Transpo matters too!

Well, there was obviously quite a bit of hoopla surrounding HB 2. And...well, in some respects it was a well deserved hoopla!

Anyway, abortion was not the only issue on the call for EITHER special session. HB 2 will be signed by Governor Perry tomorrow and while that's wonderful, there were 2 other issues on the call.

One of which -- juvenile justice -- is near and dear to my heart after working the regular session and handling 4 or 5 criminal justice bills.

The other -- transportation -- should be nearer and dearer to ALL of our hearts! This wasn't just some silly transportation bill. This is about funding and infrastructure.

Now, I know transpo doesn't sound nearly as exciting...or inciting...as abortion, but think about it this way:

• During the first called special, the legislature came to an agreement on an...okay way to solve their transpo funding issues. There was a bill, in the form of an amendment to the Texas constitution (meaning it would come to the ballots in November for the voters to ultimately decide on), that would essentially solve their funding issues while leaving a floor for our Economic Stabilization --or rainy day-- fund.
• Meaning: transportation gets funding, but our state's savings account stays at a reasonable level. This is necessary for the exact same reason it's necessary for you to keep a savings account at a reasonable level...emergencies, disasters, etc. 
• Well, despite the fact that both the House and Senate had agreed...this was one of the bills that was ultimately shouted down by the awful display of disrespect in the Senate on the last night of the first called special...
• Now it seems House leadership is banking on the fact that everyone's so incredibly wrapped up in the abortion fight that we've forgotten they're spending OUR tax dollars.
• Essentially the House passed two bills...a constitutional amendment and enabling legislation...on Monday. They put no ESF floor in...an amendment was offered, similar to the one from the last called special, but it did not get added. **Thursday this bill will be read/voted on third reading and HJR 2 (the amendment) will require a hard 100 votes for passage to the ballots this November.**

Now, what possible reason could they have for this? Only thing I can come up with is that they enjoy recklessly spending our money...

It was nice to see certain legislators get just as heated up on the floor about this issue as abortion. A couple in particular, when it came to the discussion of tying water in (despite the fact that we passed water funding legislation that will be brought to the voters) --saying that if transpo didn't pass the vote, neither would water-- AND talk of outside, third-party groups having influence. (ie. lobby groups)

The first being my old boss, Rep. James White of East Texas, while addressing this issue to Rep. Jim Pitts:

"We trusted the people with water...we were told we should leave it to the voters and that's what we did! We trusted the people with water, now I want to trust the people with transportation!"

The next being Rep. Jonathan Stickland --a very promising freshman state rep from the DFW area-- who addressed this issue telling Rep. Pitts that he was "playing the system" to which Rep. Pitts basically replied "so what?!"

WOW.

Now, tell me that's not as exciting and inciting as HB 2...

When the Brick Hits the Fan

There's a point in every argument, fight, debate, etc...where either or both sides bring so much emotion into it that there is no turning back. This is the point I believe we have come to with this abortion legislation. Neither side is at a point where it is going to suddenly "see the light"...there may be a few random side-switchers here and there, but even that seems unlikely.

What my point is, is that we are past the point of explaining things to people. I am past the point of doing yet another blog post reiterating what is and is not in this bill for the purpose of "educating" the other side. Which, yes I have read, multiple times.

The pro-aborts are past this point, too...if there was ever a point at which they aimed to "educate," that is. They have resorted to spewing hate and vulgarity for the purpose of "getting their point across" (also known as...the purpose of spewing hate and vulgarity.) We've had a little "Hail Satan" chanted in our statehouse, a little "F*ck the church," and lots of fun rhyming things that start with "2-4-6-8" and definitely have nothing to do with appreciating anyone or anything! (There's also those fun ones that are awkward as all get out because they do an I-say-you-repeat thing with complex sentences and whole paragraphs...talk about not knowing how to get your point across!)

What we have today, though...that's REAL fun. Today is the day that pro-aborts get to attempt to smuggle things to hurl at Senators into the gallery, get their plan foiled, turn themselves into victims, and make up silly words like "tampongate."

I'm sure most of you have head about it by now, those awful Texas DPS confiscating tampons, pads, and condoms from those innocent women simply trying to sit in the gallery and observe the Senate proceedings. Thankfully, by now, some media have gotten wind that this is not the whole story...but LORDY did the twitterverse EXPLODE with #tampongate and just how ridiculous it was to take tampons from women but let people carry guns!

