Update: Rep. Villareal's office called. After the jump.
Rep. Wong has sent us her statement on HJR 6's lightning fast vote out of committee this morning. View the PDF here.
We also called Vilarreal's office for a statement on where he was along with Martinez-Fisher cause they were both absent on the vote. Sure, it wouldn't have made a difference on getting it to the floor, but it would have been nice to see a couple of "Nays" other than Farrar. Farrar's office told us she says, "We are Texans, fiercely independent and proud of it, and we mind our own business." She gets our strong Democrat award today.
Martinez Fisher gets our pissed off Democrat award today, here's what he had to say:
Representative Martinez Fisher called me to ask if I was about to 'punk' him. His surprise was that HJR 6 was voted on so early and without any notification that it was coming up for a vote. He has more to say, read it after the jump:
Martinez Fisher had repeatedly asked for the Attorney General to provide some estimate of the what the inevitable court challenge to HJR 6 will cost the state. He mistakenly thought this would flag the bill, however it was pushed right through. Strange, he says, when other controversial bills haven't been pushed through so quickly. Such as, the Open Records Bill and the use of cell phones while driving.
Why was the AG's office not prepared to answer an important question asked by Representative Fisher?
Rep. Villareal's office called and said they were not informed by the Chairman that HJR 6 was coming up. Villareal HB 1515 to end employment, housing and other forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation. He is also gathering Dems to vote no on HJR 6. Rep. Villareal's office also said the State Affairs committee usually meets at 2 p.m. not 8 a.m.
no, seriously...where were villareal, who blamed his absence on a state affairs committee conspiracy (wha?) and martinez "i added my mother's maiden name to get elected in san antonio" fischer? how do they both lose track of time and their civil responsibility to let something like this fall through the cracks when they purport themselves to be voices for the queer communities, in not only san antonio, but throughout texas? as a politcally active, in the closet, queer republican in san antonio who only slightly cares about gay marriage, i wouldnt mind making a it a point to emphasize this...actions speak louder than words. when democrats like them dont make it a point to be there for us when it counts, who will? props to farrar..i would drive to houston just to block walk for her.
LGRLâs Statement in Response to Martha Wongâs statement.
âThe rights of minorities should never be subject to a vote by the majority. I had hoped that as an Asian âAmerican, Representative Wong, would understand this tenet of civil rights. I am very disappointed that Representative Wong did not vote with her district and has decided to allow the lives, safety and dignity of thousand of Texans families to be subject to a state wide vote."
"I appreciate the fact that Representative Wong states she is working to help LGBT families with the issue of hospital visitation, but her own statement shows that there is a need to pass legislation that will help protect LGBT families. Without the protections that marriage offers, blood relatives have rights that supersede those of same-sex partners. A marriage certificate costs 41 dollars. The attorney fees required to obtain just a handful of the responsibilities and rights that marriage such as a power of attorney or living will costs thousands of dollars and are very often successfully challenged by blood relatives."
"Her vote will help perpetuate the discrimination and hate towards LGBT people that Texas has come to represent. LGRL calls on Representative Wongâs colleagues to take pause before they act as hastily as Representative Wong in voting for this anti-family measure."
Why is this the first time Rep. Martha Wong has stated her so called "support of civil unions?" Where has Wong been for the last year plus when this question has been posed to her on continually to which she has refused to answer?
She must truly think people in her district are complete idiots to fall for this line. Once again, Rep. Wong manages to avoid the issue at hand until the timing works in her favor. If Representative Wong is so supportive of civil unions then why didn't she introduce a bill during this legislative session? Representative Wong's timing is always perfect...whenever the timing suits her political career and not those of her district.
Oh...and hospital visitation rights....one call to a doctor....how about working with her constituents on this issue? Then she could claim she was really "working" on hospital visitation rights.
I wonder who wrote that letter for Wong. Surely she could not have...RNC must have those talking points ready for Republicans in swing districts.