Joe Deshotel’s questionable Life voting record

Democrat incumbent Joe Deshotel of Beaumont was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1998 as an unopposed candidate. Since then, he has run unopposed during each election, save for the occasional third-party challenger. During his time in office, Deshotel has a mixed review on life issues, taking an occasional Pro-Life vote, scoring higher than most Democrats on the Pro-Life scorecard. For instance, in the 83rd, 84th, and 85th Sessions of the Legislature, Deshotel scored a 4%, 18%, and 23%, respectively. However, he recently scored 0% in the 2019 86th Session.  Deshotel verbalizes that he opposes some abortions, and he likely does in principle, but his record on Pro-Life measures indicates that he favors more than he opposes in practice. 

Highlights:

• Has voted in favor of late-term abortions at least 12 times since 2011;
• He registered as “present, not voting” on a bill banning infanticide and requiring basic medical care for children who survive abortions;
• He has voted numerous times in favor of taxpayer funding of abortion.
• He voted to give money to the abortion industry instead of:
  • Mental Health Services for Children ($14.5 million),
  • EMS and trauma care ($140 thousand),
  • Early Childhood Intervention programs and non-Medicaid programs ($18.2 million and $3.2 million),
  • Deaf-Blind multiple disabilities programs ($1.7 million), and
  • Alternatives to Abortion ($8.3 million).
• He voted in favor of undermining medical evidence proving that preborn children feel pain;
• He voted against age verification for before minors can undergo an abortion;
• He voted to redefine “adult” to include 17-year-olds to allow them to undergo abortions without parental consent;
• He voted against banning dismemberment abortion procedures, during which a live baby is killed by being torn apart limb by limb;
• He voted on multiple occasions against banning the purchasing and selling of body parts of aborted babies.

Deshotel represents Beaumont in Jefferson County – a county that is quickly turning red but has always held Pro-Life values. Texas Right to Life PAC has endorsed Republican Jacorion Randle – a staunchly Pro-Life candidate who, as a black man, knows how abortion targets the black community – in his bid to unseat Deshotel.

Joe Deshotel’s full anti-Life record since 2011:

86th Session (2019) – 0%

• House Bill 1, amendment 52 by Krause – Deshotel voted against this amendment that increased the Pro-Life and Pro-Woman Alternatives to Abortion program by $52 million. He then voted against Amendment 53 which perfected and clarified the increase in funding, and voted for Amendment 54 which sought to remove the funding. 
• House Bill 16 by Leach, the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act – Deshotel refused to support basic protections and medical care for children who survive an attempted abortion. When the vote came up, Deshotel registered himself as “present, not voting.”
• Senate Bill 22 by Campbell, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act – Deshotel voted for amendments seeking to weaken and undermine the bill. He voted against a Pro-Life amendment that clarified that cities and counties can ban abortions in their jurisdictions. By voting against Senate Bill 22, he publicly supported allowing cities and counties to continue using Texans’ tax dollars to benefit the abortion industry.

