United States: Anti-choice bill killed, brought back to life (VIDEO)

June 30, 2013
Issue 
971
World

Just hours after pro-choice advocates and lawmakers defeated a bill that would have shut down nearly all abortion clinics in Texas, Gov. Rick Perry announced he is reviving the bill by calling another special session of the legislature on July 1. "I am calling the legislature back into session because too much important work remains undone for the people of Texas," Perry said.

"Texans value life and want to protect women and the unborn." Perry’s move could overrule the efforts of Texas State Senator Wendy Davis, who led a filibuster that lasted nearly 11 hours before Republicans cut her off. That was when her colleagues and the protesters in the gallery took over. Democrats raised objections, and protesters raised their voices, drowning out the proceedings in the final minutes before the session officially ended at midnight. Republicans claimed they had passed the bill anyway, but Lieutenant Gov. David Dewhurst finally conceded the vote had come too late, blaming what he called an "unruly mob using Occupy Wall Street tactics." Those who were on the ground prefer to call it "a people’s filibuster."

Democracy Now was joined by Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards, who was there to announce Wednesday’s victory in the Capitol rotunda, which holds a portrait of her mother, the late Texas Governor Ann Richards, another staunch advocate for women’s rights. "This is the most extreme bill I know that we’re fighting in the country," Richards says. "[Gov. Perry] is putting his own political agenda ahead of the women of Texas."

See the full transcript.

Feminism
United States

Comments

frondfractal@ya... replied on

WTF ... "Texans value life and want to protect women and the unborn." ... thanks but as a woman I will protect my body and my unborn children ... so fuck off mate!

Mark1 replied on

Last time I checked, Texas still employed the death penalty, so I take Perry's statement with a grain of salt the size of Cowboy Stadium. But what cracks me up is that it's the pro-death penalty/anti-abortion folks up against the anti-death penalty/pro-abortion folks. Both sides contradict themselves. There's a third way beyond the "progressive versus conservative" rut. It's called thinking for yourself. You won't believe all the garbage that one cops from BOTH the "progressives" and the "conservatives" when one is anti-capital punishment AND anti-abortion. You ought to look at it from somebody else's perspective for a change and see how similar the two "opposing" sides of mainstream politics are to each other. In fact, you people couldn't live WITHOUT each other!

Mshand replied on

These are completely different subjects and the only reason they are bought up together is because of the sanctity of life argument. That is people who are against abortion, generally think that abortion is killing a human being. This is obviously contradictory to there stance on killing human beings when it comes to the death penalty However, generally those who support abortion do not see abortion as the killing of a human being and the law agree's with them....and so does medical science. Else if Medical science could demonstrate that a featus is a human being then the law would cover them as human beings. Generally those who support abortion see a pregnancy as a growth on the women's body These people do not have any problem killing cancer growths and so have no problem killing featus growths If you assert that a featus is a human - fine, good for you but that which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence Until you demonstrate this it is merely your opinion and any supposed hypocrisy here is all in your head AKA Your Projecting your bias onto others and then criticising them for a position that they do not hold

You need Green Left, and we need you!

Green Left is funded by contributions from readers and supporters. Help us reach our funding target.

Make a One-off Donation or choose from one of our Monthly Donation options.

Become a supporter to get the digital edition for $5 per month or the print edition for $10 per month. One-time payment options are available.

You can also call 1800 634 206 to make a donation or to become a supporter. Thank you.