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‘Bathroom bill’ will cost taxpayer money

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and other members of law enforcement take part in a public safety event where they spoke against a proposed “bathroom bill,” Tuesday, July 25, 2017, in Austin, Texas. The Texas Senate has revived a bill mandating transgender Texans use public restrooms corresponding to their birth-certificate genders.
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and other members of law enforcement take part in a public safety event where they spoke against a proposed “bathroom bill,” Tuesday, July 25, 2017, in Austin, Texas. The Texas Senate has revived a bill mandating transgender Texans use public restrooms corresponding to their birth-certificate genders. AP

The Texas Senate was set to pass Senate Bill 3 on to second reading Tuesday, refusing some men, women and children access to the bathrooms and locker rooms for their appropriate gender.

The federal courts have overruled the Texas Legislature in the past, and it was costly. It happened when Gov. Rick Perry wasted money on an election to ban gay marriage, and it will happen with this expensive special session’s “bathroom” bills.

As the debate inside the Texas Capitol wandered Tuesday onto a tangent about girls playing on women’s sports teams, Texas law officers stood on the Capitol steps saying women and girls are in no danger from transgender women using the same bathroom.

If the bill passes the Senate in final reading, it then goes to the House. The House can choose whether to consider the Senate bill or the similar House Bills 46 or 50, which also target equal rights.

From the very beginning of the “bathroom bill” debate, proponents have played up the hateful message that women are somehow in danger if transgender women share a bathroom or locker room.

That is simply not true.

Sadly, no representative from Fort Worth, Arlington or any Tarrant County law enforcement group spoke in favor of justice and against this time-wasting legislation.

This story was originally published July 25, 2017 at 6:48 PM with the headline "‘Bathroom bill’ will cost taxpayer money."

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