GOP Lawmaker Admits He Has No Evidence Schools Gave Litter Boxes to Students Who Identify as Cats After Authoring Anti-Furry Bill

Texas State Rep. Stan Gerdes (R) conceded on Wednesday that he had no evidence of schools providing litter boxes to students who identify as cats, despite making the allegation to support a proposed bill to ban furries from the classroom.

During a hearing with Gerdes, Texas State Rep. James Talarico repeatedly grilled Gerdes about his claims and the evidence he had to back them up.

“Can you name a school where it has been confirmed that students are using litter boxes?” asked Talarico.

Gerdes replied, “Uh, well, what we do with this bill is we prevent that from happening.”

“Can you name a school where it has been confirmed that students are using litter boxes?” Talarico repeated. “This was at the top of your press release. This was mentioned when you introduced this bill. Created quite a stir. So I’m asking, can you name a school where it’s been confirmed that there are litter boxes being provided to students?”

Gerdes conceded, “For this purpose? No, I cannot.”

“I find it concerning that these types of debunked conspiracy theories are being used by politicians at the highest levels of our government, including in this legislature, who know that they’re incorrect,” Talarico continued. “Are you aware that Gov. Abbott said, quote, ‘Kids go to school dressed up as cats with litter boxes in their classrooms?'”

After Gerdes replied, “Sure,” Talarico asked, “Are you also aware that when the governor was asked by the Dallas Morning News to name a single school where this happened, he couldn’t, and PolitiFact called this a ‘pants-on-fire’ false claim started by online rumors?”

“OK,” Gerdes acknowledged.

Talarico questioned, “Do you think it’s a good use of our time to write laws based on debunked internet conspiracy theories?”

“Well, this isn’t, uh– this piece of legislature before us covers that among other things that are true,” Gerdes concluded.

Watch above.