Like many of you, I sat on my couch and yelled at the TV as the Bush and Obama administration's proposed and passed the TARP, the banking bailouts, the auto industry bailouts, and the quadrupling of our national debt.  However, in February I discovered Glenn Beck, and on March 13, I went to a "We Surround Them" in Houston viewing party.  It changed my life.  Since that day, I became a 912 grassroots movement activist.  I have attended the Tea Parties and the rallies, I have traveled all over Houston to various meet-ups to share ideas and figure out how to get our country back.  I have traveled to Austin for rallies and to meet with Representatives.  I have heard over and over that Government is broken and that we need to elect new people to bring us back to our Constitutional roots.  Although I served as the treasurer for my Houston 912er organization, I felt that I could do more.  I MUST do more.  

After much deliberation and debate, I decided to accept the challenge of our grassroots message and hereby announce my intent to run for the District 129 Texas House of Representatives in the Republican primary.  Win or lose, I intend to drive the election to be a referendum on Constitutional reform and States rights.  I do not believe the Federal Government can fix itself and that the only Constitutional remedy that is left to the people is for States like Texas to reassert our independence and collectively force the Federal Government back to its constitutionally limited authority and responsibilities.  This is why I chose to run for the Texas House of Representatives.  Until we take back our States rights we will continue to travel the path charted by the liberal progressives that now dominate the Democratic party.  We need more legislation like that proposed by Leo Berman and others addressing states rights, gun legislation, and intra-state commerce.  We need to free ourselves of the addiction to Federal money that cedes Texas' authority over its own schools, roads, and businesses.   The web of addiction has been spun, and we are merely slaves to the federal whim.  We no longer have any political voice.  For instance, calls went into Washington against the bailouts by a margin of 60-40%.  They voted for the bill anyway.  As citizens, we seem to have no value.  Washington spins their talking points and coerces the media into blindly reporting without any journalistic research. 

Before we can save our nation, we must start locally.  Austin has many of the same problems as Washington.  Texas is being looked at nation-wide as a beacon of hope and freedom among the other States.  We have grown our economy and jobs when almost every other State in the Union is losing theirs.  People from failed States such as California, New York, and Maryland are voting with their feet and leaving their home states.  My fellow Texans, they are coming here.  While we are proud that people want to come to live in our State, we must be vigilant since many of them will bring the same progressive mindsets that ruined their own State.  Voting data from the last election shows that the urban areas of Texas are becoming more ?blue', more democratic, and more progressive.  If we do not take care of business at the State level, it won't matter how the rest of the Country fares - there will be no place left to go.  That is why I choose to run for office.   I never intended to become an activist and I certainly didn't have any ambition to run for a political office, but the stakes are too important.  As our Libertarian friends say, "Let it not be said that we did nothing."

Although John Davis has represented District 129 as a reliable Republican for the last ten years, it is time for a dedicated grassroots candidate to stand up and begin to address the real issues that face our State, and by consequence, our Country.  This is no longer a Republican versus Democrat thing - it is a conservative versus progressive thing.  I'm not talking about "conservative" as being expressed today in the mainstream media.  I'm talking about the grassroots activist, restore Texas independence and States rights, and limit the Federal Government interference type of conservative.  Folks, the progressives have won.  The Republicans we have been electing nation-wide have failed to protect our rights and liberties.  Many of the Republicans currently in office are progressive too - perhaps progress 'lite', but progressive nonetheless.  They want the pork spending coming to their districts - regardless of the long-term effect of dependency.  We the people need to take back our Country.  But in order to do this we need to take back our States first.  Although Washington has become all powerful in their legislation and economic recklessness, they are weak in national leadership and simple national pride.  They don't seem to love this nation like we do.  Our nation has been sold out and we are no longer a free people with a capitalist system.

I intend to run on a simple grassroots platform.  First, I intend to propose and back any legislation that conforms to the laws and intent of the Texas Constitution and the Constitution of the United States of America.  This means I will work tirelessly to pass laws and resolutions that return States rights to Texas and vigorously oppose those that advance the progressive agenda.   And second, I will specifically work to remove the Federal Government and the progressive curriculum and textbooks from Texas schools.  I believe that the current state of our Union is the direct result of Federal, union, and progressive interference and assimilation of our schools.  Since I have been working as a grassroots activist these last few months, I have been appalled at the ignorance our youth has displayed regarding the founding of our Country with regards to religion, principles of limited government, and State and individual rights.  Third, I will work with representatives in other States to plan and execute State strategies to rein in the Federal Government.  I have already joined the Patrick Henry Caucus grassroots organization that seeks to bring state legislators together to plan and form strategies to restore the States to their constitutional duties and authority.  Fourth, I will challenge the progressives in the airwaves, in newsprint, in the streets, and in the State House.  I will name names and call out any hidden agendas, back room deals, and unsound legislation that I see.  Finally, I will remain loyal and in touch with the grassroots movement that has inspired me, educated me, and provided me with the strength and courage as a common Texan and an ordinary woman to challenge the status quo to become a  true citizen legislator.

As my friends and fellow citizen activist, I hope that those in my district will support my candidacy and I call on everyone to help support me.  With your strength and support, I believe that we can start to turn back to the path of constitutional reform, at least at the foundation of Texas State government.  Let me close with an old adage that was appropriate at the time of our founders and is just as appropriate today:  "A people from time to time, refresh themselves at the wellspring of their origin, lest they perish." 

Folks, we are that wellspring - and our nation's future is in jeopardy.  With your support, I will be a voice for you the American citizens.  We ARE mad as hell and we are NOT going to take it anymore!

Mary Huls