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Texas abortion bill vote 'came too late to pass' | Texas abortion bill vote 'came too late to pass' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Helped by a marathon speech, Texas Democrats have managed to block a bill that would shut most of the abortion clinics in the state. | |
Democratic state Senator Wendy Davis spoke for more than 10 hours, in a stalling speech known as a filibuster, at the state capitol in Austin. | |
Amid shouts from protesters in the public gallery, Republicans scrambled to pass the bill. | |
But the vote was ruled to have been held too late for a midnight deadline. | |
The future of the bill, which would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and require all procedures to take place in surgical centres, is now uncertain. | |
The proposal, already passed by the Texas House of Representatives, was debated in the state Senate on Tuesday. | |
During her filibuster, Sen Davis read testimony and messages from women and others opposing the legislation. | |
She also recited previously suggested changes to the bill and tapped into her own life story. | |
Sen Davis was picked to lead the filibuster because of her background - she had her first child as a teenager and went on to graduate from Harvard Law School. | |
"I was a poor, uninsured woman, whose only care was provided through that facility. It was my medical home," said Sen Davis, 50. | |
Rules of the debate stipulated she must remain standing, not lean on her desk or take any breaks, even for meals or to use the bathroom. | |
Republicans watched for any slip-up that would allow them to end the filibuster. | |
Supporters of the bill protested at one point that Sen Davis had received help from another lawmaker in adjusting a supportive back brace. | |
Texas Lieutenant-Governor Dewhurst, who is Senate president, eventually suspended the filibuster after ruling that she had meandered off topic. | |
Democrats appealed that ruling, sparking a debate over parliamentary rules. | |
As the clock ticked to midnight, Republicans scrambled to hold a vote on the bill, amid screams from protesters in the public gallery. | |
"Get them out!" Republican Senator Donna Campbell shouted to a security guard. "Time is running out." | |
But amid the disruption, Lt Gov Dewhurst said he had been unable to sign bill within deadline following a 19-10 vote. | |
He reportedly hinted that the vote could be held again at a second special session. | 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. It requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. | |
new law would mean only five of Texas' 42 abortion clinics would be able to remain in operation. | |
But opponents say this would force women to travel hundreds of miles or resort to dangerous methods to obtain a procedure. | |
The US Supreme Court legalised abortion nationwide in 1973, but about a dozen conservative states have enacted laws in recent years that seek to limit the procedure. | |
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. | |
Earlier this month, the Republican-controlled US House of Representatives in Washington DC passed a bill banning abortions 20 weeks after fertilisation. | |
But the measure is unlikely to become law because Democrats control the US Senate and the White House. | |