Texas Right to Life releases 83rd Legislative Session Scorecards

The 2013 83rd Sessions of the Legislature proved historic for the Pro-Life cause.  Not only did the legislature pass one of the strongest Pro-Life omnibus laws in the United States, but Pro-Life elected officials also defeated a dangerous bill that would have worsened an existing anti-Life law by giving doctors and hospitals more power over patients with do-not-resuscitate orders and denial of Life-sustaining treatment.  
 
House Bill 2, the Pro-Life Omnibus Bill, and some of its provisions when filed separately, actually moved through the legislative process more than once.  However, due to political games and misguided leadership, no Pro-Life measures passed until Governor Perry called for Life issues to be addressed in the special sessions.  
 
House Bill 2 included four major Pro-Life provisions.  First, the bill established the state’s interest in protecting the lives of preborn children who can feel pain, thereby stopping abortions at five months.  Secondly, HB 2 required abortionists to secure admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the abortion business.  Third, abortion clinics must now follow the existing health and safety standards of ambulatory surgical centers.  Lastly, HB 2 raised the standards on RU-486, the abortion drug used in chemical abortions, based on requirements suggested by the FDA. 
 
Pro-Life legislators received extra credit for being the primary author of a major Pro-Life bill as well as adding their names to a bill as a joint author or a co-author.  Thus, some legislators earned scores over 100%.  Officials who ignored or rejected opportunities to protect the sanctity of innocent human life scored below 100%.
 
To view the scorecards for individual legislators, please click: Legislative Scorecards for the 83rd Sessions of the Texas Legislature
 
The scores for House members are calculated on the following:
 
• Votes on Senate Bill 5 (Pro-Life Omnibus Bill in 1st Special Session)
Votes on anti-Life or weakening amendments to Senate Bill 5 (Pro-Life Omnibus Bill in 1st Special Session)
Votes on House Bill 2 (Pro-Life Omnibus Bill in 2nd Special Session)
Votes on anti-Life or weakening amendments to House Bill 2 (Pro-Life Omnibus Bill in 2nd Special Session)
Penalties for authoring anti-Life or weakening amendments to Senate Bill 5 
Penalty for authoring, joint authoring, or co-authoring the anti-Life HB 1444 (companion to Senate Bill 303)
Bonuses for defending Pro-Life House Bill 2 in closing remarks
Bonuses for authoring, joint authoring, or co-authoring other major Pro-Life bills
 
The scores for Senate members are calculated on the following:
 
• Votes on Senate Bill 5 (Pro-Life Omnibus Bill in 1st Special Session)
Votes on anti-Life or weakening amendments to Senate Bill 5 (Pro-Life Omnibus Bill in 1st Special Session)
Votes on House Bill 2 (Pro-Life Omnibus Bill in 2nd Special Session)
Votes on anti-Life or weakening amendments to House Bill 2 (Pro-Life Omnibus Bill in 2nd Special Session)
Penalties for authoring anti-Life or weakening amendments to Senate Bill 5 
Votes on anti-Life Senate Bill 303
Penalty for authoring, joint authoring, or co-authoring SB 303
Penalty for attempting to filibuster Pro-Life legislation
Bonuses for authoring, joint authoring, or co-authoring other major Pro-Life bills
 
Average scores:
 
•    Whole House: 62% (75% in 2011)
•    House Republicans: 95% (108% in 2011)
•    House Democrats: 4% (7% in 2011)
•    House Freshmen: 71% (95% in 2011)
 
•    Whole Senate:  52% (72% in 2011)
•    Senate Republicans:  82% (107% in 2011)
•    Senate Democrats:  4% (17% in 2011)
•    Senate Freshmen:  80% (75% in 2011)
 
•    Texas Right to Life Endorsed Elected Officials: 99% (111% in 2011)
 
To view the scorecards for individual legislators, please click: Legislative Scorecards for the 83rd Sessions of the Texas Legislature.