Open Letter of Challenge to Gov. Rick Perry
Dear Governor Rick Perry;
You may attempt to disguise your actions behind some ideal of a faith; however, I am not here to debate the question of your faith nor your religious views concerning the issue of the recently passed abortion legislation. I'm here to call into question the motives, accountability, and responsibility of yourself and the Republican Party Representatives here in Texas.
Within the last few days you have stated, "that some say the measure goes too far but most Texans don't." and "we wouldn't have passed it if we didn't think it was constitutional." By now I am sure you know your actions of calling an expensive Special Session (for predominantly passing this legislation as you and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst had sworn after it was defeated in the first Special Session) and the under-handed party politics of forcing this bill through regardless of the thousands of people that testified that this legislation wasn't good for Texas, nor desired by the people of Texas, of whom you and the other elected representatives hold an obligation of service, not that of being an overlord.
Let us first deal with the issue of 'constitutional':
Casey v. Planned Parenthood case from 1992, the Supreme Court first declared that a woman's decision to get an abortion implicates important "liberty interests" and "privacy interests" that the Constitution's Due Process Clause protects against state interference. Together, these interests form a "substantive right to privacy" that is protected from state interference in "marriage, procreation, contraception, family relationships, child rearing, and education." This right also protects the abortion decision, the Court again argued, because it implicates equally intimate questions of a woman's personal autonomy, personal sacrifices, emotional and mental health, and fundamental right to define her life.
With the constitutional right to an abortion reaffirmed, the Court next reiterated Roe's (Roe v. Wade, 1973) ruling that, first, states could not ban abortions before the "viability" point (the point at which the fetus is able to sustain life outside the womb), and second, that in no case may states ban abortions that help preserve the life or health of the mother.
Thus, considering precedent, this bill is clearly unconstitutional, unlawful, and violates every common sense respect for individual rights.
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Now, let us deal with the question of whether the "people of Texas" want this or not, as the truth of this matter was clearly shown during the days and hours of testimony provided prior to the forced passage of this bill by the Republican Party:
The question of responsible government, party politics, and individual rights is one that every person residing in Texas should be concerned with. The process taken by the current Republican Texas leadership (Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and the Texas House of Representatives) of calling expensive Special Sessions and of refusing to alter the bills, even when such alterations would have garnered greater support, deserves a complete response by the people of Texas.
Gov. Rick Perry quoted, "this is what the people of Texas want." Thus, if this is indeed what the people of Texas want, then why not put this issue to a state-wide vote before you sign it? Then there will no longer be the lingering question of "do the people of Texas want this legislation?" If you, and may I also add those that have funded and orchestrated this ordeal, have no worries about the truths of your convictions and statements, then you would have no reason NOT to wait until the entire state has a chance to make their voice heard. When there is a failure of the elected representatives to duely serve as elected, then the people retain the right to demand those individuals be held accountable. Thereby, I recommend that you allow and encourage a simple state-wide vote on the issue. The questions below are designed to bring to light the real questions and reasoning behind the passage of this legislation. There is plenty of time, so why rush to sign, when you could pull the State of Texas together.
State-wide Interview Questions to determine if Gov. Rick Perry should sign or veto the current legislation marked SB1 and HB2:
2. Do you believe that the Republican leadership should have delayed this bill in favor of reviewing and providing sincere consideration of the numerous amendments presented, instead of ignoring all offered amendments along a party line vote?
3. Do you believe that Rep. Jodie Laudenberg and Rep. Glenn Hegar actually wrote these bills without complete direction from an outside interested party?
4. Do you believe that there is a Conflict of Interest related to this legislation as it regards Gov. Rick Perry and his sister's, Milla Perry Jones, role as Vice President Government Affairs for United Surgical Partners International, who is also on the Board of Directors for the Texas Ambulatory Surgical Center Society?
5. Do you oppose or support this legislation, not on a religious basis of morality, but on a pure individual rights issue?rns over this issue, which really isn't about abortion at all.
Finally, with the knowledge that "just two days after a Travis County grand jury was presented evidence of potential wrongdoing in decisions awarding hundreds of millions of dollars in research funds to Gov. Rick Perry's donors, Perry vetoed the funding for Texas' criminal ethics watchdog, the Public Integrity Unit (PIU) of the Travis County District Attorney's Office.
Perry also vetoed the Texas Ethics Commission sunset bill, which required disclosure of those donating "dark money" to nonprofits funding attack ads.
Perry said that he vetoed the funding for this office because he wanted the Travis County district attorney to resign after she pleaded guilty and served time for a drunk driving charge. She seems to be singled out; other DAs, judges and lawmakers have been convicted of DWI since Perry took office, yet he has not gone after their funding."
With so very many questions now firmly attached to your last role as any elected official, isn't it time for you to do one thing right? Let the people speak, fully disclose the purpose of and the originators of this legislation, and come clean regarding how many people have received 'favors' from the Governor's office?
As a Christian, you should know 1 John 1:9 (from the King James Bible)
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Now is your chance to gain forgiveness, and now is the time for you ro show the people of Texas the truth.
Thus, what say you? Are you bold enough to take this challenge or will you continue to hide behind false reasoning?
Articles supporting:
"Landmark Cases - Expanding Civil Rights" on PBS.org - http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/rights/landmark_roe.html
Roe v. Wade, 1973, Supreme Court Decision - http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0410_0113_ZS.html
"Perry: TX abortion bill constitutional" on KXAN.com - http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/texas/perry-tx-abortion-bill-constitutional
"Was Governor Perry's Veto of Public Integrity Unit Funding Linked to Investigations of Corruption?" on Burnt Orange Report -
http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/13775/was-governor-perrys-veto-of-public-integrity-unit-funding-linked-to-investigations-of-corruption
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