Texas Gov. Perry Signs Controversial Abortion Bill
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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images(AUSTIN, Texas) — Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed into law Thursday the restrictive abortion bill that initiated State Sen. Wendy Davis’ 11-hour filibuster and ignited the protests of pro-abortion rights advocates across the country.
In his remarks before signing the bill, Perry said that the new law would prevent “reckless doctors performing abortions in horrific conditions” as a part of “our continued commitment to protecting life in the state of Texas.”
Following the law’s passage, abortions in Texas are now prohibited after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The law also enforces surgical center regulations on facilities that perform abortions, which critics say could shut down a majority of Texas’ abortion clinics.
“That is reasonable. That is common sense expectation for those caring for the health and safety of the people in the state of Texas,” Perry said in reference to the higher safety requirements.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst also spoke at the event and said that people who remember Perry later would consider “defense of the preborn as a key part of [his] legacy.”
“We would not be here today if not for our governor,” Dewhurst said.
Perry took a moment to also thank the other supporters of the bill. “All of you who stood up and made a difference, no one will ever have to ask, ‘Where were you when the babies’ lives were being saved?’” Perry said.
But the fight is not over for the bill’s opponents. Shouts from pro-abortion rights protestors could be heard during the event. Outside the doors of the Texas Capitol building’s auditorium where Perry signed the bill, protestors chanted, “The blood of Texas women is on your hands.”
As a sign of protest, five women lied on the floor of the Capitol building. They were dressed in black, appeared to be bound and gagged, and each wore a letter spelling out the word, “shame.”
State Sen. Wendy Davis responded to the bill’s signing in a statement, saying, “Governor Perry and other state leaders have now taken sides and chosen narrow partisan special interests over mothers, daughters, sisters and every Texan who puts the health of their family, the well-being of their neighbors, and the future of Texas ahead of politics and personal ambitions.”
Pro-abortion rights groups joined Davis’ criticism of both the bill and the governor in statements of their own. “The bill signed into law by Governor Perry today makes a terrible situation for women’s health even worse,” the Planned Parenthood Action Fund said in their press release. “People are enraged by this law, and it has created a whole new generation of activists who are in it for the long run to elect leaders who will protect women’s health.”
Anti-abortion rights groups responded to the day’s events with statements of praise for the governor.
The law is set to go into effect 90 days after the end of Texas Congress’ special session this month. The deadline for abortion clinics to update their facilities has been set for September 2014.
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