Gov. Perry Calls Second Session to Pass Texas Abortion Bill - East Idaho News
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Gov. Perry Calls Second Session to Pass Texas Abortion Bill

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136155401?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1372322860904Justin Sullivan/Getty Images(AUSTIN, Texas) — Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced on Wednesday that the Texas state legislature would head into a second special session starting July 1 after efforts to pass abortion restrictions failed.

“Texans value life, and want to protect women and the unborn,” Perry said in a statement.  “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.”

The initial bill, which would have closed nearly all clinics performing abortions in the state, failed in the legislature after Democratic state Sen. Wendy Davis launched a filibuster lasting more than 12 hours, forcing a vote after the midnight deadline of the special session.

The bill would ban all abortions after the 20-week gestation mark and would require clinics to adhere to stricter regulations, including upgrading facilities and reclassifying the clinics as surgical centers.

One question left unanswered by this move is when Perry will announce his intentions about a 2014 gubernatorial run.  Perry, who has served as governor for 13 years, has long said he would announce his plans at the end of the special session, but this could be delayed now that he’s called for a second special session.

“The governor is focused on addressing the issues on this call.  Future plans will be announced at the appropriate time,” Josh Havens, a spokesperson for Perry, said in an email.

Perry will address the National Right to Life Convention in Dallas Thursday.

The second special session will also include consideration of spending for transportation infrastructure projects and a juvenile justice measure.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

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