National Republicans Stay Clear of Texas Abortion Debate

After spending the second half of 2012 extracting party candidates’ feet from their mouths, national Republican leadership is staying far away from the abortion debate playing out in Texas’s state legislature, Politico reports. Neither Republican National Committee officials nor the Growth and Opportunity Project members (dedicated to avoiding a 2012 repeat) responded to Politico’s requests for comment on the proposed legislation, which would ban abortion after twenty weeks and close 37 out of 42 of the state's abortion clinics. Though the state Republican Party Chairman did say that the mobilization of Democrats in support of Wendy Davis convinced the national party to give him more money to hire full-time staffers.

GOP pollsters argue that political distractions — rock star personalities, perceived bullying, rude comments — aside, most Texans support a ban on abortion after 20 weeks, when “nonpartisan medical experts say the fetus can feel pain.” For the millionth time, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (a group that has a financial stake in babies being born, after all) says there is "no legitimate scientific information that supports the statement that a fetus experiences pain." No one has polled about the clinic-closing TRAP laws that would make first trimester abortions so hard to get that the twenty-week deadline would become difficult to meet.

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Connie Britton Rightfully Enters Texas Abortion Debate

Actress Connie Britton knows where she’s needed. Heeding the call of meme arbiters who say Britton should play Wendy Davis in the Lifetime movie version of Davis’s difficult upbringing and heroic filibuster (a story recently co-opted by Rick Perry), the actress has weighed in on the Texas abortion debate. USA Today reports Britton has teamed up with Planned Parenthood Action Fund on a T-shirt that refers to a strong, pro-choice Texas woman she’s already portrayed — Friday Night Lights’ Tami Taylor. “What Would Tami Taylor Do?” ask the $22 to $32 orange and white shirts. “I have been inspired by how people around the country have united to stand with the women of Texas,” Britton said in a statement, “and I can't help but think that, in this moment, we all have the opportunity to join with and become strong, powerful Texas men and women.”

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Dramatic Filibuster Beats Texas Anti-Abortion Bill (Eventually)

Wendy Davis, minutes before midnight.

Well over 100,000 people watched via livestream as Texas state senators voted on a bill that would enact some of the nation's strictest abortion restrictions, but hours after the legislative session ended at midnight, it was still unclear if the measure had passed. Democrat Wendy Davis filibustered for more than ten hours on Tuesday, with abortion rights advocates rallying behind her in person and online, using the Twitter hashtag #standwithwendy. Just after 10 p.m., Republicans managed to end her effort, alleging that she violated parliamentary rules three times. Then Democrats tried to run out the clock by appealing the decision. The session ended with Republicans passing the measure minutes too late as shouts and applause from abortion rights supporters drowned out what was happening on the floor.

In the Texas Senate, a filibuster can be ended after a senator is given three strikes for violations. Republicans objected when another lawmaker helped Davis with her back brace, and accused her of going off topic twice by discussing Planned Parenthood's budget and the state's recently enacted law requiring a sonogram before an abortion. While those topics sound fairly relevant, the point of order was sustained by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, triggering a messy debate as Democrats sought clarification and tried to stall for time.

State Senator Leticia Van de Putte asked to have the points of order explained to her, saying she had been at her father's funeral earlier in the day. Ten minutes before midnight, she said, "Mr. President, at what point must a female senator raise her hand or her voice to be recognized over the male colleagues in the room?" The comment sparked wild applause that grew into deafening cheers:

Amid the chaos, Republicans huddled around the Senate podium to take a vote. They originally claimed that the bill passed 19-10, with voting taking place just before midnight, but Democrats insisted that the bill didn't pass until 12:02. After hours of wrangling, with Democrats threatening to challenge the vote in court, lawmakers emerged from a Senate caucus meeting and admitted that the vote came minutes too late. (But it's not over: Texas Governor Rick Perry can still call a second special session in which the bill is likely to pass, with Democrats running out of options.)

Last night, after admitting defeat, Dewhurst told reporters, "I didn't lose control of what we were doing," and said the legislation was defeated by "an unruly mob using Occupy Wall Street tactics."

Not to mention one pink sneaker-clad state senator, who ended the day with a well-deserved sit:

This post has been updated throughout.

View the original article here

Dramatic Filibuster Beats Texas Anti-Abortion Bill (Eventually)

Wendy Davis, minutes before midnight.

Well over 100,000 people watched via livestream as Texas state senators voted on a bill that would enact some of the nation's strictest abortion restrictions, but hours after the legislative session ended at midnight, it was still unclear if the measure had passed. Democrat Wendy Davis filibustered for more than ten hours on Tuesday, with abortion rights advocates rallying behind her in person and online, using the Twitter hashtag #standwithwendy. Just after 10 p.m., Republicans managed to end her effort, alleging that she violated parliamentary rules three times. Then Democrats tried to run out the clock by appealing the decision. The session ended with Republicans passing the measure minutes too late as shouts and applause from abortion rights supporters drowned out what was happening on the floor.

In the Texas Senate, a filibuster can be ended after a senator is given three strikes for violations. Republicans objected when another lawmaker helped Davis with her back brace, and accused her of going off topic twice by discussing Planned Parenthood's budget and the state's recently enacted law requiring a sonogram before an abortion. While those topics sound fairly relevant, the point of order was sustained by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, triggering a messy debate as Democrats sought clarification and tried to stall for time.

