Texas senators mull contentious sex education bill

Published On: Mar 05 2013 05:53:55 PM CST
AUSTIN, Texas -

Opponents of abortion lined up Tuesday in support of legislation that would ban organizations linked to abortion providers from teaching sex education in Texas schools.

The controversial measure, which is being pushed in Austin by tea party Sen. Ken Paxton, was hailed by some as a way to, quote, "exclude Planned Parenthood" from Texas classrooms.

But just how much school instruction Planned Parenthood provides is murky, at best.

Witnesses appeared before the Senate Education Committee to criticize Planned Parenthood for online materials and guidance that it provides teens. But they provided little evidence of the group's direct involvement in classrooms.

Paxton, a Republican from McKinney, also invited a small group of witnesses who preached the power of teaching abstinence.

Lawmakers in 2011 outlawed state funds for organizations linked to abortion providers. Subsequent lawsuits by Planned Parenthood sputtered.

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