Planned Parenthood, the largest U.S. abortion provider, filed a lawsuit in federal court on Friday challenging part of a new Texas law which the group said will dramatically reduce access to safe abortions, especially in rural areas of the huge state.
The lawsuit does not challenge two other restrictions that would prohibit abortion 20 weeks or more after the date of fertilization, except to save the life of the mother, and would require major upgrades to most abortion clinics to meet hospital surgical standards.
"We're in court today to stop a terrible situation for women in Texas from getting even worse," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, which was joined by the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups in bringing the lawsuit.
In a conference call with reporters, the groups said they were challenging a provision stating that doctors who provide abortions must have admitting privileges at a local hospital, and another part that requires direct supervision of a doctor for women to receive the so-called "abortion pill" RU-486.
Asked why the groups were not including the other provisions, Jim George, a lawyer for the groups said: "The simple answer is you can only do so much at once."
Good for them! At least somebody is standing up for women's rights in Texas!
Perhaps once Wendy Davis gets elected Governor of the state she can help to do a whole lot more.
Please don't get all excited about Wendy Davis being elected Governor of Texas. It probably won't happen in 2014. (Even saying that, I did send $200 to her campaign through Actblue)
ReplyDeleteShe faces an incredibly uphill battle next year. Despite what the pundits and the well-wishers say, Texas is not on the verge of turning purple, let alone blue. The Democratic Party in Texas is ineffective - yes, I know that the mayors of Dallas and Houston are Dems - and such incredible GOTV operations would have to take over the state by the Dems.
Voters would have to be truly inspired or truly pissed off by Davis to be motivated to go to the polls and vote. REALLY motivated.
It's really amazing to see how the Democratic Party lost it's state-wide hold on Texas. There's a great biography about Ann Richards - the last Dem governor of Texas - which spells out how they lost power. It's called "Let the People In", by Jan Reid. Really good reading.
Not to mention the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the concerted effort by Republicans, from Lee Atlwater on, to turn the racism of the South into a winning electoral strategy, starting in 1968.
DeleteMost of the modern Southern Republicans can't remember when their forebears were Democrats -- of course that was when there were tradeoffs in congress, Jim Crow Law for the South, with Rural Electification, union laws, and internationalism for the Democrats up north.
My daughter lives in Austin with her family. Unfortunately for them, Austin is in Texas! The election of someone like Rep. Wendy Davis would be a HUGE boost for women, children, seniors, minorities... well, just about everyone. I will support Ms. Davis with contributions as I know my daughter will do as a Texas voter/activist. There is much at stake for me personally because the happiness and security of my family comes first and foremost.
ReplyDeleteNow if someone would call out the media on using the phrase "abortion clinics" I'd be really happy. Planned Parenthood does so much more for women.
ReplyDeleteAnita Perry, wife of Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R), declared Saturday that abortion "could be a women's right."
ReplyDeleteWhen pressed on women's rights by Texas Tribune's Evan Smith at the 2013 Texas Tribune Festival, the First Lady of Texas said, "That's really difficult for me, Evan, because I see it as a women's right. If they want to do that, that is their decision; they have to live with that decision."
"Mrs. Perry, I want to be sure you didn't just inadvertently make news," Smith replied. "Are you saying that you believe abortion is a women's right, to make that choice?"
Smith pressed again, asking if she believed it's a person's decision within the law, to which Anita Perry replied, "Yeah, that could be a women's right. Just like it's a man's right if he wants to have some kind of procedure.... But I don't agree with it, and that's not my view."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/28/anita-perry-abortion_n_4010318.html
…bill that Wendy Davis filibustered 13 hours to stop.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, the linked-to Reuters article correctly refers to Ms. Davis in paragraph nine as "state Senator Wendy Davis, who staged a nearly 11-hour filibuster against abortion restrictions". She was stopped at that point because she had allegedly gone off-topic for the third time. Her colleagues then ran out the remainder of the thirteen hours. On August 15th, my wife and I made a special trip to Seattle to hear her speak on the subject (had front-row seats, too!) not that I expect my word to carry much weight.