Wearing pink tennis shoes to prepare for nearly 13 consecutive hours of standing, a Democratic Texas state senator began a one-woman filibuster Tuesday to block a GOP-led effort that would impose stringent new abortion restrictions across the nation’s second-most populous state.
Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth began the filibuster at 11:18 a.m. CDT. To derail a vote in the GOP-dominated Senate, she must keep speaking on the bill until midnight — the deadline for the end of the 30-day special session.
Before Davis began speaking, her chair was removed. Rules stipulate she remain standing, not lean on her desk or take any breaks — even for meals or to use the bathroom.
When combined in a state 773 miles wide and 790 miles long and with 26 million people, the measures would close almost every abortion clinic in Texas. A woman living along the Mexico border or in West Texas would have to drive hundreds of miles to obtain an abortion if the law passes.
In her opening remarks, Davis said she was “rising on the floor today to humbly give voice to thousands of Texans” and called Republican efforts to pass the bill a “raw abuse of power.”
If the filibuster succeeds, it could also take down other measures. A proposal to fund major transportation projects as well as a bill to have Texas more closely conform with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision banning mandatory sentences of life in prison without parole for offenders younger than 18 might not get votes. Current state law only allows a life sentence without parole for 17-year-olds convicted of capital murder.
Davis was greeted by loud applause and cheers of “Go Wendy!” from hundreds of abortion-rights activists who packed the Senate. Davis motioned for them to be quiet, and Republican Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who presides over the chamber, warned the spectators against making loud outbursts.
The sound of small children crying could occasionally be heard from the gallery.
Davis used up large chunks of time reading into the record testimony from women and doctors who would be affected by the changes.
During one heart-wrenching story describing a woman’s difficult pregnancy, Davis choked up several times and wiped tears, but kept reading.
Davis tried to stay comfortable and sharp by shifting her weight from hip to hip and slowly walking around her desk while reading notes from a large binder on her desk.
Republicans watched her closely for any rules slipup that would allow them to break the filibuster and call the bill for a vote.
Davis gave them no such opening in her first three hours.
Democrats set up the filibuster after thwarting two attempts Monday by majority Republicans to bring the abortion bill to a floor vote ahead of its scheduled time.
“We want to do whatever we can for women in this state,” said Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin, leader of the Senate Democrats.
The bill would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy and force many clinics that perform the procedure to upgrade their facilities and be classified as ambulatory surgical centers. Also, doctors would be required to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles — a tall order in rural communities.
“If this passes, abortion would be virtually banned in the state of Texas, and many women could be forced to resort to dangerous and unsafe measures,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund and daughter of the late Ann Richards, former governor of Texas.
About the Author
The Latest
Featured
