ELECTION LAWS: Texas Senate’s Speedy Surprise
SB 6 compels expedition against judicial stall tactics
We have witnessed historic actions in Texas in this unfolding saga of Our Civilized Revolution in the United States. Texas is the kickoff. Panic has overwhelmed the Texas government as they attempt to respond to a citizenry who have sharpened their pens to achieve a necessary redress of grievances. Their complaints have gone unanswered. Therefore brave patriots who care nothing of legal retainer fees have acquired the knowledge to file lawsuits themselves, Pro Se (on one's own behalf). And have already achieved disruption to the system of power in the USA.
The laws matter. Elections are exercises in speech and shared ownership of government. Without them we slip into an authoritarian nightmare that desecrates everything the United States was founded upon. And that is the agenda of those who rig and fix elections, destroy our founding values. The only things preventing a massive public shift in demand for accountability to remedy our election systems is the needlessly complicated systems implemented to exclude oversight, intentionally. Since 2020 election raised concern for citizens, they have educated themselves to achieve the oversight required in our constitutional republic. In a multitude of states across the nation.
Evidence continues to be uncovered that increases the concern for the legitimacy of the process. When comparing US elections to those conducted in other nations, the US falls far behind from being a leader of the free world. The most unanswered question remains, were election accreditation laws upheld in elections as required by Help America Vote Act of 2002?
Lawsuits Filed
In the 88th Texas Legislature, the 4th Special Session, Senate Bill 6 (SB 6) was introduced on December 1, 2023 by Texas State Senator Bryan Hughes. Addressing six election contests that impact constitutional amendment that were voted on November 7, 2023. These lawsuits stall the implementation of those amendments, which have angered some. This new bill aims to expedite these six election contests currently filed in court and amends the timing of court actions in the election code of Texas. Amendments included in the bill are:
The trial date may not be later than the 50th day after the date of the contested election.
The court shall include in its judgment in a contest an order directing the governor to declare the official result of the election or to declare the election void, as appropriate, not later than the fifth day after the trial date.
Any appeal of the contest must be filed not later than the fifth day after the date the judgment becomes final.
If a contestant files an appeal of the contest: the court of appeals must ensure its judgment is rendered not later than the 30th day after the date the judgment of the trial court becomes final; and the Texas Supreme Court must ensure that the action is brought to final disposition not later than the 30th day after the date judgment of the court of appeals becomes final.
Apply to any contest of an election on a proposed constitutional amendment held on or after November 1, 2023; and do not affect the validity of any action taken under prior law before the effective date of this Act. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house.
Unexpected Action
Senator Bryan Hughes has taken the lead on SB 6. He was first elected to the Texas State House of Representatives in 2002 as a Republican serving District 5, which includes Camp, Harrison, Upshur, and Wood counties in northeastern Texas. He then won election to the Texas Senate in November of 2016. A Senator who opposes ESG investment funds and supports building the wall. He spoke about SB 6 on December 1, 2023.
Senator Hughes: There has been six election contests. Five regarding the constitutional amendment. Elections just held last month. Those claims are in the courts because this is so time sensitive, because those controversial numbers affect so many people all across the state. It's our intent to speed up the process.
Senate Bill six would shorten the deadlines. The courts have to rule on this case and cases like this going forward. The bill does nothing to affect the rights of the parties. People that file a lawsuit and every claim after this bill passes that they had before the bill passed. If they think we're doing them a favor by giving them a quicker resolution of those claims, that's what the bill does.
Debate On The Floor
During a Texas special session on December 1, 2023, public discussion on SB 6 was recorded. A lively discussion between Senator Hughes and Democrat State Senator Sarah Eckhardt reveals further details in these excerpts.
Senator Eckhart: what is giving us fear that the judiciary will not take up the allegations in these suits and expeditiously rule?
Senator Hughes: Well senator, our concern comes largely from that 2021 case.
There is currently pending a challenge to a constitutional amendment passed by the voters in 2021, and it's still pending.
We obviously could not let that happen with the 2023 amendments when we're talking about property tax cuts, helping our retired teacher. So just initially, that was enough to cause concern.
Senator Eckhart: Have you spoken with any election law experts with regard to changing the law and perhaps unintended consequences of shortening up the time frame?
Senator Hughes: I've spoken to some attorneys. I've spoken to someone with the Elections Assistance Commission. So I've talked to a number of people that I consider to be experts. Yes. To try to get this right. And I don't want to take credit for this. A lot of people have been involved in trying to find a solution.
Senator Eckhart: do you have any indication that a judge would not act expeditiously in light of, what is it, 12 constitutional propositions being held up by these six lawsuits filed right before Thanksgiving?
Senator Hughes: The 2021 amendment is troubling for all of us and the fact that we are a part time legislature. Not normally here. We are here in special session. We have an opportunity. And again, these election contests may go to trial and appeal and they may be sustained. We need an answer one way or the other. And we don't have the luxury of time.
This has not been an issue until recently, with constitutional amendments. Some amendments take longer to implement, there’s more flexibility. But in particular, when we’re talking about property tax cuts and help for our retired teachers, we don’t have the luxury of time on these.
