Senate Committee Approves McLeroy, Rejects Religious Test for Office

Despite increasing and outrageous attacks on his personal religious beliefs, Don McLeroy’s nomination as chairman of the State Board of Education was approved today by the Senate Nominations Committee, by a vote of 4-2.  He will now be voted on by the full Senate.

Amendments Attacking Abstinence Fail in Texas House!!

Click here for our comments in AAS story http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2009/05/20/house_oks_health_bill_without.html

FMF Statement:

This is a victory for school children and for local control by parents.  We are grateful that Texas students have been spared from Planned Parenthood-based sex education.  It is irresponsible and harmful to ban children from knowing that abstinence before marriage is the most effective way to prevent pregnancy and STDs,” said Jonathan Saenz, Director of Legislative Affairs, Free Market Foundation, who testified against the amendments at the Texas Capitol. 

 

Since Texas began promoting abstinence-based education, teen pregnancies are down 24%, teen abortions have dropped by 41%, and teen births are down 22%.

2:33 p.m. Rep. Villareal also chooses to ask questions.  Bill passes on voice vote, without bad Planned Parenthood amendments!!

2:25 p.m. Rep. Castro chooses to not bring forward his bad sex ed amendment.  Instead he chooses to ask questions about the bill.

2:17 p.m. Point of order sustained, bad amendment goes down.  One bad amendment to go.

2:15 p.m., SB 283 is up and bad Planned Parenthood amendments are being offered.  Point of order has been called on Rep. Villareal Amendment.

Adult Stem Cell Bill Passes Senate!!

Adult Stem Cell Research Program bill, SB 73, by Senator Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound), passes full Senate.

We presented the written testimony of Joseph Davis, II and his family, in favor of SB 73, along with our own testimony.   Little Joseph was cured of sickle cell anemia from adult stem cells in the cord blood of his little brother Isaac.  See the details here.  http://freemarketblog.wordpress.com/2008/05/24/read-the-davis%e2%80%99-family-story-in-their-own-words/

We also presented our own testimony, along with the testimony of Dr. Linda Flower, in favor of SB 73.