$61 million dollars shifted into special needs issues

[Guest guest]

Texas cuts $61 million from planned parenthood and shifts the tax payer funds into funds to help special needs students.  God Bless Texas Texas Right to Life removes $61M tax funds from abortion industry!Texas Right to Life spearheaded the effort to reallocate $61 million of family planning, a revenue stream for the abortion industry, to other more worthy programs when the State House of Representatives debated the state’s budget on Friday, April 1st. All seven of the amendments to redirect this blood money passed overwhelmingly with over 100 votes (the highest vote total the pro-abortion opposition garnered was 40), and the final amendment earned 113 votes to snatch the last $9 million! Federal law prohibits further reductions, but this 37% blow will severely hurt the abortion industry.The programs to which the money was allocated were strategically selected based on the cuts to their budgets. Some pro-abortion members of the House were livid that their Pro-Life colleagues forced choices ON RECORD between the abortion industry and children with autism, adults with mental health needs, etc. While passions rose and tempers flared once the abortion advocates realized what was happening, the Pro-Life amendment sponsors remained compassionate, confident, and courteous. State Representative Randy Weber (R-Pearland) led with the first amendment to restore funding to the state’s program for alternatives to abortion. In 2005, Texas became the tenth state to fund alternatives, and the program consistently meets and exceeds goals set by Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Representative Weber articulately explained the program and defended Life despite profane attacks from Representative Mike Villareal (D-San ), who poorly represents one of the largest service providers in the alternatives program, Seton Maternity Home. Representative Villareal even served as master of ceremonies for one of Seton’s events a few years back, yet he still viciously attacked the program. Despite the opposition spewing the same old scripted lies, Representative Weber’s amendment won by 100 to 44 with 2 present-not-voting. Two Republicans, and Beverly Woolley, both from Houston voted “no,” while four Democrats courageously voted for the amendment: King from Batesville, J.M. Lozano from Kingsville, Mando ez from Weslaco, and Muñoz from Palmview. Representative Wayne Christian (R-Center) then transferred family planning funds to serve people with Autism. The Austism program was totally defunded in the budget bill. The Christian amendment passed by 106 to 34 with all present Republicans voting “yes,” plus three Democrats (Lozano, ez, and Muñoz). Representative Dwayne Bohac (R-Houston) offered the third amendment that redirected funds to the Mental Health Services for Children Program. Before this vote was taken, Representative Sylvester delivered an impassioned speech, accusing Bohac and Pro-Life members of forcing their colleagues into choosing which children to help, predictably avoiding the question of how the abortion industry helps children. Representative rejected the call to take a stand and urged his Democrat colleagues to “white-light,” which means to push the white voting light (rather than the green or red light) to signify “present, not voting.” After a strong and respectful defense by Representative Bohac, his amendment passed by 96 to 6 with 44 present, not voting. Representative Jim (R-Houston) was next and moved funds to EMS and Trauma Care. This was Representative ’s first chance to vocally defend Life on the House floor, and he did a fantastic job, confirming that he is ready for more demanding floor duties for the Cause. He was well-prepared with statistics and details about emergency medical services, and his amendment passed by 91 to 20 with 25 present, not voting. Representative Sid (R-ville), also the sponsor of the sonogram bill) presented the largest amendment to move $21 million from family planning to Early Childhood Intervention programs. As with his sonogram bill, Representative thoroughly knew his subject matter and was more than a worthy opponent for anyone who challenged him. Representative earned 104 votes, was opposed by 37, and five were present and not voting. All present Republicans supported the amendment along with Democrats Pete Gallego (Alpine), Hochberg (Houston), JM Lozano, Mando ez, and Muñoz. Representative Bill Zedler (R-Arlington) delivered yet another victory with his amendment that restored some funds to services for the deaf, blind, and those with multiple disabilities. His amendment passed by 101 to 38 with five present not voting. Representative Zedler openly and unabashedly flaunted that his amendment would take our tax dollars away from the abortion industry. All present Republicans plus Democrat Representatives King, JM Lozano, Muñoz, Chente Quintanilla voted for this move. Representative Warren Chisum (R-Pampa) successfully offered an unchallenged provision that could restrict the way some of the remaining family planning funds are disbursed. Representative Jodie Laubenberg (R-) snatched the last $9 million away from the abortion industry, the cherry on the dessert. By this midnight hour, members were simply ready to finish, and Representative Laubenberg was asked to stand down since the angry pro-aborts were determined not to give a final victory to Life. She would not leave that last $9 million on the table and even won over Representative (D-Dallas), who usually supports abortion rights but wanted to increase funds to the STAR program to reach at-risk youth. Representative (R-Lubbock), a freshman, had filed five amendments on behalf of Texas Right to Life to redirect the whole $61 million in case our other piecemeal reallocations failed. He was also prepared to amend his amendment to take any remaining amount if necessary. However, early in the day, Representative was able to maneuver funds to other programs through some of the amendments. Representative ignored intense pressure to break the back-up strategy and succeeded with saving lives by his redirects. State Representative (R-Mineola), recipient of Texas Right to Life’s prestigious 2006 Horizon Award, served as the point man and coordinator of all the Pro-Life amendments on the House floor. He ensured that the numbers stayed within the bounds of legally-allowable cuts, verified the rules of funding strategies, and monitored the technicalities of the amendment language. Representative effectively served as the Pro-Life whip throughout the entire week leading up to and throughout budget day, fielding inquiries from agencies, recruiting amendment sponsors, crunching numbers, confirming statistics for programs, and working with leadership to facilitate the consideration of our amendments. For a time such as yesterday, Representative was called. Representative Larry (R-Sherman) has a rider, an administrative provision that “rides” on the greater budget bill as an amendment, that would direct Texas Department of State Health Services and Texas Health and Human Services Commission to prioritize the way in which any remaining family planning funds are distributed. The opposition has tagged the rider on a technicality that we hope can be resolved on Sunday. Representative also encouraged all the authors to stand firm, and he distributed the Texas Right to Life amendment/rider package on the House floor to the members so they would know for what to watch and how to vote. The sum total of the amendments successfully passed by our Pro-Life heroes equals a $61 million blow to the abortion advocates in Texas! The budget bill still has to be debated and passed by the State Senate, but we anticipate the Senators will preserve the House’s overwhelmingly supported Pro-Life amendments, which were also supported and called for by our Pro-Life governor Rick . We are so proud that so many Pro-Life elected officials stand with Texas Right to Life to restore the sanctity of innocent human life. Your constant prayers, financial generosity, and commitment to Life keep us on the front lines. We will stay vigilant in Austin (especially until the end of the 82nd Texas Legislative Session on May 31st), growing Culture of Life until that day when every life, born and unborn, is loved and defended by our laws. Prayer changes things.~ Multi-faceted Jules Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.~ Plato The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances-~ Flatt.