Male Texas lawmakers nearly fistfight on House floor after GOP women defect from anti-abortion bill

[RandySF]

An abortion battle in the Texas legislature nearly turned into a fistfight on Sunday night after several Republican women changed their mind about a bill that would ban health insurance from covering abortions.

According to the Houston Chronicle, House sergeants had to stop Republican state Rep. Jonathan Stickland from attacking Rep. Byron Cook (R) after Senate Bill 575 did not make it to the House floor as he expected.

Cook had reportedly promised to move SB 575 out of the State Affairs Committee to the Calendars Committee if Stickland agreed to drop an amendment that would have banned abortions based on fetal abnormalities.

Although Cook kept his word, three Republican women on the Calendars Committee — Reps. Sarah Davis, Debbie Riddle and Patricia Harless — backed out of supporting the bill at the last minute and sided with the Democrats, killing the measure with a 7-7 vote.

At around 9:30 p.m., an enraged Stickland got in Cook’s face on the House floor. After a brief yelling match and nearly coming to blows, House sergeants got in between the two to prevent the scuffle from continuing, The Texas Tribune reported.


http://www.rawstory.com/2015/05/male-texas-lawmakers-nearly-fistfight-on-house-floor-after-gop-women-defect-from-anti-abortion-bill/

[gratuitous]

1. "Fistfight"; yeah, sure

More like two dowagers screeching about a sales slip snafu at the Lord & Taylor checkout.

[Buzz Clik]

4. The state house is pretty representative of the state.

It's possible your description is correct, but it's more likely that the near-combatants were the real deal.

[okasha]

2. The lege is such an embarrassment to the state.

[Sancho]

3. Texas rising!

[onehandle]

5. Ladies, ladies settle down.

Let the men decide what to do about your wimmen problems.

Honestly!

[3catwoman3]

8. Yes. Heaven forbid that...

...the womenfolk might like to make their own decisions about their own health and health care.

[eloydude]

6. It's Texas.. Drawdown at high noon*

Settle up like a man. Loser resigns from the Legislature.

_{*with paintballs}

[NV Whino]

7. Really, ya gotta love Texas.

Thank god the lege is in session only every other year.

[Dustlawyer]

9. Republican Sarah Davis sides with Dems on this issue because she has personal experience

with these issues. Why do they always have to have the shit happen to them before they see the light?