April 9, 2013

Contact: Jeramy Kitchen, Senior Vice Chairman
Mobile: (281) 615-6292
Email: jeramy.kitchen@gmail.com

AUSTIN, TX — Yesterday, Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) hosted their biannual lobby day at the Texas Legislature and announced the release of both their House Budget Scorecard and the final iteration of vote.yct.org.

Each Session, Young Conservatives of Texas members from across the state congregate in Austin to lobby the legislature about their legislative priorities.

“It is important for legislators to see that there are conservative college students out there,” said Baylor YCT member Brandon Waltens. “We enjoyed speaking with legislators and staff about the issues, and most were really receptive to our message and goals.”

In addition to lobbying this week, YCT released the organization’s first ever scorecard of the House Budget.

“Last Thursday’s budget process was a complete and total failure for conservatism,” said YCT State Chairman Jeff Morris. “While many common sense spending reforms were proposed, it seemed only amendments that grew government and decreased efficiency were adopted.”

Perhaps the best example of this was the initial vote to expand Medicaid. While legislators eventually passed a motion to reconsider this vote, the fact that it was able to pass on the first vote shows a lack of organization and communication.

“Liberal legislators walked in with a plan and executed it,” said YCT Senior Vice Chairman Jeramy Kitchen. “At the same time, conservatives walked in ill-prepared for the fight and lost almost every battle of substance.”

To view the budget scorecard please visit:  http://bit.ly/150IPml

To ensure legislators know which bills to support and oppose for the rest of Session, YCT released today the final iteration of vote.yct.org. The final version of this site contains over 500 bills that YCT has taken a position on and fit their priorities.

Young Conservatives of Texas is a non-partisan organization that has promoted conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The State’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For more information about YCT, please visit www.YCT.org. 

###

PDF Version of Press Release

March 28, 2013

Contact: Jeramy Kitchen, Senior Vice Chairman
Mobile: (281) 615-6292
Email: jeramy.kitchen@gmail.com

AUSTIN, TX — Today, Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) announced their new website to inform legislators and citizens about good and bad legislation filed in the Texas House and Senate.

YCT has been shaping Texas politics for over 35 years and produces the longest running and most respected ratings of the Texas Legislature. Prior to each Session, YCT releases a legislative agenda describing the types of bills they hope to see proposed by legislators.

“This project in a lot of ways is the natural bridge between our agenda and our ratings,” said YCT State Chairman Jeff Morris. “Many legislators have asked how to do better on our ratings—this is our answer.”

The website will roll out in two parts. Today the site will include the top 5 bills per topic, per chamber; early next month, it will include every bill YCT is taking a stance on. The organization will release their stance on just over 500 bills.

“We hope this interactive site will motivate legislators to get these bills out of committee and to the floors of both chambers for a vote,” said YCT Senior Vice Chairman Jeramy Kitchen. “If you are a citizen and see particular bills you are passionate about, please contact your representatives and make your voice heard.”

To visit the interactive website, please go to vote.yct.org.

Young Conservatives of Texas is a non-partisan organization that has promoted conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The State’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For more information about YCT, please visit www.YCT.org. 

###

PDF Version of Press Release

February 13, 2013

Contact: Jeramy Kitchen, Senior Vice Chairman
Mobile: (281) 615-6292
Email: jeramy.kitchen@gmail.com

AUSTIN, TX — Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) would like to applaud State Senator Brian Birdwell and State Representatives Allen Fletcher and Giovanni Capriglione for filing Concealed Carry on Campus bills for the 83^rd Legislative Session. Concealed Carry on Campus is YCT’s number one legislative priority, and votes relating to these and other bills on the issue will assuredly be included in our post-session ratings.

“We believe that it’s time our state government gave CHL holders the trust they’ve earned,” said YCT State Chairman Jeff Morris. “According to statistics of our own Department of Public Safety, CHL holders accounted for less than .2% of all crimes in Texas over the last decade. Our state’s best citizens are CHL holders and we need to end this needlessly dangerous prohibition on where they can exercise their 2^nd Amendment rights.”

