Here-yee Here-yee ya'll. Our great state of Texas Legislature has decided to sneak in yet another blow to gay rights. This time, banning gay and lesbian civil unions (not just marriage). There are 1388 new laws going into effect on Sept 2, and that happens to be the dusey that nobody has been in an uproar over. We're too busy waiting for Democrats to come back from New Mexico and we let something like that get passed. Canada is looking brighter and brigher to me!

Well to further our social reversing into the dark ages, here are some more new laws:

Moment of silence/pledges – Public school children must have a minute of silent reflection and also recite the American and Texas pledges of allegiance every school day. (Texas has one too? I thought the Republic died in the 1800s?)

Abortion – A 24-hour waiting period will now be required. Women will be provided with a packet of materials on the development of a fetus that encourages them to maintain the pregnancy. Abortions must be performed at a hospital if the pregnancy is 16 weeks or more. (God forbid you get it done in a cheap privately funded clinic)

Recognition of the unborn – Creates new criminal and civil penalties for harming a fetus. For the first time, establishes that a fetus is an individual under the law. (When exactly is a fetus a person? Doesnt say, but I guess its after we lose our gills)

Well here are some of the better ones, and dumber:

Ref protection – Parents or anyone who attacks sports officials will face stiffer penalties. Any assault on an official becomes a Class B misdemeanor. (Watch out Mark Cuban!)

Laser pointers – Anyone who directs a light from a laser pointer at a uniformed police officer commits a Class C misdemeanor. The lights resemble targeting beams on weapons. (What if a cop is standing in a classroom where the teacher is using one?)

Anti-spam – Mandates that all e-mail ads clearly be marked as such and prohibits misleading subject lines. Establishes fines. The law effectively covers only e-mail sent from Texas. (Oh thatll learn ya!)

Traffic fines – The state will tack on $30 to all existing ticket costs. On top of that, another $100 will be added for driving without a license and $250 for driving without insurance. (See, this one sticks with me. Better fines, but does that lower my insurance bill? No, because we still let idiots drive without insurance instead of thowing them in jail like other states!)

The stars at night are big and bright....deep in the heart of Texas!!!

In Texas, as in elsewhere, "there is more than one way to skin a cat....." I find it remarkable and disturbing, yet not surprising that TX would spend such considerable energy enacting laws based on religious rhetoric. True defiance to the Supreme Court decisions and progressive thought process. One would think that TX would welcome additonal marriage certifications to add money to the state coffers. HAHAHAHA

It's time to point out that the ENTIRE Texas Legislature is totally and completely dominated by Republicans. The Governor and Lt. Governor are also Republicans. THIS, my friends, is what you get when Republicans control EVERYTHING.

And some people wonder why 11 State Democratic Senators had to flee to New Mexico to block Tom DeLay from making DC a mirror image Texas.

Can we give Texas back to Mexico? Please? We can through in Bush (all of them, actually) so he can be El Presidente de Mexico.

Texas sounds just like my next door neighbor, Idaho, which has been Republican forever.

No, this is what you get when TEXAS Republicans control TEXAS!

The great Texas columnist Molly Ivins coined a phrase for the Republicans who now control Texas State Government. They are the "shihite" Republicans. The Texas Republican party wants to turn this state into a Theocracy.

I saw the phrase about 6-7 years ago in one of her columns. I guess in this day in age it is probably not politically correct to use that term. I think one must agree how ever that the Republican party here in Texas is just a tad to the right of right.

But they also occupy the Presidency and Vice Presidency (remember, Cheney had to change his residency at the last minute) and the lower house of Congress....

..and they gave the U.S. John Ashcroft.

[ September 01, 2003, 08:49 PM: Message edited by: HornFan ]

Ah yes, the Republicans who want less Government.....

Actually, isn't Herr Ashcrap from Missouri? Born and bred (no need to show me).

Last I heard from you the Log Cabin rethuglicans in Texas were "strong and healthy", is this a sign of their strength and health? Your party is pushing through any imaginable anti-gay legislation they can come up with. Good job Log Cabin, surely there is a press release on the way.

We're strong and healthy, we're just not in power. But we're not going to go away, so stay tuned - and be careful with all that cheap gas down there! (Oops, there I go changing the subject again! Or is it called "cross-talking?")

How long are we suppose to "stay tuned", you've been saying that forever, it only gets worse!!

I was referring to dubya and cheney giving the U.S. John ASScroft. Someone was trying to say this is just Texas Republicans and I want to make sure it's duly noted that there's plenty of radical repugs nationwide (and even on this board).

