Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to Keynote TAB Legislative Conference
posted on 12.17.2018- GMs, NDs: Register Now for Jan. 22 Event
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is slated to present the opening keynote address at TAB’s Jan. 22 Legislative Conference in Austin, with detailed issue briefing sessions for station owners, managers and news directors to follow. The event closes with a luncheon for broadcasters and lawmakers so they can discuss community issues on the Legislature’s agenda. The “speaker-free” format, which lawmakers prefer, allows lunch conversations to flow uninterrupted.
Lawmakers and key staff are seated with their constituent broadcasters at tables reserved for individual markets or regions. The event is scheduled early in the session, before lawmakers’ calendars are overcome with committee hearings, floor votes and what are always tense budget negotiations.
Throughout the run-up to the event TAB will be working with broadcasters to invite specific lawmakers and decide seating arrangements.
TAB Legislative Agenda
TAB is focusing on unfinished business from the 2017 session when the Texas House failed to take up legislation approved by the Senate to restore the Texas Public Information Act which has been rendered nearly moot by multiple state court rulings sought by private interests.
The court rulings have made it nearly impossible for journalists and other members of the public to get access to final contracts and other documents crucial to holding public officials accountable for how they spend tax dollars and develop public policy.
Texas broadcasters also must be prepared to fight serious efforts to undermine the Texas Citizen Participation Act which prohibits entities from suing individuals who openly criticize them as well as news media that report such stories.
And with lawmakers entertaining a multi-billion dollar overhaul to school finance, TAB also is preparing to defend important tax provisions we’ve secured in past sessions that put our industry on a level playing field with others.
Planning Your Day
The conference opens at 10 a.m. with Lt. Gov. Patrick, followed by detailed briefings on key issues for broadcasters. The Lawmaker/Broadcaster Luncheon is slated from 12:30 to 2 p.m. The afternoon is open for further meetings at the Texas Capitol.
TAB provides complimentary valet and self-parking available for lawmakers who have quick turnaround times for meetings and hearings. Delegates have access to discounted hotel rooms at the Sheraton Austin on the evening of Jan. 21.
The Jackson Walker LLC law firm, TAB’s general counsel and one of the country’s leading media law practices, is sponsoring the breakfast and multiple station groups are co-sponsoring the luncheon, including:
- CBS Television
- Cox Media Group
- Entercom
- Gray Television
- NBC-U/Telemundo
- Nexstar Broadcasting Group
- Sinclair Broadcast Group
- Tribune Media
- Univision
Questions? Contact TAB’s Oscar Rodriguez or call (512) 322-9944.
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