85th Session (2017) – 23%

• Senate Bill 1
  • Amendment 197 by Springer and Rinaldi – Deshotel voted against this amendment to prohibit state funds going to abortion providers and their affiliates. 
  • motion to Instruct by Leach – Deshotel voted against this motion to instruct which sought to maintain the funding level for the Pro-Life Healthy Texas Women Program.
  • motion to instruct by Lang – Deshotel voted against this motion to instruct which sought to maintain the funding level for the Alternatives to Abortion program.
  • motion to instruct by Shaheen – Deshotel voted against this motion to instruct which sought to maintain the prohibition on state funds from the abortion industry and their affiliates. 
• Senate Bill 8, Pro-Life Omnibus Bill
  • Amendment 1 by Burkett – Deshotel voted against this amendment which added severability language to the bill so that each section of SB 8 remains in effect if another section of SB 8 is challenged in court. 
  • amendment 5 by Farrar – Deshotel voted for this amendment that sought to weaken the dismemberment abortion ban by adding vague terms to the “life of the mother” exception already in the bill. 
  • amendment 2 by Klick – Deshotel voted against this amendment which bans the inhumane dismemberment abortion procedure through which a live unborn child dies from being torn limb from limb. 
  • amendment 7 by Sarah Davis – Deshotel voted for this amendment which sought to strike down half of SB 8. Including the ban on the purchase and sale of baby body parts, as well as fetal burial and cremation requirements.
  • amendments 9 – 13 and 21 – Deshotel voted in favor of these weakening amendments.
  • amendment 15 by Cain and Oliverson – Deshotel voted against this amendment which strengthens guidelines to prohibit donation of placenta and umbilical cord blood from being sold or donated after an elective abortion. 
  • amendment 19 by Schaefer – Deshotel voted against this amendment which requires abortionists to submit monthly abortion reports electronically and directs the Department of State Health Services to develop an electronic system for abortion reporting. 
  • motion to table Amendment 22 by Schaefer – Deshotel voted in favor of killing Amendment 22, which sought to close the loophole in Texas laws that allows for preborn children with disabilities to be killed by abortion after 20 weeks of development. 
  • second and third readings – Deshotel voted against final passage of Senate Bill 8. 
• House Bill 13: Abortion Complications reporting (special session) 
  • Amendment 1 by Capriglione – Deshotel voted against this amendment which requires electronic reporting by the abortionist. 
  • motions to table Amendments 2 and 4 – Deshotel voted against tabling these two weakening, anti-Life amendments. 
  • second and third readings – Deshotel voted against final passage of House Bill 13.
• House Bill 215: Reporting for Minors Seeking Abortions and Reporting on Abortions Committed due to Fetal Abnormality (special session) – Deshotel voted against final passage of House Bill 215.
• House Bill 214: Pro-Life Health Insurance Reform (special session)
  • motion to table amendment 1 by Hinojosa – Deshotel voted against tabling this weakening, anti-Life amendment which sought to force taxpayers to fund insurance coverage for abortion of preborn children with disabilities.
  • motion to table Amendment 2 by Hinojosa – Deshotel voted against tabling this weakening, anti-Life amendment which sought to add a vague and undefined loophole. 
  • motion to table amendments 3-6 – Deshotel voted against tabling these four weakening, anti-Life amendments.
  • motion to table Amendment 7 by Dutton – Deshotel voted against tabling this weakening, anti-Life amendment to force taxpayers to fund insurance coverage for abortion of preborn children with disabilities, children conceived in rape or incest, or if the abortion was recommended by a doctor.
  • second and third readings – Deshotel voted against final passage of House Bill 214. 

84th Session (2015) – 18%

• House Bill 1 
  • amendment 53 by Leach – Deshotel voted against this amendment which prohibits abortion providers and affiliates from teaching or providing the curriculum for sex education. 
  • motion to table amendment 56 by Chris Turner – Deshotel voted against tabling this weakening amendment.
  • amendment 257 by Scott Turner – Deshotel voted against this amendment which prohibits direct or indirect taxpayer funding of embryo destroying scientific research
• House Bill 3994: Pro-Life Judicial Bypass Reform
  • Amendment 3 by Rodriguez – Deshotel voted for the weakening amendment which sought to create a loophole by removing the requirement to verify whether women seeking abortions are minors.
  • Amendment 5 by Gonzalez – Deshotel voted for the weakening amendment that unnecessarily expanded the forms of ID that could be used to prove the woman’s age.
  • Amendment 6 by Israel – Deshotel voted for the weakening amendment that circumvented parental authority by allowing other adult relatives to consent to minor’s abortion. 
  • Amendment 7 by Collier – Deshotel voted for the weakening amendment that forced judges to rule immediately after hearing, preventing further investigation into abuse. 
  • Amendment 8 by Moody – Deshotel voted for the weakening amendment that expanded reasons for judges to automatically grant judicial bypass and avoid parental involvement
  • Amendment 9 by Howard – Deshotel voted for the weakening amendment that expanded reasons for judges to automatically grant judicial bypass and avoid parental involvement.
  • Amendment 10 by Minjarez – Deshotel voted for the weakening amendment that redefines adult to include 17 year olds to allow them to consent to elective abortions. 
  • Amendment 11 by Bernal – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment to force judges to automatically grant bypass if minor had graduated high school.
  • Amendment 12 by Gonzalez – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment to strike all reporting requirements, preventing reporting and publishing of accurate data on bypasses.
  • Amendment 13 by Gonzalez – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment to enable venue shopping by allowing more minors to file petition away from their home county. 
  • Amendment 15 by Collier – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment to enable bypass to be used by more than one minor by forcing judges to give order to multiple parties. 
  • Amendment 16 by Walle – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment that removed the definition of abuse to allow judges to grant bypass on subjective standards.
  • 2nd reading and final passage – Deshotel voted against final passage of House Bill 3994.
• Motion to table amendment 17 to HB 2510 by Schaefer – Deshotel voted in favor of tabling this amendment that closed loophole in Texas law that allows late abortions on preborn children with disabilities. 
• Adoption of amendment 18  to House Bill 2510 by Schaefer – Deshotel voted against amendment 18 which sought to close the loophole in Texas law that allows late abortions on preborn children with disabilities.