If I didn't love Nevada so much, I'd consider moving to the Lone Star State. Thank you, DallasUNC, for listing so many good reasons why so many people continue to want to move to your fine state (which is marred only by the presence of that unlovable football team over in Irving)

Just wanted to comment on a few of the laws you listed:

Our great state of Texas Legislature has decided to sneak in yet another blow to gay rights. This time, banning gay and lesbian civil unions (not just marriage).
Can't see what the big deal is here. The law will have zero effect, as it's not like civil unions were being recognized there (or would be passed anytime soon).

Moment of silence/pledges – Public school children must have a minute of silent reflection and also recite the American and Texas pledges of allegiance every school day. (Texas has one too? I thought the Republic died in the 1800s?)
Sounds like a reasonable compromise on the divisive issue of school prayer. This guarantees the pro-prayer people a designated time to pray in the school without forcing the prayer on non-believers and non-practitioners.

Abortion – A 24-hour waiting period will now be required. Women will be provided with a packet of materials on the development of a fetus that encourages them to maintain the pregnancy. Abortions must be performed at a hospital if the pregnancy is 16 weeks or more. (God forbid you get it done in a cheap privately funded clinic)
My car I bought a few years ago has warning stickers plastered all through it. Why? The government said so. The government says that the label on my can of diet Coke has to list the protein and fat content. Makes sense that an invasive, elective medical procedure would also require some sort of warnings and information disclosures. And if the government is going to regulate the type of facility in which hair braiding can be done, why should it be a problem to regulate the type of facility in which a medical procedure can be performed?

Recognition of the unborn – Creates new criminal and civil penalties for harming a fetus. For the first time, establishes that a fetus is an individual under the law. (When exactly is a fetus a person? Doesnt say, but I guess its after we lose our gills)
It's about time. We now so much about human development in the womb, it's about time state laws caught up with science. And, by the way, since when do people have gills? People have lungs. Fish have gills. Those series of drawings that the Darwinists put in the textbook, showing human development that starts off with us looking like fishes? It's a myth. It's a discredited 19th Century myth. Even fetuses just a weeks old look like miniature humans.

Ref protection – Parents or anyone who attacks sports officials will face stiffer penalties. Any assault on an official becomes a Class B misdemeanor.
They could use this law in Chicago. I wouldn't have voted for it (we already have laws against assault and battery), but it's not a sign of the coming apocalypse that the law passed either.

Laser pointers – Anyone who directs a light from a laser pointer at a uniformed police officer commits a Class C misdemeanor. The lights resemble targeting beams on weapons.
Didn't know that was true, but it makes sense to make it illegal if it's true.

Anti-spam – Mandates that all e-mail ads clearly be marked as such and prohibits misleading subject lines. Establishes fines. The law effectively covers only e-mail sent from Texas.
Sounds like a good start. Got to start somewhere.

Traffic fines – The state will tack on $30 to all existing ticket costs. On top of that, another $100 will be added for driving without a license and $250 for driving without insurance. (See, this one sticks with me. Better fines, but does that lower my insurance bill? No, because we still let idiots drive without insurance instead of thowing them in jail like other states!)
I like this idea better than putting poor people in jail for not having insurance. I'm not concerned about the uninsured who obey all the traffic laws. So this sounds like a smart way to fight a difficult problem.

I bet if you randomly selected eight or nine laws recently passed by the California legislature, you wouldn't find such wisdom and prudence. Yet another reason to love Texas.

For as long as it takes!

HornFan, y'all be nice now. Argue against the position, don't attack the person.

The only person I "attacked" is John Ashcroft and I think his actions and record speak for itself, so please save your little scoldings for when you grow up to be a moderator.

The Republicans are supposed to be for less government, but they crammed through quite a bit of stuff to please their right wing and religious fanatic donors in this last session in Texas. We (Texas) are a mircrocosm of things to come for the nation in the hands of the Republican Party.

Don't you think women have agonized over a decision to get an abortion long and hard before they walk into a clinic? BTW, these pamphlets they are required to read include unproven facts that abortions cause cancer. Republicans deny, deny, deny Global Warming til the cows come home due to lack of scientific data, but have no problem using phantom facts when it comes to their anti-choice stance.

The Log Cabin Closet Dwellers seem to be M.I.A. here in Texas, BTW.

Charlie-- yes I did make the point some laws are silly but some are in that list that are good. Others I simply didnt include that were good too, like a new point system on drivers licences if you get a ticket.

But the point on the abortion law- I agree on a waiting period. But poor people cant afford hospitals. That basically outlaws abortion clinics.

Fetuses-- we do have gills in very very early embryonic stage whether you believe its a myth or not. All animals do. In humans and mammals ,they disappear shortly.

Spam- should be outlawed everywhere in Texas! Should also include incoming mail!

And the main sticking point on gay CIVIL UNIONS being banned- why ban them if they werent legal to begin with? Exactly. They just wanted to drive home how much they hate homosexuals. But God bless the Texas legislature in the 70s who made it legal to f**k your poodle!