As reported by Becca Aaronson in the Texas Tribune, the Texas Senate passed the omnibus abortion bill late last night on a 20-10 vote.
After hours of emotional debate, the Senate late on Tuesday evening approved omnibus legislation to tighten abortion restrictions.
“My objective first and foremost, second and third, is to raise the standard of care,” said state Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, the author of Senate Bill 5, which passed 20-10 and now heads to the House for approval.
SB 5 includes three abortion regulation measures that failed to reach the floor of either chamber during the regular legislative session: a requirement that abortions be performed in ambulatory surgical centers, which state Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, has filed as SB 24 in the special session; a requirement that doctors who perform abortions have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the abortion facility; and a requirement that if doctors administer the abortion inducing drug, RU-486, they do so in person, which state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, has proposed separately in SB 18 in the special session.
One Democrat, Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, joined the 19 Republicans in the Senate.
Predictably, the Democrats resort to their failed argument that the Republicans have a “war on women”.
Many Texans are “afraid, genuinely afraid, of how this Legislature treats women,” state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, said before the final vote on SB 5. He said the bill would create obstacles to safe, legal abortion services and “creates a back room process to negate women’s constitutional rights over their own bodies.”
He said that each of the proposals included in SB 5 failed to pass during the regular session because the Senate did not have enough votes to consider the legislation under the two-thirds rule — which Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst chose not to apply in the special session.
“It’s wrong to try to resurrect them now through a loophole,” Watson said. “If this is going to be our new process — using the special session to ram through any partisan red meat that fails in the regular session — it makes a mockery of the traditions that so many on this floor brag about.”
No, Sen. Watson, this is not a “loophole” – it is the rules. I was surprised when Sen. Watson didn’t make any of the “Best” legislator lists because the truth is, he had a remarkable session as Democratic caucus leader. He was so effective at holding the majority hostage that very few social conservative bills passed. But sometimes, you can be too effective. He should have worked with the Republicans instead of simply blocking everything – the two-thirds rule in the regular session is designed to block bad bills, not to obstruct everything that the majority tries to do.
But what is sickening is that the Democrats truly prefer that women having abortions put their own health at risk. Each one of the provisions passed in this omnibus bill protect the health of women. That is a sad, sad statement on the current status of the Democratic party and gives Republicans a little bit of hope even as demographics shift in Texas.
Well done, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst and Sen. Hegar. Well done.
bob42 says
I know this can be a sensitive and emotional subject for many, but still my irony meter is pegged. I’m curious about the latter half of of your lede, “Democrats prefer back alley.” Could you please elaborate?
Yvonne Larsen says
For me, the phrase “Democrats prefer back alley” is a euphemism for the social decay of a civil society and the savagery one man will bestow on another. Back alley, to me, represents the Democrat Left that refuses to admit they support killing babies outside the womb, refuses to acknowledge the “womens health” issue of honor killings, buries their head in the sand when they read three women in Boston threw bleach in the eyes of a bus driver, and think it is okay for teachers to have sex with their under age students.
Then we have those on the Republican Left who refuse to argue the facts of their positions, prefering instead to denigrate the character of law abiding citizens who are simply petitioning their government for redress. Their back alley betrayals are the most vile, for they were elected or they support elected officials whose job it is to ensure all men are equal before the law…instead of being equal because of the law.
Izzy says
Wendy Davis became a legend last night. Repubs overplayed their hands on this one. Oops
Mark says
A legend in the minds of her fellow death cult ghouls. Better do your rejoicing at the bloody altar in this life because the future is grim.
Mark says
Run, Wendy, run!
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/wendy-davis-texas-abortion-filibuster-93412.html
bob42 says
Republican senators pulled every underhanded trick in the book last night. And now this? What a bunch of hypersensitive authoritarian jerks.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/21/man-throws-fire-bomb-at-democratic-state-senator-wendy-davis-office-in-texas/
Mark says
Which Republican senator threw that firebomb? It didn’t say in the article.
I’m still trying to figure out why five months isn’t long enough to decide whether you want to kill your baby or not.
David Jennings says
Pondering Penguin: Tx Senator Wendy Davis Filibusters for Unsafe Abortion Practices http://ow.ly/1Y43Ww
Mark says
That’s the absurd thing about the “progressive” position. Anyone with a brain bigger than a mustard seed recognizes that it’s not about women’s health with these people. It’s all about abortion, on demand, no restrictions, up until the moment of birth. The abortion industry is full of Goznells and Karpens. They’re just better at hiding and the regulating agencies are good at ignoring.
Mark says
And the Queen Ghoul Farrar wants to decriminalize “post birth” abortion for 12 months after birth!
Izzy says
Take a deep breath, and calm down Mark. Now, look at me. I SAID LOOK AT ME! That’s better. I know you think you know what’s best for women in Texas. You think you know what women like. They like purple floppy hats and flirty skirts and little puppies and their Daddy’s trucks. But listen to me Mark, I SAID LISTEN TO ME…. YOU ARE NOT A WOMAN! YOU ARE AN UGLY MAN! Sure, you have your own needs and wants and funny ways of doing things, but that doesn’t matter. YOU CAN’T GET PREGNANT, no matter how hard you try. And fiddling around in women’s business makes you look, well, weird.
Yvonne Larsen says
Looks like Texas women are exercising their reproductive rights to produce a Republican woman who’ll run against Wendy “Occupy Austin” Davis. BBBWWWAAAA!!
Konni Burton
Mark says
Your death cult is withering, Iz, and history will not judge you kindly.
Mark says
Yvonne, she’s kind of an anomaly up there in Tarrant county. Should be pretty easy to oust her. Then she can run for governor. BWAHAHAHAH!
bob42 says
“Welcome to Texas! The Abstinence Only — Rape Baby State!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWlbN2b1PGg
Izzy says
“The louder they scream, the more we know we are getting something done,” he said.
This is what our Governor said about women who choose abortions… Maybe he was referring to the sounds coming from back alley abortionist offices like those of Kermit Gosnell.
Izzy says
Texas, Our Texas! all hail the mighty State!
Texas, Our Texas! so wonderful so great!
Boldest and grandest, withstanding ev’ry test
O Empire wide and glorious, you stand supremely blest
second verse, sing it with me
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
über alles in der Welt,
Wenn es stets zu Schutz und Trutze
brüderlich zusammen hält,
Yvonne Larsen says
Even the Dems know this also served as a fundraising stunt; not that I have any problem with that. This has been the final week of the Q2 fundraising period and finance reports will be due next month.
Izzy says
Sen. Hegar is shocked, shocked at the level of health care going on here!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTsg9i6lvqU
bob42 says
I think I’ll scoot up to Austin tomorrow. I’ve heard it might be a good day to meet some hot women and sing a few songs.
Who’s standing up to all the extremists
Speaking the truth as long as it takes
Who’s looking out for all of our freedoms
Everyone knows it’s Wendy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI8U3pPx66I