GOP Priorities for the 79th Legislature
By Byron LaMasters
You know, you'd think their priorities would be taking care of critical issues facing the state of Texas such as school finance and children's health insurance.
Wrong. After the state house is done stealing several seats in contesting elections that Republicans lost on election day, their focus is likely to shift to social issues - namely abortion and gay marriage. The Austin American Statesman has a must read today on what sort of legislation that might entail:
Members of the Republican Party have pinpointed abortion as a key issue defining its majority leadership in the state House and Senate.
[...]
One option is for the Texas Legislature to debate a bill similar Michigan's Legal Birth Definition Act, which will take effect March 30. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm vetoed the bill in late 2003, only to be overridden by a petition of more than 400,000 people calling for a legislative vote that cannot be vetoed. Abortion rights groups have said they intend to challenge the law in federal court.
The Michigan law grants legal protection to a fetus when any part of it "has been vaginally delivered outside his or her mother's body."
[...]
With Republicans firmly in control of the Legislature and every statewide office, debate has already begun on several social issues that are important to many conservatives and national Republicans. One lawmaker has proposed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, which state law already forbids.
And on Friday, Hutchison said state leaders should work with Perry and the Legislature to develop a stem-cell research policy that keeps Texas from being "left in the dust by California." The federal government limits funding for research on stem cells that came from human embryos. But California — backed by moderate Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger — will begin supporting such research.
Make no mistake about it. Texas Republicans are prepared to lead an all out assault against the rights of women, gays and lesbians this upcoming legislative session. Just wait and see...
Posted by Byron LaMasters at December 15, 2004 12:36 PM
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News update:
Pres. Bush 62,019,033
Sen. Kerry 58,994,923
What an election turnout! What an election!!
Great job Byron in your turnout effort!!
Texas does not do very well by the children and the mental ill. It is like they only care about them when they are in womb. After womb, they could care less.
As for gays; they would be happy in Canada. If they think the Bill of Rights is more important than an amendment to the Texas Constitution, are they going to be surprised.
Of course Texas doesn't do very well by children and the mentally ill, they're the most fun to execute.
The most important thing for civil liberties is that people continue to fight. It might take another century, but things will get better. At one time here in Texas there were laws prohibiting interracial marriage. And it was that way for a long time. But civil rights are just those, rights. It takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears to keep those rights. I can't imagine anything else worth it, though.