Gun-control advocates continually attempt to conflate the issue of Concealed Carry on Campus to distort reality. Instead of acknowledging that any CHL holder, including a college student, must be at least 21 years old with a clean criminal history, be of sound mind, be free of chemical dependence, be eligible to purchase a handgun in accordance with federal and state law, and has completed a required training course, these gun-control advocates utilize scare tactics to incite fear of unruly, young armed college students running amok. Statistics do not back up these absurd fantasies.

In past sessions, there has been similar legislation filed by numerous authors; however, it has never successfully made it out of both chambers of the State Legislature and to the Governor’s desk for final approval.

“Concealed Carry on Campus is a commonsense bill that empowers law-abiding citizens—who have gone through extraordinary requirements to become licensed—to protect themselves in times of danger on campus,” said YCT Senior Vice Chairman Jeramy Kitchen. “It is unconscionable for the government to deny college students their 2^nd Amendment rights, forcing them to walk across campus at any hour of the night defenseless, while legislators may carry concealed weapons anywhere within the Capitol Complex.”

YCT is proud to support Senator Birdwell and Representatives Fletcher and Capriglione as they take a stand for the rights of our membership and all Texas college students.

YCT PAC is the political arm of Young Conservatives of Texas, a non-partisan organization which has promoted conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The State’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For a full list of YCT’s endorsements, please visit www.YCT.org/endorsements.

###

PDF Version of Press Release

February 11, 2013

Contact: Jeramy Kitchen, Senior Vice Chairman
Mobile: (281) 615-6292
Email: jeramy.kitchen@gmail.com

Austin, TX — Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) praised Comptroller Susan Combs for keeping her promise of making government more accountable and transparent by pushing key initiatives in the 83^rd Legislature that would strengthen and preserve the integrity of state government.

“Last year, Comptroller Combs’s identified key areas of state and local governments that were in desperate need of oversight and reform,” said YCT State Chairman Jeff Morris. “The initiatives that were introduced by the Texas Legislature last week are a remedy to the transparency problems plaguing local and state taxing entities, pension systems, and school districts.”

YCT is unwavering in its support for these initiatives and encourages all legislators to add their names of support. These common sense initiatives introduced last week by the Comptroller, are indicative of her leadership in government accountability that led YCT to award Combs their “Hero of the Taxpayer Award” in 2012.

Young Conservatives of Texas is a non-partisan organization that has promoted conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The State’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For more information about YCT, please visit www.YCT.org. 

###

PDF Version of Press Release

Location: Doubletree Suites by Hilton – Downtown Austin

To register for the convention, please visit http://www.yct.org/convention/.

Keynote address: To Be Announced.

December 18, 2012

Contact: Jeramy Kitchen, Senior Vice Chairman
Mobile: (281) 615-6292
Email: jeramy.kitchen@gmail.com

AUSTIN, TX — Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT), an independent, non-partisan, conservative grassroots organization, today announced its 83rd Session Legislative Priorities.

“We are extremely excited to share with new and returning legislators our organization’s new priorities for the 83rd session,” said YCT State Chairman Jeff Morris. “We have made considerable changes and revisions to this year’s priorities and we believe they provide for a consistently liberty-minded and fiscally-conservative pathway for state government.”

YCT plans to incorporate more of the legislative priorities in their post-session ratings than ever before, as well as rework future endorsement questionnaires to model these declared positions.

“YCT is looking to bring its legislative priorities into every facet of the organization’s legislative affairs process,” said Jeramy Kitchen, Senior Vice Chairman. “By establishing a clear set of expectations and priorities, we are better informing current legislators and future challengers who may seek our endorsement and support as to what we want to see done in Texas.”

Download Legislative Priorities

Download Legislative Agenda

Other YCT Legislative Resources

Young Conservatives of Texas is a non-partisan organization that has promoted conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The State’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For more information about YCT, please visit www.YCT.org.

