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Title: Rick Perry signs sweeping abortion restrictions into Texas law
Source:
The Washington Times
URL Source: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news ... ping-abortion-restrictions-te/
Published: Jul 18, 2013
Author: Cheryl Wetzstein
Post Date: 2013-07-18 18:45:26 by Hondo68
Keywords: None
Views: 560
After a fight that attracted national attention, Texas Gov. Rick Perry Thursday signed an abortion law that is widely expected to result in the closing of numerous abortion clinics in the state and greatly reduce the number of late-term abortions. The new law “builds upon our commitment to protecting life in the state of Texas,” Mr. Perry said at the signing ceremony in Austin, which was attended by some 100 state lawmakers. Pro-life groups cheered the law, which was passed in a special legislative session after Democrat state Sen. Wendy Davis filibustered an earlier attempt to pass the bill in a performance that became an Internet sensation. Texas is the largest of a group of states that have passed far-reaching new laws to restrict abortions in recent months. “This is a life-saving victory for Texas women and unborn children,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List. The new law bans most abortions of fetuses 20 weeks and older — a time when some believe the unborn child can feel pain. It also adds more regulations on how abortion-inducing drugs can be taken. Its most sweeping impact is likely to be the new health and safety rules: Abortion clinic doctors will now be required to have local hospital-admitting privileges, and abortion clinics must meet the standards of out-patient or ambulatory surgical centers. Only five of Texas’ 42 abortion clinics currently fulfill the new requirements. After the law goes into effect in October, clinics will have a year to upgrade, take other steps to come into compliance or face closure. Pro-life groups say stricter clinic regulations are needed in light of the horrible clinic conditions that were discovered in the murder trial of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell. He was sentenced to life in prison this year for murdering newborn children and other charges of abuse and neglect. Opponents of the law said it showed that politicians in Texas — and elsewhere — still cannot resist meddling with women’s constitutional right to choose abortion rather than bear a child. A court challenge to the Texas law is considered highly likely. “The Texas measure is part of an orchestrated, nationwide plan to outlaw abortion clinic by clinic, state by state,” said Jennifer Dalven, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Reproductive Freedom Project. “We won’t sit quietly by while politicians take away our right to make our own, personal and private medical decisions just to score political points.” The ACLU noted that many medical groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Texas Hospital Association, opposed the bill, saying it intruded on the private doctor-patient relationship and did not boost patient safety. The state’s new abortion restrictions have divided the nation almost evenly, according to a new survey out Thursday. A Gallup poll found that 44 percent of likely U.S. voters favor a ban on abortions after 20 weeks, while 41 percent oppose it. Fifteen percent said they’re undecided. In Austin, thousands of protesters for and against the bill have come to the state capital in recent weeks to lobby on the bill. Pro-choice allies cheered when Ms. Davis stopped the law in June by talking nonstop for more than 11 hours, to run out the legislative clock on a special session called in part to pass the abortion measure. But Mr. Perry immediately called for a second special session, and this time the Republican-dominated legislature passed the measure. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to ban most abortions past 20 weeks gestation; it is now in the Senate. Several other states have enacted bans on abortion of “pain-capable children,” but some are tied up in court. • Ben Wolfgang contributed to this article, which was based in part on wire service reports.
Poster Comment: A Houston woman is raising money for Planned Parenthood by helping pro-abortion activists dabble in black magic. Corset maker Michelle Sinched used her talent as a seamstress to produce and sell voodoo dolls in the likeness of Texas Governor Rick Perry, the lawmaker who signed sweeping abortion reform into Texas law earlier today. “I was inspired to make them because I wanted to figure out something I could make that would send a message and raise money for Planned Parenthood,” Sinched said in an interview with the Houston Press. “What's better than sticking pins in Gov. Goodhair or burning him at your own doll sized stake?” The dolls are outfitted with tampon pins “for sticking it to him” and blank customizable placards. The dolls were intended to have an impact on the Governor's signing of the controversial Texas House Bill 2, which bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. “T-shirt Gov. is $25 and Suit Gov. is $30 or you can have both for $50,” says Sinched on her Facebook page. She says all profits will go to fund Planned Parenthood. Sinched describes herself as “pro-abortion and pro-life.” This latest effort to inject black magic into the abortion debate harkens back to eerie demonic chants heard earlier this month on the Texas Senate floor. Earlier in July, a collective shudder was felt throughout the nation as it was revealed that pro-choice activists were chanting “hail Satan” at one of the rallies after previous abortion legislation was defeated.
Rick Perry Voodoo Dolls Apparently Didn't Work
"Gov. Goodhair" voodoo dolls / Via Michelle Sinched Facebook
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