Tag Archives: abortion

Remembering the bad old days

Posted on July 21, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We’re headed back to them if the courts don’t intervene. Dr. Howard Novick winces as he recalls treating two and three women a week for infections and complications from botched abortions. It was the early 1970s, before the procedure was … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Mexican abortion option

Posted on July 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Get ready for it. At the Whole Woman’s Health center here, a young woman predicted what others would do if the state’s stringent new abortion bill approved late Friday forces clinics like this one to close: cross the border to … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The Mexican abortion option

To sue or not to sue?

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Now that SB2 has passed, it’s time to consider the next move. As an omnibus bill restricting abortion access in Texas makes its way to Gov. Rick Perry’s desk, opponents of the measure are already weighing the possibility of suing … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The state of abortion litigation

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Emily Bazelon surveys the landscape. You’ve seen Texas legislator Wendy Davis in her pink sneakers and shuddered over the murder trial of baby killer Kermit Gosnell. Meanwhile, various states are passing increasingly extreme abortion restrictions. But with bill after bill, … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

She who must not be named

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It’s nice to see that Nancy Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, has found meaningful work to do now that she is no longer CEO of that organization. It’s not the least bit surprising to see that … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

When tampons are outlawed, only outlaws will have tampons

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

This is one of those things you just can’t make up. Inside Texas’ state legislature, loaded guns are fairly common. As the New York Times reported in March, “Just as Texas has long embraced its guns, so has the Capitol. … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

Senate passes non-abortion bills, committee passes HB2

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The decks are cleared on the Senate side for the main event. In a speedy Thursday morning meeting with little debate, the upper chamber passed Senate Bill 2 with a 30-1 vote, allowing Texas judges and juries to sentence 17-year-olds … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Senate passes non-abortion bills, committee passes HB2

Four things to work on now that the omnibus anti-abortion bill is reality

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

1. Organize, organize, organize. Maintain the energy and sense of urgency that originated with the #StandWithWendy filibuster. This is a good way to draw people in while the iron is hot. Progressives and Planned Parenthood took their opposition to the … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Back to the House

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

After the Senate adjourned on Tuesday morning without a committee vote on its omnibus anti-abortion bill following the long hearing in which there was a lot more hearing than listening, the House took up its bill, with more of the … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Senate begins omnibus abortion bill hearings

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Remember, it’s all about women’s health. Senate Bill 1, and its companion, House Bill 2, would ban abortion at 20 weeks post-fertilization and recognize that the state has a compelling interest to protect fetuses from pain; require doctors performing abortions … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

With Rick Perry, you always have to ask “Who benefits?”

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Politics had an item on Friday that perhaps should have received a higher profile. One of the controversial tenets of the abortion restriction bill would require all abortions to be performed in ambulatory surgical centers, which are a distinct … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Coming attractions in the Senate

Posted on July 6, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

From Jessica Luther, a guide to Monday’s Senate hearing on their version of the omnibus anti-abortion bill. On Tuesday, the House Committee had their hearing for HB2 (what a sham that was, huh?). The Senate version of that bill – … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Coming attractions in the Senate

There are other items on this session’s agenda

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I know, hard to believe, but there are two non-abortion items on the session agenda, and the Senate has already taken preliminary action on two of them. Six hours before a marathon state House committee hearing on abortion, two Senate … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on There are other items on this session’s agenda

Protest day at the Capitol

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Pretty impressive: The story: Opponents of Republican-backed legislation to dramatically curtail abortion rights in Texas descended on the Capitol by the thousands on Monday, spurred on by musicians, celebrities and their new hero: filibustering state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth. … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Protest day at the Capitol

I do not expect another Ardmore

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The AusChron tries to get out the Democrats’ strategy for Special Session 2. When the Texas House convened last last month to pass, on third reading and onto the Senate for final passage, Senate Bill 5, the omnibus abortion regulations … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Time to lace up your Mizunos and head back to the Capitol

Posted on June 29, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Special Session 2 starts today. If you can be there to watch the proceedings in the Legislature, that would be great. RSVP here, and while you’re at it, give a Like to the Stand With Texas Women Facebook page. The … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What the future may hold for Wendy Davis