###

PDF Version of Press Release

November 13, 2012

Contact: YCT Executive Board
Mobile: (512) 843-1980

Austin, TX — Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) wishes to bring to your attention a rather absurd situation which is developing in the aftermath of State Senator Wendy Davis’ reelection in Senate District 10. Davis defeated Republican Representative Mark Shelton to earn a second term in the state’s upper chamber.

Since last Tuesday’s election, Shelton general consultant Bryan Eppstein has circulated a memo which we have attached to this email in which he defends his management of the Senate District 10 race, arguing rather absurdly that the election was “stolen” by Senator Davis. YCT has performed our own analysis of the precinct-by-precinct election results in Senate District 10 which is also attached to this email. Our analysis tells a very different story of Eppstein’s failure as a consultant in the race.  A review of the numbers shows that Romney won Senate District 10 with more than 54% of the vote.  In precinct after precinct, Romney supporters crossed over en masse to vote for Davis.  This, despite the fact that Senator Davis has an extremely liberal voting record that is out-of-touch with the conservative voters in Senate District 10.

Bryan Eppstein should not be allowed to continue to obfuscate on his failure as a general consultant on behalf of Representative Mark Shelton, a candidate YCT was proud to endorse in the Senate District 10 race. There have been no allegations of fraud or wrongdoing in the race. To say that the election was “stolen” or even to point the blame for the loss at heavily Democratic precincts in Senate District 10 is simply incorrect. It is misleading and it demonstrates a deep misunderstanding on the part of Bryan Eppstein of the basics of how elections are won and lost.

YCT has observed Bryan Eppstein for years.  We strongly believe that Eppstein’s reputation as this state’s foremost Republican political consultant is not well deserved. He consistently runs liberal candidates in Republican primaries and encourages them to run openly as liberals. When he does have conservative clients, he fails to defend their conservatism, and refuses to work with the conservative grassroots to support their election. Bryan Eppstein is a bad general consultant. More importantly though, he is no friend of the conservative movement in Texas.

YCT urges conservatives to seek representation elsewhere and to disassociate themselves from Bryan Eppstein as much as possible. Conservative voters should not waste their time, energy, or money supporting candidates who will have their chances of election diminished by a consultant who is completely out-of-touch with the conservative grassroots. Eppstein will continue to mismanage campaigns because he does not know how to appeal to Republican voters or effectively articulate foundational conservative ideas. Bryan Eppstein will continue to fail his clients. And if conservatives continue to associate with Bryan Eppstein, his failure will be our failure.

Precinct-by-precinct analysis

Eppstein Memo

Young Conservatives of Texas is a non-partisan organization that has promoted conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The State’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For more information about YCT, please visit www.YCT.org.

###

PDF Version of Press Release

November 7, 2012

Contact: Elliott Griffin, Vice Chairman of External Relations
Mobile: (512) 970-9944
Email: elliottjamesgriffin@gmail.com

AUSTIN, TX — Today, the Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) announced their endorsement of State Representative Bryan Hughes for Speaker of the Texas House.

“This is an extremely easy endorsement for YCT to make,” said Jeff Morris, YCT State Chairman. “Rep. Hughes has a proven conservative record and the temperament necessary to govern such a large and diverse body like the Texas House of Representatives.”

Rep. Bryan Hughes has earned an “86″ career rating with YCT, which places him amongst the organization’s “Historic Honor Roll” of top conservative legislators.

“In light of the recent leaked emails from the current Speaker’s leadership team, we feel strongly that their needs to be a change of direction,” said YCT state board member Jeramy Kitchen. “These emails illustrate a lack of decorum and respect for members of the House and the voting public, as well as a vindictive and petulant attitude towards dissenting opinions–most specifically conservative dissent.”

An article containing the leaked redistricting emails with commentary can be found at RedState.com.

Young Conservatives of Texas is a non-partisan organization that has promoted conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The State’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For more information about YCT, please visit www.YCT.org.

