| Capitol Gallery: Relationship is based on sex, drugs and fairness 04/11/2001 By Christy Hoppe / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN – Put it in the strange bedfellows category: One of the most conservative House members has joined with one of the most progressive in the name of contraceptive equality.
And you can chalk it up, all tittering aside, to Viagra.
Most insurance companies cover the cost of the virility drug, but a little less than half of insurers will cover the cost of any form of contraception. A group of legislators thinks that's unfair.
Under a bill by Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, and whose co-authors include Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth, R-Burleson, insurance companies in Texas would have to cover the costs of all FDA-approved forms of prescription contraception.
"Unwanted pregnancy prevention is something I do support," Ms. Wohlgemuth said.
The leader of the House conservative coalition said it's a fiscally responsible bill that would have low costs for insurance companies.
Indeed, members of the Insurance Committee, which unanimously endorsed the bill this week, said that by preventing unwanted pregnancies, the issue, "might be the most cost-effective we've addressed all session."
One sobering tidbit that came out during testimony on the bill is that the average woman, who bears two children, will still spend an average of 30 years trying to avoid pregnancy.
Ms. Wohlgemuth, a staunch abortion opponent, said it's kind of interesting to be on the same side as Planned Parenthood on this bill.
Without a pause, pregnant or otherwise, she said, "We're not usually holding hands."
Wait crimes bill
Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, who had hoped to have his hate-crimes bill ready to go this week, is still scouting for votes.
The bill has been pulled off the Senate intent calendar, which is a general announcement that a proposal is ready for action.
The hate-crimes bill would increase penalties for crimes motivated by hate and is named for James Byrd Jr., the black man dragged to death by three white men behind a pickup in 1998.
The bill has 11 Democratic co-authors in the Senate, and is opposed mainly by Republicans, who don't like increasing punishment based on an offender's beliefs.
Also, some conservatives are deterred because the bill protects gays and lesbians from attacks, and they see that as opening the door to civil rights for homosexuality.
The bill stokes emotional tinderboxes on both sides, and its failure to reach the Senate floor two years ago almost blew up the session.
The next few weeks are critical in the current session, where the budget and redistricting will soon suffocate most other breathing projects.
"He knows he's got to get it moving soon," said legislative aide Jeremy Warren.
Mr. Warren said the senator is short anywhere from "one to five votes," and he'll be spending time with members in the next two weeks to see what he needs to get done to bring the bill to the floor.
"I think we're going to get there, but I'm an Astros fan, too," the optimist said.
That's a take
"It's smaller than it looks on The West Wing." – House Speaker Pete Laney, referring to his visit last week to the Oval Office.
"We like to say thank God for Mississippi and Louisiana in a lot of areas. Even Louisiana is ahead of us here." – Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, on his bill to provide adequate legal help for impoverished defendants. He referred to Texas' frequent low ranking among the 50 states for services.
"I've snuck a lot of bills through this House, but it wasn't this bill." – Rep. Glen Maxey, D-Austin, after being accused by a colleague of slipping a bill through that would end a $2.6 million contract that has detected $5,000 in food stamp fraud.
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