From the, "are you kidding me?" file (via the Dallas Voice):
A Republican state representative ... wants to cut funding for school districts in Texas that offer benefits to the domestic partners of employees.
...
“Our tax-dollars are for educating kids, not for enacting policies that attempt to get the state to recognize homosexual relationships,” Springer said in a release. “To think Pflugerville has sued the state for more funding, while at the same time bankrolling a lifestyle most Texans do not agree with is quite disturbing to me.”
Here's the complete press release:
REP. SPRINGER FILES HB 1568 TO PROTECT TRADITIONAL FAMILY VALUES
AUSTIN, TX. — Today, Rep. Drew Springer filed HB 1568 to protect family values and the definition of marriage in the Texas Constitution.
In 2003, Texas passed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defining marriage in the Constitution as the union of one man and one woman. This past fall, Pflugerville Independent School District became the first school district in the state to enact a policy in which same-sex domestic partners can acquire insurance benefits.
The policy in Pflugerville comes in direct conflict with the Texas Constitution, because Texas does not legally recognize domestic partners.
“Our tax-dollars are for educating kids, not for enacting policies that attempt to get the state to recognize homosexual relationships” said Springer. “To think Pflugerville has sued the state for more funding, while at the same time bankrolling a lifestyle most Texans do not agree with is quite disturbing to me.”
Chuck Smith, president of Equality Texas has stated that, “the school district’s actions may be impetus for other school districts to do the same”.
Springer’s HB 1568 eliminates the healthcare funding for any school districts that offer insurance or other benefits to a person not a district employee or a spouse or child of a district employee.
“This bill is a clear message to every Texas school district, if they mess with the Texas Constitution, it will cost them, dearly,” said Jonathan Saenz, president of Texas Values.
Over 25 members have signed onto HB 1568 at the time of filing, a good indication of its general support in the Texas House.
If you have any questions about this legislation, please feel free to contact his Capitol office by phone (512) 463- 0526 or by email Drew.Springer@house.state.tx.us at any time for more information.
In general I'm stumped by this. I keep remembering the GOP that was for small government, not micromanagement of school districts. The total cost to the school district itself is only going to be a few thousand a year. They aren't going to have THAT many file for DP benefits...this is a drop in the bucket. I am reminded once again that the GOP just revels in being mean.
Here's hoping that in the near future, school districts that don't offer DP benefits will discover it "cost(s) them, dearly."