Tensions rise as House OKs Abbott’s bills
Abortion, trees and the speaker rile nerves of a still-divided Republican-led chamber
AUSTIN — Texas lawmakers sounded off on several pet peeves Thursday on the House floor as the chamber began passing bills demanded by Gov. Greg Abbott.
For some, they voiced frustration at the creation of new abortion laws. For others, it was the muddy politics involved in the battle over tree trimming. And for a few lawmakers in the back of the room, the venting was over the House speaker himself.
The 150-member Texas House began pushing through multiple bills that answer the governor’s 20-item special session call that drew members back to Austin this month, giving the initial OK to a bill that would fund the extension of the Texas Medical Board and tentative approval to two bills on the governor’s conservative to-do list.
Among them was House Bill 13, which requires additional reporting on abortion complications. After testy debate by Democrats challenging the need for the new rules, the Republicancontrolled House voted 97-46 to give the bill initial approval.
If passed into law, abortion providers would be required to report within three business days if their patients have complications related to ending their pregnancy. Hospitals or clinics that did not perform the abortion would have 30 days to report.
Doctors, hospitals face fines
The legislation would require the health care providers to tell the state when the abortion was performed, what kind of procedure was used, what the gestational age was, the date the complication was diagnosed and a description of the complication. The bill would also require detailed reporting about the mother such as her date of birth, race, martial status, state and county of residence, along with the date of her last menstrual cycle, and her history of past abortions and live births.
Critics say the legislation creates an onerous and unnecessary bureaucracy for abortion providers in the state’s quest to limit the safe procedure. Supporters contend the bill would help compile statistics on abortion complications to better understand the health and safety risks of the procedure.
Failure to report the information to the state would result in a $500 fine for each violation, with a third violation giving the state cause to revoke or suspend the physician’s or health facility’s licensing.
“Why would we single out one medical procedure” to be reported every 72 hours when the others are reported every six months, asked Rep. Donna Howard, an Austin Democrat and opponent of the bill.
Lawmakers also voted in favor of legislation that takes a whack at local tree trimming ordinances.
House Bill 7, which passed 132-11, is identical to a measure Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, passed with nearly unanimous support in the regular legislative session. The bill requires the approximately 50 local municipalities that impose tree mitigation fees to allow people to apply for a credit to offset the fee for tree planting.
The governor vetoed that bill after it passed during the regular session, and said it didn’t go far enough to stop local governments from micromanaging property owners.
“I’ve had enough of the cities telling what people can and can’t do in their daily lives,” Rep. Larry Phillips, a Sherman Republican said on the House floor before saying he would vote for the bill. “I don’t think it goes far enough.”
Rep. Matt Schaefer, a Republican from Tyler, also voted for the bill, saying it was a step in the right direction.
Straus under scrutiny
Schaefer was one of about 50 conservative Republicans at a Monday meeting with Abbott pushing members to sign on as supporters of his preferred legislation by Friday. Phelan’s tree bill, Schaefer recalled, was not the bill the governor wants.
Tension between factions of Republicans in the Legislature have been an issue all year in the Texas Capitol. Schaefer, chairman of the 12-member Freedom Caucus in the House, said dynamics of the special session are no different as conservative members try to push the governor’s agenda through the more moderate House.
“We’re on a pace to leave conservative priorities unfinished,” said Schaefer, who blamed House Speaker Joe Straus, a San Antonio Republican, for a lack of progress on the governor’s agenda. “It’s very clear the speaker is sending a message to Gov. Abbott that his conservative agenda doesn’t line up with his.”
The Senate has rushed to pass 18 bills — some in the middle of the night — pertaining to the governor’s 20 priority issues in less than 10 days. Straus said early in the session “this isn’t a race,” and vowed the House would act deliberately.
“Texas House committees are focused on doing what’s in the best interest of Texas, and that’s why they have spent all week working on bills, listening to the public, and building consensus,” said Jason Embry, Straus’ spokesman.
“The House will continue to focus on substance, and Speaker Straus is grateful for the committee chairmen and House members who are hard at work trying to get the details right.”