Censure rules survive convention floor, platform being voted on now

Far above the 100 or fewer planks party leadership had hoped for, Texas Republican Delegates are now voting on 248 state platform items via a scantron voting sheet method. The results of the "grading" are not expected until Saturday, and the tallies will be reported on each plank of the 2016 platform.

We understand that new platform planks are not allowed to be introduced from the floor, but convention parliamentarians are currently reviewing whether that restriction is valid.

The party rules being voted on today, according to Travis GOP Chairman James Dickey, contain some helpful reforms.

"The rules matter -- a lot," Dickey said, via Facebook. "... The theme of the changes was to work toward increased transparency and accountability. That includes things like expressly permitting video recording of meetings, requiring record votes on final issues by the SREC, and spelling out a process for censure of an elected officeholder."

For now, here are the permanent reports for our readers to review -- we report, you decide!

Draft Platform:
http://files.ctctcdn.com/162e6a77201/a5a4cab3-0960-403a-96e5-d1ea3fdc2434.pdf

2014 Platform: (for comparison)
https://www.texasgop.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-Platform-Final.pdf

Draft Rules:
https://www.texasgop.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Microsoft-Word-2016_RPT_Perm_Rules_Cmte_Report-blackline-final.pdf

Draft supplemental Rules (passed by the state executives):
https://www.texasgop.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2016-Supplemental-Rules-passed-by-the-SREC.pdf

Of particular importance to Travis County voters are the following items, including a platform plank intended as a compromise for the previous and so-called "Robert Morrow Plank."

Platform:  

Line 71 - Censuring a Republican Office Holder for Cause- We support a rule allowing delegates of the state convention, or the State Republican Executive Committee to censure a Republican officeholder for cause, including but not limited to consistent actions taken in opposition to principles of the Republican Party of Texas, defined in the preamble of the party platform as described in rule 43 A. 

Rules: 

Rule No. 8-J - County Chairman Abandonment of Office -- A County Chairman may be deemed to have 43 abandoned the office by failing to perform statutory duties, failing to attend four (4) consecutive County Executive Committee Meetings, embezzling County Executive Committee funds, being convicted of election fraud, or other behavior designed to disgrace the Republican Party. A written demand signed by at least a majority of the Precinct Chairmen of a County Executive Committee shall be forwarded to the Officials Committee of the State Republican Executive Committee. If the Officials Committee finds that the complaint has merit, the Officials Committee shall conduct a hearing on the conduct of the County Chairman and shall forward a recommendation to the State Chairman for consideration under Texas Election Code section 171.029(c).  

Rule No. 44 - Censure Process and Penalties A County or Senatorial District Convention or a County or District Executive Committee may by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting adopt a resolution censuring a Republican public or party office holder representing all or a portion of that County or District for three (3) or more actions taken during the current biennium in opposition to the core principles of the Republican Party of Texas defined in the Preamble of the Party Platform as described in Rule No. 43A. Such a resolution may include a request to the State Convention or SREC that the named office holder be penalized. If such a request is included, the delegates of the State Convention by majority vote, or the State Republican Executive Committee by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the full membership, may vote to concur with the resolution of censure and declare that no Rule or Bylaw enacted by any division of the Party at any level that demands the Party be neutral in intraparty contests shall be observed with respect to the named candidate, and no financial or other support shall be provided to their campaign by the Party except that which is required by law. Any such penalty shall expire at the beginning of the State Convention following its adoption.

Editor's Notes: There were prior concerns that language which seeks the removal of an official may run awry of federal and state law, which is why the censure plank submitted by Travis County may have been denied. And for a little background, Rule 43 has been a long-running bone of contention as its legality has been thrown into question many times. How effective 43 or 43a will be in thwarting an uncooperative or wayward county chairman in the future is anyone's guess at this point. The ability to remove a chairman for abandonment, "disgrace," or illegal behavior in the new Rule 8-J is enticing -- however that may, too, be subject to a judge's gavel.

UPDATES: (4:55 p.m.) We hear the censure rules have survived the floor.