Pro-Life Or Political Payoff?
May 17th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Perhaps wary of a restive House, Speaker Tom Craddick adjourned today after hashing out just one item on the Major State Calendar and before getting to a controversial pro-life bill. The adjournment came soon after Rep. Jim Dunnam hinted from the back microphone that the sudden appearance of SB 785 on today’s calendar was a form of political payola, in exchange for the pro-life movement’s badgering of members to support Craddick in a presumptive speaker’s race.
SB 785 – an abortion and judicial bypass reporting bill that restricts a woman’s access to abortion and could reveal how judges rule on cases to allow minors to obtain abortions – has been the number one objective of pro-lifers this session. After being voted out of House State Affairs May 7, the bill sat for a week without being sent to the Calendars Committee for consideration. It’s future seemed dim.
On Monday, as rumors swirled of a move to vacate the speaker’s chair and with Rep. Jim Keffer announcing that he’ll challenge the speaker, Texas Alliance for Life sent an email to members threatening that “We will score any vote to unseat the Speaker as an anti-life vote.”
On Tuesday, SB 785 was sent to Calendars and was placed on today’s Major State Calendar.
“[Craddick is] manipulating the calendar to try to save his skin, or save his gavel,” Dunnam charges. “He is rewarding [Texas Alliance for Life] for pressuring members.”
Hearing SB 785 on the floor will guarantee a harsh political debate that many a member would just as soon avoid. The bill’s opponents have amendments and points of order ready for tomorrow’s dispute. What will happen if a member has a valid point of order on the bill is anyone’s guess. If Craddick sustains the point and the bill dies, his pro-life allies will be displeased. If Craddick overrules the point, House Democrats and Republican moderates could rise up and reverse his ruling or even move to unseat him by calling to vacate the chair.
Today, in response to Dunnam’s floor inquiries, Craddick said he had never seen the Texas Alliance for Life email.
May 18th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
[…] of the House State Affairs committee, defended his committee from the front microphone. He denied yesterday’s allegations by Rep. Jim Dunnam that the sudden appearance of the abortion bills on the calendar was a political […]
May 22nd, 2007 at 9:20 pm
[…] Speaker Tom Craddick sustained a day-old point of order on SB 785, killing the bill and possibly angering his pro-life base of support, although maybe he has bigger worries at the moment. The legislation […]
November 19th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
What are today’s racisms against colored people and sexisms against women?
1. Republicans not allowing colored people to vote in the South/Bible Belt/KKK Belt.
2. Churches preaching politics against women, which is against IRS tax exemption status. Church is for worship not politics. Several churches are comparing candidates to Hitler and allowing the audience to solely agree with “Hallelujah,” “Amen,” and “That’s Right Brother.” The first US Constitutional Amendment allows for freedom of religion and speech. That means not forcing religious views on the masses. Their aim is to limit women’s right to safe and quality healthcare. As a person whose mother was raped by law enforcement and nearly died at the hand of a back alley butcher, I hope brainwashed women will wake up and fight for each born woman’s right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Churches please start focusing on adopting the born 143 million orphaned children (orphanshope.org) who want to be valued as much as white newborns are valued.
3. Free trade sending jobs to slave labor camps in China and South America where people work 16 hour days 7 days a week for pennies (Walmart: the high cost of low prices).
4. Calling Native American who don’t have US Visas - illegal human beings.