83rd Session (2013) – 4%

• House Bill 2: Pro-Life Omnibus Bill
  • Second reading and final passage – Deshotel voted against final passage of HB 2.
  • Amendment by S. Thompson – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole to allow abortions after 20 weeks for babies conceived in rape and incest.
  • Amendment by S. Davis – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole to remove all doctor and clinic regulations in the bill, and allow abortions after 20 weeks for babies conceived in rape and incest
  • Amendment by Menendez – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment requiring the state to pay for travel expenses to abortion clinics if a woman lives more than 30 miles away
  • Amendment by Eiland – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment to remove all doctor and clinic regulations, gutting out about 75% of the bill
  • Amendment by Anchia – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole to allow more abortions after the point when the baby can feel pain
  • Amendment by Howard – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment lowering the standard for the type of hospital privileges required for abortionists
  • Amendment by S. Turner of Harris – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole to exempt some doctors from seeking admitting privileges.
  • Amendment by Menendez – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole to allow more abortions after the point when the baby can feel pain.
  • Amendment by McClendon – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole to allow more abortions after 20 weeks for pregnant minors who claim they didn’t receive proper sex education, and overhaul current sex education system. 
  • Amendment by Herrero – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole to weaken chemical abortion standards.
  • Amendment by Miles – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole to allow easier chemical abortions of babies conceived in rape or incest.
  • Amendment by Gonzalez – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole to allow rural abortion centers to operate under lower facility standards.
  • Amendment by Dukes – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole to allow bureaucratic state agency to grant waivers to the ban on abortions of babies who feel pain.
  • Amendment by S. Turner of Harris – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment forcing taxpayers to cover the cost of raising the standards of abortion facilities. 
  • Amendment by Howard – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment exempting abortion facilities from Ambulatory Surgical Center construction requirements essential for patient safety.
  • Amendment by Collier – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment removing penalties against abortionists who violate the law. 
  • Amendment by Gutierrez – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment requiring taxpayers to pay lawsuit costs if a judge sides with plaintiffs against the law.
  • Amendment by Farrar – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment requiring the state to pay $6.8 million for a study on pregnancy complications in attempt to add fiscal note to the state.
  • Amendment by Dutton – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment requiring the state to abolish the death penalty before enforcing this law.
  • Amendment by Giddings – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole to weaken existing law on informed consent about the abortion-breast cancer link. 
  • Amendment by Dukes – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment expanding Medicaid coverage for every member of the woman’s household if she is not granted waiver to undergo an abortion after the baby can feel pain.
  • Amendment by Herrero – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment forcing taxpayers to pay for all non-abortion services offered by abortion centers that do not comply with facility standards. 
  • Amendment on 3rd reading by McClendon – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment which attempted to add already existing adoption benefits to children born as a result of their mother being unable to obtain an abortion past 20 weeks. 
• Senate Bill 5: Pro-Life Omnibus Bill
  • Second reading and final passage – Deshotel voted against final passage of SB 5.
  • Amendment by Gonzalez – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment which undermined medical evidence proving preborn pain. 
  • Amendment by Thompson – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment allowing for abortions after 20 weeks for babies conceived in rape and incest.
  • Amendment by Collier – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment undermining medical evidence proving preborn pain. 
  • Amendment by Howard – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole exempting some abortionists from obtaining admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.
  • Amendment by Howard – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole to allow more abortions to occur after the baby can feel pain.
  • Amendment by Gonzalez – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole to allow more rural abortion centers to have lower facility standards. 
  • Amendment by Rodriguez – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment allowing abortion centers until 2015 (additional year) to comply with higher health and safety standards.
  • Amendment by Howard – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment to exempt abortion facilities from the structural requirements enforced at ambulatory surgical centers essential for patient safety.
  • Amendment by Perez – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment that blocks the new law until Texas uninsured rate decreases.
  • Amendment by Gonzalez – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment that blocks the new law until Texas repeat teen pregnancy rate decreases.
  • Amendment by Allen – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment that blocks the new law until birth rate of Texas teens decreases.
  • Amendment by Rodriguez – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment that blocks the new law until Texas teen pregnancy rate decreases.
  • Amendment by Alonzo – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment that blocks the new law until Texas uninsured rate decreases.
  • Move the previous question by Hughes – Deshotel voted against this motion

