First Uteruses... Now Breasts: Republican Lawmaker Takes Issue with Breastfeeding Mothers

Since 2011, it has become painfully obvious that the Republican Party in Texas is not a fan of the uterus. We got that loud and clear. Now, it seems some in the Republican Party are not fans of breasts.

Longtime progressive champion and pro-lady advocate Rep. Jessica Farrar has filed HB 1706. The bill relates "to the promotion of breast-feeding and the prohibition against interference with or restriction of the right to breast-feed; providing a private cause of action for denial of this right." The bill protects a woman's right to breastfeed by ensuring that:

1. A woman cannot be asked to leave a public place because she is breastfeeding;
2. No one can stop a woman from breastfeeding; and
3. Employers must develop "a 'Mother-Friendly' worksite policy supporting the practice of worksite breastfeeding.

The bill, surprisingly, received opposition from a woman. Rep. Debbie Riddle cites modesty as her reasoning for opposition. Rep. Riddle took to the most influential platform of communication she could access - Facebook - to explain herself. 

"Now, I am all in favor of breast feeding — however it is important for women to be modest while feeding their baby — and most women are modest and respectful," Riddle wrote on Facebook. "But, a bill that would allow for lawsuits if one 'interfered' with a woman breast feeding is really going a bit far. If a business owner objects to a woman who is not being modest then be fearful of a lawsuit is government out of control."

Wait, what? 

I thought conservatives only cared about family values? Isn't a mother breastfeeding her children an embodiment of family values? It isn't as if breastfeeding women are walking around with their shirts off in public - even though Texas Civil Code says women can. 

Well, we should not be too surprised. Conservatives still insist upon including in the Women's Right to Know Act that abortions are linked to breast cancer. They obviously know nothing about breasts.