Texas House Memoral Resolution Sparks Heated Debate Among Lawmakers

AUSTIN, Texas — A routine memorial resolution in the Texas House devolved into a contentious debate Thursday when it was proposed to honor Cecile Richards, the former president of Planned Parenthood and a Texas native. Traditionally, such resolutions pass without controversy, but this time it sparked outrage among some conservative lawmakers who objected to honoring Richards.

Richards, who passed away recently, was a well-known figure in the realm of reproductive rights advocacy. Her resolution was met with severe backlash, particularly from hardline Republicans who claimed honoring her would be inappropriate, accusing her of being responsible for the “murder of children.” Following lengthy discussions and protests, the resolution was ultimately pulled from consideration for the day.

Rep. Craig Goldman, a Republican from Fort Worth, celebrated the decision. “WE WON!” he shouted, declaring that Texas would not honor those who they claim contribute to the “mass murder” of unborn children.

The debate escalated as conservative lawmakers questioned House Speaker Dade Phelan on the appropriateness of discussing Richards on Easter weekend. Rep. Mike Lang, Republican from Granbury, confronted Phelan: “Is it standard procedure to honor people who have killed millions of unborn babies?” Their protests prompted emotional responses from their colleagues.

Rep. Ana Hernandez, a Democrat from Houston, attempted to restore order in the chaotic chamber. “This is supposed to be the least political thing we do today,” she said, but her plea was met with both support and disdain from different factions. Emotions ran high; Rep. Scott Sanford, a Republican from McKinney, was seen wiping tears from his eyes as he struggled to maintain composure.

Several lawmakers defended the resolution, calling for mutual respect in honoring those who had made contributions to society, regardless of differing opinions. “We’re going to disagree on a lot of things,” said Rep. Chris Turner, a Democrat from Grand Prairie. “But if somebody meant something to you or to me, the tradition of this house is that we honor those persons, whether we agree with that person’s life or not.”

During the discussion, Rep. Donna Howard, a Democrat from Austin who proposed the resolution, gave a moving speech in memory of Richards. She described Richards as a committed advocate for equal access to education and healthcare. Howard emphasized the positive impact Richards had on Texas and the nation and lamented that the controversy surrounding the resolution led the Richards family to opt out of attending the acknowledgment. “The Richards family was denied that opportunity,” she said.

Richards, the daughter of former Texas governor Ann Richards, was celebrated for her advocacy work beyond her leadership at Planned Parenthood. Before stepping down in 2018, she co-founded Supermajority, an organization that aims to amplify women’s voices in politics. “One of my life goals is to haunt Texas politicians the way Cecile Richards does,” remarked Shellie Hayes-McMahon, executive director of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes. “They can try to erase her, but her vision and impact will outlive their petty political games.”

As discussions persisted, it remained uncertain when the memorial calendar would return for consideration and if Richards’ name would be included in the future. Renzo Downey and Eleanor Klibanoff contributed to this report, underscoring the significance of political actions shaping public sentiment in Texas.