News and Notes

Zedler Endorsed for Re-Election in District 96

National Rifle Association, Texas State Rifle Association, Texas Alliance for Life, Texas Hospital Association, Texas State Association of Firefighters, Young Conservatives of Texas, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, Texas Municipal Police Association, Texas Association of Realtors, and Texas Right to Life have all announced their endorsements of Representative Zedler. He has also received the endorsement of the Ft. Worth Star Telegram, which called Representative Zedler, "the most accessible elected offical." Additional endorsements include the Texas Medical Association, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Retailers Association, Texas Association of Manufacturers, Texas Chiropractic Association, National Federation of Independent Businessmen, Heritage Alliance, Texans for Fiscal Rersponsibility, and the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. Representative Zedler's proven record of conservative leadership in the Texas House is critical for addressing the challenges of the next legislative session.

Texas Eagle Forum Honors Conservative Legislator, Bill Zedler

Texas Eagle Forum is proud to honor State Representative Bill Zedler as one of Texas most conservative legislators according to his voting record for this past legislative session.

Conservative ratings were accumulated from votes cast on 25 different issues appearing on Texas Eagle Forum's 2007 Legislative Scorecard. Rep. Zedler voted against every tax increase and any expansion of gambling. He voted for the bill to enhance voter integrity to require voter photo identification and for Jessica's Law aimed at protecting children from sexually violent predators.

Representative Zedler expressed appreciation for the award and continued, "It remains my high honor to represent the constituents of District 96. I will continue to work for taxpayer protection, limited government, and strong family values."

The president of Texas Eagle Forum, Cathie Adams said, "State Representative Bill Zedler was one of only 16 Texas House members to earn recognition by our organization. We appreciate his commitment to Texas families on both social and economic issues throughout the 80th Texas legislative session."

Texas Eagle Forum is a statewide volunteer organization whose achievements prove that citizen-volunteers can affect government policies in the state legislature. Our mission is to enable conservative pro-family men and women to participate in the process of self-government and public policy-making so that America will continue to be a land of individual liberty, respect for family integrity, public and private virtue and private enterprise.

Ditto! Rush Limbaugh recognized by Governor as Honorary Texan
Rep. Bill Zedler (R- Arlington), and his wife, Ellen presented the Governor's award to Rush Limbaugh on his visit to the metroplex.

Texas Taxpayer Heroes Announced!
State Representative Bill Zedler Named Taxpayer Hero
TFR releases legislative scorecard

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR) today released its scorecard of the Texas House. The TFR analysis of votes demonstrates that while far too many lawmakers failed to work in the interest of Texas taxpayers, State Rep. Bill Zedler (R-Arlington) demonstrated a strong commitment to commonsense protections and responsible spending.

State representatives, on average, failed to promote sound fiscal stewardship of taxpayer resources. The average score in the House was a 53 – a failing grade by any measure, according to TFR president Michael Quinn Sullivan. On average, House Republicans earned a ‘C' score of 75 and House Democrats earned a failing 32.

In contrast, State Rep. Zedler earned a 100 percent rating. He was one of only 15 lawmakers to be designated a "Texas Taxpayer Hero" by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, and Rep. Zedler is the ONLY Tarrant county area representative to receive this award.

"Day after day, Rep. Zedler could be counted on this Session as a wise steward of our resources, seeking to reduce the burden of taxes, looking for smarter ways to spend tax dollars, and working to make the budget process more transparent and accountable," said Sullivan. "Texans need more legislators like Bill Zedler, willing to do the right thing for taxpayers and the future of Texas."

TFR used an index of votes in the Texas House that provided a clear picture of fiscal responsibility trends. Only 15 members of the Texas House were designated as "Taxpayer Heroes" by receiving an "A" – 90% or better – on the scorecard.

"Unfortunately, that's only 10 percent of the House. Far too many legislators are spending too much time working to grow government and expand spending, while ignoring the needs of Texas families," said Sullivan.

