Liberty Institute’s Constitutional Scholars Confirm Legality of Texas House Republican Caucus Meeting

AUSTIN, Texas, January 6, 2010 – Today Libery Institute sent a , Letter to Chairman Taylor showing the detailed and independent legal analysis of Liberty Institute’s legal staff, supporting the conclusion also reached by Rep. Larry Taylor, that a Republican Caucus meeting is legal under the Texas Constitution and other rules. The meeting, which will address the selection of the Texas Speaker of the House, is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Monday, January 10, just one day before the Legislature convenes.

In regard to the letter, Kelly Shackelford, president/CEO for Liberty Institute, released the following statement:

“This letter makes it clear what everyone knew all along: that the House Republican Caucus is within its right to meet, and there are no legitimate legal concerns for their meeting. Any suggestion or conjecture to the contrary is merely a smokescreen. Anyone who does not attend will simply be doing so for their own political reasons.”

Liberty Institute is a nonprofit policy and legal organization with offices in Plano and Austin. In 2008, Liberty Institute, formerly Free Market Foundation, won a lawsuit which now gives citizens and groups the right to speak out on who serves as Texas Speaker of the House, which had been illegal (Free Market Foundation v. Reisman).  Kelly Shackelford was named one of the Top 25 Lawyers in the past 25 years, by Texas Lawyer magazine in 2010.

A RALLY IS SCHEDULED FOR 12:30 P.M. at the Texas Capitol on Monday, January 10, 2011.

Who does your Texas House member support for Speaker of the House.  Click here to find out-UpdatedJoeStrausforSpeakerPledgeList