Some other things DPS confiscated on this misogynistic raid on women (because there's a war on us, dontchyaknow?):

• 18 jars reportedly full of feces
• At least one jar full of urine
• Cans, Jars full of paint
• confetti, glitter
• basically anything that could be hurled from the gallery at Senators
• oh, and some BRICKS...

Yah.

So "Feminist Army" why don't you start looking at the disgusting humans that you let represent your fight that filled jars with urine, feces, and paint to throw onto our STATE SENATE FLOOR at SENATORS when you complain about your tampons being taken up. Also...BRICKS.

It's funny, I've seen most of you posting that the Senate seems to think tampons, etc are more dangerous or frightening than guns...this is CLEARLY not the case. This is about decorum. Not fear of feminine hygiene products. Last time this bill was in the Senate there was a disgusting and embarrassing loss of decorum, that is the entire reason we are where we are right now. Back on the Senate floor.

 DPS is looking to keep decorum. 

I mean, the bricks, yah. They're probably a bit frightened by the bricks. I mean, you don't bring a brick with you into the Senate to use to protect yourself in case your life is threatened. You don't bring a brick with you to the Senate because you like it. It's not your pet brick. It's not because you are a mason by day. And it's sure as hell not to "make a point." 

"The trouble with our Liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so." 

Ronald Reagan

Tribute

My sweet, sweet grandfather passed away this afternoon. It was not at all unexpected; but it's still a bit of a shock to the system to realize that I am physically grandparent-less...

(at my high school graduation...it's the quickest one I could find...)

This is the man who instilled a deep fear and love of God into my father, who then passed that on to my brother...and eventually knocked into my hard head.

I am positive he is the root of the crazy work ethic that runs through our blood. I remember doing a family tree project in 7th grade and being immensely proud when I delved into the Williamson-family history. He served as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps, started by Franklin Roosevelt, and travelled the country building roads, highways, state/national parks, etc.

The man ate as slow as anything I've ever witnessed...why? Because he absolutely had a million different stories to tell and LOVED telling them!

Anyway, he lived an extremely full 98 years. I can only hope that I am able to live that long and stay as healthy as he did. We love you, Pap! I know Granny is happy you've finally joined her up in heaven. I'm sure she's giving you all sorts of a hard time for taking so long!

My sweet momma said it better and more concise than I could:

May angels lead you in...

Abortion Bill Hearing...Take 2!

Today started off so positively! 

The #Stand4Life TweetFest went off absolutely beautifully, so proud of those who put it on and especially those who participated and got it trending worldwide!

The hearings started at 3:30 pm and things have started to get vile again...There was a small #LetTexasSpeak rally in the open-air rotunda and those in orange chanted HAIL SATAN over ProLifers singing Amazing Grace. As usual, we can only bring "religion" (I put it in quotes, because...is that really...religious...? You tell me!) into this argument when it's okay with the Left. 

The Orangies...aka the pro-aborts...LOVE to scream that "THIS IS NOT A THEOCRACY!" Well...then, don't use the argument that in the Jewish faith the embryo is considered part of the mother's anatomy when it's convenient for you. 

And DON'T you DARE chant "Hail Satan" in MY statehouse EVER AGAIN! 

However, I am so proud of these women who are standing up in this hearing and sharing their deeply personal stories. 

H.B. 2:

• Raises the standards of these clinics to meet those of  ambulatory surgical centers. This goes into effect in September of 2014. Clinics have plenty of time to use their profits to up their standards. If they refuse to do so, THAT is when they will close. If they REFUSE to do so, they deserve to close.
• Brings the threshold from 6 months to 5 months. That saves 350-400 lives/year, which is awesome! However, there are over 70,000 abortions/year in Texas. So, it seems like there is still plenty of opportunity to choose.

UPDATE:

HB 2 passed through the House State Affairs committee tonight, 8-3, and it headed to the House floor. However, as a friend of mine pointed out to me earlier, Rep. Laubenberg did not give Rep. Turner an answer to a question that would have been a great opportunity for her to make an impact full statement.

He essentially asked where the pro-life issues begin and end. Something along the lines of: why do pro-lifers stop caring for children after they are born?

She passed up an opportunity to really speak to the true role of government, there. You see, the Left believes that caring for children is shown through programs like CHIP, TANF, etc. and through throwing more and more of our tax dollars at failing school districts. While, I do not believe Jodie has proved to be the best, on-the-spot public speaker...I do believe my friend is right; that was such a missed opportunity. 