TFR used key votes that point to spending trends and taxpayer protection efforts. "Extra credit" was given to legislators sponsoring good legislation, while sponsoring bad legislation dropped the final scores. The full scorecard, including a detailed description of the votes and methodology, is available at EmpowerTexans.com.

Great Victories for Religious Freedom In Texas

State Representative Bill Zedler (R-Arlington) commented today that three significant bills passed in the recent legislative session, but received little or no media attention.

House Bill 1034, which Rep. Zedler co-authored, added the words, "under God" to the Texas Pledge. The new pledge reads, "Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible."

Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, advocated the first free public schools in our nation. In doing so, he also warned the nation saying, "If you remove the Bible from our classrooms, there will be an explosion of crime." House Bill 1287 will help bring the Bible back into the classroom. This bill strengthens traditional values and local control in Texas by allowing an elective course on the Bible to be offered in Texas public schools if desired by the students and parents of the school district.

Rep. Zedler also co-authored House Bill 3687, which permits students to voluntarily express religious viewpoints in public schools, to add to discussions on art, literature, science, or other subjects in which the free expression of religious views had previously been excluded. This bill clarifies the boundaries of constitutional expression and provides school districts with clarity and protection under the law for permitting appropriate and voluntary student religious expression.

Rep. Zedler said, "This new legislation is a great victory for religious freedom in Texas."

Accomplishments of the 80th Legislative Session
The Texas House concluded the 80th Legislative Session with GOP leaders’ keeping their promise to provide tax relief, improve Texas schools and maintain fiscal accountability in state government.

Although the legislature entered the session with a large surplus, Republican legislators resisted Democrat attempts to spend it, and instead chose to secure the 2006 tax cuts and put money away for the future in the state’s so-called “rainy day fund.”

“This legislature showed excellent fiscal discipline, and the people of Texas will benefit,” said Representative Bill Zedler (R-Arlington.) “Because of our fiscally-sound budget, Texans will get the property tax relief we promised them in 2006, and we will meet the needs and fund the priorities of Texas.”

The session was a particularly ambitious one for Rep. Zedler, and 33 bills that he authored or co-authored were sent to the Governor for final approval.

Last special session, the state took a greater state role in funding education, establishing an $8 billion fund to buy down local property taxes, and allocating an additional $6 billion from surplus general revenue. This session, the legislature transferred an additional $14 billion to local school districts. Furthermore, legislators expanded property tax cuts to seniors, righting an oversight that had left people over 65 out of many of the property tax cut benefits.

“This legislative session, legislators fought hard to pass important reforms, yet keep our Texas economy strong through low taxes,” Zedler said. “From toughening the laws on child sex predators to strengthening healthy marriages, to restoring our Texas parks, Republicans continued to forward the common-sense conservative agenda the people of Texas have demanded.”

For a quick look at some of the other key accomplishments of the session, click here.

For more detailed coverage of key legislative issues of the 80th Legislative Session, click here.

Representative Zedler Receives Defender of the American Dream Award
This prestigious award honors legislators who work for limited governenment, limited taxation, and conservative family values. Congratulations! Click for photo

State leaders encourage Washington to examine illegal immigration and border issues in Texas
Conservative House leadership, including Representative Zedler, recently contacted President Bush regarding the fiscal and social costs of illegal immigration to the state of Texas. See a copy of the letter here.

Rep. Zedler honored by Texas Hospital Association
Representative Zedler was honored by the Texas Hospital Association (THA) with the Advocacy Tribute Award for his outstanding work in the 79th Legislative Session on important hospital and healthcare issues.

Representative Zedler was instrumental in passing significant legislation to restore funding for CHIP, expand nursing education programs, reform the worker's compensation system, and enhance patient safety. His leadership on legislation relating to surgical assistants and nursing faculty shortages in this state will have a significant positive impact on healthcare throughout the state.