Senator Eckhart: I completely agree that six litigants with at least what appears to be specious claims. I haven't been able to read all six of the petitions yet and they are rather lengthy, but they do seem to be recycled allegations that we have seen over the course of a decade that have frankly been elevated by the very highest positions of leadership in the Republican Party, including Donald Trump and his supporters. It does appear that their claims, however, will not prevail at trial or at appeal. I am struggling here because while I 100% agree with you that the idea of delaying an election with results that were passed by significant majorities could be delayed by a handful of litigants. I think that we should have trust in our judiciary, that they would recognize the weight and consequence of dragging this out and act expeditiously. This seems very reactive for a very specific reason. Rather than proactive in a systematic fashion.
Other than the 2001 case, what is your basis for speculation that the judiciary will not expeditiously rule on these six cases?
Senator Hughes: Well Senator as you know, we have voted unanimously for many deadlines in all manner of cases, civil and criminal. It's not a question of trust. It's a question of: the legislature makes the law, the people ask the legislature to make the law and the courts apply the law.
Later in the Texas Senate special session it was revealed by Senator Robert Nichols, of Cherokee County, that the 2021 case was substantially delayed by a single district judge.
Senator Nichols: One of the questions was why didn't we act during the regular session? And the answer is: we did act in a regular session.
We found some dark spots or holes in the statutes related to constitutional amendments and court challenges. The 2021 constitutional amendment that was voted on overwhelmingly by this body on the floor and same thing in the House and approved by the voters, never got put into law because of a court challenge shortly after the voters had voted. And it wasn't about the election process. It was: was it an illegal constitutional amendment? That's something the courts are going to have to work out, and that's fine.
But a year later, I began inquiring, well, why? When is this going to happen? And what I discovered as my most efficient staff laid out what the timelines were, I found out there were no timelines. There are steps in the court process, but there's no timelines. The first step is a district judge, now a district judge doesn't have to hear the case or rule or even let it go.
A district judge of this state at that time was empowered to sit on a constitutional amendment into perpetuity. That's a long time. So one district judge in the state of Texas has the authority, or they did have the authority to override the Texas legislature and the will of the voting public, in effect, to kill a constitutional amendment. That was shocking to me.
Texas State Senate Democrats would have a predicament if SB 6 goes to a vote. They are in a box. If they don’t vote in support of SB 6 for the sole reason of blocking six election court cases from an expedited decision, then they risk delaying the increased pensions for retired school teachers. Angering the teachers union who strongly support their party.
Additionally, advocates of election integrity shouldn’t assume Texas State Senate Republicans are passing SB 6 to aid the election petitioners. The motive to expedite could simply be to reduce property taxes, increase pensions for retired teachers and invest billions of dollars in the power grid, water infrastructure, broadband internet and state parks for vested interests as soon as possible.
And we must consider that the six lawsuits filed were done so as Pro Se, meaning filed without a paid attorney. These are citizens taking action with the power of the pen, reading the laws themselves and holding their government accountable. They are doing so without hosting large fundraisers or selling tickets to events for revenue to hire law firms to fight. Rather they fight themselves. They are not doing this to earn fame or grow a brand. The people of Texas are fighting for their rights, and the rights of all citizens in their state. A rare action of selflessness in a selfish world, while in the midst of an exceedingly hostile battle between two power hungry political parties.
The Affidavit That Changed The World
The still unrefuted election affidavit completed in 2020 by Tore Maras, who hosts a podcast with world wide reach called the Tore Says Show, revealed 3 years ago the election certification failures. She noticed that the legal requirements of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 were not followed in upholding the accreditation requirements established by the Elections Assistance Commission. These laws being codified in the Texas election code.
The brave actions by the Pro Se petitioners in these 6 court cases has provided the opportunity for Texas courts to hear the evidence. The mainstream news and outspoken politicians have sought to use their influence to bulldoze all election questions. Their reign of power ended as this and many other cases continue in trial.
YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS
In legal battles, they sought control,
With lawsuits strong, a grip to extol.
Infiltration tried, a covert decree.
Yet their plan with the press they thought you banked on fell astray,
failed to sway, no submission to obey!
By Tore Maras
December 5, 2023
Texas Kick-off
Anti-Trump Democrats seething in the Texas State Senate, exhibited their disdain toward any questions around election integrity. The 2020 Election has been called the most secure election in history while attempting to ignore growing amounts of evidence to the contrary. As we remember in 2016 when Donald Trump won the Presidency, elected democrats became the election deniers they now label their opposition. These six election cases will challenge Texas’ November 2023 election for accreditation failures beginning in 2018. Why is there an agenda to silence debate and contests if election processes are secure?
With Senate Bill 6 introduced, we see both panic and disdain for a needed action. With such a large number of voters now lacking confidence in the US election processes, in the nation claiming to be the leader of the free world. Leaders of the United States must act to remedy this demise toward certain destruction.
For the United States to be established on freedom, uncorrupted elections must occur. The battle for the soul of the nation continues. God bless The United States of America.