- Numerous Republican State Representatives have been targeted by a deceptive text message campaign alleging they want to “protect criminals behind the wheel.”
- The texting campaign is part of trial lawyer-backed efforts against SB 39, a bill that every Republican State Senator voted for and that was a priority of Lt. Governor Dan Patrick
- While the text messages invoke President Trump, personal injury trial lawyers teamed up with George Soros in efforts to attack President Trump and “Stop MAGA Republicans” in Texas last year
Republican lawmakers across Texas have been the subject of a text message campaign in recent days that allege they are working against President Trump and protecting “criminals behind the wheel.”
The text messages are part of an effort against House Bill 4688 and its Senate companion, Senate Bill 39. The bills, which are opposed by personal injury trial lawyers and the AFL-CIO labor union, make procedural changes to how trials involving trucking lawsuits are handled. Proponents of the legislation argue that it will streamline trials, thereby reducing the cost and time involved in trying the case and ensuring that the trial is fair to both sides.
Senate Bill 39 passed the Texas Senate on April 24 by a vote of 21-10. Every Republican State Senator voted in favor of the bill, which was designated as a priority by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick.
Nothing in House Bill 4688 or Senate Bill 39 limits the ability of an injured party to file a lawsuit arising out of a trucking accident, nor does it limit the damages that an injured party can seek. Additionally, the legislation does not change existing law that allows a plaintiff in a trucking accident lawsuit to seek punitive damages against a defendant or to present evidence to support a claim for punitive damages.
One widely distributed text message from a group called the “First Amendment Alliance Education Fund” invokes President Trump’s recent executive order enforcing existing federal law requiring that truck drivers speak English and claims that the legislation “protects criminals behind the wheel.”
House Bill 4688 or Senate Bill 39 do not contain any provisions that would affect Trump’s executive order or existing laws that require truck drivers to read and speak English.
The First Amendment Alliance Education Fund’s advertising lists Anthony Holm as the organization’s Treasurer and contact person. Holm is a personal injury trial lawyer whose website markets himself as “THE BIG DOG LAWYER.”
“Hit By A Big Truck? YOU NEED THE BIG DOG LAWYER!” reads Holm’s website.
Although the text messages invoke President Trump in an attempt to get Republicans to oppose a bill that is averse to the financial interests of personal injury trial lawyers, trial lawyers are a traditionally liberal constituency. The Texas Voice has previously reported that many prominent personal injury trial lawyers and law firms – including several associated with past and present leaders in the Texas Trial Lawyers Association – joined forces with George Soros last year on a multimillion-dollar campaign through the First Tuesday PAC to attack Trump and “Stop MAGA Republicans.”
Several of the Republican legislators who have been targeted by the text messages have pushed back against the allegations made against them.
“Whoever is sending this trash out has no integrity,” State Representative Wes Virdell wrote.
In a Facebook post responding to the text messages, State Representative Valoree Swanson wrote, “Earlier this evening, several of you received a text message regarding President Trump’s executive order requiring all truck drivers to speak English, and how there is a bill in the State Legislature that is fighting against that. THESE ARE LIES. The group behind these texts are LIBERAL DEMOCRATS! There is a group of personal injury plaintiff lawyers that is LYING about several bills in the legislature, trying to misinform you about what’s really going on.”
Another Republican lawmaker indicated that the text message campaign only served to solidify her support for the bill.
“For some people, the end justifies the means. A true dark money PAC has spent a lot of money maligning me in multiple ads to my district. They are trial lawyers who don’t want any limits on their ability to profit from lawsuits, so they are attempting to emotionally manipulate voters in the same way they emotionally manipulate jurors at the expense of hard working Texans. HB4688 ensures that trials are based on facts and evidence. I am now a co-author. Don’t bully me,” said State Representative Hillary Hickland in a post on X.
State Representative Cody Vasut replied to Hickland’s tweet with his theory about what is motivating the trial lawyers’ vociferous opposition to the legislation.
“They gotta keep funding them private jets,” wrote Vasut.