State Senator Leticia Van de Putte asked to have the points of order explained to her, saying she had been at her father's funeral earlier in the day. Ten minutes before midnight, she said, "Mr. President, at what point must a female senator raise her hand or her voice to be recognized over the male colleagues in the room?" The comment sparked wild applause that grew into deafening cheers:

Amid the chaos, Republicans huddled around the Senate podium to take a vote. They originally claimed that the bill passed 19-10, with voting taking place just before midnight, but Democrats insisted that the bill didn't pass until 12:02. After hours of wrangling, with Democrats threatening to challenge the vote in court, lawmakers emerged from a Senate caucus meeting and admitted that the vote came minutes too late. (But it's not over: Texas Governor Rick Perry can still call a second special session in which the bill is likely to pass, with Democrats running out of options.)

Last night, after admitting defeat, Dewhurst told reporters, "I didn't lose control of what we were doing," and said the legislation was defeated by "an unruly mob using Occupy Wall Street tactics."

Not to mention one pink sneaker-clad state senator, who ended the day with a well-deserved sit:

This post has been updated throughout.

View the original article here

Texas House Votes to Close 37 Abortion Clinics

After nine hours of overnight debate in a loudly protested special legislative session, the Texas House voted early Monday morning to pass sweeping legislation that would ban abortion after twenty weeks and drastically restrict abortions before then, requiring providers to have admitting privileges at local hospitals and clinics to have ambulatory surgical centers, among other regulations. (The hashtags #sb5 and #txleg provide a nice account.)

It's the latest episode in the national pro-life TRAP movement (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers), which seeks to limit abortions by getting restrictive regulations on the books in state legislatures. The laws are usually cast as a way to make abortions safer — even though less than .3 percent of abortions end in hospitalization — to "ensure that women are given the highest standard of health care in a very vulnerable time in their life," as the Texas bill's predictably ill-spoken Republican sponsor, state Rep. Jodie Laubenberg said. Reproductive rights advocates say the laws only serve to block access to abortions and shut down clinics. According to the Texas Tribune, the latest bill would close 37 of the state's 42 clinics, which cannot afford the upgrades necessary to meet the standards of surgical centers. The Senate is expected to accept the House's changes to the bill Tuesday. 

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Texas Congressman Will Arm Twitter Follower With an AR-15

Tim Sampson for The Daily Dot 2013-05-09 12:28:50 -0700

Many members of congress use Twitter to stay in touch with their constituents. Some use it to arm them.

Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas), used his Twitter account Wednesday to announce an AR-15 giveaway. He invited all interested U.S. citizens to submit their names in hopes of winning the same kind of assault weapon that was used in the Sandy Hook massacre and has since become a symbol for those opposing new gun regulations.

The following tweets were posted about ten minutes apart from each other Wednesday evening and, as of Thursday morning, had drawn a combined 27 favorites and 131 retweets from followers.

Want to win a FREE AR-15? Congressman Steve Stockman is giving one away!Sign up at stockman2014.com/ar15-entry/ Grab this gun before Obama does!

— Rep. Steve Stockman (@ReElectStockman) May 8, 2013

I'm giving away a FREE Bushmaster AR-15! Sign up in just seconds at stockman2014.com/ar15-entry/ #tcot #teaparty #gop #tlot #rkba #nra #texasgop

— Rep. Steve Stockman (@ReElectStockman) May 8, 2013

Stockman's office did not immediately respond with a reason for why the congressman chose to host this giveaway and why specifically the AR-15 was selected as a prize. The contest website implores contestants to "enter to win the gun Obama doesn't want you to have." The contest rules state that all applicants must be at least 18 years of age and meet all relevant federal, state and local laws. The gun would be awarded through a licensed dealer, who would perform a background check.

The contest has already drawn plenty of criticism from the regular line-up of bloggers, who are quick to point out the conservative representative’s extreme Second Amendment views. This is the same congressman who recently released a bumper sticker that said, "If babies had guns, they wouldn't be aborted!"

Suffice to say, the giveaway has drawn a lot of vitriol from people on both sides of the gun control debate. Supporters see the contest, which has its drawing on July 4, as a stand against proponents of gun control and the Democratic party.

Hoping to piss off a lib, I entered-Rep. Steve Stockman gives critics ammunition with AR-15 giveaway twitchy.com/2013/05/08/rep… via @twitchyteam

— Deana (@Rogue_40) May 9, 2013

I ? My Congressman. Rep. Steve Stockman gives critics ammunition with AR-15 giveaway!twitchy.com/2013/05/08/rep…

— LoriGirl ? ????? ??? (@conservtivemom) May 9, 2013

But many don't "<3" Stockman's actions. Reaction from gun control advocates ranged from impassioned to bemused.

I entered. If I win I will destroy it MT @reelect Stockman win a FREE AR-15. Rep Steve Stockman is giving one away! stockman2014.com/ar15-entry/

— Bob Cesca (@bobcesca_go) May 8, 2013

Sell TX back RT @rfisman: Sadly, not an @theonion parody - Rep Stockman of TX has AR-15 giveaway (RT @felixsalmon)stockman2014.com/ar15-entry/

— Carl Varady (@GuteisFinger) May 8, 2013

Stockman isn't the first person to give away an AR-15 online, though. Such raffles have become common in recent months. One such contest on Facebook was shut down by administrators.

The AR-15 was the same weapon used by Adam Lanza, the young man currently charged with the murder of six adults and 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last December. Despite this grim reputation, it's become a symbol around which anti-gun control advocates have rallied in recent months as lawmakers have proposed legislation that could potentially take the gun off the market. However, these and more modest restrictions have yet to pass through congress.

Image via KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images

This article originally published at The Daily Dot here

Topics: gun, guns, Politics, texas, Twitter, U.S., US & World The Daily Dot is a Mashable publishing partner that reports on the most important and relevant topics from within, applying tried-and-true principles drawn from community journalism to the growing cultures of the Internet. This article is reprinted with the publisher's permission.

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