Zev Porat

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Texas passes abortion restriction bill, governor certain to sign

Texas passes abortion restriction bill

Abortion rights protesters rally after the state Senate passed legislation restricting abortion rights in Austin, Texas early July 13, 2013. REUTERS-Mike Stone

(Reuters) - Texas' Republican-controlled Senate has voted to ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, ending a high-profile political battle that stirred debate over abortion rights well beyond the state's borders.

Already approved by the House, the sweeping bill to restrict abortions now goes to Republican Governor Rick Perry, who is certain to sign it and had called a second special session of the legislature to get it through.

It makes Texas the 13th U.S. state to pass a 20-week ban. The 20-week provision is based on disputed research suggesting fetuses feel pain at that point in a pregnancy. Current limits are 26 weeks in Texas.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/13/us-usa-abortion-texas-idUSBRE96C02P20130713


The Senate passed the measure late on Friday by a vote of 19 to 11 in front of a full public gallery while protesters yelled and chanted outside the chamber.

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