Left of College Station

Today the Representatives from the Texas House of Representatives released a press release that promotes a bill to “prevent teen and unintended pregnancies” with no hope of actually preventing teen and unintended pregnancies.

Press Release from the Texas House of Representatives:

VILLARREAL AND VAN DE PUTTE TEAM UP TO PREVENT TEEN AND UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

(SAN ANTONIO, TX) -- Representative Mike Villarreal (San Antonio) and Senator Leticia Van de Putte (San Antonio) jointly filed legislation aimed at reducing the teen birth rate in Bexar County and across Texas. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Texas has the third highest teen birth rate in the nation, with 63 births for every 1,000 female teens ages 15-19. This is more than 50 percent higher than the national average.

"This is one list where being near the top is not good for Texas; the teen birth rate in this state is shameful. We cannot shy away from addressing this difficult topic and implementing policies aimed at combating these disturbing statistics," said Van de Putte.

SB 592 and HB 891 would allow 16 and 17 year-olds who have already had one child to have access to family planning counseling and services, except related to abortion or emergency contraception.

SB 593 and HB 893 expand CHIP to provide comprehensive family planning services, except related to abortion or emergency contraception, to teens ages 16 and 17 years who have at least one child.

In addition to the rising number of teen pregnancies, more than 45% of Texas births result from unplanned pregnancies, with 58% of those births among uninsured women.

SB 594 and HB 892 are designed to increase the effectiveness of the Women's Health Program (WHP) by ensuring a smooth transition for women who have given birth through the Medicaid program into the WHP without a gap in services.

"A healthy pregnancy and baby start with a healthy mother. When mothers have access to family planning counseling and services, they are better prepared to raise healthy families. Our state's first priority must be to help our mom's plan healthy pregnancies," said Villarreal.

Expanding access to health care is important and a noble idea; lowering the teen birthrate and unintended pregnancies are important goals. However, you cannot just provide health care without providing reproductive health care including access to abortion and emergency contraception.  

Senator Van de Putte said in the press release, “We cannot shy away from addressing this difficult topic and implementing policies aimed at combating these disturbing statistics.” An essential part of implementing policies aimed at combating those disturbing statistics would be to improve access to reproductive health care, including abortion and emergency contraception.

Representative Mike Villarreal (D-123) and Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D-26) both have exemplary pro-choice records. Senator Van De Putte has received an average rating from NARAL Pro-Choice Texas of 86.75% and Representative Villarreal has received an average rating of 96.75%. The same organization has promoted common sense solutions to prevent unintended pregnancies, and reducing the need for abortion without reducing access to abortion.

The values of freedom and personal responsibility are the basis of our Prevention First initiative. Through Prevention First, NARAL Pro-Choice America and our network of state affiliates are promoting the following commonsense policies to prevent unintended pregnancy and reduce the need for abortion: 

Insurance coverage for birth control

Family-planning services

Stopping pharmacists from refusing to fill birth control prescriptions

Improving access to the "morning-after" pill (also called emergency contraception)

Honest, comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education

Teen-pregnancy prevention  

Preventing teen and unintended pregnancy begins with education, and Senator Van de Putte is the co-author of a bill filled by Senator Rodney Ellis (D-13) which would introduce comprehensive and age appropriate sex education into Texas public schools. SB 515 would “present medically accurate and age-appropriate information” and no longer focus on an abstinence only sex education program.

Senator Van de Putte should focus on providing better comprehensive sex education and improving access to reproductive health care; pro-choice means that there always should be a choice, not just for those who can afford it.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 9:

The recent election and inauguration of Barack H. Obama as the 44th president of the United States of America is of great historical significance;

…As President Obama begins his term, it is fitting that the Texas Legislature send its regards congratulating him on his election.

SCR 9 was unanimously passed by voice vote.

Notable Bills Filed Today in the Texas State House of Representatives:

HB 971 was introduced by Representative Eddie Lucio requiring wheelchair accessibility of new or renovated park playgrounds to children with disabilities.

“A park subject to this subchapter must have a wheelchair-accessible surface wide enough for two wheelchairs to pass that connects the parking area to each playground in the park.”

HB 975 was introduced by Representative Ken Legler requiring school districts to administer drug test to “professional employees of the district.”

“(2) require at least one scheduled drug test for each prospective professional employee of a district;

(3) authorize random, unannounced drug testing once each year for not fewer than 10 percent of the professional employees of a district”

This is a violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution:

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause.”

