11 videos in...why hasn't Joe Straus investigated Planned Parenthood?!?

"He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,
Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."
Proverbs 29:1

The Center for Medical Progress' Planned Parenthood expose began early this summer.  Since then, the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Attorney General have acted.  On that note, Jeff Judson highlights the inaction from the Texas House:

With the release of the 11th video showing Planned Parenthood clinics selling fetal body parts, the urgency of the Texas House to hold hearings is more pressing.  Over 100 days ago, our Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General took action.  But Speaker Straus has taken no action whatsoever.

On July 14th, Governor Abbott directed “the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to conduct an immediate investigation of this alleged practice in addition to a separate investigation ordered by the Texas Office of the Attorney General.” As a result, state of Texas investigators served subpoenas at three Planned Parenthood facilities to determine whether their employees are guilty of defrauding the state’s Medicaid program.

On July 15th, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick called for “expedited” hearings after the first Planned Parenthood video surfaced.  His statement included the following:  “I am requesting that Senator Charles Schwertner and the Senate Health and Human Services Committee conduct an interim hearing within the next month to ensure no laws are being broken. The committee will report back to the full Senate on Planned Parenthood’s business practices conducted in Texas, and make whatever recommendations are appropriate.” (Emphasis added)

On July 15th, Attorney General Paxton said “The Office of the Attorney General has launched an official investigation into Planned Parenthood following the release of a video that details the organization’s calculated slaughter of human babies to maximize the available body parts they plan to sell.”

The inaction of Speaker Straus is deplorable.  Other than a political statement Straus mentioned in an obscure video on the Bexar GOP website where he said “you will see the Texas House committees … getting into this issue themselves” sometime before January 2017, the Speaker has done nothing.  What is the Speaker waiting for?  The need for an investigation and to inform House members is immediate.

“Speaker Straus’ continuing delay in calling for hearings reveals his lack of leadership, his lack of concern for these abhorrent acts by Planned Parenthood and a lack of appreciation for the role of the House of Representatives in fulfilling its role in investigations,” said Jeff Judson, Candidate for HD 121.  “The time for hearings is now, not during the holidays, and not right before the March 1 primary as a political show-hearing in January or February.”

Sign the petition calling on Straus to investigate Planned Parenthood here.

Bottom Line: Whatever token concessions Joe Straus makes to political reality on the life issue, the Texas House's continued inaction four months into the CMP's expose speaks for itself.