House Speaker Joe Straus (D-Alamo Heights) is thanking the Texas business community for helping kill the so called 'Bathroom Bill,' which opponents said was unnecessary and would have driven away business, tourism, and major events from the state, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
"Texans rejected name calling and scare tactics," Straus told the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. "As as result, we resulted a major mistake that would have cost our economy greatly, and would have divided us unnecessarily."
With the backing of business groups, which have become more and more estranged from the movement and evangelical wings of the Texas Republican Party, Straus managed to kill the measure both in the Regular and Special sessions by steering it to the House State Affairs Committee, where his ally State Rep. Byron Cook (R-Corsicana) allowed it to die.
Without mentioning any names, Straus said he will continue to stand against those in the Legislature who advocate 'wedge politics.'
Straus also spoke directly to movement conservatives, again not mentioning any names, who have accused him of being 'less than a Republican' for fighting the party's activist wing.
"I'm a proud Republican, and I also reach across the aisle to work with Democrats, knowing that they too were elected by the people of Texas," he said. "I am going to keep working with both parties on issues that are big and consequential, and not polarizing."
Straus also called for the State Senate to join the House is appropriating additional state money to public schools, pointing out that large jumps in local property taxes are due to more and more of the costs of public education being pushed onto the local taxpayer. The state now funds less than 40% of public school budgets.
The 'Bathroom Bill' would have restricted the use of public and school rest rooms to the gender on the person's birth certificate and would have overturned local 'Non Discrimation Ordinances' that list Gender Identity as a protected class.
Supporters said male predators would claim to be 'trans gender' and slip into women's rest rooms to sexually molest, photograph, or simply gawk at women.
Opponents of the bill pointed out that there is nothing to stop men from slipping into women's restrooms now, but 'restroom crime' is practically non existent. In addition, they pointed out that crimes committed in restrooms, from voyeurism to improper photography and sexual assault, are already criminalized, and said the bill would 'send a message' to employers, conventions, and tourists that Texas is not a welcoming state for certain individuals.