Houston Democrats

MARRIAGE ISSUE COMES BEFORE TEXAS HOUSE

Anti-Gay Agenda Hurts Texas Families

April 25, 2005

LGRL of Texas

AUSTIN, TX - One week after passing legislation that would rip children out of loving, stable homes, the Texas House of Representatives took yet another swipe at Texas families today. An anti-family marriage amendment to the Texas Constitution, known as HJR 6, passed the House on a vote of 102 to 29. The Constitutional amendment would mark the first time in history that discriminatory language would appear in the document designed to protect all Texans. (Emphasis added.)

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Texas Rep. Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas) says the amendment is unfair. "State Law already defines a marriage as between a man and a woman. Representative Chisum's attempt to amend HJR 6 is solely designed to discriminate against gays and lesbians," said Mr. Anchia. "Today's amendment by Rep. Chisum is not about marriage. It does nothing to strengthen marriage. It discriminates against law abiding hardworking men and women in loving relationships who must pay thousands of dollars to secure a fraction of the basic rights they are entitled to as Texans. In reality, it is a tax - it is the Chisum Gay Tax."

More from the LGRL here.

So much for the Texas Constitution protecting the rights of the individual, now bigotry, prejudice, and intolerance come before fairness, tolerance, and moderation.

In order for HJR 6 to become law it will now have to pass the Texas Senate with the approval of two-thirds of the members, 21 of the 31 senators. At the moment Chisum says no senator has agreed to sponsor the resolution. It would then be placed on the November 8th ballot. If voters approve HJR 6, it will become law.

If HJR 6 passes and becomes law, the only way it can ever be undone in the future is through another amendment that would require the approval of two-thirds of the House and Senate. Therefore, a minority of just one-third of the members of both houses could prevent a repeal of HJR 6.

What I find troubling is not only the number of Democrats who voted for HJR 6, but those representatives who did not show up to vote (I understand some were excused and hopefully for very good reasons.) or those that attended the session and did not vote. It is one thing to form an opinion either for or against an issue, but it is much, much worse to sit idly by and not even take a stance, especially on such an appalling, shameful, and polarizing resolution such as HJR 6 to amend the Texas Constitution.

Here's the unofficial totals from the Texas Legislature Online:

RV#396 — Unofficial Totals: 101 Yeas, 29 Nays, 8 Present, not voting, 7 absent, excused, 5 absent.

Yeas - Mr. Speaker, Craddick (R); Allen, R. (R); Anderson (R); Baxter (R); Berman (R); Blake (R); Bohac (R); Bonnen (R); Branch (R); Brown, B. (R); Brown, F. (R).; Callegari (R); Campbell (R); Casteel (R); Chisum (R); Cook, B. (R); Cook, R. (D); Corte (R); Crabb (R) ; Crownover (R); Davis, J. (R); Dawson (R); Delisi (R); Denny (R); Driver (R); Edwards (D); Eissler (R); Elkins (R); Escobar (D); Farabee (D); Flynn (R); Frost (D); Gattis (R); Geren (R); Gonzalez Toureilles (R); Goodman (R); Goolsby (R); Griggs (R); Grusendorf (R); Guillen (D) Haggerty; Hamilton (R); Hamric (R); Hardcastle (R); Harper-Brown (R); Hartnett (R); Hegar (R); Hilderbran (R); Hill (R); Homer (D); Hope (R); Hopson (D); Howard (R); Hughes (R); Hunter (R); Hupp (R); Isett (R); Jackson (R); Jones, D. (R); Keel (R); Keffer, B. (R); Keffer, J. (R); King, P. (R); King, T. (D); Kolkhorst (R); Krusee (R); Kuempel (R); Laney (D); Laubenberg (R); Madden(R); McCall (R); McReynolds (D); Merritt (R); Miller (R); Morrison (R); Mowery (R); Olivo (D); Orr (R); Otto (R); Paxton (R); Phillips (R); Pickett (D); Quintanilla (D); Raymond (D); Reyna (R); Riddle (R); Ritter (D); Rose (D); Seaman (R); Smith, T. (R); Smith, W. (R); Solomons (R); Straus (R); Swinford (R); Talton (R); Taylor (R); Truitt (R); Van Arsdale (R); West (R); Woolley (R); Zedler (R).

Nays - Allen, A. (D); Alonzo (D); Anchia (D); Bailey (D); Burnam (D); Coleman (D); Davis, Y. (D); Deshotel (D); Dukes (D); Dunnam (D); Dutton (D); Farrar (D); Gallego (D); Herrero (D); Hochberg (D); Hodge (D); Martinez Fischer (D); McClendon (D); Moreno, J. (D); Moreno, P. (D); Naishtat (D); Noriega, M. (D); Puente (D); Rodriguez (D); Strama (D); Thompson (D); Veasey (D); Villarreal (D); Vo (D).

Present, not voting – Castro (D); Chavez (D); Giddings (D); Gonzales (D); Jones, J. (D); Leibowitz (D); Turner (D); Wong (R).

Absent, Excused – Eiland (D); Luna (D); Menendez (D); Nixon (R); Oliveira (D); Pitts (R); Smithee (R).

Absent – Flores (D); Martinez (D); Peña; Solis (D); Uresti (D).

Pickdome has speeches on HJR 6 from: Reprentatives Coleman, Senfronia Thompson, Anchia, and Farrar, as well as the LGRL's statement made before the Texas House. You can also read their live blog of the session.

Off the Kuff has more on the passage of HJR 6.

Write your Texas Representatives explaining your position on HJR 6.
If they voted for HJR 6, ask for an explanation of their vote.

Find your representatives and their contact information: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm

If you receive a response, please post it below. Thank you.