Texas legislators remove democracy from the legislative process

There are two sides to the issue of the embryonic stem cell research, and both sides are passionate about their reasoning. I have no problem with that. Let the debate begin.

What I don't like -- in fact, what I absolutely abhor -- is when one side of the issue tries to force its will on the majority without any debate, without any discussion, whatsoever.

That is exactly what is going in the Texas Legislature where some unknown legislator (he or she doesn't even have the courage to come out of the shadows and admit this heinous act) has inserted an obscure rider into the state budget that says "No funds appropriated under this Act shall be used in conjunction with or to support research which involves the destruction of a human embryo."

According to a letter written by Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, "under this provision, public universities (where much of this work is taking place) would be prohibited from such basic things as paying the salaries of some researchers or the electricity bills for buildings where this research is taking place." But Watson also adds:

"The most remarkable thing, however, isn’t the action; it’s the way it happened. There was no notice that this rider was up for a vote, the committee didn’t discuss it at all, and no one was given the opportunity to testify on it.This for a provision that could dictate whether Texas will lead in the biomedical industries that rise from this research, attract researchers who will power the 21st Century economy, and play a role in developing cures to horrible diseases and afflictions."

Watson, of course, has personal ties to this subject:

"I naturally support any ethical, humane form of research into cures for the cancer that killed both of my parents and dramatically impacted me, or the Type 1 diabetes that keeps my oldest son on what amounts to a life-support system (albeit one that gives him a healthy, productive, active life).Embryonic stem cell research has the potential to treat, prevent and cure these and other diseases. Scientists can work with these cells to study how organs develop and become damaged. And they might find cures that will lead the body to re-create healthy cells and organs in the place of sickened ones."

But whether you agree with Watson's views on this are beside the point. What's important here is the way this is underhandedly being sneaked into law. I thought Texas was supposed to be a democracy, a place where both sides would present their arguments, the legislature would act based on those arguments and then voters would decide which of those legislators to re-elect and which to send home, based on their votes on this and other issues. But I was wrong.

Texas is a place where the entire legislative process is rigged, created to avoid public scrutiny, to allow legislators to circumvent the wishes of those who elected them in order to suit their own agendas. Or, as Senator Watson put it, "It’s wrong to pass the most important laws in ways that people are the least likely to see."