The facts: Why I #Stand4Life.

So, after watching the #txlege, #Stand4Life, and other Twitter feeds all day (because, I was at work...being employed; but active in the Twitterverse, of course!) A couple of my friends and I decided to mosey on down to the Capitol to see what was going on.

I mean, we could hear the yelling from way down Congress Ave, and I don't work at the Capitol anymore, so I was really excited to actually see what was going on in person. I saw quite a few disturbing things, but I won't go off on all those; however, I have to share one sight:

I saw two women with about a 3 year-old little girl. They had dressed her in a white shirt, all nice and bedazzled, and had written a little statement on it: "MY BODY MY DECISION"
Do you realize how sick that is? You know what wasn't her decision? Wearing that shirt. Coming to that rally. I bet 99% of what that little girl did today wasn't her decision. I wanted to get a picture, but I was wearing blue (the color of the prolifers) and knew that probably wouldn't go over well.

Anyways, so it was definitely smaller than it had been, and we just stood there and watched and listened for a little bit.

One of the chants I heard:

• "Not church! Not state! Women must decide their fate!"
• Okay, it's catchy. My friend's foot started tapping after a little bit, but there's some problems here: you're not exactly deciding your own fate, you're deciding the fate of the child in your womb. So...what about that child who could one day be a woman? Guess what! She doesn't get to decide her fate if you decide it for her....hmmm, rethinking that chant aren't we? Also, you yell "THIS IS NOT A THEOCRACY" and "BLAH SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE BLAAHH"...but, when it's convenient for your argument, you throw out that in the Jewish faith, the embryo is considered part of the woman's anatomy. Gotta love that, huh? And, let's not even go into the fact that you all LOVE O-care and, wait, who's that deciding your healthcare regulations...?

That's only one of their chants...it's the one that stuck the most and contained no profanity.

But, even all those arguments I just used to counter that -- it gets us off track; because this bill is not taking away anyone's right to choose to have an abortion, as long as it's before 20 weeks. Do you realize how long 20 weeks is? That's 5 months. 5 months isn't long enough for you to make this choice? Let me tell you something dear, if you're still debating an abortion by the 5 month mark, it's probably because something -- whether it be beliefs, conscience, situation, some part of you wanting that child...-- something is keeping you from seriously wanting to get rid of that child.

So what does this bill do? Close all the clinics and ban all the abortions? 

No. Not at all.

This bill gives clinics about a year to raise their standars to the same standards of ambulatory surgical centers, and ensures that the doctors at these clinics have admitting rights at nearby hospitals in case of complications.

It also takes the threshold of a legal abortion from 6 months to 5 months. That should save some 350-400 lives per year. And with the 70,000+ abortions performed per year...sounds like there's still room for choice.

Now, if clinics do not want to take some of their profits and use them to raise their standards...then once this bill goes into effect (believe it's September of 2014) they will be closed. But, seriously...why wouldn't you want these clinics to have the same standards as any other surgical clinic? Honestly, are you going to take your child, spouse, sibling, parent, friend, self, etc. to a back-room-style clinic to even get a check up?! Why would you put yourself through that?

Wave your wire coat hangers around all you want (tasteful and classy, I know) but this bill is ensuring that no one has to go through that anymore.

Studies have shown that 62% of Americans support a ban on late-term abortion. Liberal European countries like France, have a threshold of 12 weeks.

This is a common-sense piece of legislation. It is not removing anyone's rights. It is protecting the lives of women and saving babies. That's it. The rest is up to the clinics. It is THEIR decision if they close down. They can play the victim of a terrible and overreaching government all they want, but the fact is. it is them choosing not to raise their standards that will get them shut down.

The rhetoric you hear from all the pro-aborts, is brought to you by organizations like MoveOn.org, the Occupy movement, Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and the National Socialist Movement....bought and paid for, complete with ridiculously political overtones. Their goal? "Turn Texas Blue." And, I'm not kidding when I say this movement is bought and paid for...

The facts. That's why I Stand 4 Life.

Please feel free to use this photo as your Facebook Cover Photo. And, tomorrow at noon, if you are a twitter user, please join myself and thousands of others in standing for life during a TweetFest. Simply use our hashtag and tweet reasons you #Stand4Life. Let's let our message be heard, this time around. In a respectful and powerful way.

Also, I'll be happy to show you any other sources of things I've stated in this post. All you have to do is ask.