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Patricia Kilday Hart has her take on the Wendy Davis phenomenon, including the reaction of some Republicans to it. For both proponents and opponents of SB 5, the legislation that would have banned abortions past 20 weeks of pregnancy and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Still standing with Wendy

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Let me just say that I hope Sen. Wendy Davis slept in yesterday, and did nothing more strenuous than channel surfing and ordering takeout. She’s earned a lazy day, and a lot more than that. And while she (hopefully) took … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Still standing with Wendy

Filibusted

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I figure this is about how the Republicans think of Sen. Wendy Davis right now: Well, they probably think a few more things, too, but this is a family blog. If you didn’t stay up late last night and follow … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

No action on SB5 in the Senate

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The name of the game is running out the clock. Texas Democrats, far outnumbered by Republicans in both the House and the Senate, are nonetheless on the verge of killing one of the most restrictive abortion proposals in the nation … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Two contradictory polls about abortion

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The UT/Texas Trib poll painted a not-so-rosy picture for reproductive choice in Texas. Texas voters remain split on the permissibility of abortion but favor banning the procedure after 20 weeks of a pregnancy, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Last redistricting bill passes Senate, House debates abortion bills

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

It was destiny. The Texas Senate on Sunday wrapped up final redistricting loose ends by concurring with changes made by the House to political boundaries for the lower chamber. In an 18-11 vote, the Senate signed off on a series … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

House passes redistricting and abortion bills

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Texas Redistricting: The House has passed SB 3, the redistricting bill for the state house map, on third and final reading. There was one last floor amendment today offered by State Rep. Toni Rose (D-Dallas), which moved Rose’s mother and … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

House passes redistricting bills

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

They accepted a couple of amendments but otherwise the process wasn’t much different from the Senate or the House committee. A daylong debate on redistricting maps in the Texas House drew frustration from Democrats and growing concern from Republicans on … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Transportation funding advances

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Between redistricting and abortion, transportation funding has taken a bit of a back seat in the special session despite being the first additional item on the agenda. The Senate took the first step on that yesterday. Despite concerns raised by … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Monday House action

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The main action on Monday in the House was the House Redistricting Committee hearing. Where there’s a redistricting hearing, there’s Greg with a liveblogging session. Pay close attention to the stuff Greg writes about the questions that the Dems, in … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Senate approves redistricting bills

Posted on June 15, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

As pro forma as they wanna be. The Texas Senate voted to ratify court-drawn political maps that were used for legislative and congressional races in 2012. The bills now head to the House. In party-line votes, Senators voted 16-11 to … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Calling to add to the call

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The special session is just a day old, and already legislators are lining up to extend its agenda to cover things that didn’t get done during regulation time. Senate Finance Chairman Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, and Senate Transportation Chairman Robert … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Calling to add to the call

Wrapping up the rest of the regular session

Posted on May 28, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

So as we now know, a special session on redistricting has been called, though we don’t yet know what if anything else may be added later. I covered that last night, so let’s cover what else got done at the … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Don’t count your victories too soon

Posted on May 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

While I wouldn’t call this legislative session anything to be terribly happy about, it could have been far worse. That’s because a whole lot of nasty red meat bills never got voted on, and Democrats are justifiably happy about that. … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Where things stand with two weeks to go in the legislative session

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

With the Thursday midnight deadline for bills to pass on second reading in the House, I figured this would be a good time to take a look at the status of some major legislation and legislative priorities. There are two … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Zaffirini and Uresti stand against needless abortion restrictions

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Good to hear, but given their histories it’s wise to be vigilant. Texas Republicans are one vote short of passing a controversial abortion bill in the Senate — and the fate of the legislation now rests squarely on the shoulders … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Zaffirini and Uresti stand against needless abortion restrictions

House debates its budget

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

As you know, yesterday was Budgetpalooza in the House. The House budget puts more money into public education and less into health and human services than a Senate proposal that passed the upper chamber last month. “No one is or … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

You can’t undo the damage to women’s health

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

At the very end of this story, in which Rep. John Zerwas and Sen. Charles Schwertner, both of whom are physicians in real life, say that they (mostly) stand with Rick Perry on not expanding Medicaid, they also say this: … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment