Planned Parenthood Cancer Screenings Defunded
While Gov. Greg Abbott received praise yesterday for signing into law a bill that makes middle and high school truancy a civil, not a criminal issue, today Abbott is heaped with scorn for approving a two-year state budget that includes a provision to eliminate all funding to Planned Parenthood’s breast and cervical cancer programs. For many poor or uninsured women, the program was the only option for getting screened.
In a story in the Texas Tribune, Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, noted that, “It’s really incredible how low the governor and some of the state legislators will go when you start throwing women out of cancer screening programs and making it impossible for them to continue to go get services where they have before.”
More Bad Abbott Choices
On Saturday, June 20, Governor Greg Abbott vetoed two bipartisan bills that could have dramatically helped the working poor and women trapped in a cycle of prostitution and jail..House Bill 1363, authored jointly by two Republicans and two Democrats, and passed by wide margins in both the House and Senate, would have delayed felony charges for prostitution until a seventh offense—which would have given women trapped in the prostitution and jail cycle time to get their lives in order before being hit with serious felony charges.
House Bill 1628 would have encouraged people who’ve never had a savings account to open one by allowing banks and credit unions to operate prize-linked savings account (PLSA) programs wherein a person can win a cash prize simply by making deposits into their own savings account.
The bills were authored by Rep. Eric Johnson (D-Dallas). In a press release put out by his office, Johnson said that “I am shocked and disappointed that he [Abbott] would veto two bipartisan bills that passed the Legislature overwhelmingly and which are so clearly aimed at helping some of our fellow Texans who find themselves in some very tough circumstances.”
Confederate Merchandise Removed from Store Shelves
Walmart and Sears, both of which are retailer mainstays in Texas, have announced that they will no longer be selling Confederate flags or other Confederate merchandise. Their decision comes in the wake of the racial hate crime committed by Dylann Roof, who shot and killed nine members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. last week.
Telegraph Canyon Releases New Song
Telegraph released a new song yesterday, the first new music the group has released since 2010. A press release by the band noted that the single, “Why Let it Go,” out on vinyl and digital today, is from a new album, “You from Before,” due out on July 31. Way to rock it!
It’s HOT Out There
Might have been cold rain just a few weeks ago, the early stages of Texas heat are on us now. So keep your heads, don’t work outdoors at the height of the heat, and stay hydrated.
It’s obvious that the Weekly hates Abbott because he is handicapped.
This nutball is guilty of aggravated stupidity and like so many Baggers is unashamed. What do you do with the worthless dick-heads? This is Texas….run them for Governor.
That was very wrong and uncalled for. We gave him credit when he earned it; we take credit away when he deserves it.
You at the Weekly no doubt loved Wendy Davis’s “Wheelchair Ad” and “Stand with Wendy!”
Thanks Benny, I’ll never decline prayer on my behalf. But you don’t need to alert me like a Pharisee each time you pray for me — just do it.