Texas government has failed the people, as it has continued to force restrictive and religious forms of legislation. Everyone knows about what is going on in our great city of Austin, as the controversy over HB2 and SB1 have brought thousands out to protest. Senator Wendy Davis' fillibuster to prevent the passage of these bills during the 1st Special Session. After a clear and very public defeat, it only took Governor Rick Perry a day to call an immediate 2nd Session, which is costing Texas tax payers close to $1,000,000.
An article about who is funding Rick Perry - OpenSecrets.org and Talking Points and is Rick Perry Gay?
First, should that tax payers be responsible for paying for what is clearly a fake special session for the purpose of passing legislation that the people do not want? Should our governor not be faced with some form of legal backlash for his vagrant disregard for what is right and just?
Many politicians hide behind only a name, seldom actually being known. Thus, I wanted to put faces to the names of those that have failed Texas. These are the same people that everyone should work to ensure they do not get re-elected. We need to be proactive, donate funds, and get more civic minded representatives in office, especially more women and more minorities. Responsible government wouldn't allow a majority of a party to rule over all three areas - House, Senate, and Governor. So perhaps legislation that prevents such rule over all three areas would best serve the people.
Second, don't you want to know who these people are that voted to restrict women's rights of choice, eliminate affordable healthcare, and to attempt to legislate moralities of an extreme minority of people - the Right-Wing Christians. Here is a bit of info and then the photos and links to the people that voted FOR HB2
Today the 83rd Legislature 2nd Special Session House of Representatives passed a vote in favor of HB2, the controversial bill "relating to the regulation of abortion procedures, providers, and facilities; providing penalties." Vote: 2nd Reading Amendment 13 by Herrero Results:
Yea: 93
Nay: 53
NV: 2
Absent: 1
Representative Jodie Laubenberg purposefully tabled every amendment presented, many of which would have provided education, resources, and alternatives to HB2's extremist approach. Her actions clearly showed no desire to participate in civil development of responsible legislation, and further showed her clear disdain for the principles of the office she holds. She stated, “That is what gives us the authority and the right to be here, to do this. This is not about politics. This is heartfelt for every member.” A thorough review of the bills she sponsored and her voting record on important issues further proves that Jodie Laubenberg has only her own interest in mind, not that of representing the people that elected her. Read Jodie Laubenberg's Donor records, Another article about her and the "Rape Kit", and more articles about her extremist stance to destroy women's rights.
My major concern is that these are the very same people that voted against programs that would provide better and equal access to healthcare, denied programs funding for better education, and they regularly refuse to ensure our government provides for all citizens.
You can read more about HB2, read the full text, see who voted, and what amendments were presented by clicking here. The final vote will be on Wednesday, sending House Bill 2 to the Senate, which plans to begin working on the measure Thursday.
Additionally, there is a clear Conflict of Interest concerning these damaging bills and Gov. Rick Perry and his sister, Milla Perry Jones. A thorough investigation of the links between Gov. Rick Perry and his sister, Milla Perry Jones, with United Surgical Partners International, Inc., which is a subsidiary of USPI Group Holdings, Inc., and Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, Texas Health Ventures Group, LLC, and Physician Hospitals of America will reveal this conflict of interest. Including looking into Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, the major share holder in United Surgical Partners International, Inc.
Physician Hospitals of America's Secretary/Treasurer:
Milla Perry Jones, Vice President, Government Relations
United Surgical Partners International
15305 Dallas Parkway #1600, Addison, TX 75001
Founding Member of Physician Hospitals of America:
United Surgical Partners International, Dallas, TX
Brett Brodnax , V.P. Development
Click on the name to learn more about each of these Representatives.
