http://www.mysanantonio.com/...
And there's this:Sen. Wendy Davis said Thursday that she supports same-sex marriage and that Attorney General Greg Abbott, her presumed general-election opponent in the race for governor, should stop defending the state's ban.“It's my strong belief that when people love each other and are desirous of creating a committed relationship with each other that they should be allowed to marry, regardless of their sexual orientation,” Davis told the Express-News editorial board.
Davis, D-Fort Worth, said she is “pleased” that the state's constitutional definition of marriage, as being between a man and a woman, is under challenge in federal court.
“I think that what we see happening at the federal level in terms of constitutional interpretations on that provide some hope that it may be found unconstitutional,” she said.
The Republican attorney general's office is defending the constitutional provision.
Asked if she would call on him to stop doing so - as she earlier called on Abbott this week to reach a settlement in a state school funding lawsuit - Davis said that “makes perfect sense. We've seen that happen.”
She cited such decisions by Virginia and Nevada.
“Obviously our AG has the capacity to do the same if he chooses to do so,” she said. Asked if she would call on him to do so, she said yes. - San Antonio Express, 2/13/14
We know where Abbott stands on same-sex marriage but what about medical marijuana? Here's what his campaign siad in response to Texas NORMAL chapter's questions:Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis says she supports legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes, as well as easing the penalties for marijuana use in the state.“…We as a state need to think about the cost of that incarceration and, obviously, the cost to the taxpayers as a consequence of it, and whether we’re really solving any problem for the state by virtue of incarcerations for small amounts of marijuana possession,” said Davis in an interview with the Dallas Morning News earlier this week.
Davis says observing Colorado and Washington’s new legal marijuana laws will help to bring similar legislation to Texas. - SF Gate, 2/13/14
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/...
The thing is President Obama recently said that marijuana wasn't any more harmful than alcohol so Abbott is lying. But I can't say that I'm surprised. By the way, I know there's been some disappointing news about Davis' support for 20 week abortion bans and people feel in contradicts her standing about her historic eleven hour filibuster but The Week puts somethings in perspective:Thank you for writing us with this question. Greg Abbott supports current drug policy. Drug use affects every sector of society, straining our economy, our healthcare and criminal justice systems, and endangering the futures of young people. The best methods of combating this problem include a combination of medical treatment and criminal enforcement.Marijuana remains a Schedule I drug (the highest tier of restriction) under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act. This means that the substance is recognized by the U.S. government as having a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use, and a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug under medical supervision. Additionally, due to this classification, it remains illegal under federal law to manufacture, distribute, or dispense, or possess with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense marijuana. Although Eric Holder’s Justice Department has stated that it will not enforce federal law regarding marijuana in some states, federal law (which supersedes Texas law) still clearly prohibits the use of marijuana for either recreational or medical purposes.
Even the Obama Administration agrees that marijuana use is harmful and should be discouraged. The White House website notes that:
* Marijuana use is associated with dependence, respiratory and mental illness, poor motor performance, and impaired cognitive and immune system functioning, among other negative effects.
* Marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory.
* Studies have shown an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and schizophrenia.
* Other research has shown marijuana smoke to contain carcinogens and to be an irritant to the lungs. Marijuana smoke, in fact, contains 50/70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than does tobacco smoke.
See: http://www.whitehouse.gov/...
Additionally, while some claim that legalizing and taxing marijuana would generate significant tax revenue, a study in Colorado (which recently legalized recreational marijuana) shows that marijuana tax revenues may not cover the incremental state expenditures related to legalization.
See: https://webcom.colostate.edu/... you would like to further discuss any of these issues, please direct your questions to the campaign forum, Townhall254, athttp://townhall254.gregabbott.com/... to generate a discussion on this issue. Townhall254 is an online forum for Texans to share their ideas on a range of policy issues that will define the future of Texas. Inspired by the 254 unique counties that make up one of the largest and most populous states, this interactive forum will connect Texans from every corner of the state to the political conversation happening in Austin.Best, Texans for Greg Abbott - Dallas Morning News, 2/12/14
So I hope that clears some things up. If you would like to donate or get involved with Davis' campaign, you can do so here:But here's the thing: Davis' filibuster wasn't really about the 20-week ban. It's not why she became a Democratic star (and surprisingly proficient fundraiser). It's arguably not even really a change in her stated view on abortion. Her position appears to be: Sure, ban late-term abortion-as-birth-control, but let the people who decide whether the abortion is necessary for medical purposes be the pregnant woman and her doctor, not lawmakers and their unintended consequences.Is that Davis' preferred position or just a politically expedient one? I have no idea. But as she told The Dallas Morning News, the 20-week ban, even with its current restrictions, "was the least objectionable" part of the abortion package.
Much more concerning for abortion-rights supporters were measures that require abortion clinics to meet expensive new zoning specifications and all abortion providers to have admitting privileges to a nearby hospital. The former provision is projected to close all but five of the 42 abortion clinics in the state, while the latter effectively freezes traveling abortion providers from working in the state, or gives hospitals effective veto power over a legal procedure.
Those provisions rise to the threshold at which you might stage an 11-hour, on-topic, standing filibuster. A 20-week ban? Probably not.
In any case, it wasn't even really the abortion issue that got Democrats excited — it was the filibuster. Texas Democrats haven't had much to be excited about for almost two decades. The last Democratic (and female) governor, Ann Richards, lost to George W. Bush in 1994. No Democrat has held statewide office in more than a decade. Aside from the Castro brothers from San Antonio — Mayor Julian and U.S. Rep. Joaquin — there are no other bona fide Democratic stars in the state.
What Wendy Davis did that not even the Castro twins can is stop the indomitable Texas Republicans, if only for a few weeks. And she did it by herself, in a grueling test of mental and physical endurance. She may turn out to be a dud of a candidate, or she may be the Lone Star State's next governor, but let's not pretend that she filibustered to preserve a four-week window for late-term abortions. - The Week, 2/13/14
