How Pro-Life are your Reps?

The 82nd Session of the Texas Legislature was the most successful Pro-Life session in the history of Texas Right to Life, the oldest and largest state-wide Pro-Life organization in the South.  The legislature passed one of the strongest pre-abortion sonogram laws in the United States.  The 82nd Session also dealt an historic blow to the abortion industry by a two-pronged budget cutting plan architected by Texas Right to Life.

In addition to reallocating $64 million away from family planning through eight amendments on the House floor, the Williams rider was also adopted for the budget.  The Williams rider ensures that the remaining family planning funds are disbursed according to a priority that sets agencies affiliated with abortion providers at the bottom of the list.  The Health and Human Services Committee officials have reworked the family planning contract and grant process to implement legislative intent, and community health centers, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC’s), private health clinics, and other providers that are not involved with abortion or abortion referrals will be eligible for the grants first, leaving virtually no money for abortion-affiliated contractors.

Numerous other Pro-Life provisions passed as amendments in the House of Representatives, yet these amendments did not reach Governor Perry’s desk.  These votes were openly debated, recorded in the Journal, and are factored into the Pro-Life scores and rankings of House members.

Those Pro-Life heroes who introduced, co-authored, defended, voted, and fought for Life-saving measures under intense opposition have earned extra credit, yielding a score above 100%.  Those members who voted in favor of Life earned a score of 100%.  Those officials who rejected opportunities to protect the sanctity of innocent human life scored below 100%.

To view the scorecards for individual legislators, please click here: Scorecards: 82nd Legislative Session.

The scorecards for House members include:

•    Votes on House Bill 15 (Sonogram Bill) and amendments

•    Votes on Texas Right to Life’s eight amendments to House Bill 1

•    Votes closing funding loopholes exploited by the abortion industry in Texas

•    Votes related to closing a dangerous loophole that allows minors to seek abortions without parental involvement

•    Bonuses for authoring or co-authoring Pro-Life bills, amendments, or motions

•    Penalties for authoring anti-Life amendments or motions

The scorecards for Senate members include:

•    Votes on Senate Bill 16 (Sonogram Bill) and amendments

•    Votes on House Bill 15 when the House version of the Sonogram Bill returned to the Senate for final passage

•    Bonuses for authoring or co-authoring Pro-Life bills, amendments, or motions

•    Penalties for authoring anti-Life amendments or motions

Average scores:

•    Whole House: 75%

•    House Republicans: 108%

•    House Democrats: 7%

•    House Freshmen: 95%

•    Whole Senate: 72%

•    Senate Republicans: 107%

•    Senate Democrats: 17%

•    Senate Freshmen: 75%

•    Texas Right to Life Endorsed Elected Officials: 111%

Representative Sid Miller earned Texas Right to Life’s 2011 Legislator of the Year Award for his authorship of the Sonogram Bill, his authorship of the largest Pro-Life amendment to the state’s budget, and for capitalizing his role in leadership to advance the Pro-Life cause.  Sid’s Pro-Life score the 82nd session is 162%.

Representative Bryan Hughes earned Texas Right to Life’s 2011 Pro-Life Whip Award for his constant shepherding and oversight of Pro-Life measures in the State House.  Representative Hughes is the “Go-To-Guy” for other Pro-Life House members.  Members vet their amendments and strategies with him, and he is always eager to tweak, support, and encourage any advancement for the cause.  Representative Hughes is the top Pro-Life scorer in the House, leading the pack with 164%.

To view the scorecards for individual legislators, please click here: Scorecards: 82nd Legislative Session.