Do you believe it is appropriate for a governor to sign an important executive order without first researching the matter?
No.
Read the quote. He said he didn’t research the need for a discussion with the citizenry. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904070604576514604171010750.html
Although his Executive Order was clumsy, the Legislature had given him the power by delegating the authority to the Executive Branch.
There were Bills pending that would have added the vaccine to the code, but would have increased the difficulty of opting out.
The Texas Statutes regulating vaccines for school age children are the Health and Human Services Code, the Government Code, and in particular, The Education Code, Chapter 38.001. Section 38.001 lists the diptheria, rubeola, rubella, mumps tetanus and poliomyelitis vaccines, but not the Hepatitis B, A and Chicken Pox vaccines that are also mandated by regulations. This section also contains the laws on how parents can opt out of the mandated vaccines.
Correct links for laws mandating vaccines - 8/17/11
http://law.onecle.com/texas/education/38.001.00.html
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/HS/htm/HS.161.htm
Representatives Farrar and Van de Putte had introduced bills that would have amended the Education Code. SB 110 http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/html/SB00110I.htm and HB 215 would have also added newly mandated brochures and extra steps for parents who wanted to “opt out.”