by Michael Yoakum
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States – Texas governor Rick Perry called a special session of the Texas Legislature over the weekend to pass four bills that went unresolved at the close of the previous special session.  This new special session, which began Monday, has been heavily protested over attempts to revive a controversial new piece of abortion legislation.

Wendy Davis, a state senator from Fort Worth, garnered national attention for the state legislature when she successfully filibustered the new abortion legislation, forcing the build to die at the previous special session’s conclusion.  While pro-choice advocates rejoiced at Davis’s stand last week, this new special session will likely see the bill pass.

This new bill would prohibit abortions after twenty weeks and would require the procedure to be performed at an “ambulatory surgical center.”  Thirty seven of the forty two facilities that preform abortions in Texas do not meet the proposed bill’s requirements.

The bill was referred to the appropriate sub-committee on Monday, which took measures to limit discussion on the bill. House Republicans chose a committee room that seated 64 in an effort to limit the number of resident who would be allowed to testify. BBC reports that the sub-committee chairman, Byron Cook, limited testimony to eight hours, saying that the panel had heard enough from constituents.

The crowd of protestors poised to overwhelm police in the capital on Tuesday until rooms were provided for them to watch the sub-committee proceedings on closed circuit TV.

Republicans on the sub-committee refused to allow amendments proposed by Democratic members. The bill passed along party lines after midnight on July 4 and will proceed to the full House with the same language as the bill filibustered last week.

The bill is set for debate before the House early next week and is expected to pass the Republican-controlled House and Senate against the protests of the Democratic minority and pro-choice advocates.  Governor Perry has vowed to sign the bill as proposed.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Texas abortion bill advances after limited testimony – 3 July 2013

CNN – Texas GOP skirts law on anti-abortion bill – 3 July 2013

International Business Times – Texas Abortion Bill Clears First Hurdle In House As Supporters And Opponents Rally At State Capitol – 3 July 2013

NBC News – Public input limited as Texas anti-abortion bill comes back up for debate – 2 July 2013

CBS News – Texas Senate to revive abortion bill debate – 1 July 2013