This blog has closely covered efforts at the Texas Legislature to pass HB 2754 limiting arrests for Class C misdemeanors, but the bill died last week thanks to Democratic incompetence. (See coverage here and here, plus Twitter commentary.) First, Democrat Shawn Thierry misunderstood the bill, driving her colleagues to vote against legislation that, had it been law at the time, would have prevented Sandra Bland's arrest, incarceration and death. Then, on a motion to reconsider after Dems recognized their mistake, the bill failed to earn a rules suspension by two votes because 20 Democratic supporters went home on Friday before their work day was finished.
Certainly, there were Democratic champions for this bipartisan legislation. Reps. Garnet Coleman, Nicole Collier, Joe Moody, Ron Reynolds, and Senfronia Thompson all pushed hard for the measure. But they couldn't stop their colleagues from blowing the bill up.
Over the weekend, I wrote up the bizarre denouement of this process - in which legislation died that only 37 of 150 House members opposed - but have decided to withhold commentary for a few days to let my anger die down. More later.
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10 comments:
Sorry to hear that can certainly relate to your feelings.Senate already adjourned for the day. Writing this at 3'15pm. HB 2048 waiting while time is running out! There must be a better way to accomplish the needs of the people.of the state of Texas. We differently need to figure it out? RT
Rep. Shawn Thierry's comments demonstrate her unfitness to represent her district. If she and her staff can't identify what is existing law and a clear improvement on it, she needs to be voted out. Her community stood to gain from this bill. Her defense of her actions shows has only made this problem worse.
How very distressing. No words.
Do we know which 20 supporters left early?
Legislative incompetence coupled with the wails of the "Big Hat Boys" keeps Texas on the lower rung of criminal justice reform every time...
Hopefully ones with open class C warrants
In addition to the others, Representative Jessica González also deserves huge props for stepping up and trying to save this bill last week.
Fickle, whimsical, useless. Special interests have them by the balls
Fickle, whimsical, useless. Special interests have them by the balls
Fickle, whimsical, useless. Special interests have them by the balls
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