Statement from State Rep. Jessica Farrar (D-TX) on tonight's Texas House hearing

[Tx4obama]

-snip-

Statement from State Rep. Jessica Farrar (D-TX) on tonight's hearing:

"Once again, far-right House members in the State Affairs Committee blocked Texans from speaking against a bill that will harm woman across the state. At midnight, the committee chairman cut off testimony, denying more than a thousand Texans the opportunity to speak out against dangerous legislation that would virtually ban safe and legal abortion statewide.

"This isn't the fair democratic process that we value in Texas. This is politics at its worst.

"The Texas constitution says that the Governor may call a special session "on extraordinary occasions." If this is such an "extraordinary occasion," Texans from across the state deserve the opportunity to voice their opinion.

"On behalf of the women and men in the communities I serve -- and those that were silenced tonight -- I call on leadership to hold public hearings across the state so Texans can have their voice heard."

-snip-

http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/13735/hb2-liveblog-stand-with-texas-women-at-the-state-affairs-hearing

The Committee passed the bill by a vote of 8-3

[Tx4obama]

1. And one of the best lines of the night...

-snip-

Update 11:13 p.m. by Katherine:

The line of the night may go to Katie Heim, who brought the house down with a speech about her Meemaw, who would tell the Legislature to get out of her "business."

She closed with, "HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A TEXAS WOMAN SCORNED!! ... Now bless y'alls hearts."

Perfect.

http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/13735/hb2-liveblog-stand-with-texas-women-at-the-state-affairs-hearing

[jaysunb]

2. +1 n/t

[Coyotl]

3. Can a court challenge be made to calling the session?

"The Texas constitution says that the Governor may call a special session "on extraordinary occasions." Does the Constitution or case law define "extraordinary occasions" in this regard?

[Tx4obama]

4. I don't know anything about that, but...

Tonight at the end of the hearing Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner (while asking a question of one of the men, an attorney, that was standing at the public speakers podium) explained how the HB2 bill is unconstitutional due to Section 2 of the bill.

And I heard that earlier tonight Wendy Davis was on Maddow's show and she said that a lawsuit will be filed against HB2 - I didn't see the segment but my guess is that it's probably because the bill is unconstitutional.

That's all I know.

[Iliyah]

5. Yes!

Texas does not term limits on the Governorships?

[TexasTowelie]

6. Nope.

You can be governor forever here if you can convince enough to vote for you. One election, Perry only got 39% of the vote, but won since it was a 4-way race.

[LarryNM]

8. When this is done in Latin America we call them "Dictators" n/t

[Not Sure]

9. Dictator sounds about right

I can't wait til the day I can quote Perry back to him, "adios, mofo."

[NoPasaran]

10. I call him the Governor For Life

[Iliyah]

7. Oh well

I believe it can change although the 5 justices gutting some parts of the VRA and Texas immediately installed the gerrymandering maps, Women will be the key.