Bump & Grind, Lose School Funding

"It's just too sexually oriented, you know, the way they're shaking their behinds and going on, breaking it down," said Edwards, a 26-year veteran of the Texas House. "And then we say to them, 'don't get involved in sex unless it's marriage or love, it's dangerous out there' and yet the teachers and directors are helping them go through those kind of gyrations."

Under Edwards' bill, if a school district knowingly permits such a performance, funds from the state would be reduced in an amount to be determined by the education commissioner.

Edwards said he filed the bill as a result of several instances of seeing such ribald performances in his district.


J.M. Farias, owner of Austin Cheer Factory, said cheerleading aficionados would welcome the law. Cheering competitions, he said, penalize for suggestive movements or any vulgarity.

"Any coaches that are good won't put that in their routines," he said. And, most girls cheering on Friday nights were trained by professionals who know better, he said.

"I don't think this law would really shake the industry at all. In fact, it would give parents a better feeling, mostly dads and boyfriends, too," Farias said.

Thank you, Rep. Al Edwards, for bringing forth another heaping serving of embarassment to Texas by introducing this absurd bill. I find it amazing that for all the problems facing the state, Rep. Edwards, a Democrat, believes this is a proper use of his authority and other official resources.

J.M. Farias is a quite obviously a shameless suck-up hungry for the business of parents, but I still have to wonder about a person who goes into the cheerleading industry. I guess it's better than being one of those child beauty queen photographers or a serial killer. And isn't it wonderful Mr. Farias supports imposing legal sanctions so "mostly dads and boyfriends" get a "better feeling" from more wholesome cheering? Bet he does a mean "church lady" impersonation.

It seems fitting that while I was preparing this post, I heard the story about five-year old in Florida taken into custody by police for throwing a tantrum after her jellybeans were taken away. At first glance, you may not see a connection between these two stories, but I do: A troubling tendency to turn to the law at the drop of a hat. Although a cheerleader's bump & grind probably - that's probably - wouldn't result in a criminal offense, reducing the school's funding as a result is just as ridiculous hauling in a "naughty" cheerleader. And busting a five-year old for a tantrum? America grows more disturbed by the day.