AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Republicans in the Texas Legislature passed an omnibus abortion bill that is one of the most restrictive in the nation, but Democrats vowed Saturday to fight both in the courts and the ballot box as they used the measure to rally their supporters.
More than 2,000 demonstrators filled the Capitol building in Austin to oppose the bill, and state troopers drug six out of the Senate chamber for trying to disrupt the debate. The Republican majority ultimately passed the bill unchanged just before midnight, with all but one Democrat voting against it.
"Today the Texas Legislature took its final step in our historic effort to protect life," said Gov. Rick Perry who will sign the bill into law in the next few days. "This legislation builds on the strong and unwavering commitment we have made to defend life and protect women's health."
Democrats, though, promised a fight in the courts.
"There will be a lawsuit. I promise you," Dallas Sen. Royce West said on the Senate floor, raising his right hand as if taking an oath.
Democrats offered 20 amendments to the bill, which will ban abortions after 20 weeks, require abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital and require all abortions take place in surgical centers. They ranged from exceptions for rape and incest to allowing doctors more leeway in prescribing abortion-inducing drugs. But Republicans would have none of it.
The bill is just one of many across the nation championed by anti-abortion groups set on a constitutional challenge to Roe vs Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision guaranteeing a woman's right to decide on an abortion before the fetus is viable outside the womb.
Texas falls under the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has shown a willingness to accept more stringent limits on abortions. Passing the law also pleases Christian conservatives who make up the majority of Republican primary voters.
But the measure has also sparked protests in Texas not seen in least 20 years, with thousands of abortion rights supporters flooding the Capitol to draw out normally boring committee hearings and disrupting key votes. Protesters finished a filibuster started by Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth by jeering for the last 15 minutes of the first special session, effectively killing the bill.
That's when Perry called lawmakers back for round two. But opponents said the fight is far from over and used the popular anger to register and organize Democratic voters.
"Let's make sure that tonight is not an ending point, it's a beginning point for our future, our collective futures, as we work to take this state back." Davis told 2,000 adoring supporters after the bill passed.
The Texas Republican Party, meanwhile, celebrated what they considered a major victory that makes Texas "a nationwide leader in pro-life legislation."
"As Democrats continue to talk about their dreams of turning Texas blue, passage of HB2 is proof that Texans are conservative and organized and we look forward to working with our amazing Republican leadership in the Texas Legislature as they finish the special session strong," a party statement said.
Friday's debate took place between a packed gallery of demonstrators, with anti-abortion activists wearing blue and abortion-rights supporters wearing orange. Security was tight, and state troopers reported confiscating bottles of urine and feces as they worked to prevent another attempt to stop the Republican majority from passing the proposal.
Those arrested or removed from the chamber included four women who tried to chain themselves to a railing in the gallery while singing, "All we are saying is give choice a chance." One of the women was successful in chaining herself, prompting a 10-minute recess. Texas abortion Opponents and supporters of abortion rights gather in the State Capitol rotunda in Austin, Texas on Friday afternoon, July 12, 2013.(Photo: Tamir Kalifa, AP)
Sen. Glen Hegar of Katy, the bill's Republican author, argued that all abortions, including those induced with medications, should take place in an ambulatory surgical center in case of complications.
Democrats pointed out that childbirth is more dangerous than an abortion and there have been no serious problems with women taking abortion drugs at home.
Cecile Richards, the daughter of former Gov. Anne Richards and president of Planned Parenthood, said Texas Republicans and abortion opponents won this political round — but it could cost them down the road.
"All they have done is built a committed group of people across this state who are outraged about the treatment of women and the lengths to which this Legislature will go to take women's health care away," she said.
The dedication of those activists will be tested during the 2014 elections. Democrats have not won a statewide seat in Texas since 1994, the longest such losing streak in the nation.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
After that video I posted showing PP telling a woman who wanted to abort depending on sex of the baby how to go about getting the ultrasound and Medicaid then coming back for the abortion if she didn't get the gender she wanted........
As the GOP continues it's War On Women, the LA times notes:
"In the first six months of this year, a total of 47 line items restricting abortion have been enacted in 18 states... Perry's signing of the Texas legislation would bring the 2013 count to 52 restrictions in 19 states."
The GOP already has a huge problem with women voters, even among Republican women, and this legislation will just increase that issue.
Quoted Text
The bill would ban abortion beginning at 20 weeks after conception, unless the woman's health is in immediate danger. It would require doctors performing the procedure to have hospital-admitting privileges within 30 miles and for abortions to be performed in ambulatory surgical centers.
The bill also required a doctor to be present when a woman induces an abortion by taking a pill.
Abortion-rights activists say the measure will force the closure of all but five of the state's 42 abortion providers.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Why are you upset box, 20 week old babies have survived outside the womb, this law is just updating a more technology and science based country. No war on women here except those who want to kill after that period of time.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
Why are you upset box, 20 week old babies have survived outside the womb, this law is just updating a more technology and science based country. No war on women here except those who want to kill after that period of time.
