The Texas Freedom Caucus, which is made up of the most conservative Republican members of the Texas House, are calling out Speaker Joe Straus for allegedly bottling up several pro life measures which have been approved by the State Senate, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
"If pro life bills don't hit the House floor, we have no one to blame but Republicans in the Texas House," State Rep. Matt Shafer (R-Tyler) said.
Shafer is the author a bill to outlaw so called 'dismemberment abortions,' as well as the 'Disabled Preborn Justice Act,' which would prohibit getting an abortion because the fetus has been diagnosed with a disability.
Both of the bills have passed the more conservative State Senate but has not yet gotten a hearing in the House.With less than a month letf in the Legislature, State Rep. Matt Krause (R-Ft. Worth) says now is the time for Straus to agree to place the pro life bills up for debate.
"The longer we delay things, the harder it is for us to get anything accomplished," he said. "We are asking for movement, we are asking for it quickly."
Straus' traditional conservative attitude has long frustrated movement conservatives, who have frequently accused him of 'sitting on' bills that are backed by movement and evangelical conservatives. Straus' alleged insufficient enthusiasm for the so called 'bathroom bill' is also a focus of criticism by the Freedom Caucus.
Conservative House member say if a full slate of pro life bills is not brought up for consideration in the House before the clock runs out later this month, they will ask staunchly pro life Gov. Greg Abbott to call a Special Session to specifically consider the measures.