Stickland Sells Out Cheap to Anti-Vaccination Group

State Representative Jonathan Stickland (R-Bedford) says that he is aware of his responsibilities to and in service of Texans. But his willingness to accept money from a fringe, anti-science special interest group shows poor judgment that puts the health and safety of Texas children at risk.

Stickland has received an “A+” grade and was readily endorsed by Texans for Vaccine Choice,  one of the many fringe groups responsible for pushing to weaken mandatory vaccinations for school-age children.  Stickland’s reckless behavior contributes to and enables a growing anti-vaccine movement in Texas, at the same time a number of Texas cities have become “hotspots” for preventable diseases.

The growing “anti-vaxxer” movement is out of step with the vast majority of Texans. The Texas Lyceum poll reveals 78 percent of Texans believe healthy children “should be required to be vaccinated in order to attend public schools because of the potential risk for others when children are not vaccinated.”

We shouldn’t condone a representative courting special interests when children are at stake. Jonathan Stickland is out of the mainstream on this issue and is not acting in the best interest of Texas children.