In discriminatory urine analysis testing is unfair and unnecessary; it is a violation of an employee’s 4^th Amendment rights to be forced to prove their innocence when their job performance is satisfactory and they are not suspected of using and drugs.

Senate Committee Assignments:

The members of the Senate have been committee assignments, and this is how Vince from Capitol Annex characterized one committee assignment:

How is Deshurst catering to his party’s right wing? He appointed State Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston), the ultraconservative talk radio host who is by far the most right wing member of the Senate as vice chair of both the Public Education Committee and the Higher Education Committee.

Patrick, one of the least senior members of the Senate, is an anti-tax wingnut who would just as soon see public schools suffer as his wealthy buddies pay another dime in taxes, yet he is the second most powerful person overseeing the Senate Committee on Public Education. That’s a travesty.

Full List of Senate Committees and Members

Governor Rick Perry gave the state of the state address tonight, and as the 81^st Texas Legislature convenes to do the people’s business Left of College Station will be watching. Over the course of the legislative session Left of College Station will be posting updates on bills as they move through the legislature, and review the impact that those bills will have statewide and locally in the Brazos Valley.

This afternoon Governor Rick Perry gave his state of the state address, and after thanking both the Lieutenant Governor and the new Speaker of the House, Governor Perry thanked former Speaker of the House (R) Tom Craddick for his “faithful service to the state.” Afterwards Perry laid out what it is that he believes Texas has accomplished during his tenure, and also presented his legislative agenda for the next two years.

The Governor also used the opportunity to mention some of what he believes is Washington, D.C. failures (Perry mentioned the nation’s capitol five times, included twice as failing and once as dragging its feet.); this could possibly be another snipe at Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison as the Republican primary seems as though it has already begun.  Governor Perry went on to outline what he believes have been successes and would could be future successes.

"Propose freezing a student’s college tuition rates for four years at the level they pay as an entering freshman. This will help Texas families plan while giving students another incentive to finish on time. We must continue removing roadblocks for young Texans wanting to pursue higher education, whether they enroll straight out of high school, or choose to serve their country in the military first."

This would not have been an issue if tuition had not been deregulated by the Governor and the Republican leadership in the Texas legislature.

"We know the benefit of legal reforms that stem the tide of frivolous lawsuits, while attracting an army of skilled doctors to Texas, and improving access to healthcare across our state."

In Texas one in five children living in Texas is without health insurance; according to a study last year 1.4 million, or 20.5%, children in Texas are uninsured.

"Let’s keep improving our math and science education, and continue preparing our young people, especially low-income and minority students, for a productive life after high school."

Texas must remove the grip that fundamentalist have on the State Board of Education so that we can ensure that actual science is taught in our classrooms and that religion is taught in church.

"These veterans, who now spend their days recovering from injuries sustained while serving our country, deserve the best our state has to offer, as do all veterans who have served our country. In appreciation for their service, I share Senator Van de Putte’s belief that we should extend in-state tuition rates to all veterans, regardless of their home of record."

Texas should lead the way in veterans services; while the Department of Veterans Affairs may be going through a shift in leadership and in policy Texas should give all it can to veterans.

"In these times of global unrest and porous borders, security remains a top priority, especially in light of Washington’s ongoing failure to provide the resources necessary to secure our border, or implement a sensible immigration policy. I’m hopeful that my fellow border governor from Arizona will bring a better approach in her new role as Secretary of Homeland Security. However, until we see results, Texas will continue filling the leadership void created by Washington DC and investing in the safety of our citizens with our own border security effort."

However, the Republican leadership in the legislature has made it clear that they would rather force wedge issues such as “voter ID” and “English only” laws instead of implementing a sensible immigration policy in Texas.

"As we consider the growing threats to our nation’s unborn, I believe it’s time to add another layer of protection for the most vulnerable Texans. I hope you will join me in supporting Senator Patrick and Representative Corte’s effort to require those wanting to terminate a pregnancy to review their ultrasound before proceeding."

Restricting access to abortion is an infringement on women’s reproductive rights. This is especially true when it includes restricting access to emergency contraception, which is one of the three anti-choice bills filled by Representative Corte and Senator Patrick.

"State of our State is good. Her character is strong and her people are great, and I believe now, more than ever before, that our best days are yet to come."

It is true that our best days are yet to come; we must strive to ensure that progressive values are championed in Texas and that in the not so distant future we can turn Texas blue.