Latest news with #Talarico
Int'l Business Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Texas Lawmaker Mocks Politicians' Morals in Vote on Ten Commandments in Classrooms: 'Maybe Try Following Before Mandating'
A Texas lawmaker mocked the morals of his fellow legislators during a vote on displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms across the state. State Rep. James Talarico pressed his Republican colleagues on their bill requiring public school classrooms to have the holy text hung on their walls on Saturday, chiding how several of the rules were seemingly being broken or have been broken by lawmakers. The Democrat noted that they were holding their deliberations on Saturday and their vote on Sunday violated the Ten Commandments, as the Fourth Commandment calls on Christians to keep the Sabbath "holy" by not working. Saturday is the Sabbath for Jewish individuals, and Christians honor it on Sunday. @jamestalarico Republicans passed the bill on the Sabbath… breaking the 4th Commandment. Maybe they should try following the Ten Commandments before mandating them. SB 10 will force every public school teacher in the state of Texas to put up a poster of the Ten Commandments in their classroom. ♬ original sound - James Talarico "It's ironic isn't it?" state Rep. Candy Noble, a Republican sponsor of the bill, laughed. "You're saying that you'd rather tell people to follow the Ten Commandments than follow it yourself?" Talarico replied. Although Noble defended the displaying of the Ten Commandments as a way to honor "our historical, educational and judicial heritage," Talarico pressed further into other holy rules enshrined in the scripture. "The Ninth Commandment is 'Thou shalt not bear false witness.' Are you aware of any legislators who have lied about anything?" Talarico asked, prompting laughter from the gallery. "The Seventh Commandment is 'Thou shalt not commit adultery.' Do you think that members of the legislature should focus more on trying to follow the Ten Commandments rather than telling others to follow them?" he continued. Talarico shared a clip of the exchange to TikTok , where it has since garnered more than 9.6 million views. In the caption, he wrote, "Maybe [Republicans] should try following the Ten Commandments before mandating them." The bill was ultimately passed by a 82-46 vote in the Texas House Sunday with an amendment that the state will bear the costs of any future legal challenges to the law, KXAN reported. The bill now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. He previously expressed support for the bill in posts to social media. Originally published on Latin Times
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Texas House passes school library bill, intensifying US battle over who decides what students read
The Texas House gave preliminary approval on May 27, 2025, to a bill that would shift significant control over public school library materials from professional librarians to school boards and parents. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The bill, known as Senate Bill 13, was passed in an 87-57 vote and now heads back to the Senate for final approval. The legislation is part of a growing national debate over what books students should be allowed to access in public schools. Supporters argue the bill gives parents and local communities more say in their children's education, while critics warn it could lead to overbroad bans on important literary and historical works. Bill gives school boards final authority on book removals Senate Bill 13 would grant school boards, rather than librarians, the final authority to approve or remove books from school libraries. As reported by the Texas Tribune, the bill establishes a process for responding to complaints about library materials and allows school boards to either make final decisions themselves or delegate responsibility to local school advisory councils. These councils could be formed if 20% of parents in a district sign a petition — a requirement added in a House committee. The original Senate version had mandated the creation of such councils outright. The bill also includes detailed definitions of 'harmful material' and 'indecent content,' which prompted concern among Democratic lawmakers. They warned that vague language could lead to the banning of classic titles such as The Catcher in the Rye, Lonesome Dove, and even the Bible. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Debate over 'community values' and censorship risks During House floor discussion, Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, warned the bill's language requiring that approved books align with 'local community values' could enable small but vocal groups to drive decisions. 'If your answer to 'could Romeo and Juliet be banned,' if it is anything other than 'of course not,' then that is a serious problem,' Talarico said, as quoted by the Texas Tribune. Rep. Erin Zwiener, D-Driftwood, expressed concern that what may be considered inappropriate for a five-year-old may not be for a 17-year-old, highlighting the danger of a one-size-fits-all approach. According to the Texas Tribune, she warned the bill could result in sweeping bans based on inconsistent standards. Amendments fail, while parental rights are emphasized Several proposed amendments to soften the bill's language around profanity and indecency were rejected. Rep. Brent Money, R-Greenville, unsuccessfully proposed reducing the threshold for creating advisory councils from 20% of parents to just 50 signatures, and restricting membership to petition signers only, the Texas Tribune reported. Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, the bill's House sponsor, defended the legislation, saying it prioritizes children over controversial books. 'We should cherish and value our kids more, and Senate Bill 13 will do exactly that,' Buckley said, as quoted by the Texas Tribune. He dismissed fears of banning classics as a 'red herring.' Bill linked to broader effort to restrict explicit content The bill builds on House Bill 900, passed in 2023, which aimed to keep 'sexually explicit' materials out of school libraries. That law was partially blocked by a federal appeals court over its proposed book rating system. Opponents, including library advocates and civil rights groups, warn that SB 13 could create administrative delays, as school boards will be required to rule on each book within 90 days of a complaint. During the 2023–24 school year, Texas schools banned roughly 540 books, according to PEN America. SB 13 is among the legislative priorities of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. With its approval by the House, the bill now returns to the Senate for final passage.
