Contact: Pete Winckler

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Estes & Colleagues Set to Review Free Speech, Taxes & Regulatory Barriers

Committees will examine Free Speech on College Campuses, tax transparency; identify red tape stymying business

Austin, January 31 – The Senate State Affair Committee which includes Senator Craig Estes meets today at Texas State University to hear invited and public testimony to determine whether there are any restrictions on Freedom of Speech rights that Texas students face in expressing their views on campus along with freedoms of the press, religion, and assembly. “We must protect First Amendment rights and enhance the free speech environment on campus including conservative speakers even if some disagree,” said Estes.

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Jerry Patterson
http://www.votepatterson.com 

Fellow Texan,
When it comes to the Alamo, the focus must be 1836.

When asked, “Why not restore the Alamo to its 1836 appearance?”, George Skarmeas, Chief Planner of the General Land Office, always responded, “The events of 1836 were just 1 small chapter in 10,000 years of history.” How absurd.
The Alamo exists today solely because of what happened in 1836. Absent the siege, the iconic symbol of not just Texas liberty but also liberty everywhere would not exist.

We don’t need and shouldn’t seek advice or approval from any entity outside of Texas.

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Fort Worth Star-Telegram, by Anna M. Tinsley, January 17, 2018 

ARLINGTON – Gov. Greg Abbott has a plan to give Texans long-sought property tax relief.

The key, said Abbott, who is seeking a second term in office, is putting a 2.5 percent revenue growth cap on property tax dollars collected by local taxing entities – cities, school districts and counties – unless voters approve a larger amount.

click here for more –

Texas Tribune, by Liz Crampton, June 11, 2015 – _{Editor’s note: This story has been updated with comment from state Rep. Celia Israel.}

Gov. Greg Abbott signs SB #2065 into law on June 11, 2015 joined by Attorney General Ken Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and authors of the bill Sen. Craig Estes R-Wichita Falls and Rep. Scott Sanford R-McKinney Marjorie Kamys Cotera

(Although this article is not new, it is important to remember the impact conservative Senator Craig Estes, who authored this bill, is having on the Great State of Texas!)

Gov. Greg Abbott, who signed a bill Thursday that allows clergy members to refuse to conduct marriages that violate their beliefs, said that “pastors now have the freedom to exercise their First Amendment rights.”

The signing ceremony for the so-called Pastor Protection Act, which goes into effect Sept. 1, was held outside the Governor’s Mansion. Abbott was surrounded by about two dozen clergy members at a news conference discussing the law. Others attending the signing ceremony included Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, who authored the bill.

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From Times Record News, Columnist|Craig Estes

File-AP Photo/Austin American-Statesman, Rodolfo Gonzalez State Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, raises one finger to vote yes for his Open Carry Bill during the final vote held at the state Capitol Tuesday in Austin. The Texas Senate has given its final approval to licensed open carry of handguns in the state, sending the measure to the House. Open carry has been resisted by law enforcement groups, but sailed through the Senate on a 20-10 vote.

Partisan spin doesn’t usually surprise me — after almost fifteen years in politics, I’ve come to expect it from both sides in response to both triumphs and tragedies. But I was honestly surprised when, after the worst terrorist attack on our soil since September 11, the Left’s response was to blame the National Rifle Association, the Republican Party, and an imaginary class of scary-looking firearms.

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State Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Frisco, confirmed he is challenging state Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls in next year’s Republican primaries.

The Texas Tribune, by Patrick Svitek Sept. 5, 2017 Updated: 15 hours ago

Weatherford Democrat, by Maggie Fraser, Sep 5, 2017

State House Rep. Pat Fallon officially announced his candidacy for Texas Senate District 30 Tuesday in an interview with Weatherford Democrat news staff and criticized his opponent, incumbent Craig Estes, as “an absentee landlord.”

“Where have you been? You’ve been an absentee landlord. You’ve been asleep at the switch,” Fallon said of Estes’s 17 years in the Senate. “If you haven’t been around for years and you suddenly start showing up because you’re in a contested primary, people are going to see through it. It’s very transparent. He has squandered his incumbency because he has not been anywhere. At forums, I’m going to look him right in the eye and ask him: ‘Where have you been?’”

During the interview at the Democrat office, Fallon confirmed for the first time that he will challenge Estes in next March’s Republican primary after saying for weeks in appearances during appearances in the senate district, which includes Parker County, that he “probably” will do so.

Messages to Estes requesting comment were not returned by deadline Tuesday.

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Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty

Gov. Greg Abbott says he’s going to keep a list of lawmakers who oppose his agenda during the special legislative session, and that property tax reform is his top priority.

The Texas Tribune, by Morgan Smith July 17, 2017 Updated: 5 PM

Gov. Greg Abbott lays out items for a special session at a press conference on June 6, 2017.

Gov. Greg Abbott said that he would publicly call out lawmakers who didn’t support his 20-item legislative agenda while Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick came out swinging against House leadership during Monday appearances on the eve of Texas’ special legislative session.

Abbott said he would aggressively hold lawmakers accountable for their positions on his legislative agenda and encouraged others to do the same.

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