CLEAT’s Public Affairs Division will soon mail out hundreds of questionnaires to candidates running for Texas State Representative and State Senator for both the 2012 primary and general elections. Read More »
Posted by CLEAT
February 20, 2012
By Charley Wilkison
Director of Public Affairs
Recently Texas Attorney General Gregg Abbott sued an alleged law enforcement organization regarding their telemarketing claims to the general public versus what they actually did with the money. We agree with General Abbott that these folks need to be hauled into court and stopped. As General Abbott has moved to protect the best interest of all Texans, CLEAT believes that law enforcement organizations should stay far away from telemarketing and other financial scams. Read More »
Posted by CLEAT
February 3, 2012
Click Here to read a heartfelt letter to CLEAT PAC from Retired Austin Officer Stephen Nichols
Posted by CLEAT
December 21, 2011
By Charley Wilkison, Director of Public Affairs
In fighting for your retirement it’s not just one giant we are up against, there are many Goliaths and they are all armed, protected and powerful. But just because the enemy is strong does not absolve us of our duty to stand and fight for what is right.
This legislative session we were faced with the decision to appease the politically powerful and hope for the best or take our five smooth stones and make a stand. Some labor organizations in Texas long ago perfected the fine art of punting off the side of their foot, running to the sidelines and hoping they can blend in on the bench of obscurity and maybe, just maybe they won’t be destroyed. It’s the same appeasement plan the French adopted with Hitler during WWII. Read More »
Posted by CLEAT
August 3, 2011
SAPOA President Michael F. Helle (at podium) tells members to get more involved in the local PAC after listening to a legislative report from CLEAT's Charley Wilkison.
San Antonio-SAPOA President Michael Helle sounded a little bit like an evangelist last week as he strongly spoke and asked members if they were ready to see their hard-fought labor rights disappear like they had in other states? Read More »
Posted by CLEAT
July 18, 2011
By Chris Jones
We can’t dispute that governments have seen some hard times these past few years. The economy has suffered and with it there has been less revenue for local governments to spend. Tough decisions have been made. In retrospect, some of those tough decisions were just illegitimate excuses/opportunities that cities had been waiting to use to change their public safety priorities and sock it to those in uniform.
Posted by CLEAT
July 11, 2011
Representative David Simpson’s anti-groping bill has died on a procedural vote in the Texas House when he failed to get 4/5 votes needed to pass a constitutional measure. Initially Representative Simpson agreed to accept a CLEAT amendment offered by Representative Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, Chair of the House Committee on Public Safety, that clarified reasonable suspicion. At the last minute, Representative Simpson reneged on the agreement and had his legislative staffer call the CLEAT office to leave the information. CLEAT simply wanted Texas peace officers to be excluded from the bill specifically and the reasonable suspicion clause remain in place. CLEAT is pleased in this result for Texas law enforcement.
Posted by CLEAT
June 29, 2011
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus has been a true friend of law enforcement during his time as a house member before he was elected Speaker of the House.
“The CLEAT Public Affairs team has had access to leadership in the Capitol thanks to Speaker Joe Straus,” said Todd Harrison, President of CLEAT.
Last week we asked House Public Safety Chair to carry an amendment to the so called groping bill excluding Texas officers from questions of reasonable suspicion and probable cause. When Representative David Simpson backed out of the agreement the Speaker stepped in.
CLEAT is proud of Speaker Joe Straus who showed Texas-sized courage last week by slowing down HB 41 that would have tied the hands of Texas law enforcement. By standing up for the public’s safety and the brave men and women who risk their lives every day to protect the families and communities of this state, Speaker Straus was saying yes to good government and sound public policy.
Posted by CLEAT
June 27, 2011
For immediate release to all Texas news organizations
Contact: Charley Wilkison, Director of Public Affairs
Office: 512-495-9111, Mobile: 512-633-3501
June 27, 2011
AUSTIN-The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT), the State’s largest law enforcement organization is strongly in support of Texas House Speaker Joe Straus’ common sense approach to law enforcement and public safety issues. CLEAT is opposed to HB 41, known as the airport pat-down bill by State Representative David Simpson R-Longview. Read More »
Posted by CLEAT
June 27, 2011
Texas Governor Rick Perry signed the last of the CLEAT bills giving CLEAT 100% with no vetoes. This is the final lap of 82nd Regular Session. CLEAT’s hotly debated and much maligned Worker’s Comp bill is now law as well.
“I’m grateful to all the board, local presidents and members who had faith that we could get to this point,” said Charley Wilkison, CLEAT Director of Public Affairs. “The worst of the battle was killing the bad bills and making sure they remained dead in this mean and nasty session,” said Wilkison.
These signings will bring Governor Perry’s total CLEAT bills signed to more than fifty. The last veto of a CLEAT bill was a Meet and Confer bill in 1999 by Governor George W. Bush.
Posted by CLEAT
June 20, 2011
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