Rep. Springer's emotional stem cell speech breaks tea party obstruction
After tea party-aligned legislators ground the work of the Texas House to a halt as a key legislative deadline approached at midnight, Rep. Drew Springer gave an emotional speech imploring his colleagues to move forward so the House could vote on a bill expanding access to stem cell treatment that he believes could help his wife, who uses a wheelchair.
“It does some remarkable things,” Springer, a Muenster Republican, said through tears while giving a personal privilege speech on adult stem cell treatments. “It might give somebody like my wife a chance to walk.”
Springer’s campaign website says: “During the time Drew and Lydia were dating, some twenty-three years ago, Lydia was involved in a diving accident and has used a wheelchair since that time. Her ability not to let it slow her down has been a source of strength and inspiration to Drew.”
His speech momentarily freed up the gridlock, allowing House Bill 810 by Rep. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, to pass. The bill was named Charlie’s Law after former Rep. Charlie Howard, who died recently after a years-long battle with cancer.
Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/rep-springer-emotional-stem-cell-speech-breaks-tea-party-obstruction/IVhNRTTN4lNmrIIen9FPFJ/
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