Thread by @cjtackett

Yesterday I wrote exhaustively about HB1035, which has a public hearing on Wednesday. HB3172 is also being heard. The intent of this bill is EXACTLY THE SAME, allowing broad discrimination against the LGBTQ community, just written in a less obvious way.

https://twitter.com/cjtackett/status/1117826663008604160

HB3172, authored by Matt Krause (HD93), is right out of the Project Blitz playbook, most closely holding to the "Marriage Tolerance Act" on page 70 #txlege

https://twitter.com/cjtackett/status/1117826680943460353

Where HB1035 is soooo far out there, maybe too much to get passed, HB3172 may try and step into the gap, running a bit of a misdirection. Let HB1035 take a lot of the flak, and push another bill with the same intent, just softer language.

Krause’s SB3172 leverages the same basic definitions, relief, and interpretations as HB1035. Again, these come pretty much straight from Project Blitz.

https://twitter.com/cjtackett/status/1117826686215651328

But take a look at the Action Prohibited in SB3172. Government "may not take any adverse action against any person based" on "belief or action in accordance with the person's sincerely held religious belief", "including beliefs or convictions regarding marriage". Pretty broad.

And here is the relevant portion from the Project Blitz playbook. Whereas this section of the playbook is focused just on marriage, Krause's HB3172 is Pandora's Box. ANY "sincerely held religious belief" makes it ok to discriminate and the government can't do anything about it.

So although HB3172 from Matt Krause doesn't read as directly inviting discrimination toward the LGBTQ community as HB1035 from Bill Zedler and others does, it may actually be worse, as it invites discrimination toward pretty much anyone, so long as you tag it to your beliefs.

HB1035 and HB3172 are two of more than a dozen bills pulled right from the pages of Project Blitz in #txlege this session. The bills purport to be about "religious freedom", but they are nothing but vehicles for imposing someone's idea of religion onto others. @EqualityTexas @TFN

Let's identify who the authors are for HB3172. Matt Krause is the primary author, but who are the co-authors? Who are the people ok with discrimination?
- Matt Krause
- Jay Dean
- Phil King
- Mike Lang
- Will Metcalf
- Jared Patterson
- Lynn Stucky
- Valoree Swanson

Let's go through and look at some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 8 authors of HB3172
1. Matt Krause (HD93 - Freedom Caucus)
- Empower Texans
- Farris Wilks
- Dan Wilks
- Sam Pack
- Tony Pack
- X Capital
- Michael Olcott

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 8 authors of HB3172
2. Mike Lang (HD60 - Freedom Caucus) Also on HB1035
- 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 cycle to the 8 authors of HB3172
3. Valoree Swanson (HD150 - Freedom Caucus) Also on HB1035
- 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 cycle to the 8 authors of HB3172
4. Jared Patterson (HD106)
- Empower Texans
- Texas Right To Life
- Darlene Pendery
- Texans For Fiscal Responsibility (ET)
- Stacy Hock
- Michael Olcott
- Constituents Focus
- Jonathan Stickland

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 8 authors of HB3172
5. Phil King (HD61) Also on HB1035
- Texans For Lawsuit Reform
- Centerpoint Energy
- Teledoc
- Houston Police Officers
- Texas Construction Association
- KOCH Industries
- Atmos Energy

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 8 authors of HB3172
6. Jay Dean (HD7)
- Clements Resources
- Texans For Lawsuit Reform
- USAA Employee PAC
- Independent Bankers Association
- Texas Automobile Dealers Association
- Tim Ron Enterprises

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 election cycle to the 8 authors of HB3172
7. Will Metcalf (HD16)
- Texas Association Of Realtors
- Entergy
- Texans For Lawsuit Reform
- Blackridge
- USAA Employee PAC
- Centerpoint Energy
- Texas Automobile Dealers Association

(cont) Some of the biggest donors during the 2018 cycle to the 8 authors of HB3172
8. Lynn Stuckey (HD64)
- Veterinarian PAC
- Texans For Lawsuit Reform
- Texas Association of Realtors
- Texas Farm Bureau
- Texas Medical Association
- ACT for Classroom Teachers
- Charles Butt

I wonder if those contributing to these legislators, the authors of such a discriminatory bill as HB3172, realize the kind of legislation their money is helping to create. Some of these groups are pushing the legislation, but I'm sure others would be horrified to find out.

unroll please @threadreaderapp

.@TXRealtors, your PAC was one of Will Metcalf's largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB3172, 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 Lynn Stuckey's largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB3172, 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 a co-author of HB3172, 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 Lynn Stucky's largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB3172, 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 Jay Dean's largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB3172, 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 Will Metcalf's largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB3172, 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 Lynn Stuckey's largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB3172, which allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community. I would hope you don't support bills or legislators that institutionalize discrimination.

.@texascta, your PAC was one of Lynn Stuckey's largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB3172, 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 Lynn Stuckey's largest donors during the 2018 election cycle. Now, he's a co-author of HB3172, which allows discrimination against the LGBTQ community. I would hope you don't support bills or legislators that institutionalize discrimination.