Texas House Committee Passes Pro-Life HB2
By Dave Andrusko
Pro-life Texas Gov. Rick Perry, speaking at NRLC 2013
The measure, HB2, is expected to go to the full House next week. The Texas Senate has not taken up its companion bill, Senate Bill 1, as yet.
A week ago Tuesday a combination of legislative tactics—primarily a filibuster by Democratic state Senator Wendy Davis aided by a galley full of raucous abortion supporters—derailed passage of an omnibus pro-life measure.
That bill included several important pro-life provisions. The Texas Preborn Pain Bill includes protection from abortion of unborn children who are capable of feeling pain. It also would require that the abortionist administer chemical abortifacients in person, rather than via videoconferencing where he is never in the same room.
In addition, to protect women’s health, abortions would need to be performed at an ambulatory surgical center and the abortionist would be required to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles, in case there are complications. And—pro-abortionists to the contrary notwithstanding—there are complications including death from abortions.
Thousands packed the state Capitol beginning Monday. Yesterday the House State Affairs Committee began its hearings at 3:30 and “By the end of the night, more than 3,500 people had registered an opinion on the bill, and more than 1,000 had signed up to testify,” according to David Muto of the Texas Tribune. (State Rep. Charlie Geren said 2,181 people had registered in support of the bill as opposed to 1,355 who had registered against it.)
Muto reported that a roughly equal number of supporters and opponents testified. There were incredibly moving stories by supporters of HB2.
“A disabled man testified that his parents nearly aborted him, because he was diagnosed with fetal abnormalities,” the Texas Tribune reported. “’Is my life in a body without arms worth it?’ he asked lawmakers, and then described how he had been married for eight years and had two children.”
The committee’s 8-3 vote was along party lines.
Appearing on Rachel Maddow’s MSNBC show Tuesday night, Davis lavishly praised her supporters and vowed to carry on.
“Thousands of people showed up at the Capitol today to testify and to observe the testimony. I expect that we’ll see that same sort of turnout when the bill is heard in Senate committee hearing, which is going to take place on Monday morning, is my understanding,” Davis said. “And we expect or hope that their voices will add in a way that makes a difference in the way some of these lawmakers are considering this bill.”
She added, “If Democratic leaders are not able to stop passage of this bill, I would be shocked if it weren’t immediately followed with some sort of a suit to enjoin its enforcement, based on it intruding upon the constitutionally guaranteed liberties that exist in this country.”
Source: NRLC News
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