Controversy Over "Former Fetus" Sign At The State Capitol
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NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The signs delivered to state lawmakers in Austin had a strong message with just two words: Former Fetus. But it wasn't the message that caused a flap, it was the interaction between two Republican lawmakers about where the sign was hung.
The signs were give to select lawmakers by the group Texas Right to Life on a day where Planned Parenthood supporters were rallying outside the capital.
"They said 'you know if you'd like to have this you can' so we took it. We thought it was great. I've been very outspoken about being pro-life," said Rep. Jonathan Stickland, a Bedford Republican.
Rep. Stickland hung his 'former fetus" sign outside the door of his office under his offical name plaque. He posted a picture on Facebook and wrote, "...organizations that murder children are not welcome in my office."
Just a few minutes later, Stickland tweeted: "My #prolife sign was just ripped down by @charliegeren".
Rep. Charlie Geren is the Republican representative from Fort Worth. Stickland said he heard the commotion in the lobby office of his office from his desk.
"He shut the door real quickly after kind of yelling and talking pretty loud I think from what I can tell," Rep. Stickland said. "Then I ran out there and look at my staff's faces and they were all flabbergasted to be honest with you."
"I took the sign down and I opened his office door I laid it on the staffers desk and I said, 'We don't allow decorations in the hall,'" Rep. Garen said. "You can put it anywhere you want to put it in this office is fine."
Rep. Geren said it the policy of the State Preservation Board which maintains the capital grounds not to have signs hung in hallways.
He says its not the sign's message, its where the sign was hung.
"I don't care what it said, I don't care what it is," Rep. Geren said. "Its not allowed to be posted in the halls of the capital or the extension."
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