AUSTIN, Texas -- It's been dubbed the "Mother's Day Massacre." 

Friday, a small group of Tea Party Republicans in the Texas House used a maneuver to kill more than 100 routine bills usually approved without big debate. ​

"I think what's happened to this bill is unconscionable. No person in good character, in my mind, would want these children to go without food," said Rep. Helen Giddings, D-DeSoto, whose measure, House Bill 2159, would have helped hungry school kids, was among the bills killed. 

Other pieces of legislation that fell Friday included HB 2974, a proposal that would take on child predators, and HB 2236, a bill that would help seniors pay their taxes.

But the death of these bills can be traced to late Thursday evening, when a number of proposals supported by the far-right Texas Freedom Caucus had been blocked by House leadership.

Freedom Caucus members vowed revenge.

"It's disgusting! And one of these days it's going to happen to something that you care about. I am sick and tired of the rules only mattering when it keeps the minority members of this House, whatever the issue is, in line," said Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, a member of the Freedom Caucus. 

But Giddings proposed a different, simpler reason for the Freedom Caucus' move to kill so many uncontroversial bills. 

"Because they can," Giddings said. 

However, possibly not all is lost for Giddings and other authors who saw their bills die Friday.

Giddings said her school lunch legislation will take a new form as amendments to two other bills. 

Since the House deadline has passed, that's how many lawmakers will try to revive their legislation from now until the end of session. 

---

Join the Discussion: