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| New life for Texas abortion bill blocked by Wendy Davis | New life for Texas abortion bill blocked by Wendy Davis |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The governor of Texas has called a special legislative session in an attempt to pass an anti-abortion law blocked when a Democratic senator undertook a marathon delaying speech. | The governor of Texas has called a special legislative session in an attempt to pass an anti-abortion law blocked when a Democratic senator undertook a marathon delaying speech. |
| Republican Rick Perry ordered lawmakers to return on 1 July. | Republican Rick Perry ordered lawmakers to return on 1 July. |
| Senator Wendy Davis spoke for more than 10 hours on Tuesday, blocking Republicans from banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. | Senator Wendy Davis spoke for more than 10 hours on Tuesday, blocking Republicans from banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. |
| Republicans ran out of time when the legislative session ended at midnight. | Republicans ran out of time when the legislative session ended at midnight. |
| The bill, opposed by many Democrats, who hold a minority in the legislature, would also require all pregnancy terminations to take place in specially-equipped surgical centres, effectively closing most of the state's abortion clinics. | |
| Decorum 'breakdown' | Decorum 'breakdown' |
| "Through their duly elected representatives, the citizens of our state have made crystal clear their priorities for our great state," Mr Perry said in a statement on Wednesday. | "Through their duly elected representatives, the citizens of our state have made crystal clear their priorities for our great state," Mr Perry said in a statement on Wednesday. |
| "We will not allow the breakdown of decorum and decency to prevent us from doing what the people of this state hired us to do." | "We will not allow the breakdown of decorum and decency to prevent us from doing what the people of this state hired us to do." |
| Mr Perry said the special session would take up three pieces of legislation, including the abortion bill. | Mr Perry said the special session would take up three pieces of legislation, including the abortion bill. |
| During her extended delaying speech on Tuesday, which is known in US political parlance as a filibuster, Sen Davis read testimony and messages from women and others opposing the legislation as she remained standing without any breaks. | During her extended delaying speech on Tuesday, which is known in US political parlance as a filibuster, Sen Davis read testimony and messages from women and others opposing the legislation as she remained standing without any breaks. |
| Sen Davis was picked to lead the filibuster because she had her first child as a teenager and went on to graduate from Harvard Law School. | Sen Davis was picked to lead the filibuster because 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. | "I was a poor, uninsured woman, whose only care was provided through that facility. It was my medical home," said Sen Davis, 50. |
| Texas Lt Governor David Dewhurst, who is Senate president, eventually suspended the filibuster after ruling that she had gone off topic. Democrats appealed, sparking a debate over parliamentary rules. | Texas Lt Governor David Dewhurst, who is Senate president, eventually suspended the filibuster after ruling that she had gone off topic. Democrats appealed, sparking a debate over parliamentary rules. |
| State restrictions | State restrictions |
| As the clock ticked to midnight, Republicans rushed to hold a vote on the bill, amid jeers from pro-abortion rights protesters in the public gallery. | As the clock ticked to midnight, Republicans rushed to hold a vote on the bill, amid jeers from pro-abortion rights protesters in the public gallery. |
| But amid the disruption, Lt Gov Dewhurst said he had been unable to sign the bill within the deadline following a 19-10 vote. He blamed an "unruly mob" in the gallery. | But amid the disruption, Lt Gov Dewhurst said he had been unable to sign the bill within the deadline following a 19-10 vote. He blamed an "unruly mob" in the gallery. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Only five of Texas' 42 abortion clinics would remain in operation if the law passes, and opponents say this will force women to travel hundreds of miles or resort to dangerous methods to obtain the procedure. | Only five of Texas' 42 abortion clinics would remain in operation if the law passes, and opponents say this will force women to travel hundreds of miles or resort to dangerous methods to obtain the 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. | 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. | 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. |