San Francisco Chronicle
6 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Texas parents, school boards may have more control over school library books after House OKs bill
The Texas House gave preliminary approval Monday to a bill that would give Texas parents and school boards a bigger role over what books students can access in public school libraries. Senate Bill 13 would give school boards, not school librarians, the final say over what materials are allowed in their schools' libraries by creating a framework for them to remove books based on complaints they receive. The bill would allow school boards to oversee book approvals and removals, or delegate the responsibility to local school advisory councils if 20% of parents in a district sign a petition allowing their creation. Previously, SB 13 mandated the creation of those councils when it passed through the Senate in March, but the petition requirement was added in a House committee. SB 13, initially passed by the House 87-57, also includes definitions for what constitutes harmful material and indecent content, which led Democratic representatives to express concerns about overzealous bans on books. During the discussion on the House floor Monday, Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, pointed specifically to bill language requiring approved books to adhere to 'local community values,' which he said could lead small, vocal groups of people to limit students' book access. Talarico said titles often taught in public schools — like Catcher in the Rye, Lonesome Dove and the Bible — could end up banned under some of the bill's vague and subjective interpretations. 'If your answer to 'could Romeo and Juliet be banned,' if it is anything other than 'of course not,' then that is a serious problem,' Talarico said. Rep. Erin Zweiner, D-Driftwood, also worried the bill could lead to overly broad book bans. 'What is indecent for a 17 year old is not the same as what is indecent for a five year old,' she said. Rep. Brad Buckley, the bill's House sponsor, called community values the 'bedrock' of public policy, and the Salado Republican dismissed potential removal of classics as a 'red herring' argument. 'A speaker before me said we should cherish the value of books. Well, maybe so, but I would argue we should cherish and value our kids more, and Senate Bill 13 will do exactly that,' Buckley said. Representatives supportive of the bill said SB 13 would give parents better control over what materials their children can access.' About 16% of complaints about school library books last year were initiated by parents, according to a report from the American Libraries Association, while 72% came from elected officials, pressure groups and board members and administrators. Several amendments by Democratic representatives aiming to loosen the bill's language on profane content failed. An amendment by Rep. Brent Money, R-Greenville, which also failed, would have lowered the threshold to petition the creation of an advisory council to 50 signatures from parents, and would have required that the councils only be made up by people who signed the petition. The bill would also extend regulation introduced by a law passed in 2023 aimed at keeping 'sexually explicit' material out of school libraries. House Bill 900 was partially blocked from implementing a book rating system by a federal appeals court. Opponents of the bill have worried not only about restricting book access, but also about the administrative backlog that having to approve each new library book could create. School boards will have 90 days after complaints on each book are filed to reach a decision on whether to add, keep or remove material from school bookshelves. ___
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Texas GOP Rep Accused of Breaking Commandment With Ten Commandments Vote
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A row broke out in the Texas legislature on Saturday when one politician accused another of religious hypocrisy over a plan to compel schools to display a poster of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Ahead of the final vote on Sunday, former teacher James Talarico, a Democratic state representative, pointed out that the bill's sponsor, Candy Noble, a Republican, had actually broken a commandment by compelling the House to work on the Sabbath. "Do you think that members of the legislature should focus more on trying to follow the Ten Commandments rather than telling others to follow them?" he quipped in the Texas House. Newsweek has emailed Noble and Talarico seeking comment. Why It Matters The issue of religion in schools has long been a contentious subject. As a deeply conservative state, Texas lawmakers have