These are the believers. Some of the estimated 27,000 women in Texas who belong to gifting clubs and say what they're doing shouldn't be deemed illegal. The group has hired former House Speaker Billy Clayton to help them in their fight to pass House Bill 1305. They say law enforcement is wrong to consider gifting clubs, sometimes called dinner clubs, illegal. New gifting participants give money to someone higher in the organization, with the belief they'll move up in the club and someone will eventually give money to them.
Police say it s really a pyramid scheme, a big con that rips off needy participants.
Women say they know there's no promise of a payoff. The interesting thing about the legislation these women support is that the sponsor of that legislation says he now opposes his own bill. And he says it's dead in the water. But these women and their lobbyist say they'll find another sponsor. Though everyone concedes, it may be tough to find a lawmaker who'll back a concept the law enforcers say is a crime.