The dramatic filibuster of Texas Senate Bill 5 has refocused the nation’s attention on abortion.
State Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, and her staunchly planted pink sneakers – along with help from a raucous crowd of spectators – delayed a vote on SB5 until three minutes past midnight on Wednesday, blocking its passage. It may be a short-lived victory for the Democrats, however.
Gov. Rick Perry quickly called another special session, starting today, to take up the bill again.
The bill and supporting documents – including the list of witnesses that testified for and against the legislation (AKA potential sources) – can be found here.
According to a report by the nonprofit Texas Tribune, there are two flashpoints in the proposed law.
The first is that it would prohibit abortions after 20 weeks gestation. That provision is similar to a bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in June. The rationale for the legislation, which has been disputed by some doctors, is that fetuses older than 20 weeks can feel pain.
The second is this:
On and after September 1, 2014, the minimum standards for an abortion facility must be equivalent to the minimum standards adopted under Section 243.010 for ambulatory surgical centers.
Those minimum standards, which are set by the Texas Department of State Health Services, can be found here. Continue reading →