often attempted to embed Christian teachings into the educational system. In November last year, Texas approved a new curriculum that allows elementary schools to incorporate Bible teachings into some other subjects' lessons. This weekend's vote on a new mandate requiring classrooms to display a poster of the Ten Commandments is a further step along the same road. James Talarico pictured at an event on March 8, 2024, in Austin, Texas. James Talarico pictured at an event on March 8, 2024, in Austin, To Know Legal wrangling in Texas over the issue of the Ten Commandments in schools dates back to 2023, but Senate Bill 10 finally received preliminary approval when lawmakers voted 88-49 in its favor this weekend. Talarico, a Christian who is currently studying for a master's qualification at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, vehemently opposed the mandate, which was sponsored by a fellow Christian, Republican State Representative Noble. Noble, who represents the city of Lucas district, said she introduced the bill because the "way we treat others in our society come from the principles found in the Ten Commandments. In these days of courtroom mayhem, it's time to return to the truths, to the fabric of our educational system. Respect authority. Respect others. Don't steal. Tell the truth. Don't kill. Keep your word." But her most vocal opponent, Talarico, who represents Austin, has argued that religion in this context is coercive and exclusionary—and he claims it's unchristian too. Talarico's witty takedown of Noble, in which he forced her to admit that she was actively breaking one of the commandments she was so keen for others to follow, went viral after he posted footage of the encounter on his Instagram page. It has so far received more than 202,000 thousands likes. During the debate on Saturday, Talarico asked Noble: "What is the Fourth Commandment?" She had to consult first her own notes and then a neighbor's notes to reply: "Keep the Sabbath…" "Part of keeping the Sabbath holy is not working on the Sabbath?" Talarico asked, to which Noble agreed. He then asked her about the dates of the Jewish Sabbath and the Christian Sabbath and she correctly replied Saturday for Judaism, while Christians' holy day is Sunday, "in honor of the day that Jesus rose form the dead." He noted that they were working on Saturday and were due to vote on the bill on Sunday. "It's ironic, isn't it?" she said with a tight smile. "Would you be willing to postpone your bill so that we're not breaking the Ten Commandments by working on the Jewish or Christian Sabbath?" he asked. His pointed question drew some cheers and applause from elsewhere in the chamber. "I love that you said that!" she replied. "You're saying that you'd rather tell people to follow the Ten Commandments than follow it yourself?" he asked. "I would have rather have had this bill passed the other day when it was time," she said. But later added: "So again, this bill is about honoring our historical, educational, and judicial heritage with the displaying of the Ten Commandments." Talarico also suggested that legislators may also have broken other commandments, by lying, or by committing adultery. "Do you think that members of the legislature should focus more on trying to follow the Ten Commandments rather than telling others to follow them?" Talarico asked Noble on Saturday. "I am, I am, um, you know, it is incumbent on all of us to follow God's law," she replied. It was not the first time the pair have clashed on the issue. Footage from the chamber posted on his Instagram page on January 19 last year, showed him saying to Noble: "I know you're a devout Christian, as am I. But this bill to me is not only unconstitutional, it's not only un-American, I think it is also deeply unchristian. And I say that because I believe this bill is idolatrous, I believe it is exclusionary, and I believe it is are diametrically opposed to the teachings of Jesus... "Instead of bringing a bill that will feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, we're instead mandating that people put up a poster." He added that the Bible teaches "love your neighbor" and suggested the mandate was not very loving to students of other religions, or those with none, who were also sitting in Texas classrooms. That exchange also went viral and has now gained more than 5 million views on X (formerly Twitter). In any case, despite their long-running dispute, ultimately other lawmakers sided with Noble and the bill was passed at the weekend. What People Are Saying Several people commented on Talarico's video to declare their support for his attempt to block the policy. An Instagram user with the handle joyshel5, who didn't provide a profile but whose account features scripture and family photos, wrote: "Keep religion out of public school!" Another Instagram user, a digital content creator with the handle luvalution, also voiced support for Talarico, writing: "Thank you James for being progressive for us all in Texas. Let's get this overturned." Another, mayafash_art, a stylist whose page features anti-Trump memes, asked: "Isn't this unconstitutional? Separation of church and state?" But elsewhere, other online users backed Noble's cause. An X user by the name of Tammi Daniels, whose profile describes herself as a "retired nurse, wife, mother, Christian," supported the move to display the commandments in schools. "Good!" she wrote. "We had them up in Texas classrooms during the 70s. We even said the Pledge, a silent prayer and a morning devotional every morning. They should have never been taken out." While another X user under the handle Cosmo Kramer, who did not provide a profile, suggested: "Our whole country should follow this." An X user with the account name "Nelle," who does not provide a bio, also supported the move, saying: "Children need a good moral compass." What Happens Next Senate Bill 10 will now progress back to the Senate for concurrence before heading to the desk of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who is expected to sign it into law.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas House advances bill to require Ten Commandments in every classroom, after vote on the Sabbath
AUSTIN (Nexstar) – A Republican-backed bill to require public schools to place the Ten Commandments in every classroom won preliminary approval Saturday. The vote was 88-49. The outcome sets the stage for the vote on final approval for Senate Bill 10 to happen Sunday. State Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, who is currently studying to become a minister, pointed out that having legislators vote on the bill over the weekend amounted to breaking one of the commandments. The Fourth Commandment states 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.' Talarico, in an exchange with bill sponsor State Rep. Candy Noble, R-Lucas, noted that part of keeping the Sabbath holy is not working on the Sabbath. Noble agreed with that concept. 'The Ten Commandments come from Judaism. What day is the Jewish Sabbath?' Talarico asked. 'It is on Saturday,' Noble answered 'And what day is it today?' Talarico asked. 'It is Saturday,' Noble said. 'Here we are.' Talarico played a key role in pushing the vote on the legislation to the weekend. When SB 10 first reached the House floor on Wednesday, he called a point of order, a procedural move to block the bill. He eventually withdrew the point of order, but Noble motioned to send the bill back to committee, delaying when the bill could be considered on the floor. When Talarico asked if Noble would be willing to postpone the vote until Monday, she declined, pointing out that the vote would have already happened if Talarico had not blocked the vote earlier in the week. The House faces a Tuesday deadline to approve Senate bills, with the end of the legislative session on June 2. The Republican-backed bill would require every public classroom display a poster or framed copy of the Christian doctrine that is at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall. No school would be exempt from this bill, although the bill does not appear to have any enforcement on schools that do not comply. Noble reiterated ideas that she brought up in Wednesday's debate, saying that the Ten Commandments are foundational to the American educational and judicial systems, arguing the commandments were cited favorably in more than 500 court cases. 'Nothing is more deep rooted in the fabric of our American tradition of education than the Ten Commandments. The very way we treat others as a society come from the principles found in the Ten Commandments,' Noble said during the bill layout Saturday on the House floor. During Wednesday's debate, opponents raised concern that requiring the Ten Commandments in the classroom amounts to religious indoctrination. Some of the debate Saturday included Democrats trying to add amendments to include representation for other faiths. Those amendments all failed to be adopted. The vote on third and final reading on SB 10 would likely be scheduled for Sunday, a point that Talarico and Noble discussed in their exchange before Saturday's vote. 'Christian Sabbath is what day?' Talarico asked. 'Sunday, in honor of the day that Jesus rose from the dead,' Noble said. 'And we're scheduled to give this bill a final vote on what day of the week?' Talarico asked. 'It's ironic, isn't it?' Noble responded. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
