House withdraws memorial calendar after heated floor debate over resolution honoring Cecile Richards

The Texas House on April 17 withdrew a motion to adopt its memorial resolutions calendar after extended debate and repeated parliamentary inquiries over a resolution honoring Cecile Richards, the former president of Planned Parenthood.

Members objected repeatedly to the calendar process and to a line recognizing Richards, prompting questions about House rules, the ability to record individual objections, and whether a single calendar vote could be divided. Representative Garen moved adoption of the memorial calendar, but the motion was withdrawn later in the day.

The dispute began with repeated parliamentary inquiries about whether the congratulatory and memorial calendar could be debated or divided. Representative Schatzlein asked whether “a resolution such as honoring a famed abortionist” could be extracted and considered separately; the speaker repeatedly said the calendar is adopted by a single motion and cited House Rule 6, Section 12. Representative Chastain and others pressed whether…