Okay, now that we're all paying attention, please look down the barrel of this 30-06
 
Over the Back Fence
By Randy Mankin
The Eldorado Success
 
I had the opportunity to testify last week before the House Juvenile Justice Committee at the State Capitol. The topic was H.B. 3006, introduced by State Representative Harvey Hilderbran, which seeks to raise from 14 to 16 the age at which Texas teenagers may marry with parental consent. It also addresses other aspects of Texas marriage law.

The bill, we were told a few weeks earlier, was destined to die a slow death in committee because some legislators considered it “overly ambitious” while others didn’t understand the need. Few of them, it seemed, had ever heard of Warren Jeffs or his FLDS church. Even fewer were aware that polygamy is alive and well in this country and setting up shop here in Schleicher County.

How can that be? After all, Eldorado has been overrun by reporters and news crews. How can there be a Texan left alive who doesn’t know what’s going on here?

The short answer is that Texans, like their counterparts in other states, are busy with their day-to-day lives and only pay attention to the news that directly affects them or their loved ones. So, it takes a large blip on the radar screen to catch their attention.

But Harvey Hilderbran isn’t one to give up easily, neither does his staff, or the people here locally who support his efforts. Those of us who know Rep. Hilderbran, know that he has an extensive background in the advertising business. So it came as no surprise when he cobbled together an imaginative public relations campaign designed at winning over the members of the Juvenile Justice Committee.

First, H.B. Bill 3006 (it’s official name, suddenly became known as House Bill Thirty Ought-Six, because, as Hilderbran said, “it packs a serious punch and blows holes in a serious problem.”

Then, more subtle techniques were employed to make sure the committee to paid attention.

Attorney General Mark Shurtleff of Utah was invited to testify before the committee. The six foot six inch, pistol-packing AG was a dominating presence. When he spoke, the committee listened.

Next, Jon Krakauer, best-selling author of Under the Banner of Heaven, addressed the committee. His celebrity, and his expertise on the subject of fundamental Mormonism, helped ensure that the Austin press corps was on hand, as well as a dozen or so cameras from Texas’ major news markets.

And the cameras ... well the cameras guaranteed that the committee members were present and not wandering in and out of the room during the testimony.

By all accounts it worked. I had been told to expect the hearing to last twenty minutes. It stretched for more than two hours and ended with assurances from several on the committee that they were eager to work with Hilderbran and bring the bill to the floor for a vote.

Oh, by the way, a number of the news crews who covered the hearing, were wearing those Eldorado, Polygamy Capital of Texas caps that were the hit of the Elgoatarod, the same caps that stirred the anger of a few others — proof that half the battle is won when you get people to pay attention.

H.B. Thirty Ought-Six, by itself won’t force the polygamists out of Schleicher County, but it’s a start. The bill has a long way to go and will have to clear several more hurdles, but at least it survived its day in committee, a day when it was supposed to whimper and die.

I hope you will take the time to call Rep. Hilderbran’s office and thank him for his efforts. He took an interest when he didn’t have to. You may be reach at his Capitol office by calling 512-463-0536.
 
MyEldorado.net
Originally published April 24, 2005
 
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