TX Legislature: "Religious Freedom Bill" Causes Stir on House Floor

“Currently, students' voluntary religious expression is being treated as second-class speech, and sometimes worse, in public schools. School children are being censored and reprimanded at school, leaving them in fear of punishment for their religious beliefs. Due to hostility toward religious expression, children are being forced to defend their First Amendment rights in courtrooms all across Texas, and throughout the nation.

“School districts' practices and policies continue to violate the free speech rights of students, regardless of court decisions to the contrary. C.S.H.B. 3678 codifies these court decisions and the constitutional ways a student, or groups of students, may express their faith at school and at school sponsored events. The bill protects the constitutional freedoms that students already have and provides clarity for teachers and administrators who have been confused about what they may permit students to express. With this clarity, students' constitutional rights are protected, and school districts avoid violating such rights.”

This is the summary of House Bill 3678, authored by Rep. Charlie Howard and Rep. Warren Chisum, which came before the Texas House for debate on the floor yesterday. Almost immediately, passions on the floor flared, with several Democrats – led by Rep. Senfronia Thompson – attacking the bill with an onslaught of amendments (i.e, separate filings that alter the bill’s language). Reps. Chisum and Howard fought back, claiming repeatedly that this was "nothing more than a Free Speech bill” that would “reinforce the First Amendment in our schools.” Opponents saw this as an radical piece of legislation inspired by religious extremists to address a crisis that, in fact, doesn’t exist aside from a few isolated incidences. They also saw it as a serious incursion on the constitutional separation of church and state.

Finally, at around 6pm, after several hours of amendment after amendment and procedural attack after procedural attack, Rep. Chisum decided that he’d had enough of all this hearty debate and discussion. He brought forth a very rare motion to “limit the amount of amendments, so we can all get out of here before midnight tonight.” Several Reps. reacted immediately, claiming that this was, ironically, an attempt to limit the right of free speech on what was being referred to as a “free speech bill.” Chisum’s motion was voted down (but just barely).

In a gutsy move, Senfronia Thompson then took the mic and asked to see the list of Reps. who had signed their names to Chisum’s amendment-limiting motion (there were allegedly 25 names, according to Chisum). After much protest and an attempt by Speaker Craddick to thwart Thompson's request, the list was finally read aloud. Here it is in full:

Rep. Hill
Rep. Morrison
Rep. King
Rep. Miller
Rep. Caligari
Rep. Hopson
Rep. Picket
Rep. Pitts
Rep. Orr
Rep. Aycock
Rep. Darby
Rep. Phillips
Rep. West
Rep. Harless
Rep. Patrick
Rep. Zedler
Rep. Chisum
Rep. Macias
Rep. Wayne Smith (not Todd)
Rep. Flynn
Rep. Taylor
Rep. O’Day
Rep. Hughes
Rep. Otto
Rep. Murphy
Rep. Zerwas

(Each of these members can all be looked up here)

Right after this list was read aloud to the House chamber, Rep. Charlie Howard came before the House and moved to postpone debate on HB 3678 until Monday. This motion passed, and the debate was cut off for the evening, despite much protest from the House floor.

Images of Reps. Howard, Chisum and Thompson courtesy of Wikipedia.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By s in News on April 26, 2007 11:11 AM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

jooley ann

Indeed, Tex, it is as you say. In the last election, our rep changed from Jack Stick (recipient of money from Mr. Tom Delay!) to Mark Strama. Believe me, I know exactly what Strama stands for -- that's why I voted for him. And for ONCE the person I voted for got elected.

Yay for democracy.

dominick-T

Come come, let's not delve into excessive cynicism, fellow Americans. MOST politicians are worthless these days...but not ALL. I think Strama's one of the few that actually care. After all, the guy left a pretty lucrative career just so he could do some good for the state. Most of these guys (and gals) are into it to MAKE some bread. THAT'S part of the problem.

Tex

Stew, I'm going to guess you don't know who Mark Strama is judging from that statement. Look him up, you'll be surprised.

Stew

Jooley Ann,

Just like most Americans you blame the terrible job that government does on every congressman but your own. He's an angel I'm sure.

dan

s, thanks for keeping us informed. I have enjoyed all of these posts lately (and the discussions too). At least the state congress can only wreak havoc for another couple months...

s

indeed. just for the record, i've been submitting these posts on the TX Leg for the sole purpose of informing people what their elected representatives are up to over there at the Capitol...whether you agree with it or not...

jooley ann

What the hell is going on in the Texas legislature? Bills all over the place codifying all sorts of insane governmental invasions into private life. WTF??

There's this one. There's the "Does your dog bite?" bill. And there're the two whoppers from the senate's biggest jackass, Dan Patrick: one would force women seeking an abortion to first have an ultrasound, and the other would triple the wait time for a no-fault divorce.

Jeeee-moh-neeee. People, for crying out loud would you pay attention to what your rep is doing, and how s/he is voting, and cast your own ballot a bit more carefully in the next election?

Oh, and again, of course my man Mark Strama has nothing to do with this nonsense of Chisum's. It's nice to be represented by someone in whom I have confidence to...REPRESENT me.