Yea! A Saturday meeting. Instead of rushing halfway across Texas in the middle of traffic on a Monday night, the Harris County Republican Party Executive Committee will meet on a Saturday morning. This is a great change, even if it is for only one of the quarterly meetings.
Several items of note on the HCRP Executive Committee agenda. There are two items put forth by grassroots committees that Chairman Paul Simpson is against – apparently because they didn’t talk to him and get his permission to put them forth. You should have received an email from the Chair yesterday outlining his objections. Funny, I thought that the grassroots were supposed to have a bigger voice in his administration and wouldn’t need his prior approval. Oh well.
There are also three resolutions from precinct chairs. The first one seems to only have one sponsor, Clint Moore, and basically lays out State Rep. Debbie Riddle’s arguments against low income housing and the input that a state representative should have. I thought that a resolution needed at least ten precinct chairs to support it before being placed before the HCRP Executive Committee but I admit I don’t know the rules all that well.
The second resolution is against online voter registration. I’ll guarantee I’m in the minority on this one but I’ll be voting against it. If I can fill out a mortgage application online, buy a car online, and renew my Texas Concealed Handgun License online, why the heck can’t I register to vote online? This is yet another example, in my opinion, of a backwards Republican Party. We have to use the technology available to us to increase participation in the political arena.
The third and last resolution is a no-brainer, which is why I signed on as a co-sponsor. Thanks to John Baucum for pushing it. Here it is in full:
Honoring and Remembering the life of Bob Lee
WHEREAS, Robert Crayford Lee, 90, passed away peacefully on February 12, 2015 at the home he built in Houston, Texas surrounded by his family. He was born August 12, 1924 in Austin, Texas to Robert E. and Georgia Lee.
WHEREAS, Bob graduated from Waco High School, he then served in the United States Navy and graduated from the University of Texas in 1950.
WHEREAS, Robert devoted a long and full life to his family, his country, and God:
those things which he most loved. Bob was a lifelong Republican, activist, and co-founder of Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition.WHEREAS, He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, activist and Precinct Chair, Ann Edwards Lee, of Ponchatoula, LA; He is also survived by sons, James Lee, Michael Lee, Robert Lee, Richard Lee, Donald and his wife Susan Lee; four granddaughters; 2 great-grandchildren; sister, Georgiabeth Mercier; and brother, James E. Lee.
BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Harris County Republican Party honors and remembers the life of Bob Lee. We appreciate his commitment to activism and service to our great country.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, a copy of this resolution be awarded to Ann Lee in remembrance of Bob Lee.
Regardless of whether meetings are on a week night or a Saturday morning, if I hear one more speaker say “We should vote (A or B) because Paul Simpson is our elected party chair, I’m going to scream.
Paul Simpson was elected to be the county party chair, not the be all and end all. I was elected by the people in my precinct, presumably to vote the way that I think best. We don’t need an executive committee if all it is for is to rubber-stamp what Simpson wants..
And to submit a resolution, it takes one of two criteria being met:
Either it gets submitted 10 days in advance, OR it has at least 10 co-sponsors. Evidently, Clint submitted his resolution at least 10 days in advance.
While we’re on the subject of pet peeves, people really need to learn Roberts’ Rules of Order if they are going to make motions during meetings. If I hear one more person start by saying “Point of Order” and then ask a question, . . .well, I won’t scream at that, but I may accidently pinch TJ’s toes.
I’m Tom Zakes and I approve this message.