I can’t wait to see Abortion Barbie’s lib supporters twisting themselves into pretzels trying to defend this.
Via Dallas News:
Wendy Davis said Tuesday that she would have supported a ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, if the law adequately deferred to a woman and her doctor.
Davis, a Fort Worth senator and the likely Democratic nominee for governor, told The Dallas Morning News’ editorial board that less than one-half of 1 percent of Texas abortions occur after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Most of those were in cases where fetal abnormalities were evident or there were grave risks to the health of the woman.
“I would line up with most people in Texas who would prefer that that’s not something that happens outside of those two arenas,” Davis said.
But the Democrat said the state’s new abortion law didn’t give priority to women in those circumstances. The law allows for exceptions for fetal abnormalities and a threat to the woman’s life, but Davis said those didn’t go far enough.
“My concern, even in the way the 20-week ban was written in this particular bill, was that it didn’t give enough deference between a woman and her doctor making this difficult decision, and instead tried to legislatively define what it was,” Davis said.
The provision was part of a sweeping bill the Legislature considered this summer to place new restrictions on abortion providers. Davis initially filibustered to stop the bill, drawing nationwide attention as a special session ended with a raucous crowd disrupting the Senate’s consideration of the bill. Eventually, lawmakers approved the law in another session. Parts of it are under court review, though the 20-week ban is in effect.
Update: Keep digging, Wendy.
SAN ANTONIO — State Sen. Wendy Davis got widespread attention when it was reported this week that she said she could have supported a Texas ban on abortion at 20 weeks if the legislation included enough deference to a woman and her doctor.
It was notable because her filibuster against a measure that included that ban and other tighter abortion restrictions launched her as a national political figure before she began her race for the Democratic nomination for governor.
Davis, however, told the San Antonio Express-News editorial board that she doesn’t think it’s possible for a 20-week ban to give enough deference to the decision-making of a woman and her doctor, and that she wouldn’t advocate for such a ban.
The legislation she filibustered, including the ban, became law despite her efforts.
HT: Neal via Legal Insurrection