Representatives that voted YES:
Rep. Anderson, Charles "Doc" - District 56
Rep. Ashby, Trent - District 57
Rep. Aycock, Jimmie Don- District 54
Rep. Bell, Cecil - District 3
Rep. Bohac, Dwayne - District 138
Rep. Bonnen, Dennis - (Co-Author) District 25
Rep. Bonnen, Greg - District 24
Rep. Branch, Dan - District 108
Rep. Burkett, Cindy - (Co-Author) District 113
Rep. Button, Angie Chen - District 112
Rep. Callegari, Bill - District 132
Rep. Capriglione, Giovanni - District 98
Rep. Carter, Stefani - District 102
Rep. Clardy, Travis - District 11
Rep. Cook, Byron - District 8
Rep. Craddick, Tom - District 82
Rep. Creighton, Brandon - District 16
Rep. Crownover, Myra - District 64
Rep. Dale, Tony - District 136
Rep. Darby, Drew - District 72
Rep. Davis, John E. - District 129
Rep. Elkins, Gary - District 135
Rep. Fallon, Pat - District 106
Rep. Farney, Marsha - District 20
Rep. Fletcher, Allen - District 130
Rep. Flynn, Dan - District 2
Rep. Frank, James - District 69
Rep. Frullo, John - District 84
Rep. Geren, Charlie - District 99
Rep. Goldman, Craig - District 97
Rep. Gonzales, Larry - District 52
Rep. Gooden, Lance - District 4
Rep. Guillen, Ryan - District 31
Rep. Harless, Patricia - District 126
Rep. Harper-Brown, Linda - (Co-Author) District 105
Rep. Hilderbran, Harvey - District 53
Rep. Huberty, Dan - District 127
Rep. Hughes, Bryan - District 5
Rep. Hunter, Todd - District 32
Rep. Isaac, Jason - District 45
Rep. Kacal, Kyle - District 12
Rep. Keffer, James L. "Jim" - District 60
Rep. King, Ken - District 88
Rep. King, Phil - (Co-Author) District 61
Rep. King, Susan - District 71
Rep. King, Tracy O. - District 80
Rep. Kleinschmidt, Tim - District 17
Rep. Klick, Stephanie - District 91
Rep. Krause, Matt - District 93
Rep. Kuempel, John - District 44
Rep. Larson, Lyle - District 122
Rep. Laubenberg, Jodie (Bill Author) - District 89 “That is what gives us the authority and the right to be here, to do this," said state Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, R-Parker, the bill's author. "This is not about politics. This is heartfelt for every member.”
Rep. Lavender, George - District 1
Rep. Leach, Jeff - District 67
Rep. Lewis, Tryon D. - District 81
Rep. Lozano, J. M. - District 43
Rep. Miller, Doug - District 73
Rep. Miller, Rick - District 26
Rep. Morrison, Geanie W. - District 30
Rep. Murphy, Jim - District 133
Rep. Orr, Rob - District 58
Rep. Otto, John - District 18
Rep. Paddie, Chris - District 9
Rep. Parker, Tan - District 63
Rep. Patrick, Diane - District 94
Rep. Perry, Charles - District 83
Rep. Phillips, Larry - District 62
Rep. Pickett, Joe C. - District 79
Rep. Pitts, Jim - District 10
Rep. Price, Four - District 87
Rep. Raney, John - District 14
Rep. Ratliff, Bennett - District 115
Rep. Riddle, Debbie - District 150
Rep. Ritter, Allan - District 21
Rep. Sanford, Scott - District 70
Rep. Schaefer, Matt - District 6
Rep. Sheets, Kenneth - District 107
Rep. Sheffield, Ralph - District 55
Rep. Simmons, Ron - District 65
Rep. Smith, Wayne - District 128
Rep. Smithee, John T. - District 86
Rep. Springer, Drew - District 68
Rep. Stephenson, Phil - District 85
Rep. Stickland, Jonathan - District 92
Rep. Taylor, Van - District 66
Rep. Thompson, Ed - District 29
Rep. Toth, Steve - District 15
Rep. Turner, Scott - District 33
Rep. Villalba, Jason - District 114
Rep. White, James - District 19
Rep. Workman, Paul - District 47
Rep. Zedler, Bill - District 96
Rep. Zerwas, John - District 28Ed. Note: Laubenberg was appointed Chair of the Public Health Committee in 2008, a position she no longer holds, though she still serves on the Committee. However, her comments that the in-utero don't deserve access to health insurance because "they're not born yet" seems germane to the ongoing debate about HB 2 in this second special session.
State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, urged lawmakers to realize that no one is “pro-abortion,” and expressed discontent that some supporters of the bill had labeled opponents of the legislation “baby killers.” She said that the question is not when life begins but rather, “It’s a question of decisions that have to be made along the way.”
Howard said that during the regular session, a bipartisan group of lawmakers came together to increase financing for family planning services, which decrease maternal deaths, infant deaths and unplanned pregnancies.
“What we’re talking about here is going backwards,” she said. “It’s embarrassing that we’re doing this.”
Now that you have seen the faces, and hopefully learned a bit more about each one of them, then you can make your own decision as to whether or not these people deserve to remain in office. For me, it is time to begin the process of ensuring these people are never allowed in public office again.
You can find out more about the Texas Democratic Party
Additionally, Why did these Representatives NOT vote?
Rep. Kolkhorst
Rep. Sheffield, J. D. - Absent
Rep. Straus
Now what: Get out and volunteer with worthwhile organizations that can change the face of Texas politics. Become an informed voter, and actually VOTE!
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