Texas Abortion Law Stalls In Senate

A sweeping bill that would effectively shut down most abortion clinics across the nation’s second most-populous state has stalled in the Texas Senate, and a Democratic filibuster that will only need to last a seemingly manageable 13 hours Tuesday looks like it could halt the new bill, according to The Christian Science Monitor.

CBS News reported “the bill’s supporters say the measures would raise the standard of healthcare for women and they claim it will protect the unborn from feeling pain.”

The proposed bill would ban abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy, require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, and limit abortions to surgical centers.

CBS News stated, “Doctors performing abortions would need admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles. And it would make Texas just the third state to require all abortions be performed at centers licensed for surgery.”

Salon.com reported:

“‘If this passes, abortion would be virtually banned in the state of Texas, and many women could be forced to resort to dangerous and unsafe measures,’ Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said in a statement.”

Houston Democrat Senfronia Thompson asked while waving a hanger around:

“Do you want to return back to the coat hanger or do you want to be able to give them the option to be able to terminate their pregnancy because they have been raped?”

Jodie Laubenberg of Parker, the bill’s sponsor replied with:

“This does not prohibit an abortion for any reason, including rape and incest, up to five months. At this point, we are looking at a baby that’s very far along in its development.”

Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund had said in a statement that this bill would virtually ban abortions in the state of Texas.

Planned Parenthood also has been a major topic of discussion, considering different areas have been looking to defund it, including Indiana and Pennsylvania.

Hundreds of Texans on both sides of the issue stayed in in the state capitol late into the morning hours on Monday, and the house had overwhelmingly approved the bill.

CBS News reported:

“The Texas Senate is expected to vote late unless Democrats can filibuster to Tuesday’s midnight deadline. If that happens, Gov. Rick Perry could call another special session and try again.”

[Image via Dallas News]