Texas A&M Student Body President Vetoes Bill To Defund LGBT Center

Student Body President John Claybrook

John Claybrook, Student Body President at Texas A&M University, has vetoed a bill passed by the student senate that would allow students to opt out of funding campus services if they have religious objections. Until it was revised at Wednesday night’s meeting, the bill specifically targeted the university’s GLBT Resource Center. Claybrook explained his veto in an open letter:

After much research and deliberation, I have confidently decided to veto S.B. 65-70, The Religious Funding Exemption bill. Even without the wording that specified particular groups that would be affected in the final version of this bill, the sentiment towards the bill has not changed and has caused great harm to our reputation as a student body and to the students feeling disenfranchised by the bill. [...]

Although much adjusted in its final form, the good accomplished through this bill pales in comparison to the damage done. The damage must stop today. Texas A&M students represent our core value of respect exceptionally and I’m very proud of the family at this university. Now, more than ever, is the time to show great resolve and come together, treating each other like the family that we are.

Claybrook pointed out that in addition to the bill’s negative sentiment, students do not currently have the ability to opt-out of student fees, so clarifying a process to do so “serves no purpose.”

The bill’s sponsor, Chris Woolsey, conceded, “it’s just how the democratic process works.” The senate may consider a veto override when it meets again on April 17, but the bill did not garner the two-thirds votes that would require.

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Cruz: Spending Bill Must Defund Obama Healthcare Law

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said Wednesday that he will object to a government spending bill if it does not cut off funds for President Obama's signature healthcare law.

Cruz, a staunchly conservative freshman, said he will offer an amendment to delay the flow of funds to implement the healthcare law when the Senate takes up a continuing resolution to fund the federal government.

"I believe we should continue to delay such funding at least until economic growth returns to historic averages, and I intend to object to consideration of any Continuing Resolution that does not include a vote to delay funding of Obamacare," Cruz said in a statement.

Cruz has already ruffled some feathers within the GOP with his acerbic style. And by demanding a provision to defund the healthcare law, he would be picking a fight that most of his Republican colleagues don't seem eager to wage. 

House Republicans' continuing resolution does not propose defunding the healthcare law, even though the House has voted more than 30 times to repeal or defund parts of the law.

Some Republicans have tossed around the idea of delaying the healthcare law as a way to save money — its most expensive provision, new subsidies to help people buy private insurance — kicks in next year. 

But even conservative Republican lawmakers have acknowledged that proposal wouldn't get any traction in the Democratic-controlled Senate and said it might not be a political battle worth waging.

Cruz, though, said the Affordable Care Act will stifle economic growth.

"In my view, Obamacare should be fully repealed, and I have introduced legislation to do so," he said. "At a minimum, however, it should not be implemented at time when our economy is struggling so mightily, at a time when its implementation could push us into a full recession."

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