Texas Women Can't Trust Morgan Meyer

Women make up slightly more than half of the population in the United States and here in Texas, but whether it’s in Washington D.C. or in Austin, women are consistently left out of critical policy decisions.

Texas has the dubious distinction of ranking at or near the top in several undesirable categories: Seventh in maternal mortality rate, first in the rate of repeat teen pregnancy and first in the number of women (and children) who lack health insurance.

Despite these and other troubling trends, State Representative Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas) has shown a consistent pattern of voting against women’s access to health care, pay equity and protection against sexual assault. Meyer hasn’t worked to fix these problems, but has instead voted against Texas women. His record in the Texas House includes:

• HB 279: voted against the Women’s Health Advisory Committee, which was created to help reinforce women’s health plans after Texas legislators dramatically cut access to health care, in 2011.
• SB17: voted to continue “studying” maternal mortality, rather than take action, when Texas mothers are dying.
• CSSB 1, Amendment 118: opposed the expanding of health care coverage to working Texans, which would benefit hundreds of thousands of women across Texas.
• CSHB 1, Amendment 20: voted against pay equity for public employees at state agencies and contracted organizations.
• HB 2032: voted against increasing penalties for sexual assault committed on public transit.

When trends in healthcare and economy cut against women, and with a new urgency to stop public or private predation against women, Meyer’s votes reveal his values.
Morgan Meyer can’t claim to work tirelessly on behalf of everyone if he ignores the needs and priorities of half of Texas. We need public officials to see, hear, and serve everyone in our state, and we need to Reform Austin.