Parish
Ashamed of Our Public Leaders
RECEIVED Mon., June 6, 2005
Dear Editor,
The 79th Texas Legislature session has ended, and the senators and representatives have gone back home. Future Texans will look back at this session with shame and horror. Important work such as school funding was left unfinished as the majority party followed a national trend set by the current president. Forget the rules of good government; use lies, fear, and hatred to stir up emotions for future elections.
Rep. Talton, once again, attacked the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community with his attempt to stop them from being foster parents. He would rather see children left in abusive homes or placed back in overcrowded institutions than see them receive proper care in a loving home. He even stated in a letter that he had been called by God to wage this campaign of hatred. (Scary thought when an elected official forgets how he got in office.)
Rep. Chisolm authored the bill that puts a Texas constitutional amendment on the ballot in November to ban gay marriage, civil unions, domestic partnership, and also nullify common law marriage for heterosexuals. Was I the only one in the gallery when the House voted who heard him bring up the Terri Schiavo case when defending his bill, which is supposed to protect marriage? Stopping the court system from doing their job is the only thing this bill is written to do. Well, except get more ultra-right-wing money and votes.
Now Gov. Perry has shown his true colors. He is not a governor of the state of Texas. He is a governor for and of the Christian right. He has decided that his office in Austin is not a worthy place to sign bills. He will be at a Calvary Christian Academy in Forth Worth to sign two bills. One deals with abortion and one deals with gay marriage.
As a Texan, I am ashamed of the public leaders except the few who were brave enough to call for an end to this sham. There is no way to list all their names, but you can look back at the voting records and see which ones actually care about Texas and which ones are only following a national agenda of hate, lies, and fears. I would hate to sully their good names in the same company as those above.
The 79th Texas Legislature session has ended, and the senators and representatives have gone back home. Future Texans will look back at this session with shame and horror. Important work such as school funding was left unfinished as the majority party followed a national trend set by the current president. Forget the rules of good government; use lies, fear, and hatred to stir up emotions for future elections.
Rep. Talton, once again, attacked the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community with his attempt to stop them from being foster parents. He would rather see children left in abusive homes or placed back in overcrowded institutions than see them receive proper care in a loving home. He even stated in a letter that he had been called by God to wage this campaign of hatred. (Scary thought when an elected official forgets how he got in office.)
Rep. Chisolm authored the bill that puts a Texas constitutional amendment on the ballot in November to ban gay marriage, civil unions, domestic partnership, and also nullify common law marriage for heterosexuals. Was I the only one in the gallery when the House voted who heard him bring up the Terri Schiavo case when defending his bill, which is supposed to protect marriage? Stopping the court system from doing their job is the only thing this bill is written to do. Well, except get more ultra-right-wing money and votes.
Now Gov. Perry has shown his true colors. He is not a governor of the state of Texas. He is a governor for and of the Christian right. He has decided that his office in Austin is not a worthy place to sign bills. He will be at a Calvary Christian Academy in Forth Worth to sign two bills. One deals with abortion and one deals with gay marriage.
As a Texan, I am ashamed of the public leaders except the few who were brave enough to call for an end to this sham. There is no way to list all their names, but you can look back at the voting records and see which ones actually care about Texas and which ones are only following a national agenda of hate, lies, and fears. I would hate to sully their good names in the same company as those above.
Steve Whichard
Round Rock
Round Rock