It is illegal to kill 20 week old babies... called murder. It's illegal to kill 1 day old babies... it's called murder.
At 20 weeks a fetus weighs about 10 1/2 ounces. It's around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — about the size of a banana.
A fetus at 24 weeks can survive with 'extreme neonatal intensive care'... (& Extremely Expensive). I wonder if the board anti govt haters will promote Obama Care for this procedure, or should the fetus be allowed to die for lack of funds to cover such an extreme and expensive survival?
(As with most GOP tax avoiders, they prevent women from having abortions, yet don't want to pay one dime for that unwilling mother's and surviving fetuses medical bills.)
Completed weeks of Gestation at birth and chance of survival: 21 and less 0% 22 - 0-10% 23 - 10-35% 24 - 40-70% 25 - 50-80% 26 - 80-90% 27 - >90% 30 - >95% 34 - >98%
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
It is illegal to kill 20 week old babies... called murder. It's illegal to kill 1 day old babies... it's called murder.
At 20 weeks a fetus weighs about 10 1/2 ounces. It's around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — about the size of a banana.
A fetus at 24 weeks can survive with 'extreme neonatal intensive care'... (& Extremely Expensive). I wonder if the board anti govt haters will promote Obama Care for this procedure, or should the fetus be allowed to die for lack of funds to cover such an extreme and expensive survival?
(As with most GOP tax avoiders, they prevent women from having abortions, yet don't want to pay one dime for that unwilling mother's and surviving fetuses medical bills.)
Completed weeks of Gestation at birth and chance of survival: 21 and less 0% 22 - 0-10% 23 - 10-35% 24 - 40-70% 25 - 50-80% 26 - 80-90% 27 - >90% 30 - >95% 34 - >98%
Because 5 months isn't long enough to decide if you want to keep the kid or not.
Such a retard you are.
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
A fetus at 24 weeks can survive with 'extreme neonatal intensive care'... (& Extremely Expensive). I wonder if the board anti govt haters will promote Obama Care for this procedure, or should the fetus be allowed to die for lack of funds to cover such an extreme and expensive survival?
You missed the point, it can survive, you trying to argue its to expensive is comedy gold. I hope other states follow Texas yeeeeehaaaaw
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
Women are waging a war against themselves. All of the Texas house republicans and 5 democrats voted for the bill. The Texas house Republicans include women - OMG!
Because 5 months isn't long enough to decide if you want to keep the kid or not. Such a retard you are.
Even from his attempt to insult, Bucky raises a valid issue... A fetus which has been exposed to chemicals, an overdose of xray, injury, or is known to have a extreme brain injury may not be apparent until later in a pregnancy when an abortion would be prudent to prevent such conditions that Bucky unknowingly approached... severe retardation. No one is forced to have an abortion, but many women faced with raising a severely retarded child, in stead of raising a several healthy children family, will opt for an abortion at 5 months.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
No one is forced to have an abortion, but many women faced with raising a severely retarded child, in stead of raising a several healthy children family, will opt for an abortion at 5 months.
What happens if that healthy child falls and develops a brain injury that leads to mental retardation? Terminate? Too much trouble to care for?
Box likes talking about selfishness, he just describe one of the most selfish acts.
Hitler tried that to, they were considered a inferior class
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
What happens if that healthy child falls and develops a brain injury that leads to mental retardation? Terminate? Too much trouble to care for? Box likes talking about selfishness, he just describe one of the most selfish acts.
No one that I know is proposing YOUR TERMINATION VIEW! NO one that I know proposes to kill any child... well except for a few death penalty states like Texas and Georgia who execute those with the mental capacity of children.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
No one that I know is proposing YOUR TERMINATION VIEW! NO one that I know proposes to kill any child... well except for a few death penalty states like Texas and Georgia who execute those with the mental capacity of children.
You are the one that suggested that an abortion of a viable life because of possible mental retardation is a legit and legal reason. Why only terminate a viable imperfect life in the womb? Isn't it just as tough to raise a child that develops a mental retardation after birth?
Box likes talking about selfishness, he just describe one of the most selfish acts. ME-ME-ME!!!
So now that you are discussing something that you know a lot about... you're almost an expert on the subject... selfish... Would YOU be willing to pass legislation that would use YOUR tax dollars to raise this extremely retarded and extremely costly child? If a family who can afford a child or two, but because of YOUR RELIGIOUS laws to outlaw abortion, they are forced to give birth to a infant with almost no functioning brain Instead of a life filled with several children who grow into adults, this family is strapped with a child who will never know them, who's brain only functions enough to support life but never have one thought... and the huge expense that would entail.
One near brain dead child to raise for the next 60-80 years... or Abort a 5 month old fetus and raise 6 healthy children to adults, then enjoy 12 healthy grandchildren, (at about the same cost). Some people do decide to raise this child, and they should be aided with our tax dollars for the decision. No one should make that decision for them... not the courts, or the Right Wing Fanatics or the laws of Texas.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
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