There is a bit of confusion surrounding Joe Straus' record with Pro-Choice Texas. Their web-site is a bit difficult to understand, and I did not do a good job of explaining my assessment last week.
The Pro-Choice Texas (PCTX) web-site has report cards relevant to Straus for the 79th (2005) and the 80th (2007) Texas Legislative sessions. They list multiple bills/resolutions for each year, plus relevant amendments. So, they may list 9 or 14 votes scored for each year. Then each Representative may or may not vote on each item. This could be cause of committee votes for a committee that the representative does not sit on, or the rep. may not have been present among other reasons for not voting.
The score card only measures the pro-choice vote for the issues they voted on. So for Straus, the 100% rating came from one pro-choice vote in 2007. In 2005, he got a 45% approval for 4 of 9 Pro-Choice votes.
In my analysis, I see three votes in those two sessions that concern me. According to PCTX, in 2005 ... "Representative Hartnett (R-Dallas) offered an Amendment 2 to CSSB 419 (a bill reauthorizing the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners) to amend the Occupations Code to prevent physicians from being licensed to practice medicine and to subject them to disciplinary action for performing a third trimester abortion when the fetus is viable, unless the abortion is necessary to prevent the woman’s death. Amendment 2, as amended by Amendments 3 and 8, was adopted by a record vote of 118-16 on May 16, 2005." Other amendment's were also offered, and Straus parted company from the Pro-Life stance and his Republican counter parts on Amendment 2 amendments 4, 8, 9 & 10.
In 2007, there are two issues. PCTX records Straus supporting one vote for pro-choice legislation (HB-1 Amendment 20). This resulted in at 100% (one for one) rating. Straus also co-authored a bill supported by PCTX. HB-1842 was authored and introduced by Rep. Mark Strama. While Straus didn't get to vote on it, he co-authored it, and PCTX applauded him for it. This bill would have added "comprehensive sex education" and the corresponding funds to Texas' education system. The committee hearing witness list tells us a lot about who was for/against this bill. Straus aligned with the Pro-Choice crowd.
Below are some web-links relevant to Straus 's record.
Bills Authored or Joint-Authored by Straus in 80th Legislature
Bills Sponsored or Co-Sponsored by Straus in 80th Legislature
Bills Authored or Joint-Authored by Straus in 79th Legislature (Regular Session)
Bills Sponsored or Co-Sponsored by Straus in 79th Legislature (Regular Session)
Straus - Google Search for site: www.ProChoiceTexas.org
I hope this helps bring clarity to Straus' voting record.
God Save Texas
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