###

PDF Version of Press Release

October 16, 2012

Contact: Elliott Griffin, Vice Chairman of External Relations
Mobile: (512) 970-9944
Email: elliottjamesgriffin@gmail.com

AUSTIN, TX —Yesterday, the Young Conservatives of Texas PAC released its slate of endorsed candidates for the 2012 General Election. Today, YCT would like to add their support for: Tom Maynard for State Board of Education District 10, Christi Craddick for Railroad Commissioner Place 1, Steve Toth for HD-15, Robert Thomas for HD-48, Jimmie Don Aycock for HD-54, and John Garza for HD-117.

“Each of these candidates have proven themselves to be the most conservative choice in their individual races,” said Tony McDonald, Senior Vice Chairman. “It is important that conservatives get out and support them on November 6^th.”

With the addition of these six candidates, YCT has endorsed in a total of 49 races for the 2012 General Election.

“Candidates that receive YCT’s endorsement are carefully examined prior to any decisions,” said YCT State Chairman, Jeff Morris. “We take several factors ranging from voting records to questionnaires and personal interviews into account when making these decisions.”

YCT, which was founded in 1980, issues the most respected ratings of the state legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the last 19 legislative sessions. YCT has chapters at universities across Texas. To learn more about YCT, their legislative ratings, or their endorsements visit www.yct.org.

To learn more about YCT, their legislative ratings, or their endorsements visit www.yct.org.

YCT only endorses in contested races. The full list of general election candidates that have earned YCT’s endorsement are:

UNITED STATES SENATE
Senator: Ted Cruz

CONGRESS
TX-14: Randy Weber
TX-18: Sean Seibert
TX-23: Quico Canseco
TX–34: Jessica Puente Bradshaw
TX-36: Steve Stockman

TEXAS STATE SENATE
SD-8: Ken Paxton
SD-9: Kelly Hancock
SD-10: Mark Shelton
SD-11: Larry Taylor
SD-20: Raul Torres
SD-25: Donna Campbell

TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HD-8: No-endorsement*
HD-14: John Raney
HD-15 Steve Toth
HD-17: Tim Kleinschmidt
HD-23: Wayne Faircloth
HD- 24: Greg Bonnen
HD-26: Rick Miller
HD-29: Ed Thompson
HD-34: Connie Scott
HD-43: J.M. Lozano
HD-45: Jason Isaac
HD-54: Jimmie Don Aycock
HD-48: Robert Thomas
HD-64: No-endorsement*
HD-65: Ron Simmons
HD-74: Thomas Kincaid
HD-85: Phil Stephenson
HD-93: Matt Krause
HD-97: Craig Goldman
HD-99: No-endorsement*
HD-102: Stefani Carter
HD-107: Kenneth Sheets
HD-117: John Garza
HD-125: Alma Jackson
HD-134: No-endorsement*
HD-135: Gary Elkins
HD-136: Tony Dale
HD- 144: David Pineda
HD-149: Dianne Williams

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

District 1: Charlie Garza
District 3: David Williams
District 4: Dorothy Olmos
District 5: Ken Mercer
District 6: Donna Bahorich
District 7: David Bradley
District 8: Barbara Cargill
District 9: No-endorsement*
District 10: Tom Maynard
District 11: Pat Hardy
District 12: Geraldine Miller
District 15: Marty Rowley

TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION

Place 1: Christi Craddick

*No Endorsement means YCT PAC was not able to ascertain enough information regarding the political philosophies of the candidates in the race or that of candidates reviewed or interviewed, none of the candidates were in
agreement with the political philosophy of Young Conservatives of Texas. YCT PAC only endorses in contested elections.

YCT PAC is the political arm of Young Conservatives of Texas, a non-partisan organization which has promoted conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The State’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For a full list of YCT’s endorsements, please visit www.YCT.org/endorsements.

