State Sens. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, and Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, and state Reps. Sarah Davis, R-West University Place and Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, discuss the abortion issue with the Texas Tribune's Emily Ramshaw. (Josh Hinkle/KXAN)
AUSTIN (KXAN) - Texas first lady Anita Perry said Saturday that women have their right to terminate a pregnancy, but that the new abortion law signed this month by the governor does not infringe on someone's right to make that choice.
"I see it as a woman's right," the wife of Gov. Rick Perry said during an interview at the Tribune Festival that continues into Sunday. "If they want to do that, that is there decision and they have to live with it."
The remarks in front of an audience came in a one-on-one interview with Tribune CEO Evan Smith as the discussion turned to the new state law limiting abortions after the sixth month of pregnancy. Smith was asking about whether criticism that Texas Republican leaders were waging "a war on women" with that other legislation enacted by lawmakers.
Perry said lawmakers and the governor were backing reasonable restrictions on abortions that could make the procedure safer. Ands she made clear that she would not choose to terminate a pregnancy.
“That could be a woman’s right," she said. "Just like it’s a man’s right if he wants to have some kind of procedure.”
She also said she would not criticize state Sen. Wendy Davis, a likely Democratic candidate for governor, for her filibuster attempting to derail the abortion bill.
Abortion was a theme in Saturday's political festival co-sponsored by KXAN News. Greg Abbott, the attorney general who's the frontrunner in the GOP primary for governor, said in an interview that he supports the new restrictions.
A penal of lawmakers on both sides of the issue also debated their views. On Sunday, Davis will be the last speaker at the three-day festival.
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