Burnt Orange Report

Anti-Gay Foster Parents Amendment not Dead

By Karl-Thomas Musselman

We thought it was over. We were told and assured that it would die in committee. But this is Texas and things are of course, always too good to be true.

Speaker Craddick announced his 5 appointments to the conference committee for SB 6, the Child Protective Services (CPS) Reform bill:

Rep. Suzanna Gratia Hupp (R- Lampasas), Rep. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio), Rep. John Davis (R-Houston), Rep. Robert Talton (Bigot-Pasadena), and Rep. Toby Goodman (R-Arlington).

As the Statesman Blog says:

Talton seemingly has little connection to the bill: he wasn’t a member of the Human Services Committee that crafted the House plan. He is chair of the Urban Affairs Committee and is a member of the civil practices and redistricting committees.

Rep. Suzanna Hupp, R-Lampasas, is chairwoman of the Human Services Committee and author of the House reform plan. She, along with Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville, will head the negotiations. Nelson is author of the Senate reform plan.

Reps. John Davis, R-Houston, and Toby Goodman, R-Arlington, both members of the Human Services Committee, were appointed to the conference committee. Rep. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, the fifth committee member, was chairman of the Human Services Committee last session and crafted the Adult Protective Services reform part of SB 6.

So now it comes down to Republicans v. Republicans. The author of the Bill v. the author of the amendment. But don't let the conference committee stop Talton's idiocy. From another Statesman article...

"If I can find it in another bill, I will certainly do that, if it doesn't survive SB 6," Talton said. "I can't imagine the Senate pulling that out. I would be very surprised."

Lawmakers can add amendments to bills that deal with related topics. Late in the legislative session, legislators often attach bills that have little chance of passage on their own to larger pieces of legislation....

Hupp spoke against Talton's proposal but ultimately voted in favor of it. Gov. Rick Perry has dismissed the ban as a secondary issue that could get in the way of overhauling Child Protective Services.

What, Gov. Good-Hair not towing the Right Wing Faction's "Gays-Are-The-Antichrist" line? What's he thinking, that it's a shitty piece of legislation (duh)?

And for all you in the Austin area, here's how Central Texas House members voted on the amendment to ban gay, lesbian and bisexual people from being foster parents. The amendment passed the House last week by a vote of 81-58.

In favor: (meaning wrong) Reps. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown; Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs; Mike Krusee, R-Williamson County; Todd Baxter, R-Austin.

Against: (meaning right) Reps. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin; Terry Keel, R-Austin; Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin; Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin; and Mark Strama, D-Austin.