The Idle Hands and Wandering Minds of Texas Legislators

www.lp.org ^ | 5 8 05 | Shane Cory

[freepatriot32]

Politicians of the Texas State House took the time this week to pass HB 1476 which will put an end to "sexually suggestive" performances by middle and high school students. The bill, all 219 words of it, didn't bother to define what a sexually suggestive performance may be.

Here are the main portions of the bill:

Sec. 33.088. SEXUALLY SUGGESTIVE PERFORMANCES PROHIBITED.

(a) A school dance team, drill team, cheerleading team, or similar

performance group may not perform in a sexually suggestive manner

at an athletic or other extracurricular event or competition

sponsored or approved by a school district or campus.

(b) A school performance group that violates Subsection (a)

may not perform for the remainder of the school year in which the

violation occurs.

(c) If the commissioner determines that a school district or

a campus in a school district knowingly permits a sexually

suggestive performance prohibited by Subsection (a) or knowingly

permits a school performance group to perform in violation of

Subsection (b), the commissioner shall reduce the funding the

district receives under Chapter 42 by an amount the commissioner

determines appropriate.

The author of HB 1476, Democrat Al Edwards, made his thoughts and his intellectual ability quite clear in an interview with the Austin American Statesman. Edwards stated that his bill, "would strike a blow for standards in a society that, in general, is opposed to morality." He followed up by saying that, "Satan is not just going to let you walk over and get something." Huh?

To top off his show of self-perceived moral force, Edwards grasped a blue and white pompom during his interview, one of many which were passed out to legislators for the passing of the bill.

Despite the existence of thousands of "Cheerleader Moms" within Texas who are capable of overseeing their own children's activities, Mr. Edwards and his colleagues felt it was a matter urgent and necessary enough for the state government of Texas.

Texas, home of the world famous and scantily clad Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders (click here for their swimsuit calendar), is now also home to subjective government intervention.

[Note to the parents of these Texas students, be sure that your daughter and her friends make no overly graceful dance moves or - - gasp - - wink at the crowd as the Friday night lights shine down upon them. As an alternative, you could always join the Libertarian Party and put a few rational thinking individuals into your state house.]

[freepatriot32]

hmm what coul d the end result be of giving the police moral powers over cheerleaders Death at 'immoral' picnic in the park=(shite aka iran style moral police)

[freepatriot32]

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.

[kjam22]

It is a government sponsored, tax payer funded school. And these proposals are to be applied to government schools. Personally, I've got no problem with that. Let the homeschooled or private schools sponsor the Britney wannabes.

[Paloma_55]

What we have here is a failure of *society* to render adequate social stigma upon those who behave improperly... and the legislature trying to impose that stigma through law.

Lose-lose situation.

Rather, when the cheerleading squad starts acting like porn stars, the crowd should start booing. They would get the picture pretty darned fast.

[kjam22]

Rather, when the cheerleading squad starts acting like porn stars, the crowd should start booing. They would get the picture pretty darned fast.

I dunno. I think if there were 100 boys their age in a crowd of 2500 that was cheering them on.... even while the others were booing or going to get popcorn.... they'd still dance like Britney wannabes.

[TexasCajun]

What's all the fuss?

At least Al Edwards is in Austin, somewhat working it seems!

That in itself says a lot about this Texas Democrat!

[FreeKeys]

WHAT'S THE REAL LESSON HERE? IT'S: MOVE TO A MODEST ENOUGH NEIGHBORHOOD SO YOU CAN AFFORD TO ENROLL YOUR KIDS IN PRIVATE SCHOOL --- OR ELSE SEE GOVERNMENT MORONS AND CONTROL FREAKS THROW THEM IN JAIL FOR PERCEIVED RULE INFRACTIONS AND/OR SCREW UP THEIR EDUCATION EVERY TIME.

[BJClinton]

Okay, so who enforces this and, more importantly, how much do I have to pay for it?

[kjam22]

I figure the courts rule... and the executive branch in Texas enforces. Like all the other laws. Isn't that what you'd guess? You've already got obsenity laws. How are they enforced?

[hadaclueonce]

Idiots come up with Laws like this when they are not smart enough to have a real Idea. Who ever came up with this idea needs to be drug tested. There is Crack in this background.

[Rockingham]

Bullseye!

[A Jovial Cad]

I'm no libertarian, but you've got to be kidding...

What kind of "conservative" thinks any government body above the level of a local school board has any business regulating cheerleading, for crying out loud.

A curious specimen, to be sure, but hardly a "conservative."