Opponents of an abortion bill walk in circles around supporters of the bill as a committee holds hearings on the bill at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday, July 2. Gov. Rick Perry called a second legislative special session in an effort to pass a restrictive abortion law through the legislature. The first attempt was defeated after opponents were able to stall the vote until after the first special session had ended. A final vote is expected next week. 
Opponents of an abortion bill yell chants outside a hearing about the bill on July 2. 
A man blows a horn as supporters and opponents of an abortion bill gather near a hearing for the bill at the state Capitol on July 2. 
Abortion rights activists Melissa Gabriel, Ally Parks and Tina Johnson look over anti-abortion demonstrators on July 2. 
Anti-abortion activist Pamela Whitehead of Katy, Texas, argues with an abortion rights activist on July 2. 
Opponents of an abortion bill chant outside the hearing for the bill on July 2. 
Texas Sen. Wendy Davis, center, is surrounded by Texas representatives and senators after leading a rally in support of women's rights to reproductive decisions at the Texas Capitol in Austin on Monday, July 1. 
Natalie Maines and her father Lloyd Maines play the National Anthem at a rally supporting women's right on July 1. 
Women's rights demonstrators gather at the capitol in Austin on July 1. 
Anti-abortion demonstrators tape the word "life" over their mouths as they stand in the rotunda of the Texas capitol on July 1. 
Supporters on both sides of the issue crowd into the rotunda of the Texas Capitol on July 1. 
Anti-abortion activists pray in the Capitol on July 1. 
Demonstrators on both sides gather in the Capitol on July 1. 
Davis leads a rally in support of women's rights to reproductive decisions on July 1. 
Protestors gather in the gallery of the Senate chamber on July 1. Demonstrations before abortion vote in Texas
Demonstrations before abortion vote in Texas
Demonstrations before abortion vote in Texas
Demonstrations before abortion vote in Texas
Demonstrations before abortion vote in Texas
Demonstrations before abortion vote in Texas
Demonstrations before abortion vote in Texas
Demonstrations before abortion vote in Texas
Demonstrations before abortion vote in Texas
Demonstrations before abortion vote in Texas
Demonstrations before abortion vote in Texas
Demonstrations before abortion vote in Texas
Demonstrations before abortion vote in Texas
Demonstrations before abortion vote in Texas
Demonstrations before abortion vote in Texas
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Groups from both sides of the abortion debate crowd the Texas capitol
- Almost 2,000 people sign up to speak at a House committee hearing
- The bill would ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy
- It passes a committee with an 8-3 vote; the Senate is looking at its own version
Austin, Texas (CNN) -- The battle over Texas' attempts to change its law on abortion ran well into the night at the state capitol in Austin, with thousands milling around, all wanting to be heard during a public hearing.
People representing both sides of the issue signed up to testify Tuesday at a House committee meeting on HB2, a bill that would impose strict new regulations on abortions in the state.
The measure seeks to ban abortions past 20 weeks of gestation, mandate abortion clinics to become ambulatory surgical centers, and require doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic at which they're providing abortion services.
Critics said the measure would shut down most abortion clinics in Texas, denying access to many, while proponents say it will raise the standard of care for women in Texas.
It was a heated night and middle ground was hard to come by. Anti-abortion activists, all wearing blue shirts, joined together in shared prayer, telling stories of how abortions destroy lives.
"In 1979 I paid a registered physician $300 to kill my second child. I hated myself it almost destroyed me," Susan Collins said.
Texas governor says 'no mob rule' in Legislature on abortion
Nearby, abortion rights activists, dressed in orange, tried to drown out their opponents with drumming, cheering, and chanting slogans about personal liberty. The opinions of many were summed up by a young woman who yelled, "I'm (expletive) tired of men trying to tell me what I can and cannot do with my body!"
The initial House bill failed last week after a day and night of drama in which state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, talked for more than 10 hours in an attempt to run out the clock on the legislative session.
But Gov. Rick Perry called a special session so the legislature could take up the measure again.
Can Rick Perry overcome last presidential run?
Almost 2,000 people signed up to speak for three minutes, but by the end of the night, fewer than 100 were able to share their thoughts with the committee.
Registered nurse Vivian Femmy, who works at a pregnancy crisis center, said she supports the measure.
"I have been there on the front lines with the woman we are talking about today," she said. "I am pro-choice, and I am pro-woman. I am pro-woman getting the kind of abortion care that is the finest care she can get. I support this bill because of what it will do to improve medical standards."
Elizabeth Grune arrived at the capitol at 8 a.m. and finally got her chance to speak at 6:45 p.m.
"Christians, we need the separation of church and state," she said. "I don't believe in abortion but it is legal and as such all women deserve equal access."
The room used by the House committee filled almost immediately, and most people watched the proceedings in nine other rooms.
One man who had been waiting to speak against the bill for hours angrily stormed out of the committee room when testimony was closed.
"My grandmother died from a back alley abortion!" he shouted. Many abortions rights activists fear the legislation would restrict access to safe abortions and make women turn to more dangerous methods.
Outside of the hearing room in an outdoor courtyard, it was prayer circles versus drum circles for more than eight hours.
At the end of the night, with more than 1,000 people still waiting to testify, the bill cleared the committee with an 8-3 vote.
The Texas Senate must now vote on the version of the bill in one of its committees before both bills can be brought to the full House and Senate floors.
A final vote is expected next week.
Opinion: The truth about the Texas filibuster and abortion
0 comments:
Post a Comment