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Texas abortion bill vote 'came too late to pass' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A vote on a new law which could close most of the abortion clinics in the US state of Texas came too late to pass, leading Republicans now say. | |
The senate had approved the bill, which bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and requires all procedures to take place in surgical centres. | |
But Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst later confirmed that the vote had not met a midnight deadline. | |
The bill has already been passed by the Texas House of Representatives | |
The senate vote took place despite attempts by Democrats to delay it. | The senate vote took place despite attempts by Democrats to delay it. |
A Democratic senator tried to stand speaking for long enough to prevent voting on the bill, but was stopped after 10 hours when the chairman ruled she had gone off topic. | |
'Safety standards' | |
However, the lieutenant governor said the decision came too late. | |
"Regrettably, the constitutional time for the 83rd Legislature had expired," local television quoted Mr Dewhurst as saying. | |
"Senate Bill 5 cannot be signed in the presence of the senate at this time, and therefore cannot be enrolled." | |
He reportedly hinted that the vote could be held again at a second special session. | |
Supporters of the bill say the measures will improve safety standards. | Supporters of the bill say the measures will improve safety standards. |
It requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. | |
The new law would reportedly mean only five of Texas' 42 abortion clinics would be able to remain in operation. | |
Opponents say this will force women to travel hundreds of miles or resort to dangerous methods to obtain a procedure. | |
Abortion rights supporters wearing orange t-shirts gathered in the public gallery to protest against the bill. | |
Democrats had said they were considering a legal challenge against a vote to pass the law. | |
It is the latest challenge by state legislature to a 1973 ruling by the US Supreme Court that abortion was legal until the foetus could survive outside the womb. | |
In March, North Dakota banned abortions once a foetal heartbeat is detected - as early as six weeks - in the most restrictive law of its kind in the US, | |
The measures, which take effect on 1 August, make no exceptions for rape, incest or the health of the mother. Opponents plan to appeal against them. | |
But a federal appeals court struck down an Arizona law that bans abortions from 20 weeks' gestation in May, saying it violated the Supreme Court rulings. |