Rep. Drew Springer posted the above flier on his Facebook promoting his bill to cut funding for school districts that offer benefits to domestic partners.
A Republican state representative from Cooke County wants to cut funding for school districts in Texas that offer benefits to the domestic partners of employees.
Last year, the Pflugerville school district became the first in the state to offer DP benefits, extending them to both gay and straight domestic partners.
Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, on Wednesday filed House Bill 1568, which would reduce a school district’s healthcare funding by 7.5 percent if they offer DP benefits to anyone other than an employee or a dependent of an employee.
“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.”
Jonathan Saenz, president of the anti-gay group Texas Values, said: “This bill is a clear message to every Texas school district, if they mess with the Texas Constitution, it will cost them, dearly.”
Springer’s release says those who have questions about the bill should call him at 512-463-0526 or email him at Drew.Springer@house.state.tx.us for more information. You can also find him on Facebook and Twitter.
Read Springer’s full press release below.
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.