82nd Session (2011) – 0%

• House Bill 15 – Sonogram Bill
  • Final passage – Deshotel voted against final passage of HB 15
  • Amendment by Alvarado – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment to strike the enacting clause, rendering the bill invalid
  • Amendment by Anchia – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment to weaken the definition of medical emergency
  • Amendment by Hernandez Luna – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment to add a loophole to rape, incest, and minors with judicial bypass exceptions. 
  • Amendment by Farrar – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole for abortion doctors to not provide the required materials to the woman
  • Amendment by Farrar – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment weakening the woman’s opportunity to meet with doctor
  • Amendment by Castro – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole for abortion doctors to cajole women into not receiving the information
  • Amendment by Martinez – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment creating unfair licensing for pregnancy centers, plus the state would pay for the sonogram
  • Amendment by Walle – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment requiring the state to pay for the sonogram
  • Amendment by Hernandez Luna – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding loophole for abortion doctors to not provide the required materials to the woman.
  • Amendment by Lucio – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment requiring the state to pay for the sonogram
  • Amendment by Dutton – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment requiring the state to pay college tuition of a chjild whose mother chose life after the sonogram
  • Amendment by Dutton – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment requiring the state to pay health care for a child born whose mother chose life after sonogram
  • Amendment by Raymond – Deshotel voted for this amendment to amend the Dutton amendment
  • Amendment by Castro – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment to provide women Medicaid applications at the abortion clinic.
  • Amendment by Farrar – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment requiring the state to pay for the woman’s healthcare costs if the woman chooses life.
  • Amendment by Hernandez Luna – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole to abort unborn children who may have disabilities.
  • Amendment by Coleman – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment to weaken penalties for doctors who violate informed consent
  • Amendment by Farrar – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment adding a loophole for abortion doctors to not provide the required materials to the woman
  • Amendment by Anchia – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment which was an attempt to kill the bill if enforcement adds cost to the state.
  • Amendment by Castro – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment to amend Phil King’s amendment.
  • Amendment by Veasey – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment which was an attack on pregnancy centers.
  • Amendment by Veasey – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment which was an attack on pregnancy centers. 
  • Amendment by Eiland – Deshotel voted for this weakening amendment which meant to weaken and change the entire bill.
• House Bill 1: State’s Budget Bill (Amendments to redirect funds from abortion)
  • Amendment by Weber – Deshotel voted against this amendment to restore $8.3 million to the state’s Alternatives to Abortion program
  • Amendment by Bohac – Deshotel voted against this amendment to redirect $14.5 million to Mental Health Services for Children
  • Amendment by Murphy – Deshotel voted against this amendment to redirect $140 thousand to EMS and trauma care.
  • Amendment by Miller – Deshotel voted against this amendment to redirect $18.2 million to Early Childhood Intervention programs and $3.2 million to Non-medicaid services. 
  • Amendment by Zedler – Deshotel voted against this amendment to redirect $1.7 million to Deaf-Blind Multiple Disabilities programs
  • Motion to Instruct by Miller – Deshotel voted against this motion to instruct House conferees to keep Pro-Life amendments in the final version of HB 1
• Senate Bill 1 (special session): General Fiscal Matters Bill
  • Amendment by Christian – Deshotel voted against this amendment to prohibit hospital districts from using local tax revenue to fund abortions
  • Motion to Instruct by Murphy – Deshotel voted against this motion to instruct House conferees to keep the Pro-Life amendments in the final version of SB 1
• Senate Bill 7 (special session): Health and Human Services Reform
  • Amendment by Christian – Deshotel voted against this amendment to prohibit hospital districts from using local tax revenue to fund abortions
  • Motion to Instruct by Miller – Deshotel voted against this motion to instruct House conferees to keep the Pro-Life amendments in the final conference report.