Planned Parenthood

*This is being reported by LGBTQNation.

A group of anti-choice Republicans reportedly spent 16 minutes on the Texas House floor on Thursday speaking out against a resolution honoring the late Cecile Richards, a Texas native and the longtime president of Planned Parenthood. Richards, the daughter of former Texas Gov. Ann Richards (D), died of brain cancer on January 20.

State Rep. Nate Schatzline (R) kept pushing after state House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) said there was no procedure in place that would allow a formal opposition to a single memorial or congratulatory resolution on a resolutions calendar.

“So it is the only way we can actually kill this horrific resolution is to vote down the resolutions calendar?” Schatzline asked.

“That is your choice, Mr. Schatzline,” Burrows replied, rejecting the group’s request to postpone the resolution as well.

“There’s no possible way that any one of our members can come and speak against recognizing an abortionist on the Texas House floor today?” Schatzline clarified.

“That is not a proper parliamentary inquiry,” Burrows said.

“You are not denying that you are in fact responsible for Planned Parenthood being honored today on today’s calendar!” said state Rep. Brian Harrison (R). “It’s an outrage!” Earlier, Harrison called Richards a “famed abortionist.”

State Rep. Wes Virdell (R) added, “Is it standard procedure to honor people who have killed millions of unborn babies?”

The speaker responded again, “That is not a proper parliamentary inquiry.”

Richards spent her entire life fighting for progressive causes. During her 12 years at the helm of Planned Parenthood, she transformed the organization into the political dynamo it is today. According to the Texas Tribune, the donor and volunteer base grew from 3 million to 11 million during her tenure.

After she died, President Joe Biden said she “fearlessly led us forward to be the America we say we are.”

“Carrying her mom’s torch for justice,” he continued, “she championed some of our Nation’s most important civil rights causes. She fought for the dignity of workers, defended and advanced women’s reproductive rights and equality, and mobilized our fellow Americans to exercise their power to vote. She was a leader of utmost character and I know that her legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.”

In a significant ruling, the Nebraska Supreme Court voted 6-1 to uphold a ban on gender-affirming care and abortion restrictions beyond 12 weeks of pregnancy.

The case, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland v. Hilgers, challenged Legislative Bill 574, which restricts abortions after 12 weeks and limits gender-affirming care for minors. The Nebraska legislature passed the bill in 2023, and it was signed into law by the governor in May. In response, the ACLU of Nebraska, representing Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Michael Hilgers.

The ACLU contended that the bill violated the Nebraska Constitution’s single-subject rule, which mandates that a bill should focus on only one subject. However, the court found that both abortion and gender-affirming care are medical procedures, making it acceptable for the bill to address both issues.

The court stated, “We disagree with Planned Parenthood’s contention that it is not possible to identify a single purpose of L.B. 574 that withstands single subject scrutiny. L.B. 574 does regulate both abortion and gender-altering care, but both abortion and gender-altering care are medical procedures, and L.B. 574 prescribes rules that define if and when such procedures can be performed.”

Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman was the sole dissenter, offering a partial dissent. She argued that the bill’s unrelated provisions did not adequately meet the single-subject requirement, stating, “Unrelated provisions that happen to do similar things at some level of generality do not dispel the criticism that the bill contains more than one subject.”

Mindy Rush Chipman, executive director of ACLU of Nebraska, expressed disappointment with the ruling. “We respectfully disagree with the court majority’s determination, and we had hoped for a different outcome. However, it is crucial that Nebraskans remain aware of the impact these restrictions will have. Nebraskans have been affected every week since the governor signed LB 574 into law. Despite this setback, we will continue to fight for the rights of Nebraskans to make their own private decisions about their lives, families, and futures.”

A similar case, United States v. Skrmetti, involving a Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for minors, will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court later this year.

LGBTQ Nation reached out to the ACLU of Nebraska and Planned Parenthood for comment but did not receive a response before publication. This article will be updated if they provide a statement.

Tag: Planned Parenthood

TX Republicans freak out over resolution honoring late Planned Parenthood president: It’s “horrific”

Nebraska Supreme Court Affirms Ban on Gender-Affirming Care and Abortion Restrictions