###

PDF Version of Press Release

Pol. Adv. Paid for by Young Conservatives of Texas PAC

October 15, 2012

Contact: Elliott Griffin, Vice Chairman of External Relations
Mobile: (512) 970-9944
Email: elliottjamesgriffin@gmail.com

AUSTIN, TX —Young Conservatives of Texas PAC, an independent, non-partisan, conservative grassroots organization announced its full slate of state and federal endorsements for the 2012 general election.

“This year’s extremely competitive primary and runoff has given Texas voters a great slate of candidates to choose from when casting their ballots this November,” said YCT State Chairman Jeff Morris. “These candidates are now in the final stretch of their races and we need to send these great conservatives to both Washington D.C. and Austin.”

Because of the uncertainty and delays caused by redistricting, YCT has been involved in several of these races for a year or even longer. The delayed primary actually acted in the favor of several of these candidates, giving them much needed time to increase their name recognition and support amongst Texas voters.

“It is exciting to see the voters of Texas choose so many conservative candidates around the state,” said Tony McDonald, Senior Vice Chairman. “It really shows that grassroots organizations, like ours, are truly making a difference and educating the electorate as a whole on the conservative candidates to rally behind.”

YCT, which was founded in 1980, issues the most respected ratings of the state legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the last 19 legislative sessions. YCT has chapters at universities across Texas. To learn more about YCT, their legislative ratings, or their endorsements visit www.yct.org.

YCT only endorses in contested races. The full list of general election candidates that have earned YCT’s endorsement are:

UNITED STATES SENATE
Senator: Ted Cruz

CONGRESS
TX-14: Randy Weber
TX-18: Sean SeibertTX-23: Quico Canseco
TX–34: Jessica Puente Bradshaw
TX-36: Steve Stockman

TEXAS STATE SENATE
SD-8: Ken Paxton
SD-9: Kelly Hancock
SD-10: Mark Shelton
SD-11: Larry Taylor
SD-20: Raul Torres
SD-25: Donna Campbell

TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HD-8: No-endorsement*
HD-14: John Raney
HD-15 Rob Thomas
HD-17: Tim Kleinschmidt
HD-23: Wayne Faircloth
HD- 24: Greg Bonnen
HD-26: Rick Miller
HD-29: Ed Thompson
HD-34: Connie Scott
HD-43: J.M. Lozano
HD-45: Jason Isaac
HD-64: No-endorsement*
HD-65: Ron Simmons
HD-74: Thomas Kincaid
HD-85: Phil Stephenson
HD-93: Matt Krause
HD-97: Craig Goldman
HD-99: No-endorsement*
HD-102: Stefani Carter
HD-107: Kenneth Sheets
HD-125: Alma Jackson
HD-134: No-endorsement*
HD-135: Gary Elkins
HD-136: Tony Dale
HD- 144: David Pineda
HD-149: Dianne Williams

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
District 1: Charlie Garza
District 3: David Williams
District 4: Dorothy Olmos
District 5: Ken Mercer
District 6: Donna Bahorich
District 7: David Bradley
District 8: Barbara Cargill
District 9: No-endorsement*
District 11: Pat Hardy
District 12: Geraldine Miller
District 15: Marty Rowley

*No Endorsement means YCT PAC was not able to ascertain enough information regarding the political philosophies of the candidates in the race or that of candidates reviewed or interviewed, none of the candidates were in
agreement with the political philosophy of Young Conservatives of Texas. YCT PAC only endorses in contested elections.

YCT PAC is the political arm of Young Conservatives of Texas, a non-partisan organization which has promoted conservatism at universities across the Lone Star State for over three decades. The State’s most active political youth organization, YCT is composed of hundreds of members and alumni who participate in the full spectrum of politics. YCT issues the most respected ratings of the Texas legislature and is the only conservative group to have done so without interruption over the past 19 legislative sessions. For a full list of YCT’s endorsements, please visit www.YCT.org/endorsements.

###

PDF Version of Press Release

Pol. Adv. Paid for by Young Conservatives of Texas PAC