U.S. SUPREME COURT RULES FOR TEXAS ABORTION RESTRICTIONS

  

The U.S. Supreme Court virtually ensured that the new Texas abortion law will be a major issue in next year’s governor’s race, when they narrowly ruled critical portions of the law to be constitutional.

The Court was sharply divided upheld the law with a five to four vote.  This means more than one third of all Texas abortion clinics will have to close.  The new restrictions say any doctor at an abortion clinic must have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic.

The Court’s conservative majority refused the plea of Planned Parenthood and several Texas abortion clinics to overturn a preliminary federal appeals court ruling that allowed the provisions to take effect.

The case is still being litigated, however.  There is an appeal to the Fifth U.S. Court of Appeals in New Orleans.  That Court is expected to hear arguments in January , and the law will remain in effect until then.

The new restrictions launched the gubernatorial campaign of Ft. Worth State Senator Wendy Davis.  She stalled passage of the restrictions during the first of two special sessions of the Legislature with a thirteen hour filibuster.  Another special session was called and the restrictions were eventually passed.

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