Empower Texans
- Texans For Lawsuit Reform
- Holloway Frost
- Texas Right To Life
- Briscoe Cain campaign
- Stacy Hock
- Farris Wilks

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 16 authors of HB1035
8. Cole Hefner (HD5)
- Empower Texans
- Texans For Lawsuit Reform
- Independent Insurance Agents Of Texas
- Oncor
- Texas Association Of Realtors

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 cycle to the 16 authors of HB1035
9. Steve Toth (HD15)
- Empower Texans
- Texans For Lawsuit Reform
- Texas Right To Life
- Jonathan Stickland
- KOCH Industries
- Stacy Hock
- Texans For Fiscal Responsibility

Through the first 9 members, and knowing that Bill Zedler was the original author, it seems pretty obvious exactly who is behind HB1035: Empower Texans and the money backing them.

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 16 authors of HB1035
10. DeWayne Burns (HD58)
- Texas Farm Bureau
- Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association
- Texans For Lawsuit Reform
- American Electric Power Company
- NuStar Energy

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 16 authors of HB1035
11. Cody Harris (HD8)
- Texas Association Of Realtors
- Texas Farm Bureau
- Texas Medical Association
- Texas Correctional Officers
- Charles Butt
- Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 16 authors of HB1035
12. Justin Holland (HD33)
- Texas Association Of Realtors
- Texas State Farm Agents
- Texans For Lawsuit Reform
- Barry Andrews
- Regal Realtors
- Oncor

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 16 authors of HB1035
13. Phil King (HD61)
- Texans For Lawsuit Reform
- Centerpoint Energy
- Teledoc
- Houston Police Officers
- Texas Construction Association
- KOCH Industries
- Atmos Energy
- Vistra Energy

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 16 authors of HB1035
14. Rick Miller (HD26)
- Greg Abbott Campaign
- Texas Association of Realtors
- Texans For Lawsuit Reform
- USAA Employee PAC
- Oncor
- Vistra Energy
- Union Pacific

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 16 authors of HB1035
15. Tom Oliverson (HD130)
- Mednax
- Texas Association of Realtors
- Texans For Lawsuit Reform
- Texas Medical Association
- Texas Land Title Association
- CVS Health

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 16 authors of HB1035
16. James White (HD19)
- Alabama-Coushatta Tribe
- Texas Association of Realtors
- Entergy
- Texans For Lawsuit Reform
- KOCH Industries
- Oncor
- AT&T

When I look at authors 10-16, it's harder to understand the "why" to support a bill like this, at least looking at the donors to their campaigns. I wonder if those contributing to these legislators realize the kind of legislation they are putting forth?

Unroll please @threadreaderapp

.@TXRealtors, you were one of Cole Hefner's largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's the co-author of HB1035, which allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community. I would hope you don't support a bill or legislators that institutionalize discrimination.

.@TXRealtors, your PAC was one of Cody Harris's largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's the co-author of HB1035, which allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community. I would hope you don't support a bill or legislators that institutionalize discrimination.

.@TXRealtors, your PAC was one of Justin Holland's largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's the co-author of HB1035, which allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community. I would hope you don't support a bill or legislators that institutionalize discrimination.

.@TXRealtors, your PAC was one of Rick Miller's largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB1035, which allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community. I would hope you don't support a bill or legislators that institutionalize discrimination.

.@TXRealtors, your PAC was one of Tom Oliverson's largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB1035, which allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community. I would hope you don't support a bill or legislators that institutionalize discrimination.

.@TXRealtors, your PAC was one of James White's largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB1035, which allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community. I would hope you don't support a bill or legislators that institutionalize discrimination.

.@HPOUTX, your PAC was one of Phil King's largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's also the co-author of HB1035, which allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community. I would hope you don't support a bill or legislators that institutionalize discrimination.

.@TexasFarmBureau, your PAC was one of DeWayne Burns' largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB1035, which allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community. I would hope you don't support bills or legislators that institutionalize discrimination.

.@TexasFarmBureau, your PAC was one of Cody Harris' largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB1035, which allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community. I would hope you don't support bills or legislators that institutionalize discrimination.

.@USAA, your PAC was one of Rick Miller's largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB1035, which allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community. I would hope you don't support bills or legislators that institutionalize discrimination.

.@NuStarEnergyLP, your PAC was one of DeWayne Burns' largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB1035, which allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community. I would hope you don't support bills or legislators that institutionalize discrimination.

.@texmed, your PAC was one of Cody Harris' largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB1035, which allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community. I would hope you don't support bills or legislators that institutionalize discrimination.

.@texmed, your PAC was one of Tom Oliverson's largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB1035, which allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community. I would hope you don't support bills or legislators that institutionalize discrimination.

Charles Butt (@HEB), you were one of Cody Harris' largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB1035, which allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community. I would hope you don't support bills or legislators that institutionalize discrimination.